Princeton, New Jersey –September 18, 2011 – ALK Technologies, Inc. today introduced its newest innovation, RouteSync. This new functionality enables users to synchronize PC*MILER routes planned in the back-office with CoPilot Truck, the leading truck-specific GPS navigation system.
ALK Technologies' RouteSync is ideal for motor carriers, private fleets and owner operators that want in-vehicle consistency with industry-standard PC*MILER routing and mileage used for dispatch, billing, driver payroll, fuel tax reporting, rating, costing and other core management applications.
Through an easy-to-use feature called RouteSync, dispatchers can send PC*MILER-optimized routes directly to CoPilot Truck running on numerous mobile devices including smartphones, tablets, laptops and netbooks. RouteSync lets users define stop order, trip options (Practical, Hazmat, Toll Discouraged, etc.), custom routing preferences, and vehicle dimensions (Height, Weight, 53' Trailer, etc.) in PC*MILER, to then send to CoPilot Truck.
"Operational consistency with dispatched routes and actual routes driven is a critical factor in controlling costs and improving driver satisfaction," says Michael Kornhauser, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Solutions at ALK Technologies. "RouteSync provides the transportation and logistics industry with the crucial link between the planned route in the back office and the navigated route in the cab, providing drivers the guidance to drive the miles that are being billed."
RouteSync offers a flexible approach to minimize the mileage variance between actual and planned routes. With RouteSync, users can select one of three levels of strictness for CoPilot Truck to navigate back to the planned PC*MILER route. Based on the level chosen, RouteSync compares actual driver location to prescribed routes, with out-of-route (OoR) alerts reported in real-time via email to dispatchers or fleet managers. OoR mileage is also reported via email immediately after each trip.
RouteSync functionality will be available for CoPilot Truck via the Apple App store and the Android Market.
It will also be available for PC*MILER Windows and PC*MILER|Web monthly subscription service. Future releases of PC*MILER|Connect, PC*MILER Web Services and CoPilot Truck Professional integration products will allow for the integration of ALK's RouteSync functionality with transportation management, fuel optimization, routing and scheduling, and mobile communications systems. CoPilot Truck Professional is currently available for leading mobile communications systems and ruggedized mobile devices.
For more information on RouteSync, contact ALK Technologies at routesync@alk.com.
About ALK Technologies, Inc.
Since 1979, ALK Technologies has developed innovative mobile navigation and transportation technology solutions. ALK's award-winning CoPilot Live GPS software is the navigation services platform of choice for fleets, mobile operators, hardware OEMs, systems integrators and professional drivers globally. ALK's PC*MILER routing, mileage and mapping solutions are used by over 22,000 transportation, logistics and manufacturing companies worldwide. For more information on ALK Technologies, visit: www.alk.com.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
GE CAPITAL FLEET SERVICES, CARFAX EXPAND ACCESS TO VEHICLE DATA AVAILABLE TO WHOLESALE MARKET
EDEN PRAIRIE, Mn. (September 15, 2011) – GE Capital Fleet Services has expanded its longtime relationship with Carfax to provide the wholesale market with greater access to vehicle data. Now, buyers at auction have access to more valuable information about the history of GE Capital Fleet Services' units through Carfax Vehicle History Reports. This includes vehicle sales records and service histories, plus auction-announced and accident management program damage records.
"This is a decisive choice that makes the remarketing and acquisition process better for everyone," said Paul Seger, VP Asset Remarketing at GE Capital Fleet Services. "Carfax shares our concern for proper representation of the quality and condition of our vehicles. With their help, the accuracy and detail of the information we make available to our buyers on Carfax Reports is second to none."
Since 2003, GE Capital Fleet Services has worked with Carfax to enhance the resale value of its off-lease vehicles. By choosing to expand the information reported to Carfax, GE Capital Fleet Services helps increase the reliability of structural damage disclosures and improve the integrity of future transactions.
"Carfax Vehicle History Reports are a critical tool in the wholesale market," said Dave Sutton, national director at Carfax. "When buyers and sellers have equal access to vehicle history information from a trusted third party source, the result is a more efficient market where everyone wins."
About GE Capital Fleet Services
GE Capital Fleet Services is a global fleet management company with operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Visit the Web site at www.gefleet.com or follow company news via Twitter (@GEFleetSvcs).
