---

Delphi Automotive Systems Forms Joint Venture With Shanghai Automotive Air Conditioning Factory

SHANGHAI, China — Delphi Automotive Systems signed a joint venture agreement with a China-based company to produce climate control components for the Chinese automotive market.

The joint venture, which will partner Delphi Harrison Thermal Systems and Shanghai Automotive Air Conditioner (SAAC) Factory, will be known as Shanghai Delphi Automotive Air Conditioning Systems Co. Ltd. It will produce air conditioning modules and heat exchangers for a number of China-based customers. The heat exchanger products include condensers, evaporators and heater cores. This is Delphi Thermal's first operation in China.

Delphi Automotive Systems President and General Motors executive vice President J.T. Battenberg III said, "This joint venture with SAAC demonstrates our commitment to establishing manufacturing operations for all of our core products in China, and supports our belief in the tremendous potential in the Chinese market. It allows for us to provide components for both current and future Chinese vehicle manufacturers."

The joint venture is expected to become operational in February. Located in the Pudong New Area, the joint venture will be housed in existing facilities covering 38,000 square meters. A new structure will be built to manufacture products for Shanghai General Motors beginning in the first quarter of 1999. The facility will initially employ approximately 920 people and have an annual production capacity of 400,000 units.

"We're excited about the opportunities that exist in China's rapidly-expanding automotive market," Ronald M. Pirtle, Delphi Thermal general manager, said. "Delphi Thermal and SAAC have formed a very strong company through this strategic partnership. It combines SAAC's local market knowledge, solid customer base and long-standing presence in China with Delphi Thermal's extensive experience and expertise in thermal systems and components."

Delphi Automotive Systems currently has 11 joint ventures, three wholly-owned facilities, and seven license agreements in China. In addition to thermal management systems, Delphi's China projects cover a wide range of automotive components and systems products, including power and signal distribution systems, steering systems, engine management systems, suspension components, alternators and maintenance-free batteries.

SAAC is the largest manufacturer of automotive air conditioning systems in China. It currently has a market share of 70 percent in the domestic China market. SAAC also has a new technical center designed for the development and testing of air conditioning systems and components.

Gas Research Institute, U.S. Air Force and Army Look At How StarWars Technology Can Revolutionize Natural Gas Drilling

CHICAGO — Gas Research Institute, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army are teaming up to determine whether applications of StarWars laser technology can revolutionize how natural gas wells are drilled.

The two-year basic research project will examine the feasibility, costs, benefits and environmental impact of using laser technologies to drill and complete wells. An improved understanding of laser applications could lead to the development of several products, including a downhole laser drilling machine, laser-assisted drill bits for both conventional and slimhole (coiled-tubing) applications, a laser-perforating tool and side-track and directional laser drilling devices.

"Laser technology has the potential to revolutionize gas drilling in the 21st century," said Richard Parker, GRI principal technology manager, basic research. "Achieving a technological breakthrough with laser drilling could generate the kind of radical change that occurred at the turn of this century when the rotary drill replaced cable tools."

GRI will manage the project, and the Colorado School of Mines (CSM), Golden, will be the primary contractor. Subcontractors are Solutions Engineering, Lakewood, Colo.; the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge; and Phillips Petroleum Co., Bartlesville, Okla. The laser drilling consortium has several objectives: to determine the amount of data available on StarWars laser technologies; to evaluate the capabilities and limitations of applying lasers to drill and complete gas wells, and to quantify benefits that can be obtained from laser drilling, such as higher penetration rates, reduced rig day rates and casing requirements, and improved safety and economics.

The military's participation is in response to a congressionally mandated technology transfer program to leverage Cold War defense investments in ways that enhance U.S. industrial and technological competitiveness. The research will include tests of several laser systems at the U.S. Army's HELSTF, White Sands Missile Range, N.M., and at Air Force Research Laboratory's Directed Energy Directorate at the Phillips Research Site, Kirtland AFB, N.M. The CSM Petroleum Engineering Department laboratories will be used to determine basic rock characteristics, such as porosity, permeability, mineralogy, strength, elastic/mechanical properties, and pore-size distribution, of target samples.

Two promising high-energy lasers will be used in testing advanced drilling concepts. The Mid-Infrared Advanced Chemical Laser (MIRACL) is the highest average power laser (megawatt class) in the United States. It was originally developed for shipboard defense and used extensively for testing StarWars concepts during the 1980s and 1990s at HELSTF.

