plus 4, Crowe Manufacturing to close says source - Dayton Daily News |
- Crowe Manufacturing to close says source - Dayton Daily News
- KYMCO USA Named Official Scooter, ATV Of NHRA - RoadracingWorld.com
- MRAP production to continue for Oshkosh - Public Opinion
- 2009 Polaris Ranger RZR Review - Motorcycle USA
- Interview With Yoke Meng Kam: Portfolio Manager Of The Singapore Fund ... - Yahoo Finance
| Crowe Manufacturing to close says source - Dayton Daily News Posted: 11 Dec 2009 02:33 PM PST
Staff Report
10:50 AM Friday, December 11, 2009
Dayton contract manufacturer Crowe Manufacturing Services will close its doors next week, a former president of the Dayton Tooling and Manufacturing Association said. Steve Staub, former DTMA president and owner at Staub Laser, said Crowe, located at 216 S. Torrence St., was involved in work for Honda, as well as other automotive and heavy truck sectors. He said he believed Honda took some of its ATV work back to Japan. "It just kind of hit them," Staub said of Crowe. Crowe's president could not be immediately reached for comment this morning, Dec. 11. A spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Angela Terez, said she would look into whether Crowe has filed a WARN (Worker Adjustment Retraining Notice Act) notice. Under certain conditions, businesses are required to file such notices, alerting the state to plans for closing facilities. No such notice could be found Friday on the state's WARN Web site. Ron Lietzke, a Honda Ohio spokesman, said he needed to gather information before commenting. He said he couldn't immediately confirm whether Honda ATV work has been moved from one supplier to another. fivefilters.org featured article: Normalising the crime of the century by John Pilger |
| KYMCO USA Named Official Scooter, ATV Of NHRA - RoadracingWorld.com Posted: 11 Dec 2009 10:16 AM PST Dec 11, 2009, ©Copyright 2009, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. Spartanburg, SC – KYMCO USA announced today that they will partner with NHRA, the world's largest motorsports sanctioning body. As part of the agreement, KYMCO USA will become the Official Scooter and ATV of the NHRA. KYMCO USA will provide NHRA with scooters and ATV vehicles for use at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events and at its five owned and operated drag racing facilities. As an NHRA official sponsor, KYMCO USA will receive visibility at NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series events as well as exposure throughout NHRA's various media platforms. "We are pleased to welcome KYMCO USA into the NHRA family of official sponsors," said Gary Darcy, senior vice president of sales and marketing, NHRA. "The quality scooters and ATVs that KYMCO USA provides NHRA will certainly help our Safety Safari team as well as our track officials do their jobs in a more efficient manner. In turn, we feel the partnership will offer exceptional exposure opportunities to generate awareness and recognition for KYMCO USA." This is the first sponsorship relationship between NHRA and KYMCO USA. "We're extremely excited to be partnering with the NHRA," from KYMCO USA president/CEO Eric Bondy. "They're a world class organization that provides tremendous entertainment for all members of the family. This partnership falls directly in line with our strategy of partnering with great organizations to build national awareness of the KYMCO brand. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship."
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| MRAP production to continue for Oshkosh - Public Opinion Posted: 11 Dec 2009 10:01 AM PST Oshkosh Corp., parent company of JLG Industries of McConnellsburg, announced Thursday it has received an additional $175 million order from the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command Life Cycle Management Command to deliver 400 MRAP All Terrain Vehicles. To date, Oshkosh has received six awards valued at $3.3 billion to deliver a total of 6,619 M-ATVs. The company has ramped up production to achieve 1,000 vehicles per month in December and this new award will extend production into May 2010. JLG in McConnellsburg is picking up some of the M-ATV work. "Our employees understand the importance of this program. There is an unfaltering commitment and tremendous persistence at Oshkosh to answer our customer's needs," said Robert G. Bohn, Oshkosh Corporation chairman and chief executive officer The Oshkosh M-ATV achieves superior off-road mobility through the incorporation of the Oshkosh-patented TAK-4 independent suspension system, which has undergone more than 500,000 miles of government testing and is used on more than 10,000 Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacements. The TAK-4 system provides 16 inches of independent wheel travel and a 70 percent off-road profile capability. Oshkosh also has received orders to supply more than 2,400 TAK-4 systems for legacy MRAP upgrades for improved off-road mobility in Afghanistan. The Oshkosh M-ATV launch team, which has exceeded M-ATV delivery requirements for five consecutive months, was a recipient of 2009 Defense Manufacturing Excellence Awards from the National Center for Advanced Technologies.Oshkosh Defense teamed with Plasan North America to provide an advanced armor solution for the M-ATV. Plasan also developed the armor system used on more than 5,000 legacy MRAPs and thousands of Oshkosh Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement MTVR Armored Cabs already in theater. fivefilters.org featured article: Normalising the crime of the century by John Pilger |
