There's a new way to minimize the environmental impact of shipping goods around the world.
DHL, the German express and logistics company, will introduce its GoGreen Express service in 17 countries across the Asia-Pacific region this year. The service is created for customers who are looking for an eco-friendly shipping option. In China, the carbon-neutral service will begin in July.
One of the few Russian logistics operators operating in the country, Smart Logistics Group, has opened a new warehouse facility, which it says is the largest in Europe. Though aiming to make life easier for hundreds of cargo owners, this warehouse will not offset the high cost of transport for companies working in Russia.
The centre, near Moscow’s Domodedovo airport, will provide thousands of square metres of storage
CAIXAS DO SUL (RS) - The process of internationalizing bus manufacturer Marcopolo, of Caxias do Sul, will be continued with the announcement shortly of a new bus assembly plant in Egypt, the company's second on the African continent. The size of the new factory will be similar to the one already established in Russia, capable of producing 3,000 units a year. The information was given yesterday in So Paulo by board of directors vice-president Jos Antonio Martins, during a speech to the Brazilian Association of Metalic Construction (Abcem). 'Within a few weeks, we can return to talking about this,' said investor relations director Carlos Zignani, letting slip that the new business involves a joint venture with a local partner.
'Every five years, Marcopolo doubles in size. We are certain that in 2009 we will take another leap,' declared Zignani. According to him, the last big jump was during 2000-2001 when the company installed itself in Mexico, South Africa and Colombia and acquired rival Ciferal, in Rio de Janeiro. Sources indicated another two investments by the end of this year. 'Last year, exports and negotiations abroad represented 42 percent of consolidated net revenues. We are going to repeat that level again this year, but in 2009 it should surpass 50 percent,' he said.
Alcoa Inc.'s venture with Australia's Alumina Ltd., Alcoa World Alumina & Chemicals, has "signed a cooperation agreement with Vietnam's state-owned mining company, [Vinacomin,] to develop a 600,000-metric-ton alumina refinery and will conduct a feasibility study for a separate bauxite and alumina refinery project, the company said." The news is seen as "a breakthrough in a drawn-out effort by foreign mining companies to gain access to Vietnam's rich bauxite deposits, which some estimate to hold between two billion and eight billion metric tons, roughly five percent of world reserves."
According to Reuters (6/25, Vaporean), the "joint project will combine Vinacomin's local knowledge with Alcoa's alumina refining and operating expertise."
The Wall Street Journal reports, "Business activity in the Eurozone contracted for the first time in five years," according to the Eurozone's Purchasing Manager's Index (PMI) and Germany's Ifo Index of business confidence. Both measures fell in reports released Monday, "suggesting the global economic slowdown is now seriously affecting the 15-nation Eurozone." The PMI, "which measures business indicators such as new orders and output in the manufacturing and service sectors in the group of nations that use the euro currency, fell to 49.5 in June from 51.1 in May." Meanwhile, the "German Ifo Index fell by more than expected to 101.3 in June from 103.5 in May," as German companies said "they expect business conditions to deteriorate in the coming six months."
According to the Financial Times (6/23, Garnam, subscription required), "Analysts said the figures would make uncomfortable reading for the European Central Bank, which has all but guaranteed that it will raise interest rates by 25 basis points to 4.25 percent after its policy meeting next month."
MIT and Bosch have entered into a new energy research collaboration aimed at exploring new materials and concepts for efficient energy-conversion and energy-storage systems.
As per this collaborative agreement, Bosch becomes a sustaining member of the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI), and will contribute US$5 million to MITEI over a five-year period. The components manufacturer will support ten 'Bosch-MIT Energy Fellows.' These graduate students will conduct research in various energy disciplines.
Despite trucking’s struggles to overcome record fuel prices, weak demand and overcapacity, many carriers’ stocks have gained thus far in 2008.
Share prices of 27 of 36 publicly traded U.S. fleets rose between January and mid-June, based on a Transport Topics review of their performance. Investors either looking for bargains or anticipating a rebound pushed Standard & Poor’s Trucking Index up 31 percent by midyear. The S&P Trucking Index comprises 11 large companies, including YRC Worldwide.
The two major engine makers that will employ exhaust gas recirculation technology to meet the tightened federal emissions rules that go into effect in 2010 will use credits they have earned from the Environmental Protection Agency to hit the new mark.
Cummins Inc. and Navistar Inc. have both said they will use EGR for their heavy-duty engines in 2010. But executives with the two manufacturers said separately that the averaging or banking of credits — a process allowed by EPA since 1990 — will probably be the key for reaching the last margin of improvement for lowering emissions of nitrogen oxides to 0.2 gram per brake horsepower-hour by January 2010.
Truck tonnage in May jumped 3.3 percent from a year earlier, marking the seventh straight year-over-year increase, American Trucking Associations said.
Tonnage rose 0.5 percent from April, the first month-to-month gain since January, ATA said in its monthly seasonally adjusted for-hire truck tonnage index.