The existing MIRACL laser has propagated hole-burning power many miles through the atmosphere at flying tactical and strategic military targets, and has the demonstrated power levels needed to burn through solid materials such as soft rock minerals.

The Chemical Oxygen-Iodine Laser (COIL) is a high-powered laser invented by the U.S. Air Force in 1977 for air-to-air defense. It appears to offer potential for natural gas drilling applications. COIL has gained notoriety as an airborne laser tactical weapon capable of tracking and destroying missiles. This same precision applied to drilling and completing gas wells at depths of more than 15,000 feet could eliminate problems with well control, side-tracks and directional drilling.

“The Air Force is very interested in finding commercial uses for COIL technology," said Capt. Brian G. Quillen, laser systems engineer, Gas/Chemical Laser Technology Branch, Air Force Research Laboratory.

"Although developed as a weapon system, a COIL's high power output and inexpensive chemicals make it ideally suited for other applications. One distinct advantage of a COIL, which makes it ideal for commercial use, is its potential for coupling into fiber optics. This makes it well-suited for power projection over long distances, such as oil-well drilling."

Two other lasers are useful for studying the interactions of lasers and soft rock minerals. The electric Discharge Coaxial Laser I has been used to investigate the effects of a laser beam on numerous materials in various environments. An extensive database with 15 years of research has already contributed to a significantly better understanding of the physics of material-laser interaction.

The Laser Device Demonstration (LDD) — both LDD wavelengths (HF and DF) will be useful for determining the interactions of intense laser beams with different soft rock minerals. LDD, a prolific Defense Department research tool, has logged more than 45,000 seconds of laser-materials testing. LDD operational expenses are low enough that the laser rock interaction matrix of a substantial set of rocks and downhole conditions can be developed and explored.

The application of laser technology to drilling has its detractors. The skepticism is primarily based on theories formulated, and limited laboratory tests conducted, when laser research was in its infancy more than 25 years ago. Since then, significant advances have been made in laser power generation, efficiencies and transmission capabilities. These advances appear to have been largely ignored. A recent search of the Society of Petroleum Engineers Image Library, which contains more than 28,000 papers, listed only two references, both of which were more than 25 years old.

A promising laser test was conducted recently by Phillips Petroleum using the U.S. Army's MIRACL laser to evaluate laser boring applications. The laser beam bored through a sandstone-shale sandwich at a speed that indicates penetration could be increased by more than 100 times current rates.

Manugistics to Acquire ProMIRA Software, Creating First End-To-End Supply Chain Management Solution For Manufacturers

ROCKVILLE, Md. — Manugistics, Inc. a recognized name in supply chain management, is negotiating the final terms of a definitive agreement to acquire ProMIRA Software Inc., a leading provider of supply chain planning tools for manufacturers of complex products headquartered in Ottawa, Canada. The companies expect to finalize the agreement and close the transaction shortly thereafter.

This acquisition would combine Manugistics' strengths in demand planning, complex distribution, constraint-based supply chain optimization, and manufacturing scheduling with ProMIRA's optimized material and capacity planning and real-time order promising capabilities for complex products in industries such as high technology, electronics, and motor vehicles and parts.

Under the terms of the agreement, which has been approved by the Board of Directors of each company, Manugistics will issue 1,550,000 shares of Manugistics common stock, approximately one-half of which will be subject to certain lock-up and escrow arrangements for at least two years. In addition, Manugistics will pay approximately $5.3 million in cash for the outstanding preferred stock of ProMIRA. The transaction is valued at approximately $68 million.

Manugistics will account for the acquisition as a purchase transaction and anticipates recognizing a one-time, non-cash charge to write down acquired in-process research and development initially valued at approximately $45 million in its fiscal fourth quarter ending Feb. 28.

"We have just taken a giant step in accelerating the delivery of our vision to provide the most comprehensive synchronized supply chain management solutions across a broad spectrum of industries” said William M. Gibson, president and CEO of Manugistics. “By adding new functionality for optimized material planning and supplier collaboration, this acquisition will complement our existing solutions and bolster our offering in vertical industries with discrete manufacturing and complex products."

Chosen by clients such as Caterpillar, Compaq, Digital Equipment Corp., Hewlett-Packard, Motorola, and NCR, ProMIRA's solutions provide proven benefits in these key industries, often in less than two months.

Increasingly competitive global markets are forcing discrete manufacturers to be more responsive, to effectively manage dynamic supplier and manufacturing networks worldwide, and to collaborate closely with suppliers, distributors, retailers, and third-party providers. As a result, these manufacturers are searching for a complete supply chain solution to manage not only a complex environment, but also a complex product.