GE Capital offers consumers and businesses around the globe an array of financial products and services. For more information, visit www.gecapital.com or follow company news via Twitter (@GECapital). GE (NYSE: GE) is an advanced technology, services and finance company taking on the world's toughest challenges. For more information, visit ge.com.
About Carfax (www.carfax.com)
Carfax is the vehicle history expert for used car buyers, sellers and the automotive industry. Carfax created the Vehicle History Report in 1986 and is trusted by dealerships across North America to help acquire, advertise and retail used cars. Carfax is integrated with over 250 acquisition and inventory companies and is the vehicle history provider of choice for 31 manufacturer Certified programs plus 2,000 automotive Web sites. Online shoppers view Carfax® Vehicle History Reports™ included with dealer listings more than 85 million times a year to buy with more confidence. Become a Carfax Advantage™ dealer or learn how Carfax can help your dealership win by visiting www.carfaxonline.com.
Connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter@CarfaxReports and watch us on YouTube. Friend Car Fox on Facebook and follow him on Twitter@TheCarFox. Download the 'Carfax for Dealers' mobile app from the App StoreSM and Android MarketSM.
"This is a decisive choice that makes the remarketing and acquisition process better for everyone," said Paul Seger, VP Asset Remarketing at GE Capital Fleet Services. "Carfax shares our concern for proper representation of the quality and condition of our vehicles. With their help, the accuracy and detail of the information we make available to our buyers on Carfax Reports is second to none."
Since 2003, GE Capital Fleet Services has worked with Carfax to enhance the resale value of its off-lease vehicles. By choosing to expand the information reported to Carfax, GE Capital Fleet Services helps increase the reliability of structural damage disclosures and improve the integrity of future transactions.
"Carfax Vehicle History Reports are a critical tool in the wholesale market," said Dave Sutton, national director at Carfax. "When buyers and sellers have equal access to vehicle history information from a trusted third party source, the result is a more efficient market where everyone wins."
About GE Capital Fleet Services
GE Capital Fleet Services is a global fleet management company with operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Visit the Web site at www.gefleet.com or follow company news via Twitter (@GEFleetSvcs).
GE Capital offers consumers and businesses around the globe an array of financial products and services. For more information, visit www.gecapital.com or follow company news via Twitter (@GECapital). GE (NYSE: GE) is an advanced technology, services and finance company taking on the world's toughest challenges. For more information, visit ge.com.
About Carfax (www.carfax.com)
Carfax is the vehicle history expert for used car buyers, sellers and the automotive industry. Carfax created the Vehicle History Report in 1986 and is trusted by dealerships across North America to help acquire, advertise and retail used cars. Carfax is integrated with over 250 acquisition and inventory companies and is the vehicle history provider of choice for 31 manufacturer Certified programs plus 2,000 automotive Web sites. Online shoppers view Carfax® Vehicle History Reports™ included with dealer listings more than 85 million times a year to buy with more confidence. Become a Carfax Advantage™ dealer or learn how Carfax can help your dealership win by visiting www.carfaxonline.com.
Connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter@CarfaxReports and watch us on YouTube. Friend Car Fox on Facebook and follow him on Twitter@TheCarFox. Download the 'Carfax for Dealers' mobile app from the App StoreSM and Android MarketSM.
Business as Usual for Schneider National Freight Crossing Mexican Border Company continues world-class border crossing operations in light of government agreement to open up border
GREEN BAY, Wis. – (September 15, 2011) – Following the cross-border agreement announced this summer between the United States and Mexico, Schneider National, one of the largest United States–Mexico cross-border carriers, says it's "business as usual" as the carrier moves customer freight across the two countries' border.
"We've worked with shippers, government entities and a base of highly qualified Mexican carriers over the last 20 years, creating a cross-border process that delivers an efficient, cost-effective and secure system that shortens the supply chain for our customers," said Jim Filter, general manager for Schneider National de Mexico. "Our process is fine tuned and well documented; we have no intentions to fix what's not broken."
Schneider is one of the largest cross-border carriers in the U.S., moving over 200 loads per day. It has operated in Mexico for nearly two decades using hand-selected Mexican carriers to haul freight in Mexico and navigate the border-crossing process. EZ-Border, the company's cross-border service, provides customers with a streamlined operation with a single point of contact, one service and a single invoice.
