A recent story about a DP Technology product, the Esprit 2010 was reported on February 23, 2010. DP Technology is a California based privately owned corporation established in 1982 by Daniel Frayssinet and Paul Ricard.

Their highly technical computer products for use in manufacturing will be showcased at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico that is set to happen beginning on March 4 in Puerto Rico. Their latest high performance , full spectrum, computerized manufacturing system is the ESPRIT which has a full range of machine tool applications.

Officials from DP Technolgy will be at the Convention Center in Puerto Rico to answer questions on how the ESPRIT functions and what upgrades are available along with information on how to apply those upgrades.

The ESPRIT 2010 computerized model improves the functionality of integrated multi tasking and mill turn machine tools. What the company or DP Technology wants to showcase is the innovative design of the ESPRIT 2010.

In technical manufacturing language the company has designed “all Esprit milling and turning machining capability, from two axis turning to five axis milling, is available for any type of mill turn machine tool, including lathes that perform milling, mills that perform turning, Swiss style machines and other integrated mill turn machining centres.” The information can be found in total on dp.technology.com.

The information released to the press states that support for multi tasking machine tools has been improved by using technology that allows choice in cutting tool configuration and orientations thus helping to support more and different type of machines. .

Basically, the Esprit 2010 has been re structured by adding capabilities for three or more rotary axes that benefits the owner of the ESPRIT to computer programing to simulate complex machine tools. The enhanced functioning of the ESPRIT is advertised as reducing EDM or Electrical Discharge Machining programming time from 160 minutes to 1 minute. This amazing saving in man hours is sure to have an impact on the future of manufacturing capabilities and work hours required by human intervention.

DP Technology will showcase their latest futuristic manufacturing marvel at Interphenex Puerto Rico, on March 4 and 5 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

According to researchers at Yale University, sponsors of an electric forklift development program, their new VL electric forklift truck is the most energy efficient and ergonomically advanced counterbalance series available in its weight capacity, which ranges from 2,200 to 3,500 kilograms. This vehicle features five wheelbase and capacity configurations and is designed for both indoor and outdoor use. This forklift truck works especially well in areas where space is at its best.

Other features included on this new VL series include easy access, a three-point entry, adequate floor space, right-hand access, large amount of head room, cushioned arm and palm rests, levers that can be controlled by the fingertips, a full suspension seat, and a heads up display. All of these features work to make the operator as comfortable as possible, and to reduce the occurrence of repetitive stress injuries and body vibrations.

This new forklift truck also enables the customer to decide which operating setting is most suitable for their business. This is called Yale’s e-balance technology. The customer can choose either the high productivity setting or the energy efficiency setting, depending upon their needs. While engaged in the high productivity setting, the forklift will provide maximum traction and hydraulic performance. When the vehicle is operating in the energy efficiency setting, it has been shown through the VDI 2198 standard test to consume 20 percent less energy than the same vehicle manufactured by leading competitors.

Another feature of the VL series forklift truck is the Yalestop Automatic Park Brake. This comes standard on all new electric counterbalance forklift trucks manufactured by Yale, and is automatically enabled when the vehicle is stopped or when the operator is not in place on the seat. This helps to improve the driver’s control over the truck on ramps and steep grades. It also works to increase the productivity of the vehicle when the driver is continuously getting on and off the vehicle. By implementing the use of the Yalestop Automatic Park Brake, the need for alarms or other buzzers used to alert the operator of the forklift truck that the handbrake has not been set is eliminated.

Hyundai Heavy Industries Europe, sometimes referred to as HHIE, has been firmly established as a major supplier of construction equipment and industrial trucks to Europe since the early 1990s. In recent years, the sales of this company have continued increase at a very fast rate. During the period of time between 2003 and 2005, this manufacturer increased the volume of product traded in Europe by about 25 percent each year. However, in 2006 HHIE greatly surpassed these previous gains by increasing their trading volume by over 40 percent. During this record-breaking year, the Korean manufacturer sold more than 2,700 pieces of construction equipment and over 1,500 forklifts, for a total of more than 4,200 machines sold during the year.

As well as expanding their sales, Hyundai has also worked to improve the reliability of their dealer network. The manufacturer has realized that this factor greatly affects the reputation of the company, and has worked to provide the best customer support possible for its customers. This can range from advice and sales to parts delivery and financial services. Customers utilizing customer support from this company can expect to receive first-class support direct from Hyundai’s customer support centre located in Geel, Belgium. The company also has the capability of delivering most repair parts in twenty-four hours or less, due to the fact that more than 95 percent of the company’s spare parts are stored in centrally-located Belgium. For those parts that are stored in the manufacturer’s home country of Korea, delivery time is usually no longer than three days.

