3M continued its consistent performance as it delivered another quarter of steady growth driven by strength in the Americas region. This growth was broad-based as four out of the company's six divisions recorded solid growth. 3M competes with other industrial conglomerates like Dupont and Avery Dennison.
The company's revenues for the fourth quarter of 2011 stood at $7.1 billion, up 5.7% compared to the prior year. This sales increase was driven primarily by acquisitions (+2.3%), with some organic volume growth (+1.3%). While 3M's gross margins shrunk for the fifth consecutive quarter to 46.5%, its net income increased to $954 million. The fastest region of growth for the company was Latin America/Canada where it recorded a 10% growth in sales while in the U.S. it recorded a strong 7% increase.
With the cooling of the Chinese economy and weakness in the consumer market, growth in Asia fell considerably from previous quarters to about 3%. The surprise has been Europe where, in spite of macroeconomic conditions and softness in Western European demand, the company was able to register 4% growth. The company's operating margins decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 19.2% from the prior year mainly on account of higher pension costs. To contain these pension costs, the company has put a freeze on hiring in developing countries. See our complete analysis for 3M.
The Industrial and Transportation division was the company's fastest growing segment in the fourth quarter, as sales increased 14.3% from the prior year to $2.4 billion. The division saw double digit growth in abrasives, aerospace, industrial adhesives & tapes, energy & advanced materials and auto OEM, while operating income of $472 million was up 14% from the prior year. Sales increased by 17% in Asia Pacific, 15% in the U.S. and 12% in Europe.
The company also won some new business which holds strong promise for future periods. 3M won major contracts from auto majors for catalytic converters and cabin noise reductions while 30% of its growth in tapes and adhesives came from new applications in medical devices, specialty vehicles and construction markets. 3M is also partnering with a systems integrator to deploy the world's largest solar collector in the Mojave Desert region.
2012年1月31日星期二
2011年12月8日星期四
NASA ISS On-Orbit Status 7 December 2011
After wakeup, FE-1 Shkaplerov performed the routine inspection of the SM PSS Caution & Warning panel as part of regular Daily Morning Inspection.
CDR Burbank conducted Part 1 of the periodic personal acoustic measurement protocol, distributing crew-worn acoustic dosimeters from the SMK to the Increment 30 crew, i.e., Anatoly, Anton & himself, for a 24-hr data take.
Working on the SODI-COLLOID (Selectable Optical Diagnostics Instrument - Colloid) hardware in the MSG WV (Work Volume) in COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory), Dan supported subsequent ground-commanded operations by exchanging the DSC (Diffusion Soret Coefficient) Flash Disk from the Colloid Flash Disk Container.
Anton Shkaplerov conducted the regular (weekly) inspection of the replaceable half-coupling of the 4GB4 hydraulic unit of the KOB-2 (Loop 2) of the Russian SOTR Thermal Control System, checking for coolant fluid hermeticity (leak-tightness).
Afterwards, FE-1 took a documentary photograph of the air duct fastening on SM panel 101, and also of fastening locations of the VN1 & VN2 fans on SM panels 219 and 305. Images were then transferred to OCA for downlink.
Ivanishin undertook his first session with the Russian behavioral assessment TIPOLOGIA (MBI-20), setting up the workstation, connecting equipment, suiting up and launching the program on the RSK1 laptop. [Shkaplerov stood by to assist Anatoly in donning the electrode cap, preparing the head for the electrodes and applying electrode gel from the Neurolab-RM2 kit. Data were recorded on a PCMCIA memory card and downlinked via OCA comm. MBI-20 studies typological features of operator activity of the ISS crews in long-term space flight phases, with the subject using a cap with EEG (electroencephalogram) electrodes. The experiment, which records EEGs, consists of the Luescher test, "adaptive biological control" training, and the games Minesweeper and Tetris. The Luescher color diagnostic is a psychological test which measures a person's psychophysical state, his/her ability to withstand stress, to perform and to communicate. It is believed to help uncover the cause of psychological stress, which can lead to physical symptoms. An EEG measures and records the electrical activity of the brain.]
