Dow Corning window sealant technology is helping protect the new zero-emission Princess Elisabeth polar research station which opened in Antarctica recently to study climate change. The Euro 20-million science station is totally energy self-sufficient and also aims not to emit any carbon dioxide emissions, according to the Belgian-based International Polar Foundation that runs the base. The station is constructed to conserve energy through various means including energy-saving windows made possible by Dow Corning and micro-organism technology that allows re-use of water up to five times. Power and hot water are made possible by wind turbines on a nearby mountain and solar panels mounted to the building’s structure. 

"In today's volatile climate, we can have hurricanes one day and severe floods the next," says Jean-Paul Hautekeer, European Construction Director. "Dow Corning silicones are virtually unaffected by weather -- rain, snow, humidity, ozone, temperature variation or the sun's damaging ultraviolet rays -- and can make building what we may think is impossible, possible." The same silicone science from Dow Corning used at the Princess Elizabeth research station is protecting people and property to the end of the Earth and beyond.

Participating at the 2009 IMB Trade Show held at Cologne in Germany, Lectra showcased the Design Concept Auto, a flagship solution for automotive textile-based product design and development. Equipped with this solution, users can create virtual models, run feasibility analyses, develop templates, and estimate costs, resulting in reduced time-to-market for finished products. 

Recently launched, the new version of DesignConcept Auto (V4R1) offers a novel approach to 3D/2D design and product development. One of its many significant benefits is its automatic marker-making module, which calculates estimates of fabric consumption and related costs according to the customer’s business model. These calculations are carried out during the design phase and hence very early in the design and development process. The new automatic marker-making module provides project leaders with valuable and detailed information about the different fabric savings possible for each design option, thus allowing them to make the wisest decisions. 

When this module is used in conjunction with feasibility analyses, companies equipped with DesignConcept can shorten production cycle times through perfect project management in line with the business model chosen initially and the company’s main criteria—cost, quality, time-to-market. With the new DesignConcept Auto offer, costs are no longer imposed but foreseen and managed.

Continental inaugurated its technical centre at Bangalore recently. Called Technical Center India, the entity will be instrumental in developing automotive technology and provide software services for Continental Automotive Group. Since the year 2006, the Technical Center India has partnered with Siemens Information Systems Limited (SISL), KPIT Cummins Infosystems Limited (KPIT), and WIPRO Limited for developing and supporting multiple automotive engineering projects for its global customers at Continental. 

Now the company is further expanding its Indian operations by establishing a captive development centre in Bangalore. Employing 600 engineers and aiming to grow by 20per cent year on year, the activities of the Technical Centre India include development and testing of engine management systems to reduce fuel consumption and emissions of engines, development of digital tachographs and telematics systems to optimize fleets of commercial vehicles and public transport systems (e.g. London Bus System), testing of energy management software for electric and hybrid electric vehicles, software development and verification for electronic braking systems, testing and enhancement of body controllers with integrated tyre pressure monitoring systems, software enhancement for emergency call systems, software development to connect mobile phones with the car audio system and to stream media from the phone to the car and development of high-end car radios with embedded phones which enable new kind of services into the car. 

Inaugurating the centre, Dr. Gunnar Juergens, Head of the Technical Center India commented, "The approach consists of a captive development centre of Continental and Offshore Development Centers (ODC) which are operated by our engineering partners. Our partners in India are SISL, KPIT and WIPRO. By working with partners we acknowledge the fact that India has great engineering talent and trusted experience in managing and developing world-class engineering. Our joint approach with the partners has been very successful and has built up a high level of acceptance and trust inside Continental, worldwide. The Continental Technical Center India demonstrates that "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”. 

Dr. Markus Distelhoff, Managing Director of Continental Automotive Components (India) Pvt. Ltd., expressed that with the opening of the Technical Center, Continental (India) has achieved another milestone in the history of Continental India. "Globally, Continental India is recognized not only for its manufacturing capabilities but also for its development and engineering services. The Technical Center India brings home the rich experience of working on innovative technology for advanced markets and enables our engineers to localise technology for emerging markets at affordable prices." he added.

Tata Motors has announced the commercial launch of the Nano. The Nano is BS-III compliant and comes with an all-new 2-cylinder aluminium MPFI 624 cc petrol engine mated to a four-speed gear box and will be available in three variants. The cars will be on display across the country at Tata Motors Passenger Car dealerships and other select authorised outlets from April 1. 

Speaking at a press conference, the Chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Motors, Mr. Ratan N. Tata, said, “The Nano represents the spirit of breaking conventional barriers. From the drawing board to its commercial launch, the concept, development and productionisation of the car has overcome several challenges. It is to the credit of the team at Tata Motors that a car once thought impossible by the world is now a reality. I hope it will provide safe, affordable, four-wheel transportation to families who till now have not been able to own a car. We are delighted in presenting the Tata Nano to India and the world.” 

The Nano is currently being manufactured at the company’s Pantnagar plant in Uttarakhand in limited numbers. The new dedicated plant, at Sanand in Gujarat, will be ready in 2010 with an annualised capacity of 350,000 cars. 

The Nano offers a spacious passenger compartment that can comfortably seat four adults. With a length of 3.1 metres, width of 1.5 metres and height of 1.6 metres, the Nano has the smallest exterior footprint for a car in India but is 21% more spacious than the smallest car available today. A high seating position makes ingress and egress easy. The Nano is available in three variants — Standard, CX and LX. It offers a fuel efficiency of 23.6 km/litre, certified by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) under mandated test conditions, which is the highest for any petrol car in India. 

In view of the expected significant demand and limited production capacity initially until the Sanand plant is fully ramped up to capacity, the Tata Nano will be available through a booking mode. Tata Motors has entered into an exclusive agreement with the State Bank of India to manage the booking process. The sale of application forms and acceptance of booking will start from April 9th 2009 till the end of day April 25th 2009. Deliveries will commence from July 2009.