Hyundai Heavy Industries Europe is constantly working towards developing new, more efficient machines. In 2006, HHIE progressed into the world of large machines with the development of its R500LC-7A crawler excavator, which is designed to be used during extraction operations. This machine was presented for the first time at Intermat 2006. The company is currently presenting a zero tail swing mini-excavator, which is the first of its kind. New forklift models with greater lifting capacities than previous machines are in development, as well as battery-operated tow trucks. These new models will greatly increase productivity and provide customers with much-needed support.

As part of the exhilarating town-centre redevelopment project currently in the works in Bingley, West Yorkshire, the Stannah Group has recently installed an outdoor moving walkway. The Stannah Group is a long-standing, family-owned company dedicated to providing quality stairlifts to its customers. The newly-installed moving stairway takes customers and their shopping trolleys back and forth from the car park to the Co-operative Food Store and the shopping centre effortlessly. The Co-operative Food Store boasts and 11,500 square foot space while the shopping centre located beyond is a newly built 5Rise design. The shopping centre cost an estimated 5 million pounds, and opened in December of 2009.

This new walkway is lit entirely by LED lights, which are the most eco-friendly light choice available. These lights help shoppers to travel safely between the car park and the shopping centre. As an additional safety measure, the wheels of the trolley lock into the bed of the moving walkway, which ensures that customers will be safe at all times.

This exciting new walkway is part of a master plan to revitalize the towns of Keighley, Bingley, and Shipley. The aim of the plan is to focus on improving the core of each town. This will help to provide the best environment possible for both residents and visitors alike. The plan focuses on three main components, which are development, transport, and environmental projects.

The current shopping centre is part of the original Myrtle Walk Shopping Centre. This shopping centre was marked for demolition by the developers; however, most of the buildings were able to be regenerated, and additional space was built on to the existing structure. The library was also relocated to a space within the centre. The hope of the developers and those associated with the town-centre redevelopment project is that this shopping centre will act as a catalyst and boost the next phases of the project.

The moving walkway installed by the Stannah Group replaces a flight of steps that was difficult for many pedestrians to maneuver. The flight of steps was uninviting to visitors as well. This new stairway provides the most direct route to the car park from the shopping centre, making it very convenient for shoppers.

Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city is to be supplied with 339 escalators and elevators for their newly developing major subway system by Schindler. The 22km Kadikoy-Kartal line would provide an important travel system for the Asian half of the city that is highly populated.

Booked last year, this contract covers 272 escalators and 67 elevators that are to be installed in the 16 stations along the Kadikoy-Kartal line. These installations are expected to be completed by the end of 2010, after which the system is to be handed over to the city officials at the end of March 2011.

The lengths of these escalators range between three and twenty meters and are constructed with special features and materials like stainless steel landing platforms and balustrades that protect the structures from the elements. While most of the doors are installed with glass balustrades, some of them have steel on one side and glass on the other side.

This new metro line would provide a transport system for their mostly populated region, namely the Asian half of the city. It would make their commute safe, clean, effective and with less delay. This line would also serve as a connection to the European side of the city, where most of the jobs are situated.

The Turkey General Manager at Schindler, Mete Zadil is pleased and honored to work with contractor Avrasya Metro Grubu on this massive transportation assignment. He believes that the Kadikoy-Kartal subway line would aid and enhance mobility and help the people gain access to occupations and services located at the other side of the Bosphorus strait.

Istanbul accounts for 27% of national GDP and has a population of 13 million. The new line being constructed is part of a major expansion project that aims to reduce congestion within Istanbul and improve their transport system. In the past, Schindler has supplied escalators for the main airport in Istanbul and for stations at another metro line that runs under the Bosphorus.

With their headquarters in Switzerland, the Schindler Group is regarded as the leading global mobility provider. Present in more than 140 countries, this company specializes in the design, manufacture, installation, service and modernization of elevator and escalator systems for almost all types of buildings. They support the sustainable urban development by providing safe, reliable and ecologically friendly mobility solutions.

The 2009 GOOD DESIGN award has been awarded to KONE Design because of the sleek, and creatively designed, appearance of their KONE Design Signalization Series. The KONE Design company is the first and only escalator and elevator company to have ever been given a GOOD DESIGN award in the past 60 years, and they have proved worthy of the award.

