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Cold collaboration in UK’s refrigeration industry
Andrew Gaved ManufacturingOne of the things the cooling industry in Europe often seems to find difficult is collaboration. It is hardly surprising, given that the companies involved are quite small in scale, for the most part. Therefore, they don't necessarily have the resources or the will to work on bigger projects — particularly when it requires working with potential competitors.
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How to achieve industrial marketing success in 2016
Joe Sullivan EngineeringIHS Engineering360 recently published a fantastic study called "2015 Digital Media Use in the Industrial Sector." Based on a survey of more than 1,400 technical professionals, the prevailing message for marketers is this: As industrial professionals spend more of their time gathering information online, those of us who sell our products and services to industrial professionals must begin shifting our marketing spend online accordingly.
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Will justice finally be served on the Mobile Air Conditioning Directive?
Andrew Gaved ManufacturingWe greet the new year with a new development on an old old story — the European Commission's Mobile Air Conditioning Directive. Just before Christmas, the EC announced it would definitely be taking Germany to court for infringing the MAC Directive. Whether this represents the final chapter in the saga remains to be seen, but Germany is being called to account for effectively allowing car manufacturer Daimler to sidestep the requirements of European law for an astonishing three full years.
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Post-Paris picture: How gloomy is the outlook for oil majors?
Lucy Wallwork Natural ResourcesI reported in my last piece on how Barack Obama was preparing the ground for the United Nations climate change talks in Paris with his symbolic decision to reject the Keystone XL pipeline. The bold move seems to have worked — the deal struck Dec. 12 by the 195 nations was recognized as a major feat of diplomacy, albeit lacking on specifics and legally binding commitments.
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Bioplastic applications advancing new development routes
Don Rosato EngineeringThe bioplastics market based on "renewable carbon" is expanding from single-use compostables to durable applications with greater performance demands. The demand for renewable materials in durables is accelerating R&D to meet higher property requirements. Bio-based raw materials will shift to nonfood sources. New technologies will reduce manufacturing costs, and bring new bio-based products to market.
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Beijing illustrates the need for sustainability in travel and tourism
Linchi Kwok Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementWhile world leaders in Paris are trying to come up with a solution to deal with climate change (hopefully they can reach an agreement this time), the air pollution in Beijing has reached the hazardous level. According to The New York Times, the government declared a "red alert" for the first time Monday, warning people to take precautions for their health.
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The demise of Keystone XL redefines America’s ‘national interest’
Lucy Wallwork Natural ResourcesAfter five years of breath-holding, President Barack Obama finally sounded the death knell for the Keystone XL project last month. In doing so he made clear that "the national interest of the United States would be best served by denying TransCanada a presidential permit for the Keystone XL pipeline."
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9 surprising consequences of climate change
Dave G. Houser Waste Management & EnvironmentalClimate change is without question the environmental hot-button issue of our time. While scientists, politicians and industrialists have long argued whether its causes are naturally occurring or human-induced, the fact is that climate change is happening and the consequences of it are becoming widely apparent and far reaching.
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IEA report is ‘arrow in the quiver’ for climate change opposition
Lucy Wallwork Natural ResourcesIn October, amid dramatic reports of plane crashes and stranded migrants across Europe, the International Energy Agency (IEA) released a report keenly awaited by the environmental crowd — its Energy Efficiency Market Report 2015.
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Rapidly expanding bioplastics production capacity trends
Don Rosato EngineeringInterest in bio-based plastics is closely connected to the price of oil and is a key driver for demand of bio-based polymers. Government legislation and incentives are also strong drivers, and many companies have mandated increased use of "renewably sourced" materials in their products.
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