| 2009 Polaris Ranger RZR Review - Motorcycle USA Posted: 11 Dec 2009 08:43 AM PST
Every once in a while a new product comes along that completely changes the way we do things. Sometimes that change is as big as the zipper, and sometimes more like sliced bread. For those of us fixated on ATVs those new products would be things like the original 3-wheeled ATC, or the Honda 250R, the Polaris Sportsman with its independent rear suspension, or the Prairie with a big V-twin engine and a locking front differential! For the UTV crowd this lightning has struck twice, first in November of 2003. That's when Yamaha introduced a new model to its lineup, called the Rhino. It wasn't a true utility machine and certainly not an ATV. Basically a combination of an ATV's agility, a UTV's capability, and the pure fun of a dune buggy, Yamaha used the term Side X Side to classify this new model. With the Rhino, Yamaha started a whole new class of off-roading and from that day on the off-road world would never be the same. Then on February of 2007 on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona, Polaris introduced the RZR and that lightning of unsuspected change struck our industry once again. Every magazine editor at the event was caught completely off-guard by what they saw on that cold morning in the desert. The 50-inch wide RZR seemed to fit better into the category of a two-seat ATV than as a utility-oriented UTV. The RZR had incredible performance from its 800cc Twin, great handling, and the ability to go where previously only ATVs could go - those 50-inch wide, two-track trails. For 2009 Polaris has shown their desire to continue to develop the RZR and make it every bit as good as they can by making a host of evolutionary improvements. First, to improve safety, the protective roll cage has been strengthened by 30% and the side safety nets have been revised for easier use. Also modified were the shoulder protectors.
One of the most noticeable improvements is the change in the throttle pedal. Owners of early models oftentimes complained of a too-quick throttle response that could cause jerky operation at slow speeds over bumpy terrain. For 2009 the throttle linkage has been modified to require a bit more movement for the first portion of throttle application. In addition to that, a heel pocket has been added into the floorboard to help keep your foot from sliding around as much in rough terrain. As before, the RZR offers you the ability to adjust the seats fore and aft. Although not quite as easy as a sliding lever like you find on your car, you can unlatch the seat from the RZR and by loosening four Torx-head screws slide the seat forward or back. Of course, we're not sure who made the call to use Torx bolts since I don't know many people that happen to carry a set of those around in their tool kit! There's enough adjustment to provide a comfortable seating position for just about everyone from 5'5" to 6'5." Also helping in that department is the tilt steering wheel. Simply pull the lever on the side of the steering column and a hydraulic shock allows the wheel to tilt up for easy egress and seating for the big-and-tall group, and down for easy reach by those in the category of short-and-thin. And while we're discussing the steering wheel, it has a pair of bulges at 10 and 2 o'clock that help make it comfortable to grip, even in tough going. The dash layout and gauges remain the same for 2009 with a large speedometer dial located in the center of the dash with the odometer, trip meter, hour meter, tachometer, clock, fuel gauge, and drive position all located inside its face. Also on the dash are the switches for the headlights, the all-wheel-drive system, along with a 12-volt accessory plug. Missing for 2009 is the rear backup and work lights and the controlling switch. Evidently few people use their RZR's at night and fewer still back them up in the dark. On the passenger's side you'll find the same great adjustable T-handle grab bar that's typically found only in off road racecars and sand buggys. Although other manufacturers have tried their best to provide a new and improved way for passengers to comfortably hold on while pounding through the back country, the simple t-handle is still by far the best, easiest to use and most comfortable. For 2009 Polaris has strengthened the frame around the front and rear suspension's attachment points as well as the rear suspension mounts to better withstand the stress applied from adding long travel arms and shocks on the RZR S model. The front and rear suspensions consist of dual A-arms with five-way preload adjustable shocks at each corner. The total suspension travel is nine inches up front and 9.5 inches in the rear. To help keep the RZR more stable when cornering, there are anti-sway bars on both the front and rear suspensions. Although the anti-sway bars can help on the fast stretches