First founded back in 1950, GOOD DESIGN is now renowned everywhere, and has even become the most recognized award for design in the whole world. The GOOD DESIGN awards are given by The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies as well as the Chicago Athenaeum. The GOOD DESIGN awards are meant to highlight the greatest new designs and the best design innovations for graphics and for products which were created between 2007 and 2009.

Anne Stenros, Vice President of Design for KONE has been quoted as saying: “We are very proud once again to have received this award for our latest innovative design concept,” and “The new KONE Design signalization series represents a new perspective in modern elevator design. It is a bold jump from standard stainless steel signalizations to a new world of colors and unique graphics, which can match any kind of cabin design.”

First developed and launched in 2009, the KONE Design Signalization Series offers both durable technology and contemporary design. This Series of designs has been built to last for many decades. The panels of these designs can be modified very easily simply by changing the design or the color of the faceplate, adjusting it to fit your wants and your needs. The signalization panels will also enable the integration of the guiding information on the panel, this brings the usability to a whole new level, and this will also allow localization to accommodate the specific regulations and functions of various regions and all across various countries.

KONE received their very first ever GOOD DESIGN award back in 2008 for their innovative KONE FourSeasons™ design concept, that award made KONE the first escalator and elevator company to ever receive such a prestigious award.

Electric service lifts are commonly used pieces of technology that transport food in restaurants, tools in construction areas, and even cars. They provide a quick way to move items from floor to floor, making chores and life easier. Service lifts were modeled after the dumbwaiter, an ancient piece of equipment that has neither lost its appeal nor its purpose.

The first dumbwaiter can be dated back to around 200 BC but historians believe they were in existence further back. The Romans are the first known users of the dumbwaiter to aid in their expansive architecture. Some resemblance of a dumbwaiter has now been tracked in nearly every culture from the Far East to the West.

The earliest version of the dumbwaiter was powered by the strength of the person using it. Ropes were looped around a pulley or sometimes even a rafter. The rope was pulled, the bucket/shelf moved, and objects were transported both up and down. As more advancements were made on the dumbwaiter, animals or water were used to provide the manpower.

With the emergence of the 19th century came the emergence of safety precautions surrounding the dumbwaiter. Dumbwaiters were becoming something of a staple in the homes of the wealthy, but were less than perfect. The mechanism often broke causing an out of order dumbwaiter and many broken or messy deliveries. Steam powered and advanced hydraulic dumbwaiters started being developed in addition to the safety brakes that prevented it from crashing down in case of a broken cable. The eighteen hundreds also brought the first electric dumbwaiter, but it would be decades before these would appear in a domestic setting would swap the manual for the electric version. However, electric dumbwaiters were present in business buildings and ships.

Manual dumbwaiters were incredibly popular in the early 20th century. As cities were expanding upward as opposed to outward, dumbwaiters made apartment living easier and the shipment of goods a breeze. Not only are dumbwaiters a welcomed addition to domestic life, they are also an essential part of the economic sphere in terms of making companies, factories, and businesses work more efficiently

Despite the thousands of years of history associated with the dumbwaiter, the same basic concept is still popular and efficient. The addition of safety measures and electric power has only added to their undeniable appeal. With the ability to avoid having to lug heavy or cumbersome items up many floors, work can be done more quickly and safely.

SPAR International, a global retail network has named Toyota Material Handling Europe UK, LTD as Supplier of the 2009 year. The SPAR International yearly Suppliers’ Round table was held in Amsterdam on November 19, 2009. The yearly event gives out two awards, Supplier of the Year and another award for non saleable products.

The Managing Director of SPAR International, Gordon Campbell, said, “The service level that SPAR International has enjoyed from Toyota Material Handling Europe played a major role in this year’s award.”

His praise of Toyota Material Handling in Europe was impressive. Gordon Campbell said further, “Toyota won because it has increased its business with SPAR steadily over the past couple of years and topped it with this year’s super performance.” To further justify their selection of Toyota Material Handling in Europe as the Supplier of the 2009 Year, Gordon Campbell finished his praise by saying, “Toyota has distinguished itself with high quality products, backed up fast, reliable service and excellent communication between our organizations.

The organization known as SPAR International is a chain of wholesalers and retailers that joined in 1932 and do business in 33 countries as SPAR, EUROSPAR, INTERSPAR and SPAR Express.

