The Engineer
January 2004 Online
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Alstom to supply hydro turbine runners
30 Jan 2004
The US Bureau of Reclamation has awarded Alstom 20 million Euros to supply and install eight Francis turbine runners at the Glen Canyon Dam, Arizona.On the webAlstomUS Bureau of Reclamation
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Collision avoidance using lasers
30 Jan 2004
The US Navy is using specially designed laser proximity measurement system for maintaining a safe distance between ships during underway replenishment.
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Copper contracts net ABB $21 million
30 Jan 2004
ABB has won two automation contracts worth $21 million to help boost production for the Chilean company Collahausi, the world's fourth largest copper producer.
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Could plasma combustion improve fuel efficiency?
30 Jan 2004
Three Los Alamos National Laboratory researchers are embarking on a series of experiments to test out the feasibility of a plasma combustion technique that could increase the fuel efficiency of engines.
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Dutch court rules against Lindows.com
30 Jan 2004
A judge in the Netherlands today granted Microsoft a preliminary injunction against desktop Linux vendor Lindows.com Inc, a decision Lindows.com plans to appeal.
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Fingertip vessel authentication
30 Jan 2004
The Japanese JCB Company has introduced an authentication system that can identify an individual by analysing the pattern of blood vessels in the finger.
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Growing chemicals in the UK
30 Jan 2004
UK chemical sector growth, including pharmaceuticals, is forecast at 3.6% for 2004, outstripping the more moderate 2.3% growth estimated for Europe as a whole, according to Oxford Economic Forecasting.
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Surge protection
30 Jan 2004
The IEEE Standards Association has approved a new standard for surge protective equipment for AC rotating machinery rated at 1 KV or greater.
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$65 million funds army base build programme
29 Jan 2004
Earth Tech Inc, a global provider of engineering, construction, water management, environmental and transportation services, has been awarded a $65 million contract to rebuild an Iraqi military base.
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All eyes on FG104 frame grabber board
29 Jan 2004
Parvus Corporation recently announced its FG104 video frame grabber board, a low-cost solution for capturing analogue broadcast signals across the PCI bus in an embedded computer system.
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Busy yeast boosts drug creation
29 Jan 2004
Chemical engineers have shown how to make yeast cells double the activity and boost the productivity of a type of enzyme that plants need to create chemicals such as anticancer compounds.
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L-3 and Link awarded $17 million simulator contract
29 Jan 2004
L-3 Government Services and Link Simulation and Training have today received $17 million from the US Naval Air Systems Command to develop a second F/A-18C Distributed Mission Training suite.
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Norway places $86 million Javelin order
29 Jan 2004
Norway has become the fifth international Javelin missile customer after placing an $86 million order for the anti-tank weapon with the Raytheon- Lockheed Martin Javelin Joint Venture.
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Alstom to build Indian power plant
28 Jan 2004
Alstom announced today that it has been awarded an order worth 110 million Euros to build a 228 MW turnkey combined-cycle power plant India.
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BAE Systems awarded £100 million GR9 contract
28 Jan 2004
The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded BAE Systems a contract worth about £100 million to continue the £500 million Harrier GR9 sustainment and upgrade programme.
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Going for mould
28 Jan 2004
Moldflow has acquired Moorpark, CA-based American MSI Corporation, a provider of hot runner control systems for the injection molding industry.
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Hazmat Cam
22 Jan 2004
Hazmat Cam is a lightweight wireless video camera system that is housed in a tough, waterproof flashlight body.
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VME-to-PCI/X Bus Bridge
26 Jan 2004
Tundra Semiconductor has revealed details of a new VME-to-PCI/X Bus Bridge chip that implements the fast 2eSST protocol.
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Simplifying superconductors
21 Jan 2004
A scientist at the US Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory has developed a safer, easier, and more environmentally friendly way to create a certain experimental type of superconductor.
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New algorithm speeds fluid simulations
26 Jan 2004
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a geometric cluster algorithm that makes possible the fast and accurate simulation of complex fluids.