With the Lab camcorder configured to provide live views, Dan Burbank worked several hours on the PACE (Preliminary Advanced Colloids Experiment) science payload in the FIR FCF (Fluids Integrated Rack Fluids & Combustion Facility), configuring the hardware, cleaning out oil from the AFC (Auxiliary Fluids Container), removing the old sample and starting the processing of tissue sample #2002. [PACE is an interesting Technology experiment, designed to investigate the capability of conducting high magnification colloid experiments with the LMM (Light Microscopy Module) for determining the minimum size particles which can be resolved with it.
Today's activity steps included opening the FIR doors, then cleaning up oil from inside the AFC and removing PACE sample #2004 from the PACE Test Target. Next, Dan retrieved tissue sample #2002, mounted the PACE test target and installed the sample and the PACE oil dispenser into the LMM AFC. The AFC front door was closed and the oil started to be dispensed onto the sample. The LMM Spindle Bracket Assembly was then rotated to the Operate position and the rack doors were closed. The new experiment run, which uses the newly installed PACE LED (Light-Emitting Diode) Base to allow illumination from below the samples (or trans-illumination), will enable the ground to use the LMM microscope to examine tissue and particle samples and also characterize the microscope for ACE (Advanced Colloids Experiment) scheduled to begin in 2012.
ACE Objective: To remove gravitational jamming and sedimentation so that it is possible to observe how order arises out of disorder and to learn to control this process. Small colloidal particles can be used to model atomic systems and to engineer new systems. Colloids are big enough (in comparison to atoms) to be seen and big enough that their evolution can be recorded with a camera. With a confocal microscope, templates, and grids, we can observe this process in 3-D and learn to control it.]
CDR Burbank conducted Part 1 of the periodic personal acoustic measurement protocol, distributing crew-worn acoustic dosimeters from the SMK to the Increment 30 crew, i.e., Anatoly, Anton & himself, for a 24-hr data take.
Working on the SODI-COLLOID (Selectable Optical Diagnostics Instrument - Colloid) hardware in the MSG WV (Work Volume) in COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory), Dan supported subsequent ground-commanded operations by exchanging the DSC (Diffusion Soret Coefficient) Flash Disk from the Colloid Flash Disk Container.
Anton Shkaplerov conducted the regular (weekly) inspection of the replaceable half-coupling of the 4GB4 hydraulic unit of the KOB-2 (Loop 2) of the Russian SOTR Thermal Control System, checking for coolant fluid hermeticity (leak-tightness).
Afterwards, FE-1 took a documentary photograph of the air duct fastening on SM panel 101, and also of fastening locations of the VN1 & VN2 fans on SM panels 219 and 305. Images were then transferred to OCA for downlink.
Ivanishin undertook his first session with the Russian behavioral assessment TIPOLOGIA (MBI-20), setting up the workstation, connecting equipment, suiting up and launching the program on the RSK1 laptop. [Shkaplerov stood by to assist Anatoly in donning the electrode cap, preparing the head for the electrodes and applying electrode gel from the Neurolab-RM2 kit. Data were recorded on a PCMCIA memory card and downlinked via OCA comm. MBI-20 studies typological features of operator activity of the ISS crews in long-term space flight phases, with the subject using a cap with EEG (electroencephalogram) electrodes. The experiment, which records EEGs, consists of the Luescher test, "adaptive biological control" training, and the games Minesweeper and Tetris. The Luescher color diagnostic is a psychological test which measures a person's psychophysical state, his/her ability to withstand stress, to perform and to communicate. It is believed to help uncover the cause of psychological stress, which can lead to physical symptoms. An EEG measures and records the electrical activity of the brain.]
