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In order to reduce the emission levels and operational costs, the government-owned Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) intends to powered is bus fleet by compressed natural. Consequently, the company recently held meetings with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to determine the proper infrastructure to supply the fluid. "We are keen on shifting to CNG to bring down emission levels of our buses. It would also reduce our fuel expenditure. We had elaborate discussions with IOC, but they said they were not in a position to supply CNG now,'' reported transport official to The Times of India. IOC executives stated they are planning the construction of an LNG terminal at Ennore. "We signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation early this month to set up a Rs 3,000-crore facility,” he added. On behalf of Petroleum Conservation Research Association, V Sivakumar explained: "Delhi government was able to control pollution ther

Partial Hand Solutions has developed prosthetic fingers using thermoplastic polyurethane (PUR) from RTP Company. ‘M-Fingers’ device from Partial Hand has been used as a prototype. The inner structure of the dexterous fingers and multi-position friction thumb is designed using RTP 2300-series glass-filled rigid thermoplastic PUR, which is over-molded with RTP 1200-series thermoplastic PUR elastomer to provide each finger with dexterity. The fingers and thumb have urethane over-molds to provide better grasp and in-molded finger nails for picking up small objects. The rigid PUR material gives strength and dimensional stability to the product. The mechanical fingers are actuated by a Spectra cable that crosses the wrist and is controlled by simple wrist flexion. M-Fingers are normally built using silicone partial hand socket with the appropriate number of fingers and finger sizes to match the sound-side hand. M-Fingers are distributed by Liberating Technologies of Holliston,

LANXESS, a specialty chemicals firm, foresees increase in demand for synthetic rubber in India, a country with a long history in the production and consumption of natural rubber. Driven by the need of rapid modernization, India is currently undergoing a shift towards replacing natural with synthetic rubber in a variety of applications. As one of the world's leaders in manufacturing synthetic rubber and backed by a history of serving the Indian market for over 40 years, LANXESS is set to play an important role in this development. One of the growth drivers for high performance rubber in India is the automotive industry. Triggered by a burgeoning middle class, demand for passenger cars and two-wheelers is rising. The automotive industry is expected to grow by about 12-14% in 2010-2012. In addition, the government has an ambitious project of expanding and strengthening the highway infrastructure of India by an estimated growth rate of 8-9%. Increase in mobility woul

TOKYO, Japan -- NEC Corporation announced the development of a first-of-its-kind durable new biomass-based plastic (bioplastic) that is produced from non-edible plant resources. The bioplastic is created by bonding cellulose *1 , a main component of plant stems, with cardanol *2 , a primary component of cashew nut shells, which achieves a level of durability that is suitable for electronic equipments and boasts a high plant composition ratio of more than 70%. The new bioplastic characteristics are as follows: Composed of non-edible plant resources : As an alternative to petroleum-based components, cellulose is the plastic's major ingredient. The cellulose, which is produced in large amounts by plants, including grass stems, etc., is modified by cardanol, an oil-like material that is extracted from cashew nut shells. Most of these stems and nut shells are abundant resources, which are often discarded byproducts of the agricultural process. High plant component rat

On the occasion of the last outdoor Retailer Summer exhibition in Salt Lake City (US), the French material producer Arkema and the American company Smith Optics unveiled the latest Smith Optics ‘Evolve’ sunglasses collection, which is made using an Arkema bio-renewable sourced thermoplastic i.e. Rilsan® Clear G830 Rnew. The new ‘Evolve’ collection includes 20 new sunglass frame models that are all made entirely from this Rilsan® grade that is a transparent polyamide material stemming from castor oil. In fact the Rilsan® Clear G830 Rnew grade includes 54% bio-based raw material. It provides the required characteristics for the Smith Optics sunglasses i.e. good impact resistance, high durability, good flexibility as well as lightness and optimal comfort. Moreover it offers good chemical resistance and is easily processed.

Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) has awarded New Flyer of America Inc., a contract for the acquisition of up to 475 buses. The company is dedicated to CNG fuel systems, it first delivered CNG buses to San Diego and has delivered more than 3,500 CNG buses over the past 15 years. These CNG buses will be operated by the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) and the MTA Bus Company (MTA Bus), the largest transit agency in North America that is responsible for public transportation in the state of New York. The contract is for 135 40-foot CNG heavy-duty transit buses with options for up to an additional of 340 CNG buses. Since 1996, New Flyer has delivered 823 buses to the MTA. These 475 CNG buses will join the 190 pre-existing NGV’s. This figure will exceed the current fleet of diesel units running on New York City streets. Two pilot buses will be delivered to the MTA in May 2011, with the balance of the base order delivered in the last part of 2011 and early 2012.