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Neurons from nanostructures
26 Jan 2004
Scientists at Northwestern University have designed synthetic molecules that promote neuron growth, a development that could lead to the reversal of paralysis due to spinal cord injury.
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Accuracy in confined spaces
26 Jan 2004
The introduction by Kerk Motion Products of the Mini ScrewRail could give designers the precision they need when accurate positioning in confined spaces is a primary design objective.
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BAE Systems awarded $107 million FAA contracts
26 Jan 2004
BAE Systems has been awarded two contracts worth $107 million by the USA's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to provide support services for the FAA's surveillance systems acquisition program.
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Researchers aim for artificial liver
27 Jan 2004
Researchers in the UK are collaborating in an EPSRC-funded project to create an artificial glass liver that will improve understanding of how the organ works.
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Nortel to sell manufacturing assets
22 Jan 2004
Flextronics announced today that it is discussions with Nortel Networks to acquire nearly all of Nortel's manufacturing operations and related supply chain activities for $500 million.
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Data transfer accelerated
22 Jan 2004
A 'transfer accelerator' technology that improves collaborative working via the internet has been developed by BIW Technologies, a UK software developer and application service provider.
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Laminate material becomes decoupling capacitor
28 Jan 2004
A new laminate material from 3M lets designers and manufacturers of high-speed digital printed circuit boards achieve higher speeds while simplifying design tradeoffs.
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Survey indicates end to manufacturing downturn
28 Jan 2004
Results from the CBI's latest industrial trends survey indicate an upturn in the manufacturing sector, with the strongest growth in total orders and output for over eight years.
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Italy awards 25 million Euro communications contract
28 Jan 2004
The Italian Ministry of Defence has awarded Alcatel and FastWeb a 25 million Euro contract to develop its new integrated joint-forces telecommunications network.
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SCO Group files against Novell
21 Jan 2004
The SCO Group, owner of the UNIX operating system, has filed suit against Novell for its alleged effort to interfere with SCO's rights with respect to UNIX and UnixWare.
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Chinese petrochemical firms turn to ABB
21 Jan 2004
ABB said today that it has won orders worth more than $41 million to supply switchgear and transformer products to two major Chinese petrochemical companies.
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Raytheon lands $38.9 million Iraqi airports contract
22 Jan 2004
Raytheon has been awarded a contract worth up to $38.9 million to supply turnkey air traffic management systems for airports in Iraq.
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Broadband from on high
22 Jan 2004
A 5.6 million Euro project involving 14 partners from across Europe and Japan aims to make Broadband available to remote rural areas and even moving trains by deploying High Altitude Platforms.
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EC approves acquisitions worth $13.9 billion
22 Jan 2004
The European Commission has approved the $4.4 billion acquisition of Invista by Koch and the proposed $9.5 billion acquisition by General Electric of Amersham, the diagnostic pharmaceuticals and biosciences company.
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Towards the paperless bridge
22 Jan 2004
The UK Ministry of Defence has selected a team led by Lockheed Martin UK as prime contractor to the Royal Navy for the latest electronic chart and navigation equipment called WECDIS (Warship Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems).
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Relay race
22 Jan 2004
International Rectifier has introduced a new microelectronic relay (MER) that it claims can deliver 75% lower on-resistance and up to 37.5% higher load current capacity compared to similar competing devices.
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Buying lasers
27 Jan 2004
Finisar is to acquire Honeywell's Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSEL) Optical Products business, based in Richardson, TX, for approximately $75 million in cash.
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Jet order lands Bombardier $637 million
27 Jan 2004
Bombardier Aerospace announced today that Mesa Air Group has placed a $637 million order for 20 Bombardier CRJ700(i) and CRJ900(i) regional jets.
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Sensor Products adds to Pressurex line
28 Jan 2004
Engineers and technicians who need to measure very high kg/cm^2 or kN or MPa pressures may find a solution in Sensor Products Inc's new Super High tactile pressure sensor film.