With the Lab camcorder configured to provide live views, Dan Burbank worked several hours on the PACE (Preliminary Advanced Colloids Experiment) science payload in the FIR FCF (Fluids Integrated Rack Fluids & Combustion Facility), configuring the hardware, cleaning out oil from the AFC (Auxiliary Fluids Container), removing the old sample and starting the processing of tissue sample #2002. [PACE is an interesting Technology experiment, designed to investigate the capability of conducting high magnification colloid experiments with the LMM (Light Microscopy Module) for determining the minimum size particles which can be resolved with it.
Today's activity steps included opening the FIR doors, then cleaning up oil from inside the AFC and removing PACE sample #2004 from the PACE Test Target. Next, Dan retrieved tissue sample #2002, mounted the PACE test target and installed the sample and the PACE oil dispenser into the LMM AFC. The AFC front door was closed and the oil started to be dispensed onto the sample. The LMM Spindle Bracket Assembly was then rotated to the Operate position and the rack doors were closed. The new experiment run, which uses the newly installed PACE LED (Light-Emitting Diode) Base to allow illumination from below the samples (or trans-illumination), will enable the ground to use the LMM microscope to examine tissue and particle samples and also characterize the microscope for ACE (Advanced Colloids Experiment) scheduled to begin in 2012.
ACE Objective: To remove gravitational jamming and sedimentation so that it is possible to observe how order arises out of disorder and to learn to control this process. Small colloidal particles can be used to model atomic systems and to engineer new systems. Colloids are big enough (in comparison to atoms) to be seen and big enough that their evolution can be recorded with a camera. With a confocal microscope, templates, and grids, we can observe this process in 3-D and learn to control it.]
2011年11月27日星期日
Equipment, training upgrades aid in prompt patient removal
Imagine traveling in a vehicle and are suddenly involved in a head-on collision. One is disoriented and scared, and are trapped in the vehicle.
On Nov. 8 this scary scenario did occur on Route 17 in Hope. Emergency units were dispatched to the scene. One of the responding agencies was the Camden First Aid Association Access Team.
The CFAA Access Team is a group of volunteers whose mission at the scene is to “open up” a vehicle, or vehicles, providing EMS personnel space to work and remove injured persons. They use hydraulic tools (Jaws of Life), electric tools, hand tools, and air bags to perform this task.
A recent upgrade to the Jaws tools, as well as members commitment to training and education, permitted a quick patient removal from one of the vehicles at the Route 17 accident.
The equipment upgrade included: mounting a hydraulic pump in a cabinet readily accessible from outside the truck, three reels mounted in the rear of the vehicle connected to the hydraulic pump (three different colored hoses), hydraulic tools mounted near the reels providing quick connection and deployment (grab-and-go capabilities), quick connection couplings on the hydraulic hoses and tools which provide prompt initial setup as well as swapping tools. There is also a portable hydraulic pump and 30-foot lengths of hydraulic hose set up to be portable. A generator provides power for on-scene lighting and two reciprocating saws.
Training commitments included an all-day academy where members were educated on safety, response, scene control, cooperation with other agencies, and concluded with an afternoon of learning and practicing prying and cutting techniques using donated vehicles. Monthly drill sessions included “opening” vehicles, equipment familiarization, driver training, and locked vehicle entry.
Standard Operating Procedures and Policies are being reviewed and updated, and will be distributed to team members providing guidance, and ensuring consistent delivery of extrication operations.
Member commitment to training, education, team work, and use of the upgraded tools has resulted in efficient operations on scene.
The CFAA Access Team asks drivers to be careful as they travel, and assure drivers they will be there should the need arise.
On Nov. 8 this scary scenario did occur on Route 17 in Hope. Emergency units were dispatched to the scene. One of the responding agencies was the Camden First Aid Association Access Team.
The CFAA Access Team is a group of volunteers whose mission at the scene is to “open up” a vehicle, or vehicles, providing EMS personnel space to work and remove injured persons. They use hydraulic tools (Jaws of Life), electric tools, hand tools, and air bags to perform this task.
A recent upgrade to the Jaws tools, as well as members commitment to training and education, permitted a quick patient removal from one of the vehicles at the Route 17 accident.