"EZ-Border manages the process for customers, eliminating their need to arrange the domestic move with one company, the border transfer with another and the foreign carrier movement with a third," noted Filter. "Our expertise also extends to customs regulations, ensuring that freight is compliant and doesn't experience delays. Schneider's EZ-Border makes complex international moves easy for customers, allowing them to focus on their core businesses."
In Mexico, Schneider works with a select group of highly recognized and professional Mexican carriers who are selected for their regional focus and market expertise. Each Mexican carrier complies with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration standards as U.S. carriers, is U.S. Department of Homeland Security Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism certified and has the highest service standards in the industry.
Cross-border intermodal freight is not included in the recent shipping agreement between the U.S. and Mexico. Shippers looking to move freight across the border via rail can use Schneider's Mexico Direct service, which delivers nonstop, borderless service from the U.S. and Canada into bonded terminals in Monterrey, San Luis Potosi and Mexico City and back.
To learn more about U.S.-Mexico cross-border shipping solutions for both truckload and intermodal service, visit www.schneider.com.
About Schneider National, Inc.
Schneider National, Inc. is a premier provider of truckload, logistics and intermodal services. Serving more than two-thirds of the FORTUNE 500 companies, Schneider National offers the broadest portfolio of services in the industry. The company's transportation and logistics solutions include Van Truckload, Dedicated, Regional, Bulk, Intermodal, Transportation Management, Supply Chain Management, Warehousing and Port Logistics services.
Headquartered in Green Bay, Wis., Schneider National has provided expert transportation and logistics solutions for 76 years. A $3.1 billion company, Schneider National conducts business worldwide. For more information about Schneider National, visit www.schneider.com.
"We've worked with shippers, government entities and a base of highly qualified Mexican carriers over the last 20 years, creating a cross-border process that delivers an efficient, cost-effective and secure system that shortens the supply chain for our customers," said Jim Filter, general manager for Schneider National de Mexico. "Our process is fine tuned and well documented; we have no intentions to fix what's not broken."
Schneider is one of the largest cross-border carriers in the U.S., moving over 200 loads per day. It has operated in Mexico for nearly two decades using hand-selected Mexican carriers to haul freight in Mexico and navigate the border-crossing process. EZ-Border, the company's cross-border service, provides customers with a streamlined operation with a single point of contact, one service and a single invoice.
"EZ-Border manages the process for customers, eliminating their need to arrange the domestic move with one company, the border transfer with another and the foreign carrier movement with a third," noted Filter. "Our expertise also extends to customs regulations, ensuring that freight is compliant and doesn't experience delays. Schneider's EZ-Border makes complex international moves easy for customers, allowing them to focus on their core businesses."
In Mexico, Schneider works with a select group of highly recognized and professional Mexican carriers who are selected for their regional focus and market expertise. Each Mexican carrier complies with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration standards as U.S. carriers, is U.S. Department of Homeland Security Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism certified and has the highest service standards in the industry.
Cross-border intermodal freight is not included in the recent shipping agreement between the U.S. and Mexico. Shippers looking to move freight across the border via rail can use Schneider's Mexico Direct service, which delivers nonstop, borderless service from the U.S. and Canada into bonded terminals in Monterrey, San Luis Potosi and Mexico City and back.
To learn more about U.S.-Mexico cross-border shipping solutions for both truckload and intermodal service, visit www.schneider.com.
About Schneider National, Inc.
Schneider National, Inc. is a premier provider of truckload, logistics and intermodal services. Serving more than two-thirds of the FORTUNE 500 companies, Schneider National offers the broadest portfolio of services in the industry. The company's transportation and logistics solutions include Van Truckload, Dedicated, Regional, Bulk, Intermodal, Transportation Management, Supply Chain Management, Warehousing and Port Logistics services.
Headquartered in Green Bay, Wis., Schneider National has provided expert transportation and logistics solutions for 76 years. A $3.1 billion company, Schneider National conducts business worldwide. For more information about Schneider National, visit www.schneider.com.
Terresolve Technologies Announces Launch of EnviroLogic 115
Mentor, Ohio, September 15, 2011 – Terresolve Technologies, an industry leader in producing environmentally safe lubricants and functional fluids, today announced the launch of EnviroLogic 115, an ISO 15 grade readily biodegradable hydraulic fluid that is based on unique biodegradable, low-temperature base oil technologies and is a direct replacement for synthetic-based arctic hydraulic fluids. EnviroLogic 115 is designed to withstand an extremely broad range of temperatures in excess of 200° F and in cold temperature to -60°F.