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Conditioning the bridge
23 Jan 2004
Texas Instruments has introduced a digitally programmable analog signal conditioner designed for pressure bridge sensors.
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Chinese order nets Alstom consortium 180 million Euros
26 Jan 2004
Alstom, in consortium with Beijing Beizhong Steam Turbine Generator Company, has been awarded two contracts, valued at around 180 million Euros to supply six steam turbine generators in China.
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Computer reads medicine
23 Jan 2004
Thanks to new software developed by bioinformatics researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center, scientists can now identify obscure commonalities in medical research data and directly relate them to their studies.
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ABB enters Japanese JV
27 Jan 2004
ABB has today entered into a joint venture with Japan's Meidensha Corporation (MEIDEN) to produce surge arresters for the Japanese power transmission and distribution market.
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Infineon acquires ADMtek for 80 million Euros
28 Jan 2004
Infineon Technologies today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire ADMtek Inc, a fabless, integrated circuit design company based in Taiwan, for 80 million Euros.
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Intel invests $20 million in EUV development
27 Jan 2004
Intel has signed an agreement to provide $20 million in funding over the next three years to accelerate the development of production-worthy extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography light sources.
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US Navy places $26 million SSDS order
22 Jan 2004
Raytheon has been awarded a $26 million contract by the US Naval Sea Systems Command for five Ship Self Defence Systems (SSDS) Mk 2 tactical ship sets.
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Microsoft and Autodesk: what's it all about?
22 Jan 2004
Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) and Autodesk are to extend their current relationship to create tighter links between their respective software. Recently, MBS briefed the ARC Advisory Group on the key points and scope of the partnership.
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AirTanker prevails in £13 billion FSTA battle
27 Jan 2004
The Ministry of Defence announced yesterday that it has chosen AirTanker Ltd as preferred bidder for the £13 billion Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) programme.
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Missiles from microbes
7 Jan 2004
The US Office of Naval Research plans to utilise microbes in a bid to reduce the costs incurred when producing missile propellant.
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Keeping the Tank ticking
9 Jan 2004
Thomas the Tank Engine, the children's favourite made famous by Rev. A. Awdry, has recently undergone serious surgery.
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Italy opts for Traxx locomotives
5 Jan 2004
Bombardier Transportation has recently been awarded a 103 million Euro contract by Italian Railways for the supply of 48 Traxx electric locomotives.
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Kvaerner to supply Adriatic LNG terminals
6 Jan 2004
Aker Kvaerner has today been awarded $21 million to perform front-end engineering design work for a liquefied natural gas receiving terminal in the North Adriatic Sea.
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Radar to warn of bio attacks
6 Jan 2004
Researchers at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory are exploring ways to use Doppler radar systems based at airports to detect biological and chemical agents that might be used in terrorist attacks.
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Marconi sells US access assets
6 Jan 2004
Marconi Corporation is to sell its North American Access business to Advanced Fibre Communications for $240 million (approximately £135 million) in cash.
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Fast forward to patent litigation
6 Jan 2004
TiVo Inc has filed a patent infringement suit against EchoStar Communications Corporation, alleging that the satellite television service provider is violating TiVo's 2001 'Time Warp' patent.
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Agilent on the offensive
7 Jan 2004
Agilent Technologies has sued PixArt Imaging in the US District Court for the Northern District of California for alleged infringement of Agilent 's patented optical mouse sensor technology.
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Brain probes from nanotubes
8 Jan 2004
Purdue University researchers have shown that nanotubes might be used to create brain probes and implants to study and treat neurological damage and disorders.
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Siemens TS awarded Indian rail contract
8 Jan 2004
Siemens Transportation Systems (TS) is to supply the complete electrical equipment for the new multiple-unit trains to be deployed on regional lines serving the Indian city of Mumbai. The order, worth around 101 million Euros, has been placed by the Indian railways ministry.