The equipment upgrade included: mounting a hydraulic pump in a cabinet readily accessible from outside the truck, three reels mounted in the rear of the vehicle connected to the hydraulic pump (three different colored hoses), hydraulic tools mounted near the reels providing quick connection and deployment (grab-and-go capabilities), quick connection couplings on the hydraulic hoses and tools which provide prompt initial setup as well as swapping tools. There is also a portable hydraulic pump and 30-foot lengths of hydraulic hose set up to be portable. A generator provides power for on-scene lighting and two reciprocating saws.
Training commitments included an all-day academy where members were educated on safety, response, scene control, cooperation with other agencies, and concluded with an afternoon of learning and practicing prying and cutting techniques using donated vehicles. Monthly drill sessions included “opening” vehicles, equipment familiarization, driver training, and locked vehicle entry.
Standard Operating Procedures and Policies are being reviewed and updated, and will be distributed to team members providing guidance, and ensuring consistent delivery of extrication operations.
Member commitment to training, education, team work, and use of the upgraded tools has resulted in efficient operations on scene.
The CFAA Access Team asks drivers to be careful as they travel, and assure drivers they will be there should the need arise.
2011年9月26日星期一
U.S. Patents Awarded to Inventors in Michigan
Michigan Inventor Develops Patent for Self-adjusting Wind Turbine Generator Blade ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 26 -- Guixian Lu, Pontiac, Mich., has developed a patent (8,021,114) for a "self-adjusting wind turbine generator blade." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A self-adjusting blade for wind turbine generator or windmill will change width of blades according to wind speed to optimize efficiency. The windmill comprises a brace, rib tubes, cylinders, cylinder holders, hose holders, non-movable shells, and movable shells. The movable shells and rib tubes are organized like extendable antennas of portable radios. The movable shells are moved and held by cylinders. There are sets of hose holder for hoses and wires for cylinders. A micro-controller controls cylinders to move the movable shells according wind speed."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "The specification discloses a locking threaded fastener including a body, a coil spring, and a compression ring. The body is hex-shaped and defines a partially threaded bore, an external circumferential groove, and a passage extending radially between the bore and the groove. The coil spring is located within the bore and includes a first end angularly fixed with respect to the body and a second end extending through the passage and into the groove. The compression ring is located within the groove and defines an opening receiving the second end of the coil spring. The compression ring is free to move within the groove and includes portions that extending radially outwardly beyond the flats of the hex shape. When a conventional wrench is engaged with the hex shape, the wrench compresses the compression ring to prevent relative angular movement between the ring and the body. The "locked" compression ring thereby prevents relative angular movement between the second end of the coil spring and the body."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting mechanisms. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting mechanisms include clutches and a brake. The torque transmitting mechanisms are each selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the first, second, and third members of the planetary gear sets with at least another one of the first members, second members, third members of the planetary gear sets, and the stationary element. The torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member."
GM Global Technology Operations, Detroit, has been assigned a patent (8,021,257) developed by Michael D. Foster, Carmel, Ind., Jy-Jen F. Sah, West Bloomfield, Mich., and Peter E. Wu, Brighton, Mich., for a "hydraulic clutch control system." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A transmission includes two blocking valves that control fluid pressure to a plurality of clutches. The blocking valves are characterized by a plurality of states that result in at least three transmission operating conditions. Each of the three operating conditions is characterized by fluid pressure being unavailable to at least one of the clutches."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "The specification discloses a locking threaded fastener including a body, a coil spring, and a compression ring. The body is hex-shaped and defines a partially threaded bore, an external circumferential groove, and a passage extending radially between the bore and the groove. The coil spring is located within the bore and includes a first end angularly fixed with respect to the body and a second end extending through the passage and into the groove. The compression ring is located within the groove and defines an opening receiving the second end of the coil spring. The compression ring is free to move within the groove and includes portions that extending radially outwardly beyond the flats of the hex shape. When a conventional wrench is engaged with the hex shape, the wrench compresses the compression ring to prevent relative angular movement between the ring and the body. The "locked" compression ring thereby prevents relative angular movement between the second end of the coil spring and the body."