EnviroLogic 115 is non-conductive and designed for use in equipment that may be operating near high voltage, which provides safety to the machinery and its crew members. The fluid also offers high anti-wear performance, excellent water separation, superior corrosion and rust protection as well as low foaming and air release characteristics. EnviroLogic 115 will meet or exceed the performance of conventional hydraulic fluids and meets the requirements of virtually all major pump and equipment manufacturers.
"The launch of EnviroLogic 115 is a testament to our incredible R&D team at Terresolve," said Mark Miller, CEO of Terresolve Technologies. "Our technical team continues to push the limits of our biobased and biodegradable fluids without compromising performance. This fluid is geared perfectly for extreme temperatures and due to its non-conductive properties, EnviroLogic 115 is especially well-suited for lift trucks and equipment carriers utilizing piloted controls."
EnviroLogic 115 is readily biodegradable, which means if spilled or leaked during use it will break down within 28 days into the safe, natural components of carbon dioxide and water. This protects delicate environments from incurring lasting damage, and lowers the risk a company will be exposed to environmental fines and clean-up costs associated with the spill.
For over 15 years, Terresolve has serviced a variety of industries with environmentally safe alternatives to petroleum products. Today, as more companies explore environmentally preferable products for a variety of applications, operators can trust in Terresolve's products as fluids that not only protect the environment but are also proven to outperform the toxic oils and lubricants on the market.
About Terresolve Technologies Ltd.
Founded in 1996 and based in Ohio, Terresolve Technologies, Ltd is dedicated to providing non-toxic, biodegradable lubricating products that deliver exceptional performance. Terresolve's biobased and biodegradable fluids have been extensively proven in the lab and in the field and are renewable, support the agrarian community, and meet federal guidelines for environmentally preferable purchasing. For more information, contact: Terresolve Technologies; 9609 Jackson Street, Mentor, Ohio; 44060 USA; (800) 661-3558; www.terresolve.com.
EnviroLogic 115 is non-conductive and designed for use in equipment that may be operating near high voltage, which provides safety to the machinery and its crew members. The fluid also offers high anti-wear performance, excellent water separation, superior corrosion and rust protection as well as low foaming and air release characteristics. EnviroLogic 115 will meet or exceed the performance of conventional hydraulic fluids and meets the requirements of virtually all major pump and equipment manufacturers.
"The launch of EnviroLogic 115 is a testament to our incredible R&D team at Terresolve," said Mark Miller, CEO of Terresolve Technologies. "Our technical team continues to push the limits of our biobased and biodegradable fluids without compromising performance. This fluid is geared perfectly for extreme temperatures and due to its non-conductive properties, EnviroLogic 115 is especially well-suited for lift trucks and equipment carriers utilizing piloted controls."
EnviroLogic 115 is readily biodegradable, which means if spilled or leaked during use it will break down within 28 days into the safe, natural components of carbon dioxide and water. This protects delicate environments from incurring lasting damage, and lowers the risk a company will be exposed to environmental fines and clean-up costs associated with the spill.
For over 15 years, Terresolve has serviced a variety of industries with environmentally safe alternatives to petroleum products. Today, as more companies explore environmentally preferable products for a variety of applications, operators can trust in Terresolve's products as fluids that not only protect the environment but are also proven to outperform the toxic oils and lubricants on the market.
About Terresolve Technologies Ltd.
Founded in 1996 and based in Ohio, Terresolve Technologies, Ltd is dedicated to providing non-toxic, biodegradable lubricating products that deliver exceptional performance. Terresolve's biobased and biodegradable fluids have been extensively proven in the lab and in the field and are renewable, support the agrarian community, and meet federal guidelines for environmentally preferable purchasing. For more information, contact: Terresolve Technologies; 9609 Jackson Street, Mentor, Ohio; 44060 USA; (800) 661-3558; www.terresolve.com.
Mercedes-Benz Dealers Launch Community Stars Challenge in Spirit of 125th Anniversary of the Automobile
MONTVALE, NJ - To help mark the 125th anniversary of Mercedes-Benz and its invention of the automobile, Mercedes-Benz dealers launched a social media contest to identify local community service groups doing great work. Playing off of the 125th anniversary, the dealers are donating $125,000 to a select group of charitable organizations across the country via a unique campaign called "Community Stars." The contest is specifically designed to bring awareness to local organizations whose efforts are often overshadowed by larger, multinational charitable organizations and NGOs.