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Opals manufactured by beetles
9 Jan 2004
The gemstone opal could be manufactured synthetically copying a technique employed by a beetle to control the appearance of its outer shell.
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Sugar used in edible adhesives
6 Jan 2004
Researchers in the US are using sugar as the main ingredient in new, edible adhesives that will be used to attach straws to beverage cans, cartons and bottles.
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Navy awards $60.4 million to Raytheon
8 Jan 2004
Raytheon has today received two contracts worth $60.4 million to develop nine Co-operative Engagement Capability (CEC) ship self-defence systems for the US Navy.
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Complex cockpits
9 Jan 2004
Aircraft could achieve an even higher level of safety if cockpit designers took more of the psychological characteristics of pilots into account, according to Newcastle University researchers.
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Introducing the two hour chip
12 Jan 2004
Researchers have developed a new method to quickly and inexpensively create microfluidic chips, analytic devices with potential applications in food safety, biosecurity, clinical diagnostics and other industries.
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Anti-missile devices to protect commercial aircraft
12 Jan 2004
Teams led by BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman and United Airlines are to determine whether a viable technology exists that could be deployed to address the potential threat that shoulder-fired missiles pose to commercial aircraft.
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Auto-zero amp
12 Jan 2004
Analog Devices has unveiled what it claims is the industry's first digitally programmable, signal-conditioning auto-zero amplifier for strain-bridge and other sensors.
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Rolls-Royce awarded Middle East gas contract
13 Jan 2004
Rolls-Royce has won a $107 million contract from Dolphin Energy to supply six Trent compression packages for the $3.5 billion Dolphin Gas Project in the Middle East.
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Motorola to expand CDMA and GSM networks
14 Jan 2004
Motorola has been awarded $556 million to expand and upgrade China Unicom's Code Division Multiple Access and Global System for Mobile Communications networks in Beijing and 12 Chinese provinces.
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Mothballs
6 Jan 2004
It's hardly an appealing thought, but the overpowering fragrance of mothballs in a large wind tunnel could provide the key to improving air quality in towns and cities.
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Vishay releases silicon-based RF capacitors
8 Jan 2004
Vishay Intertechnology, Inc has announced the release of the industry's first silicon-based RF capacitors, a technology that boosts electrical performance while reducing the board space required for circuitry in cell phones.
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Camera offers safety benefits
9 Jan 2004
A new kind of camera, called the flying spot or photothermal camera, is able to solve the problem of surface crack detection in the nuclear and aviation industries.
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Hardcopy security
13 Jan 2004
Most organisations make computer security a priority, but few do the same for their networked printers. A new IEEE standard aims to fix the problem.
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BASF sells phenoxy business for 42 million Euros
14 Jan 2004
BASF announced today that it is to sell its phenoxy agrochemicals business to Melbourne-based Nufarm Limited for approximately 42 million Euros.
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Infineon increases foothold in China
15 Jan 2004
Infineon Technologies today announced the establishment of its latest IC Design Centre and new subsidiary, Infineon Technologies Xi'an Co, Ltd, in Xi'an, China.
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SNCF confirms 310 million Euro TGV order
15 Jan 2004
SNCF, France's national railway, has today confirmed a new order worth 310 million Euros for 82 TGV Duplex trainsets with Alstom and Bombardier.
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Alcatel Space to deliver hybrid satellite
15 Jan 2004
Alcatel Space today signed a contract to build and deliver, in orbit, a new high-powered hybrid C/Ku-band telecommunications satellite for WorldSat. The satellite, dubbed WorldSat-3, will operate over the pacific region.
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'Cruise missile' targets cancer
16 Jan 2004
A University of Nottingham spin-out company has developed a new drug delivery system that works like a 'cruise missile ' to target intestinal cancer.
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Flattened by bombs, rebuilt by Bechtel
7 Jan 2004
The US Agency for International Development has awarded Bechtel National, Inc a $1.8 billion contract to undertake Iraq Infrastructure II, a program to repair Iraq's infrastructure system.