"Combining our expertise and solutions for synchronized supply chain management with ProMIRA's unique, market-leading solutions for manufacturers of complex products will create the solution that a wide range of manufacturers need [in order] to turn their supply chain into a competitive advantage," Gibson said.

Manufacturers of complex products face significant challenges in the area of manufacturing and supply including accelerating time-to-market for products with short lifecycles, incorporating product engineering changes, simultaneously optimizing material and capacity constraints, managing deep bills of materials, more quickly promising complex customer orders utilizing dynamic parts substitution, and collaborating with numerous material suppliers in real time.

ProMIRA has pioneered techniques for managing these complexities with solutions for real-time order promising, optimization of material and capacity, and supplier collaboration and management. Couple these capabilities with Manugistics5, and manufacturers of complex products will now have a total solution to meet their specific supply chain requirements.

Boeing Announces Collaboration on Joint-Venture in Malaysia

SEATTLE — The Boeing Co., Hexcel Corp., Malaysia Helicopter Services (MHS) and Sime Darby Berhad will form a joint venture to manufacture composite commercial aircraft parts in Malaysia. Discussions continue on key contractual terms of the planned joint venture, and are expected to be completed over the next several months.

The composites-manufacturing venture, to be known as Asian Composite Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd., will make composite parts for secondary structures for commercial aircraft, then supply these parts to Hexcel's facility in Kent, Wash., for final assembly and shipment to Boeing and to other customers worldwide.

The facility will be built in Alor Setar, in the state of Kedah, which is in the northern region of Malaysia near the Thailand border. Both Sime Darby Berhad and MHS are headquartered in Malaysia.

Given current economic and market forecasts, neither Boeing nor Hexcel anticipate any layoffs resulting from this joint venture. Financial terms of the joint venture were not disclosed.

"This joint venture with Hexcel, Sime Darby and MHS demonstrates our resolve in strengthening relationships with international business partners,"said Phil Condit, Boeing chairman and chief executive officer. "Malaysia has been a long-time Boeing customer, and its vision to become a high-technology hub for Asia clearly positions the country to be a leader," Condit said. "The creation of this comprehensive composites facility in Malaysia will generate substantial benefits for all four partners and Boeing customers, as well."

John J. Lee, Hexcel chairman, president and chief executive officer, said, "We are enthusiastic about expanding the company's activities in the Pacific Rim, which we view as a commercial aerospace market of enormous long-term potential. And we are delighted to extend our long-standing strategic relationship with Boeing beyond the traditional customer-supplier status."

Tan Sri Nik Mohamed Yaacob, Sime Darby Group chief executive officer, said, "The joint venture presents Sime Darby with an opportunity to diversify into other areas of aircraft-component manufacturing. In expanding our knowledge and expertise from the aerospace composites technology, we hope to develop other composites applications." Asian Composite Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd. will manufacture composite parts currently produced by Boeing and Hexcel. The facility, to employ approximately 375 people, is expected to be completed in 18-22 months. It is anticipated that the first parts will be delivered to customers in mid-2000.

Composites are tough, lightweight materials made by combining two or more dissimilar products such as fibers and resins to create a product with exceptional structural properties not present in the original materials. Composites are used in virtually all the world's major aircraft to meet requirements for reducing weight, increasing payloads, improving fatigue life and increasing corrosion resistance. Boeing is the world's largest consumer of composite materials; Hexcel is the world's largest manufacturer of advanced composite materials.

The composites produced by the joint venture will consist of fabricated parts for secondary structural assemblies on commercial aircraft, including assemblies of wing fairings, fixed or movable surfaces, and inspection-access doors and similar parts for the worldwide market.

Buyer Demand for Traditional Car Flexibility Fuels SUV Boom in U.S.

SANTA ANA, Calif. — A joint analysis by two of the auto industry's most prestigious consulting and research firms Strategic Vision and AutoPacific, Inc. concluded that America's growing fascination with light trucks is primarily a return to traditional vehicle values - good visibility, chairlike seating, easy entry and exit, lots of interior room, and ample ground clearance. Today's SUV Boom, and the growing percentage of truck market share, is due to the demand of buyers for characteristics provided by cars in the past but not available today — flexibility, interior size and ease of use.