The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting mechanisms. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting mechanisms include clutches and a brake. The torque transmitting mechanisms are each selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the first, second, and third members of the planetary gear sets with at least another one of the first members, second members, third members of the planetary gear sets, and the stationary element. The torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member."
GM Global Technology Operations, Detroit, has been assigned a patent (8,021,257) developed by Michael D. Foster, Carmel, Ind., Jy-Jen F. Sah, West Bloomfield, Mich., and Peter E. Wu, Brighton, Mich., for a "hydraulic clutch control system." The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A transmission includes two blocking valves that control fluid pressure to a plurality of clutches. The blocking valves are characterized by a plurality of states that result in at least three transmission operating conditions. Each of the three operating conditions is characterized by fluid pressure being unavailable to at least one of the clutches."
2011年3月30日星期三
Groups warn Cuomo about gas extraction plan
About 40 groups, ranging from Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation to Trout Unlimited, wrote to Gov. Andrew Cuomo Tuesday advising him to put the brakes on allowing hydraulic fracturing that they said would pose risks as currently planned. Companies are eager to drill into the deep shale deposits below New York's surface to extract natural gas.
"We are writing to you on an issue of urgent importance to all New Yorkers – assuring that New York State does not rush to allow risky new drilling techniques in the Marcellus and Utica Shale formations unless the protection of the State's drinking water supplies and other irreplaceable resources can be demonstrated," the groups, including Common Cause and the Natural Resources Defense Council, wrote.
"Specifically, we ask that you clearly confirm that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will be allowed both adequate time and resources to fully and properly evaluate the full range of potential risks associated with new natural gas development utilizing hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," before issuing a revised draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impacts (DSGEIS) pursuant to Executive Order 41 (EO 41). Simply put, the arbitrary June 1, 2011 target date established by former Governor David Paterson in EO 41 is wholly inadequate to allow for the development of an appropriately comprehensive or legally sufficient revised DSGEIS."
The letter was copied to Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens.
"We are writing to you on an issue of urgent importance to all New Yorkers – assuring that New York State does not rush to allow risky new drilling techniques in the Marcellus and Utica Shale formations unless the protection of the State's drinking water supplies and other irreplaceable resources can be demonstrated," the groups, including Common Cause and the Natural Resources Defense Council, wrote.
"Specifically, we ask that you clearly confirm that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will be allowed both adequate time and resources to fully and properly evaluate the full range of potential risks associated with new natural gas development utilizing hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," before issuing a revised draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impacts (DSGEIS) pursuant to Executive Order 41 (EO 41). Simply put, the arbitrary June 1, 2011 target date established by former Governor David Paterson in EO 41 is wholly inadequate to allow for the development of an appropriately comprehensive or legally sufficient revised DSGEIS."
The letter was copied to Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens.
2011年3月14日星期一
Eaton Announces Breakthrough in Hydraulic Hose Technology; The Hose That Knows
Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation today announced the launch of a new
breakthrough technology that enables reporting of imminent hose assembly failure by means of
real-time monitoring of high pressure hose assemblies used in hydraulic systems. Eaton's
LifeSense hose, a patented hydraulic hose condition monitoring system, will be introduced to
the North American market at the International Fluid Power Exposition (held in conjunction
with ConExpo 2011) in Las Vegas, March 22 - 26, and to the European market at Hannover Messe
2011 in Hannover, Germany, April 4 - 8.
"Hose failures in the field present serious safety issues, environmental concerns and
result in unscheduled system downtime, all of which have serious economic impacts."