of fire roads, they do limit the articulation of the suspension in the slow-going rough stuff. Although the ground clearance sounds reasonable at 10 inches, with the stock 25-inch Maxxis bias-ply tires mounted on 12-inch steel wheels and a 77-inch wheelbase, the RZR still drags its middle over many obstacles an ATV would clear. Remember that even though the RZR is barely any wider than the typical ATV, it has over two feet more space between the front and rear wheels! Powering the RZR is a longitudinal liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 760cc Twin cylinder engine putting out 52 horsepower and propelling the RZR to a top speed of approximately 55 mph. A belt-driven CVT transmission is mounted to the rear of the big Twin. Previous RZR's have been plagued with problems of dust getting through the air filter intake system and causing engine damage. For 2009 Polaris has redesigned the intake system for improved durability so the RZR can now be driven for many more miles before requiring the air filter be cleaned. Also redesigned is the exhaust system with better heat protection at the exhaust manifold and a redesigned muffler for an even quieter sound. A lever between the seats directs the engine's power through the CVT transmission. Pull the lever all the way back for high range, one notch forward of that is low range, one more finds neutral and finally reverse and park position at the front two positions. Polaris modified the shift linkage for easier shifting between gears, and most importantly the shifter can now be moved more easily from the park position even when the RZR's parked on a steep incline. The brakes are hydraulic-operated discs at each wheel, controlled like your truck by a foot pedal next to throttle. Still missing is a hand lever cable brake system for use as a parking brake or as an emergency brake should the hydraulic brake system fail - or should you merely find yourself compelled to do E-brake turns. Ah, now perhaps that may just be why there is no hand brake considering we are living in a time where the great lawyer conspiracy helps protect the stupid from being responsible for their actions. The RZR has a comparably light dry weight compared to other side-by-sides of only 945 pounds. Unfortunately, that light weight has been achieved with the extensive use of plastics. It's rated to carry only 300 pounds in its small 42 x 22-inch bed, but can tow 1500 pounds using the slide-in hitch receiver system – now reinforced for 2009. The bed is also equipped with Polaris' unique Lock & Ride cargo latching system. The RZR has a lot going for it. We really like the sporty, clean looks, comparing it to the Ford EX experimental off-roader first seen at the 2001 Detroit Auto Show. It has incredible handling and an amazing amount of power. Plus it's great sounding and yet wonderfully quiet at the same time. Of course one of the best features of the RZR is that it fits on those beautiful and fun 50-inch trails. We also appreciate the adjustability of the steering wheel and the seats and that helps the RZR to be comfortable to ride in for hours at a time without complaint. And of course, the great grab bar helps the passenger to feel as comfortable in rough terrain as the operator. There are some downsides to the RZR. First, we really think it needs that hand-operated brake for parking and emergency use. Also the Polaris' drive system doesn't provide the engine's braking to all four wheels even when in 4WD, and this causes the RZR to be far more demanding to drive in steep downhill terrain than it should be. We also wish it came with more sealed storage that's easily accessible while seated. And now, more so because we see the RZR S come with nice wheels and tires, we sure wish the regular RZR would come with a set of wheels and tires more suited for actual off road use. As it is they'll be stacked in the garage while you spend hundreds more dollars for a set of good radials. The bottom line on the RZR is this; if you can only have one vehicle for exploring the scenic back country, especially those incredible ATV-only trails, playing race car driver in the sand dunes and maybe even doing some light chores around the farm, then you're going to have to look pretty hard to find any one better and more fun than the RZR. fivefilters.org featured article: Normalising the crime of the century by John Pilger |
| Interview With Yoke Meng Kam: Portfolio Manager Of The Singapore Fund ... - Yahoo Finance Posted: 11 Dec 2009 04:46 AM PST 67 WALL STREET, New York - December 11, 2009 - The Wall Street Transcript has just published its China & Japan Report offering a timely review of East Asian stock markets for serious investors. This 132 page feature contains expert industry commentary through in-depth interviews with public company CEOs, Equity Analysts and Money Managers. The full issue is available by calling (212) 952-7433 or via The Wall Street Transcript Online. Topics covered: Chinese ADRs - Asia Pacific Fund - Greater China Fund - Non-Mainstream Names - China and the US, The Most Vibrant Growing Global Economies - Japan Equity Fund - Expectation of Strong Earnings in Singapore Companies - Thai Government Key Driver for Economic Recovery in 2010 Companies