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NAND gets flashy
7 Jan 2004
Infineon Technologies today launched the world's first NAND compatible flash chip based on TwinFlash technology. Initial production has started in Infineon's 200mm DRAM Dresden facility.
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Keeping the noise down
7 Jan 2004
A new research project into tyre noise on roads could lead to recommendations for improving the security and noise performance of Europe's roads.
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Free trials for SpacePC CPU Evaluation Kits
15 Jan 2004
Parvus Corporation has announced the availability of SpacePC CPU Evaluation Kits for its 4320, 4200, 2320, and 2110 Series embedded PC boards.
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Britain's innovators receive £15 million
19 Jan 2004
Sixteen bidders have been awarded £15 million from the UK Government's Public Sector Research Exploitation initiative to help them turn their research into commercial reality.
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Rayovac seizes Oriental opportunity
20 Jan 2004
Wisconsin-based Rayovac has signed an agreement to acquire 85 percent of the equity interest in China's Ningbo Baowang Battery Company for $24 million.
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Westinghouse commissions PaR Systems deal
21 Jan 2004
Westinghouse and PaR Systems have signed a letter of intent calling for Westinghouse to purchase a controlling, 80 percent interest in PaR's commercial Nuclear Equipment and Services Group.
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WestJet flies with Boeing
7 Jan 2004
Boeing today confirmed that Canadian low-fare carrier WestJet has ordered seven new Boeing 737-700s to add to its all-737 fleet.On the webWestJetBoeing
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BOC awarded Chinese oxygen supply contract
14 Jan 2004
BOC has today signed a contract for the supply of oxygen to the Taiyuan Iron and Steel Corporation, located in the Shanxi province of north central China.
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Goodrich lands Sukhoi supply contract
15 Jan 2004
Goodrich Corporation has been selected as a main systems supplier for the integration of the wheel and braking system for Sukhoi Civil Aircraft's new Russian Regional Jet Family.
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New device defends against biological threats
15 Jan 2004
Defending against deadly biological agents has been improved with the development of a four-channel microphysiometer, a device that can monitor the metabolism of living cells in near real time.
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New LNA fits between 33 and 36 GHz
15 Jan 2004
Rockwell Scientific, developers of GaAs and InP monolithic microwave integrated circuits, has introduced a Ka-band low noise amplifier (LNA) for use between 33 and 36 GHz.
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Here Rover!
16 Jan 2004
Now you too can get as excited as Sean O'Keefe, the administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as you drive a US Rover around Mars.
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Unified theory
14 Jan 2004
Should we collaborate on large engineering projects in space? Should we work together on large engineering projects on earth? Dave Wilson weighs up the pros and cons.
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Spacehab files $87.7 million Columbia claim
20 Jan 2004
Spacehab, a provider of commercial space services, today announced that it has filed an $87.7 million claim against NASA for equipment destroyed during the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.
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Boeing awarded $9.6 billion aircraft contract
5 Jan 2004
The US Navy has recently awarded Boeing $9.6 billion for the production of 210 F/A-18 Super Hornets and the system design and development of the EA-18G airborne electronic attack aircraft.
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Don't mess with Montana
19 Jan 2004
Rhodia has been fined $18 million for storing elemental phosphorus sludge, a hazardous waste, at its manufacturing facility in Silver Bow County, MT.
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Saab and BGT awarded 12.5 million Euro contract
19 Jan 2004
Saab and Germany's BGT have signed a 12.5 million Euro contract for the preparation and production of two electronics units for the short-range air-to-air missile, IRIS-T.
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ABB to build compressor stations
19 Jan 2004
ABB today signed contracts worth $190 million with the Polish investor Europol Gaz and pipeline contractor Bartimpex for the construction of two compressor stations along the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline.
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Royal Norwegian Navy sails with P&W
19 Jan 2004
Pratt & Whitney Marine Systems has entered into a $40 million contract with Norwegian shipyard Umoe Mandal to supply gas turbine propulsion systems to the Royal Norwegian Navy.