Eaton's LifeSense hose was developed in conjunction with Purdue University and the Purdue
Research Foundation's Office of Technology Commercialization to continuously monitor the
health of hydraulic hose assemblies and alert users when an assembly approaches the end of
its useful life. The LifeSense hose can monitor and track the health of each hose assembly in
a hydraulic system. This system does not estimate or predict through arithmetic calculations
when a hose is going to fail, like some products on the market today. The LifeSense hose
actually detects when a hose is nearing the end of its useful life. Then an alert is sent to
the user so that the assembly can be replaced to prevent downtime. A single monitoring unit
can handle input from multiple hose assemblies.
"Most hydraulic maintenance programs are designed to avoid hose failures by replacing
assemblies at regular intervals, using a schedule based on usage data or past experience,"
said Doug Jahnke, Eaton product marketing manager. "As a result, a large number of perfectly
good hydraulic hose assemblies are discarded long before the end of their useful life out of
fear that they might fail. The LifeSense hose allows the user to utilize virtually all of the
useful life of a hydraulic hose assembly, more than 50 percent longer life in a typical lab
test, thus saving on replacement costs and associated downtime while providing peace-of-mind
that productivity will not be impeded and safety not compromised by unpredicted hose failure.
"Additionally, hydraulic hose failure is one of the largest causes of unplanned maintenance
events," Jahnke said. "Hose failures in the field present serious safety issues,
environmental concerns and result in unscheduled system downtime, all of which have serious
economic impacts."
The initial LifeSense hose offering will include the widely-used -8, -12 and -16 two-wire
hose assemblies. Eaton's LifeSense hydraulic hose condition monitoring offers performance
equal to industry standard 2SN pressure-rated hose and is certified to the same industry
specifications as conventional hydraulic hose products. The technology is currently available
for trial with factory-made assemblies including straight JIC swivel fittings.
breakthrough technology that enables reporting of imminent hose assembly failure by means of
real-time monitoring of high pressure hose assemblies used in hydraulic systems. Eaton's
LifeSense hose, a patented hydraulic hose condition monitoring system, will be introduced to
the North American market at the International Fluid Power Exposition (held in conjunction
with ConExpo 2011) in Las Vegas, March 22 - 26, and to the European market at Hannover Messe
2011 in Hannover, Germany, April 4 - 8.
"Hose failures in the field present serious safety issues, environmental concerns and
result in unscheduled system downtime, all of which have serious economic impacts."
Eaton's LifeSense hose was developed in conjunction with Purdue University and the Purdue
Research Foundation's Office of Technology Commercialization to continuously monitor the
health of hydraulic hose assemblies and alert users when an assembly approaches the end of
its useful life. The LifeSense hose can monitor and track the health of each hose assembly in
a hydraulic system. This system does not estimate or predict through arithmetic calculations
when a hose is going to fail, like some products on the market today. The LifeSense hose
actually detects when a hose is nearing the end of its useful life. Then an alert is sent to
the user so that the assembly can be replaced to prevent downtime. A single monitoring unit
can handle input from multiple hose assemblies.
"Most hydraulic maintenance programs are designed to avoid hose failures by replacing
assemblies at regular intervals, using a schedule based on usage data or past experience,"
said Doug Jahnke, Eaton product marketing manager. "As a result, a large number of perfectly
good hydraulic hose assemblies are discarded long before the end of their useful life out of
fear that they might fail. The LifeSense hose allows the user to utilize virtually all of the
useful life of a hydraulic hose assembly, more than 50 percent longer life in a typical lab
test, thus saving on replacement costs and associated downtime while providing peace-of-mind
that productivity will not be impeded and safety not compromised by unpredicted hose failure.
"Additionally, hydraulic hose failure is one of the largest causes of unplanned maintenance
events," Jahnke said. "Hose failures in the field present serious safety issues,
environmental concerns and result in unscheduled system downtime, all of which have serious
economic impacts."
The initial LifeSense hose offering will include the widely-used -8, -12 and -16 two-wire
hose assemblies. Eaton's LifeSense hydraulic hose condition monitoring offers performance
equal to industry standard 2SN pressure-rated hose and is certified to the same industry
specifications as conventional hydraulic hose products. The technology is currently available
for trial with factory-made assemblies including straight JIC swivel fittings.
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