include: Deer Consumer Products (DEER); Lonrho Africa (LNAFF.PK); Nintendo (7974_JP); Puda Coal (PUDA); AU Optronics (AUO); Acorn (ATV); Alcon (ACL); Amphenol (APH); Apple (AAPL); Baidu (BIDU); BioPharm Asia (BFAR.OB); British Petroleum (BP); CNOOC (883_HK); Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ); Chaoda Modern Agriculture (0682.HKG); Cheung Kong Holdings (CHE.SG); China Automotive Systems (CAAS); China Housing & Land (CHLN); China Merchants Bank (3968_HK); China Mobile (CHL); China Ritar Power (CRTP); China Sky One Medical, Inc. (CSKI); China Unicom (CHU); China Valve Technology (CVVT); Chunghwa Telecom (CHT); Cisco (CSCO); Cogo (COGO); Disney (DIS); DuPont (DFT); Ezra Holdings (5DN.SIN); F5 (FFIV); FEMSA (FMX); Fanuc (6954_JP); Flextronics (FLEX); Global Sources (GSOL); HK Exchange (388_HK); Hewlett-Packard (HPQ); Honda (HMC); ICBC (1398_HK); ICON (ICLR); Juniper (JNPR); KONE (KNEBV.HEL); Komatsu (6301_JP); L'OrŽal (LOR.BE); LG Display (LPL); LIC Housing Finance (LICHF.IN); MUFG (MUFG); McDonald's (MCD); Mitsubishi UFJ (MTU); Molex (MOLX); Nabors (NBR); NestlŽ (NESR.F); Nobel Biocare (NOBN.VX); Orascom Telecom (OTLD_LI); Pargesa Holdings (PARG.SWF); Roche (RO.SW); SK Telecom (SKM); Sanofi-Aventis (SNY); Sasol (SSL); Singapore Telecom (SGAPY.PINK); SinoHub (SIHI); Sinopharm (1099_HK); Sony (SNE); Swiss Water Decaf (SWS-UN.TO); Terna (TRN.BIT); Total (TOT); Total Produce (T70.BE); Toyota (TM); Toyota (7203_JP); Venture Corporation (V03.SIN); WSP Holdings (WH); Wal-mart de MŽxico (WMMVF.PK); Winner Medical (WWIN); Wonder Auto Technology (WATG); Xcel Energy (XEL); Yamaha Motor (7272.JP); Yongye International (YONG); Yum! Brands (YUM). In the following brief excerpt from just one of the 27 in depth interviews in the 132 page Special Report, a top tier portfolio manager discusses the outlook for the East Asian stock markets for investors. Yoke Meng Kam joined DBS Asset Management Ltd. in December 2007 as Head of Asian Equities. He has 16 years of fund management experience in OCBC Asset Management and Lion Capital Management, where he last held the post of Head of Equities and Deputy Head of Asian Equities respectively. He has extensive experience in managing portfolios whose mandates range from absolute return to benchmarked mandates relating to Asia Pacific ex-Japan, ASEAN and other single country funds/portfolios. He was also responsible for making portfolio allocation decisions and overseeing the investment process. He graduated with an Honors Degree in Accountancy from the National University of Singapore. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst. TWST: What about the Singapore companies you have found attractive? What are some of the core holdings in the Singapore Fund? Mr. Kam: We have a couple of stocks that have been big winners for the fund this year. One of them is Venture Corporation (V03.SIN), that is an OEM providing manufacturing and design services for electronic appliances. The stock price has collapsed because of the downturn in the economy. This resulted in a greatly reduced order book. Furthermore, they have also invested in some CDO portfolios and took major write-downs. Having said that, I think we took the opportunity sometime in the early second quarter to move back into the stock. We believe that the downturn in the operations is temporary in nature, given that the management has proven in the past to be very astute and are able to weather the ups and downs of their marketplace. Secondly, which on hindsight has come as a bonus to us, there has been a substantial write-back of their CDO portfolio, which may result in upside of S$0.50 per share in net asset value to the company by the end of next month, when the CDO portfolio matures. The second stock that we have a major position and which have done well for us is Ezra Holdings (5DN.SIN). That is a company in the offshore marine sector, which owns a fleet of offshore supply vessels. Ezra is moving up into related industries such as subsea engineering and ownership of some FPSO. Its share price has also been affected by the meltdown in the stock market. We took the opportunity to increase the position because we were convinced that the long-term outlook for the company remained very robust and that when the dust settle down, the company would be able to see a resurgence of their order book. Their fleet of offshore marine vessels has got quite decent long-term charters, and they were chartered at fairly attractive rates, given that this fleet is fairly young and new. We are happy to hang onto the position, as they offer tremendous upside opportunities. The Wall Street Transcript is a unique service for investors and industry researchers - providing fresh commentary and insight through verbatim interviews with CEOs and research analysts. This 132 page special issue is available by calling (212) 952-7433 or via The Wall Street Transcript Online . The Wall Street Transcript does not endorse the views of any interviewees nor does it make stock recommendations. For Information on subscribing to The Wall Street Transcript, please call 800/246-7673 fivefilters.org featured article: Normalising the crime of the century by John Pilger |
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