Team USA planning for 2010, some ‘08 stars could return (NBA.com)
Thursday, May 21st, 2009More info…
LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and the core of the Olympic basketball champions could be back in USA uniforms next summer for the world championships.
Archive for May, 2009
Reusable Containers: Clever, Cost-Effective, Convenient
Wednesday, May 20th, 2009By David Madden1
Famous lighting recycling specialist Lumicom, lighting maintenance company David Webster (DW) and waste management specialist Sims Group recently launched a series of pilot trials in the United Kingdom to explore ways of improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of recycling waste street lighting lanterns. A key element of the scheme has been to eliminate the double handling of waste lanterns by using the same containers for storage that new lanterns are shipped in, thus recycling packaging as well as lanterns.
This idea is hardly new in the United States. According to the Package Design Magazine (http://www.packagedesignmag.com/), since as early as 1959, a company in Wisconsin has been re-conditioning used containers to reduce costs and enhance efficiency in distribution packaging. The idea is simple: because containers such as plastic pallets, metal bins and wood crates are highly reusable, companies using them can avoid spending time and money on purchasing new containers and discarding old ones. As these containers are designed for many years of use, they are sturdy and capable of protecting the valuables inside in rough shipping environments. Most importantly, by using reusable containers and helping conserve energy and natural resources, businesses can considerably boost their green credentials.
Particularly in the past two decades, more companies have discovered the benefits of reusable transport packaging. A good example is the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company in San Leandro, California, which has been producing premium chocolate products since 1852. The company used to spend $520,000 per year on 580,000 cardboard boxes for internal distribution, with an additional $2,700 spent on their disposal. A study conducted by StopWaste.org found in 2005 that by using reusable totes, Ghirardelli would be able to achieve $1.95 million in net packaging reduction savings over five years and prevent 350 tons of soiled cardboard boxes each year. Its hundreds of workers would also be less likely to develop repetitive stress injuries from taping and opening cardboard boxes.
In 2007, the Grocery Manufacturers/Food Products Association (GMA/FPA, http://www.gmaonline.org/) in Washington, D.C. published a Case Studies in Sustainability report that examines how manufacturers and retailers can maximize operational efficiencies and reduce the overall environmental footprint of their supply chains. The report found that by using advanced shipping methods such as the pallet pooling system, a typical business that ships 100,000 product unit loads per year can reduce solid waste by more than one million pounds, which is equivalent to 46 dump trucks filled with waste. Not only can this business save 3.3 billion BTUs of energy (equivalent to 86 homes powered by electricity for a year), but it can also avoid release of more than 250 tons of greenhouse gas emissions (equivalent to 49 passenger cars taken off the road).
The advantages of using reusable containers in product transport and distribution are evident. To further explore how to reduce costs, enhance efficiency and protect environment, businesses can seek advice from professional agencies such as the Reusable Packaging Association and industry experts such as the Container Exchanger .
David Madden is the Founder and President of Container Exchanger, an online marketplace for reusable containers. Container Exchanger helps companies reduce the overall costs of reusable containers by brokering transactions for companies that need to sell used containers.
DRAGON GATE USA ANNOUNCES DATE AND VENUE FOR CHICAGO DEBUT AND MORE DGUSA NEWS (Pro Wrestling Insider)
Tuesday, May 19th, 2009More info…
Dragon Gate USA announced today they would debut in Chicago, IL on 9/6 at the Congress Theater. Tickets will go on sale 5/27 at 10 AM at www.dgusa.tv . For details on the venue, visit www.CongressChicago.com . No talent has been announced for the event yet.
W. Track. SMU Leads After Day Two Of C-USA Championships (SMU Mustangs)
Tuesday, May 19th, 2009More info…
TULSA, Okla. (SMU) - The SMU track & field team tops the leaderboard after day two of the 2009 Conference USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the Hurricane Soccer and Track Stadium.
The Metamorphosis of Suzuki
Monday, May 18th, 2009By Josef Tate
Contrary to popular belief, Suzuki produced cars before they moved into the two wheeled market, but the early days of the company were devoted to the production of weaving looms. The father of the company, Michio Suzuki, the son of a Japanese cotton farmer, created a brand new version of the weaving machine in the coastal village of Hamamatsu, Japan. A successful business was built upon his invention, providing employment and wealth for the company and its staff during the first thirty years of its incarnation.
Although the loom side of the business was still enjoying success, Suzuki thought the time was right to diversify, so after studying the market, he decided that the way forward would be the development of a car. In 1937, a development programme was launched, and within two years many prototypes integrating a cast aluminium gearbox and crankcase had been built. However, the company had a setback as the Japanese government declared civilian cars a non-essential commodity at the outbreak of World War 2. When the war ended, Suzuki once again concentrated on the production of looms as the US government gave the go ahead for the shipping of cotton to Japan. The company flourished for a short while as orders increased, but the rug was pulled from underneath them when the cotton market collapsed in 1951.
This could have proved the death knell for Suzuki’s operations, but rather than call it a day, the company once again turned their eyes toward motor vehicles. At this time, Japan had a dire need for cheap, reliable transportation, and a number of companies had begun to produce a clip-on engine which could be attached to a bicycle. Suzuki’s breakthrough came with the development of a motorised bicycle named the ‘Power Free’. Powered by a 36cc engine, this unique vehicle was the first to feature the double sprocket gear system, which allowed the rider to travel by pedal power alone, engine assisted pedalling or engine only propulsion. So ground-breaking was the new innovation, that the fledgling democratic government offered a grant to the Suzuki company to assist research in motorcycle engineering. This was the birth of the Suzuki Motor Corporation. By 1954, 6,000 ‘Colleda CO’ motorcycles were passing out of the factory gates every month. The Colleda was a single cylinder 90cc machine, which proved good enough to win a prominent motorcycle race during its first year of production. At this time, Suzuki also began development of the ‘Suzulight’ automobile, which featured front wheel drive and four-wheel independent suspension.
In 1955, Suzuki produced a larger offering in the form of the 125cc four-stroke ‘Colleda COX’, and an improved version of the two-stroke called the ‘Colleda ST’. The TT model, introduced in 1956 was in essence the forerunner of the Grand Prix bikes. By the standards of the day, the TT was regarded as a high performance machine, capable of reaching speeds in excess of 80 mph, and leaving in its wake, machines with much more power at their call. This motorcycle also showed a touch of finesse and featured some luxurious accessories, amongst these were indicators.
By 1958, 50, 125 and 250cc motorcycles were available from Suzuki, and the familiar ‘S’ logo was introduced. Many of you will know that the logo is still being used on motorcycles today. Engineering research went hand in hand with corporate branding, so when in 1960, Suzukis made their first appearance at the Isle of Man, it was an important milestone for both departments. By 1962 they had claimed their first World Road Racing Championship in the 500cc class. In 1964, the company set its sights on motocross Grand Prix, but enjoyed only limited success.
1976 saw the introduction of a range of four stroke machines, such as the GS400, a 400cc twin and the 750cc GS750. The shaft driven GS850G came along in 1978. So called ‘Superbikes’ were beginning to appear and the GS1000S was developed as Suzuki’s contribution to this class. In 1982, the turbocharged XN85 was introduced, and before the year was out, Suzuki had claimed their eighth consecutive victory in the 500cc class.
It’s fair to say that, had it not been for the Second World War and the later collapse of the cotton market, Suzuki could well have been solely a car manufacturer today, or worse still, not even in existence.
Alan Liptrot is the founder of the motorcycle tour company Motorbike Tours. Fancy a good read? Check out Motorbike Books More on that at The Metamorphosis of Suzuki