The organization and its stores which number over 12,600 in 33 countries attract at least 10 million customers per day and do more than L27 billion in gross sales per year.

In response to their award from SPAR, Jonathan Morris, Toyota Material Handling in Europe’s Director responded by effusive appreciation for the award with these words: “We are very honoured to be recognized as Supplier of the Year by SPAR International. Toyota Material Handling Europe is dedicated to being a reliable business partner – particularly in today’s challenging market. Our relationship with SPAR underscores the benefits of such a partnership – for our customers as well as our organization.”

SPAR and its chain stores is now the biggest food retailer in 35 countries with more than 20,000 stores worldwide. SPAR was founded in the Netherlands in 1932 and now has stores in European countries as well as South Africa, Asia and Australia. Its principle form of doing business is to procure bulk discounts from wholesalers and suppliers.

As the U.K. marches further into the 21st century, its trend towards urbanization poses many challenges for an ever increasing number of city dwellers. One of the largest problems already facing many Brits is a lack of parking spaces. Even with the high number of multi-storey car parks in denser cities such as London, many motorists are forced to search for parking spaces as far away as half a kilometer from their destination. One innovative solution to this parking problem is making its way into car parks across the globe, and it is nearly as old as the motor vehicle. Hydraulic lifts, similar to those used for vehicle maintenance, are now being used to stack multiple cars in once space.

These devices can hold upwards of ten cars where there was once only room for one, and they are available for indoor and outdoor locations. This novel device has already found its way into the homes of a growing number of wealthy Londoners who want to save space in their garages. While private lifts can cost over £50,000, a rising number of commercial institutions are adopting the design to save motorists time and petrol. Even street level parallel parking spaces have been proposed as candidates for vehicle lifts, allowing people to store their cars underground so that several drivers can park in one place.

In addition to its growing popularity, the lift’s design is being honed for maximum efficiency. The Autostadt, Volkswagen’s sprawling showcase complex in Wolfsburg, Germany, features a 20 storey vehicle storage facility that uses a single central lift to store and retrieve over 400 cars. The lift can retrieve a vehicle in less than thirty seconds, and can hold nearly 50 percent more cars than a conventional car park of the same size. While not yet available in UK car parks, many entrepreneurs have their eyes on the design as a solution to the increasing density of large cities.

Though still somewhat rare, parking lifts are widely seen as a savvy solution to the UK’s mounting demand for parking spaces. Their increasing frequency heralds a new era of space conscious design for Britain’s major cities. Combined with more efficient public transit and more bicycle friendly roadways, vehicle lifts may play a large part in alleviating parking woes for a growing urban populace in the coming decade.

Known under multiple names like cherry picker, platform lift, zoom boom and scissors lift, the lift platform is used for applications in the construction and maintenance industries as well as by fire fighters and emergency workers trying to save lives. While most models are designed only to carry less than a ton, some specialty models have the capability of carrying more weight. The controls are situated both on the platform and at the bottom of the machine. This makes it convenient as only one person is needed to control a lift platform.

There are three categories of lift platform, namely the aerial device, scissor lift and hotel lift. Each category lists unique features that make them more suited for a specified range of applications within the intelligent lifting industry. The biggest difference between them lies in the form of drive mechanism used to propel the platform to a certain place. Other distinguishing factors are price, availability and manufacturers.

Aerial devices normally use hydraulic piston and either a diesel or gasoline motor to function. Nowadays, newly introduced smaller electric powered machine are increasingly gaining popularity as well. These are mostly used to clean windows and lift workers high up to perform their maintenance operations. Their close appearance to a crane and the presence of joints in their lifting arm create a distinction from other models. When they were first developed, they were largely used in orchards, and thus these units are also known as cherry pickers.

The distinguishing factor of the scissor lift is that it can only be moved vertically, which is done normally by a cross section of scaffolding that gets elongated to project the platform upwards. These units allow workers to reach a working area on higher ground by acting as a raising bridge. Operating these machineries could be done in many ways including hydraulic, pneumatic and mechanical. In some cases, depending on which type was used, this machine would be allowed to descend without power, as there would be ample hydraulic or pneumatic pressure. This would allow the operator to come down even during a power failure.

The hotel lift is a smaller mechanical unit that uses rack and pinion to extend. With a limited weight capacity, it too can be raised vertically, just like the scissor lift. These units are sometimes used as wheelchair platform lifts that allow the handicapped gain access to higher stories in any building.