Both consulting houses find little evidence that the 90's light truck boom is a result of fashion. "It's a sad fact of human nature that we tend to dismiss movements we don't understand as fads," lamented Dan Gorrell, Strategic Vision vice president. "Today's SUVs offer functionality that most cars have forgotten how to deliver, and that's why buyers have switched," added George Peterson , AutoPacific president. "Consumers don't care about truck versus car labels, they care about the ease of use and versatility that comes from good packaging." To back his claim, Peterson cited recent analysis by his firm revealing that today's light trucks have more in common with cars of old than do current cars. "Applied to a car today, the traditional package of a '55 Chevy would likely produce a vehicle more appealing than most current cars," he said.

Strategic Vision examined the issue from a psychological viewpoint and arrived at a similar conclusion. "Rather than being a fashion statement, light trucks are offering something far beyond image to their buyers, they're meeting fundamental emotional needs that cars used to do a better job of meeting," Gorrell said, "and those needs surface in good research." Indeed, both firms based their conclusions on extensive surveys of buyers from every vehicle model sold in America.

NEC Ships Two Enhanced Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Battery Products That Offer Increased Energy Capacity And Efficiency

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — NEC Electronics’s Molicel ICR17670 lithium-ion rechargeable battery products are in production and available for shipping.

The ICR18650 lithium-ion rechargeable battery was enhanced with increased energy and capacity, offering 18 percent more power over earlier versions of the product. The ICR17670 and ICR18650 lithium-ion rechargeable cells are the newest in NEC's line of battery products, targeted at the consumer electronic and portable computing markets.

NEC will handle all marketing and sales of Molicel batteries to its North American customer base. The ICR17670 and enhanced ICR18650 products will target the notebook PC and pen-based computer markets where increased energy and run time are critical.

"We are proud to provide the industry with innovative new products to replace nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) and nickel-cadmium (NiCd) products," said Jim Buckley, NEC Electronics Inc. product marketing manager for rechargeable batteries. "NEC Electronics' solutions are enhanced, higher-energy, higher-capacity batteries targeted for today's growing portable computer and consumer applications. These are just our first steps in providing the industry with design options for a variety of customer requirements."

The Molicel ICR17670 (17mm diameter x 67mm) is a cylindrical 1.3 Amp hour (Ah) lithium-ion rechargeable cell comprised of lithium-cobalt- oxide-cathode material and graphite-anode material. Thishigh-capacity battery is targeted at applications requiring longer run times, such as notebook PC- and pen-based computers. Operating at 3.7V nominal, the cell provides 4.8 watt hours (Wh) of energy, bringing energy efficiency to new levels.

Key features of the new ICR17670 include a thinner profile and lighter weight, enabling better volumetric and gravimetric energy densities, as well as more efficient use of space in certain design specifications.

Enhancements of the Molicel ICR18650 lithium-ion rechargeable cell provides 1.5Ah and 5.6 Wh. Meeting the requirements of portable products, this cylindrical high-capacity cell is constructed from a lithium-cobalt cathode and graphitic-carbon anode, resulting in longer run times for applications requiring constant power. With 18 percent more energy over the previous ICR18650 (1.35Ah), the cell boasts a longer battery life while still providing three times the voltage (3.7V nominal) of NiMH or NiCd batteries.

Established in April 1990, Moli Energy produces Molicel lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, battery packs and chargers. The Moli Energy manufacturing facility, with plant capacity reaching millions of cells per year, is located in British Columbia, Canada, and supports lithium cobalt and lithium manganese technologies in a range of lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. This offers North American original equipment manufacturers of portable products an opportunity to source lithium-ion batteries locally.

Mercedes-Benz Enters National Low-Emission Vehicle Program

MONTVALE, N.J. — Mercedes-Benz of North America, Inc. is entering the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) optional National Low Emission Vehicle (NLEV) Program, which is being created to help assure that cars sold in all U.S. states will produce fewer emissions than existing "47 state" cars — those in New York and Massachusetts that have already adopted California's regulations.

Mercedes vehicles are among the few which already meet the NLEV parameters. That is because every vehicle Mercedes sells in the United States, including the award-winning M-Class sport-utility vehicle (ML320), is already equipped with the technology to meet California emission regulations, the most stringent in the world.

Since model year 1981, Mercedes-Benz has equipped all of its gasoline-fueled vehicles sold nationwide with the same emissions technology as those certified in California. From a technical standpoint, all gasoline-fueled Mercedes vehicles sold in the U.S. since model year 1981 have been able to meet the highest emissions standards in the world.

Under current regulations, which can vary from state to state, it is theoretically possible for states with more stringent California regulations to get pollution from adjacent states with less stringent regulations. By adopting the new Federal NLEV standard, automakers have committed to producing cleaner-running cars for the whole country, eliminating a probable patchwork of California regulations.