The whiskey industry could soon have a new product that has nothing to do with giving drinkers their desired buzz, but rather provide clean fuel for vehicles. Scientists from the Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland filed a patent on Tuesday for a new biofuel derived from the byproducts of whiskey distillation that can be used in ordinary vehicles minus the usual modification to become biofuel-ready. The new biofuel, a result of a two-year research project by the university’s Biofuel Research Center , uses two main byproducts in the whiskey production process – pot ale, the liquid that comes from the whiskey production copper stills and draff, the spent grains – to create butanol that can be used as fuel. Biobutanol is believed to be the next-generation biofuel, with scientists claiming they can give 30 percent more output power than ethanol . It can also be used to make other green renewable biochemicals such as acetone. “The most likely form of distribution of the bi

The number of algae biofuels start-up companies more than tripled between 2005 and 2009, leading to a sharp rise in the number of pilot and commercial-scale facility projects, according to new research. Before 2000, there were roughly ten companies around the world pursuing the development of algae biofuels as their sole business area or in relation to other business operations such as algae production or renewable fuels. By 2009, the number of companies involved in the development and implementation of algae biofuels technologies had grown to more than 60 worldwide, the Algae Biofuels Production Technologies Worldwide report said. In addition, involvement in the algae biofuels industry as a whole increased by 550 per cent between 2005 and 2007, fuelled by environmental concerns and high crude oil prices. Robert Eckard, analyst at SBI Energy and author of the report said algae can be cultivated and harvested in support of a wide array of biofuel products. ‘In addition,

Cardia Bioplastics will supply major Chinese manufacturer Ben's Land Baby Articles Corp Ltd with a new compostable moisture barrier film ("Bio-Film") for the manufacture of a range of baby diaper/nappy and feminine hygiene products. The Australian sustainable resins and finished products supplier, Cardia Bioplastics was approached by Ben's Land to collaborate in the development of this specialist film product following demand from United States and European customers for more environmentally friendly hygiene products. Testing confirmed that, compared to conventional plastic films, Cardia Compostable "Bio-Film" provides the required high performance moisture barrier to prevent leaking, facilitates breathability to keep skin drier, and is soft for comfort. "Bio-Film" is part of the patented Cardia Compostable resins range. These resins are manufactured from renewable resources and are certified as fully compostable to international sta

Building on an enzyme found in nature, researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have created a nanoscale coating for surgical equipment, hospital walls, and other surfaces which safely eradicates methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the bacteria responsible for antibiotic resistant infections. "We're building on nature," said Jonathan S. Dordick, the Howard P. Isermann Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Director of Rensselaer's Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies. "Here we have a system where the surface contains an enzyme that is safe to handle, doesn't appear to lead to resistance, doesn't leach into the environment, and doesn't clog up with cell debris. The MRSA bacteria come in contact with the surface, and they're killed." In tests, 100 percent of MRSA in solution were killed within 20 minutes of contact with a surface painted with latex paint laced with the c

DuPont Apollo thin-film photovoltaic modules are used for commercial rooftop and large-scale applications. The solar modules can generate more wattage output under diffuse lighting conditions and consume only about 1/200 the silicon of traditional crystalline silicon solar cells, resulting in shorter energy payback times. DuPont™ Tyvek® Weatherization Systems are part of a system created to seal buildings from the inside and out. Tyvek® is an ENERY STAR partner that helps enhance the energy efficiency, indoor air quality and overall comfort of a home or commercial building. Tyvek®, which combines properties of paper, film and fabric, also is an ideal choice for reusable bags by environmentally conscious customers. DuPont™ Energain® decreases the amount of energy used in a building by controlling temperature levels and thus reducing the need for cooling and heating. The result is major cost savings and reduced carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions. DuPont™ Sorona® renewably sou

Deltron’s manufacturing subsidiary Elasco, Inc., which manufactures engineered plastics and polyurethanes, has prepared eco-friendly skateboard wheels for Sector 9, a manufacturer of skateboards and apparels. Elasco formulated and manufactured Biothane brand polyurethane wheels made with soybean-based polyols, which delivers similar performance as petroleum-based polyurethane. Polyols are produced from pressed soybeans with isocyanate and other ingredients to create new polymers. Soy-based polyol resins are claimed to reduce carbon emissions from the manufacturing process by 36%, require less energy to produce, and are free of volatile organic compounds. Elasco provides complete design and manufacturing services, including prototype work, mold and tooling design, manufacturing, custom casting, plastic injection molding and proprietary polymer mixing.