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Shell to build world's largest solar power station
20 Jan 2004
Shell Solar and Gesellschaft für Solarenergie (GEOSOL) announced yesterday that they are to build the largest solar power station in the world, south of Leipzig in Germany.
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Welsh Assembly awards Siemens £200 million IT contract
20 Jan 2004
The National Assembly for Wales has commissioned Siemens Business Services to renew and operate most of its IT infrastructure in a ten-year deal worth £200 million.
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BAE Systems awarded $110 million controls contract
20 Jan 2004
BAE Systems has received $110 million from Boeing to produce flight controls and mission subsystems for 60 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft currently on order with the US Air Force.
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Alcatel to partner EADS Astrium in SPIRALE program
20 Jan 2004
Alcatel Space has been chosen by EADS Astrium, the prime contractor for the SPIRALE ballistic missile early warning program, to build two demonstration satellites.
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Cohabiting with Galileo
16 Jan 2004
It would appear that the EU and the US are getting closer to resolving the technical issues surrounding the deployment of the EU's Galileo and the USA's GPS radionavigation systems.
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New chip offers faster virus detection
20 Jan 2004
Scientists in the US have developed the ViriChip, a new silicon device that is said to detect viruses faster and more accurately than before.
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Raytheon awarded $139.7 million JSOW contract
5 Jan 2004
Raytheon has been awarded $139.7 million by the Naval Air Systems Command for production of the Joint Stand-off Weapon for the US Navy and US Air Force.
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From the country to the car
6 Jan 2004
Volkswagen and Illinois-based Archer Daniels Midland Company have signed a joint research agreement aimed at further developing and utilising biodiesel fuels for the automotive industry.
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Tissue engineering heats up
12 Jan 2004
Tiny microheaters that can prompt chemical changes in surrounding material may provide the means to more easily grow replacement tissue for injured patients. They may also form the basis for medical sensors that could quickly detect pathogens according to researchers at the University of Washington.
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Sale still on at Alcoa
12 Jan 2004
Alcoa today announced it has sold its packaging equipment business to American Industrial Partners and management for approximately $45 million in cash.
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3M acquires Hornell for $100 million
12 Jan 2004
3M announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Sweden's Hornell International, a supplier of personal protective equipment for welding applications, for approximately $100 million.
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Chemist reveals secrets of natural adhesives
13 Jan 2004
The adhesive plaque used by saltwater mussels to fix themselves to rocks could soon find its way into medicine and industry, according to scientists in the US.
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Killing birds for power
13 Jan 2004
A US-based environmental organisation has filed a lawsuit against the FPL Group and Danish wind power company NEG Micon for their part in the 'illegal killing of tens of thousands of protected birds' by wind turbines.
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Who cut the cheese?
13 Jan 2004
Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have adapted a cold laser machining technique, which is primarily used in laser eye surgery, to the task of cutting cheese.
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ARFL selects scramjet team
14 Jan 2004
Pratt & Whitney and Boeing Phantom Works have been selected by the US Air Force Research Laboratory to flight test the Endothermically Fuelled Scramjet Engine Flight Demonstrator.
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Condition monitoring
14 Jan 2004
EA Technology has launched a combined ultrasonic and transient earth voltage (TEV) detector that is capable of detecting both surface and internal discharges in electricity switchgear.
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mg sells Plastics
3 Jan 2004
mg technologies is selling Dynamit Nobel Kunststoff (DNK) to US automotive supplier Flex-N-Gate Corporatio for 430 million Euros.
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Survey paints pessimistic picture
5 Jan 2004
Over half of the UK's top one hundred manufacturing employers expect to make redundancies this year according to a new survey commissioned by Amicus, the manufacturing union.
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Simulating bomb blasts
5 Jan 2004
Structural engineers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Jacobs School of Engineering will test the effects of bomb blasts in a new blast simulator laboratory under construction at UCSD.