Perhaps more important, from the perspective of the public well-being, is that by committing to the NLEV program, automakers will be producing cleaner-running cars five years ahead of previous Clean Air Act mandates. Enabling the ML320 to achieve such low-emission performance is a new-generation V6 engine, which is also used in the E320 and C280 sedan models, and the all-new CLK320 coupe. In general, the new-generation Mercedes-Benz powerplants get up to 40 percent lower exhaust emissions, 13 percent better fuel-efficiency, are 25 percent lighter in weight, and have a broader torque range than previous Mercedes engines.

The new engines feature two spark plugs per cylinder, and the dual ignition system activates the twin spark plugs one after the other in quick succession rather than simultaneously, with electronically varied stagger, for cleaner-burning combustion and smoother, stronger performance.

The new Mercedes-Benz engines use innovative three-valve-per-cylinder technology to reduce exhaust emissions dramatically — over 40 percent during the critical warm-up stage when much of engine emissions are produced. There's less surface area at the exhaust port, relative to a comparable four-valve engine, which dramatically reduces exhaust heat loss between the engine and the catalytic converter.

This translates to higher exhaust temperature and earlier converter "light-off." In general, there is no tradeoff in horsepower and torque with the new three-valve technology compared to a four-valve design. In any efficient, well-designed engine, exhaust valve size needs to be somewhat smaller than the intake valve area.

Booz-Allen & Hamilton Puts Its Great Minds Online; Insights Aimed at Business-Related Issues

NEW YORK — Booz-Allen & Hamilton, a worldwide management and technology consultancy, is literally putting its Great Minds Online with a new website feature that will provide business leaders, leading business schools, MBA candidates and the media with unrivaled information on breaking business-related topics.

The site, which can be found at http://www.bah.com/greatminds/index/html, will focus on the integral role that Information Technology (IT) plays in furthering the strategy and operations of today's global organizations.

Great Minds Online is a one-stop resource for details about the firm's leading consultants, along with in-depth coverage of timely topics. Launched this month, the first topics cover strategies for leveraging IT to enhance innovation, efficiency and communications, including: Why the CEO must have an IT agenda; Leveraging IT for innovation; CEOs and Internet technology, and The Year 2000 Challenge. Subsequent topics will focus on the entire range of strategic and operational issues that affect the CEO.

Great Minds Online will shift its focus frequently. Future topics will cover the range of the consultancy's expertise — from strategy, organizational and operations pages designed to help senior management solve complex problems, to specific IT subjects such as preparing for the Year 2000 or ensuring network security.

"Great Minds Online is an important tool for providing today's corporate leaders with continued access to our thoughts on the problems they're facing," said William E. Stasior, Booz-Allen chief executive officer. "While every corporate solution is unique, we can leverage the Internet as a valuable medium for sharing experiences and innovative thinking."

Frost & Sullivan Report Concludes That U.S. Emerging Network Management Application Markets Hold Abundance Of Opportunities

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Industry estimates suggest that the average firm already spends approximately 15 percent of its total information technology (IT) budget on network management, and yet companies continue their search for solutions to inadequacies in established network management solutions.

Constant network expansions and upgrades along with proliferation of Internet and intranet access continue to increase the need for network management applications across the United States.

According to recent strategic research by Frost & Sullivan, U.S. emerging management application markets are expected to balloon from revenues of $77.2 million 1997 to $5.8 billion in 2004 with a compound annual growth rate of 63.5 percent for the forecast period. Only those manufacturers and suppliers educated on the trends, competitive issues, market drivers, and restraints will succeed in this extremely profitable market.

This research includes an in-depth analysis by major segment including the network accounting/cost allocation management market, the network security management market and the Internet access management software market. Each segment is analyzed for revenue growth, market drivers and restraints, and outlook for the future.

According to Frost & Sullivan Information Technology Industry analyst Greg Etemad, "In many cases organizations are unclear about their own network management needs. User education and ease-of-use are key issues vendors are addressing to tackle this challenge." Some other key competitive issues discussed in this study include interoperability and compliance with open standards as well as decreasing government influence over the Internet.

Discussion of major strategies manufacturers and suppliers are currently employing to succeed in the U.S. Emerging Management Application Markets is provided, focusing on marketing, research and development (R&D), sales, business development, and corporate management. Current market players and those considering entrance into this promising market cannot afford to overlook this invaluable market research aimed at providing the necessary knowledge for any company's success.