Prescott's Manufacturing Inc.'s new line of sterile knob covers for surgical microscopes are made of Radel® R-5100 polyphenylsulfone ( PPSU ) resin from Solvay Advanced Polymers, LLC, for exceptional autoclavability and toughness. The high-performance thermoplastic also delivers more efficient and faster processing than the incumbent thermoset material. The knob covers are extensions of the microscope handle and are used to manipulate the microscope during surgery. The reusable covers come in repeated contact with medical personnel and must be sterilized after each procedure. Radel PPSU resin withstands repeated autoclaving - up to 1,000 cycles - while maintaining its toughness and impact resistance. "We evaluated a range of resins and found that Radel PPSU was superior in terms of autoclavability," said Philip Schloesser, Engineer for Prescott's Manufacturing. By tapping into its expertise in injection molding, Prescott's hoped to gain impr

A student at Germany’s Offenbach University of Art and Design, Alice Gruhle, has designed an innovative lamp, namely “Polymorph” lamp by taking its inspiration from origami and Lego™ concept. This “Polymorph” lamp, that can be easily adapted into different sculptural shapes, is formed from diamond-shaped modules made from 6mm-thick polypropylene ( PP ) sheets by using an injection molding process. Then the injected molded PP modules are linked together in order to allow folds at the joint. The first lamp prototype has been created with 150 modules, creating a cocoon-like hanging lamp. This innovative lamp concept has already won a competition at the Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach. It has also been featured in several German design magazines and has been showcased at the latest Euromold exhibition.

All over Europe, electrical and electronic scrap is the waste stream showing the highest growth rates. Since electronic equipment contains the most varied kinds of materials, the recycling of such waste involves high demands with respect to separation and sorting processes. The German plant manufacturer MeWa builds state-of-the-art recycling plants for large international waste management companies. In the United Kingdom MeWa realised a plant where old refrigerators, computers, vacuum cleaners, Hi-Fi systems, and other kinds of electrical waste are processed on two separate lines. For the recycling of high-quality plastics such as ABS ( acrylonitrile butadiene styrene ) or PC ( polycarbonate ) and of printed circuit boards MeWa uses three VARISORT N sorting systems made by S+S. "The decision to use E-Schrott Elektronic Waste S+S systems was based on the high output quality of these VARISORT systems. Only absolutely pure fractions can be sold at a good price in today&

At this year's plastics trade show in Düsseldorf (October 27 to November 3, 2010) the Fraunhofer ILT is presenting the TransTWIST laser-based plastics welding machine at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft stand (E91) in Hall 3. In live demonstrations the researchers will show how two transparent joining partners made of plastic can be lap-welded using laser radiation. In conventional laser welding a suitable radiation absorber is normally applied to the underlying joining partner. This is time consuming and costly. Furthermore, the appearance of the component or weld is affected by the color of the radiation absorber. In order to be able to weld transparent plastics without any seam marks, the researchers at the Fraunhofer ILT have developed a laser machine for welding plastics. In a lap joint configuration transparent polymers are welded without the addition of infrared absorbers. This eliminates the need for elaborate pretreatment, saving process time and costs, and represe

The German company Dettmer Verpackunger, i.e. DeLo, which is specialized in flexible packaging systems, has designed an innovative deep-freeze packaging for frozen potato products that is entirely made from a copolyester material stemming from renewable resources. The company has in fact chosen the Bio-Flex™ F2110 grade from the German material producer FKuR to produce the new packaging. This material is a blend based on poly(acid lactic) and does not contain any starch or starch derivatives. It provides the high mechanical properties required for deep-frozen applications such as high impact resistance and dart drop strength at low temperature. Furthermore it complies with the EN 13432 standard. This new deep-freeze bio-based packaging has been chosen by the American company Mc Cain for its “Bio Harvest” products line.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has completed a two year study which examined the scale of U.S. natural gas reserves and the potential of this fuel to reduce greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions. Undertaken by the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI), the study concluded that natural gas will play a leading role in reducing GHG emissions over the next several decades. The findings, summarized in an 83-page report , were presented to lawmakers and senior administration officials in Washington. “Much has been said about natural gas as a bridge to a low-carbon future, with little underlying analysis to back up this contention. The analysis in this study provides the confirmation — natural gas truly is a bridge to a low-carbon future,” said MITEI Director Ernest J. Moniz in introducing the report. The study found that there are significant global supplies of conventional gas. How much of this gas gets produced and used, and the extent of its impact on greenhouse gas reductions

The German ceramics materials specialist OxiMaTec GmbH has been the winner of the 2009 EuroMold Gold Award fort its innovative ceramic/plastic composite-based components that have been designed for automotive light-emitting diode (LED) headlamp housing. These components, which are produced by Graveurbetrieb Leonhardt, a specialist in ceramics pressing, sintering, machining and injection molding, have a hybrid structure based on a high-heat ceramic functional part overmolded with a thermoplastic material. As a result the new headlamp housing exhibit high temperature resistance and allows eliminating wear problems. The ceramic takes care of heat dissipation while the thermoplastic provides elasticity and impact resistance.