Technologies covered in this report include: enterprise resource accounting and chargeback management, network usage statistics and planning tools (NUSPT), remote access security management, enterprise security management, internet filtering software, and e-mail collaboration software.

This Information Technology Industry research has integrated the market engineering consulting philosophy into the entire research process. Critical phases of this research included: Identification of industry challenges, market engineering measurements, strategic recommendations, planning and market monitoring. All of the vital elements of this system help the market participants navigate successfully through the U.S. Emerging Management Application Markets.

Electrolux Compressor Companies Selects Analog Devices As Supplier of DSP Based Motor Control ICs

NORWOOD, Mass. — Analog Devices, Inc. was awarded a three year contract for DSP based motor control ICs by Electrolux Compressor Companies (ECC), a division of Electrolux. ECC is a worldwide manufacturer of refrigerator compressors, producing over 20 million units per year.

ADI's selection was finalized after many potential suppliers and several key areas were considered. Among the key considerations were ADI's unique expertise in motor control, portfolio of DSP and data conversion technologies, high volume production capability, and ADI's highly regarded track record working closely with customers to meet stringent performance and cost specifications.

ECC is a leader in the development of cost effective, energy efficient refrigerator compressors and washing machine motor controls. According to Matteo Bellomo, senior vice president for research and development, "Energy conservation is rapidly becoming a mandatory requirement for appliance manufacturers. To achieve this goal, we looked for a system level IC partner with motor control expertise who could provide advanced performance at low cost."

ADI demonstrated its expertise in 1997 by introducing the world's first single chip DSP motor controller optimized for appliance applications. The ADMC330, which has been in volume production since October, has won customer acceptance around the world. "Analog Devices had the system level understanding and was able to meet our cost and performance targets,” Bellomo continued. “The proof is always in the execution, and I am pleased to say that our selection of ADI as our partner has proven to be so successful that we have awarded ADI a three year production contract for DSP based motor control ICs."

Near term, the ADI/ECC partnership will result in new compressor control capabilities that allow domestic refrigerators to adjust motor speed within the compressor to optimize temperature and significantly increase energy efficiency.

"Our commitment to ECC and the motor control industry is evident in our plan to develop 20 new DSP based motor control chips over the next two years," said Frank Weigold, vice president and general manager of ADI's Transportation and Industrial Products Division. "ADI is the only company to achieve volume production of single, monolithic DSP based motor controllers."

ADI's firsts in motor control include the ADMC330, the first single chip DSP motor controller available in high volume and recently chosen by EDN magazine's readers as one of the 100 best products of 1997. The ADMC330 is optimized for variable speed brushless motor drives and provides more accuracy and reliability, along with reduced power consumption and cost. It is ideally suited for control applications for compressors, washing machines, pumps and fans.

More recently, ADI introduced the ADMC300 which was designed for high performance servo controllers using induction, brushless DC or permanent magnet synchronous motors. These include controllers for industrial robots, paper and textile machines and conveyors, and general purpose variable speed drives.

According to David D. French, vice president and general manager of ADI's DSP division, "Motor control applications are a key target of ADI's DSP strategy, and we are well positioned to lead the DSP segment of digital motor control. ADI sets itself apart from other DSP and microcontroller suppliers by leveraging its low cost 16 bit DSP technology with the most advanced DSP, memory and mixed signal integration capability in the semiconductor industry. Our ECC relationship is another example of ADI's DSP based 'systems on a chip' leadership."

And considering published market size estimates as high as 1.5 billion digitally controlled motors by 2001, French said, "ADI intends to increase its lead in digital motor control and many other emerging high volume applications by leveraging our fast and widely accepted SHARC 32 bit DSP technology in the future."

Electrolux, Stockholm, Sweden, is a leading appliance manufacturer. This includes home appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and vacuum cleaners, as well as gardening and forestry equipment such as lawn mowers, garden tractors and chainsaws. Each year, 107,000 Electrolux employees worldwide manufacture and sell more than 55 million appliances. Annual sales amount to more than $13.7 billion.

With sales of $1.24 billion for fiscal 1997, Analog Devices is a leading manufacturer of precision high performance integrated circuits used in analog and digital signal processing applications. Headquartered in Norwood, Mass., the company employs approximately 7,500 people worldwide and has manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts, California, North Carolina, Ireland, the Philippines and Taiwan.

###

Mechanical Engineering Magazine Online's News Digest is compiled from original reporting and various print and online news sources. The Digest will be updated regularly.

News Digests
Updated on:

February 11th

February 9th

February 6th

February 4th