To kick start the program, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) launched the "Community Stars" tab on its Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/#!/mercedesbenzusa) where organizations are encouraged to participate in this grass-roots opportunity. Additionally, MBUSA Facebook fans are called to action to suggest their favorite charitable organizations as well.
Specifically, interested parties are challenged to create and upload 60-second videos to showcase their organization and exactly how they would use the awarded funds to forward their cause. Submissions will be accepted until 8 p.m. EST on Friday, Sept. 23 and the organization must operate under one of the following categories: Environment & Sustainability, Health & Service, Youth Empowerment, Music & Arts or Education.
Once the videos are submitted, a committee of Mercedes-Benz employees will select 15 finalists and then beginning Oct. 3, MBUSA Facebook fans will be asked to vote through a simple voting mechanism. In a bid to better their standing, the finalists themselves will also be encouraged to drive traffic to the "Community Stars" tab by asking others outside the MBUSA network to vote for them as well.
The contest officially ends on Oct. 21 and the five "Grand Prize Winners" will be announced on Oct. 25, each receiving $25,000.
About Mercedes-Benz USA
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States. MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse line-up in the luxury segment with 14 model lines ranging from the sporty C-Class to the flagship S-Class sedans and the SLS AMG supercar.
MBUSA is also responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Vans and smart in the US. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com, www.mbsprinterusa.com and www.smartusa.com
To kick start the program, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) launched the "Community Stars" tab on its Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/#!/mercedesbenzusa) where organizations are encouraged to participate in this grass-roots opportunity. Additionally, MBUSA Facebook fans are called to action to suggest their favorite charitable organizations as well.
Specifically, interested parties are challenged to create and upload 60-second videos to showcase their organization and exactly how they would use the awarded funds to forward their cause. Submissions will be accepted until 8 p.m. EST on Friday, Sept. 23 and the organization must operate under one of the following categories: Environment & Sustainability, Health & Service, Youth Empowerment, Music & Arts or Education.
Once the videos are submitted, a committee of Mercedes-Benz employees will select 15 finalists and then beginning Oct. 3, MBUSA Facebook fans will be asked to vote through a simple voting mechanism. In a bid to better their standing, the finalists themselves will also be encouraged to drive traffic to the "Community Stars" tab by asking others outside the MBUSA network to vote for them as well.
The contest officially ends on Oct. 21 and the five "Grand Prize Winners" will be announced on Oct. 25, each receiving $25,000.
About Mercedes-Benz USA
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States. MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse line-up in the luxury segment with 14 model lines ranging from the sporty C-Class to the flagship S-Class sedans and the SLS AMG supercar.
MBUSA is also responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Vans and smart in the US. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com, www.mbsprinterusa.com and www.smartusa.com
"SYNERGY, STRENGTH, SUPPORT" IS THE THEME FOR VIPAR HEAVY DUTY'S 2011 ANNUAL BUSINESS CONFERENCE
Crystal Lake, IL – United under the theme: "Synergy, Strength, Support," the 2011 VIPAR Heavy Duty Annual Business Conference will be held October 16-21 at the JW Marriott Starr Pass in Tucson, Ariz. The Annual Business Conference brings together VIPAR Heavy Duty distributors, supplier partners, and industry associates to facilitate the dynamic exchange of ideas and information to benefit all participants.
"Our theme this year represents three core principles represented by VIPAR Heavy Duty," said Steve Crowley, president and CEO, VIPAR Heavy Duty. "Appropriately, these principles of synergy, strength and support also exist between our company, our stockholders, and our suppliers. It further demonstrates how our combined abilities and efforts increase by a power of three when working together toward the same goals."
To enhance distributor value, VIPAR Heavy Duty has added three specialty breakout sessions to this year's meeting that provide immediate takeaway value. The concurrent breakout sessions will look at how mobile technology can achieve greater efficiencies, success strategies for inventory and supply chain management, and transforming company culture to become customer service focused. The sessions are designed so that all VIPAR Heavy Duty stockholders have the opportunity to attend each session.
The 2011 VIPAR Heavy Duty Annual Business Conference will include a tradeshow, one-on-one stockholder/supplier partner meetings, and the annual stockholders meeting. In addition, a well-known and respected motivational speaker will address attendees during lunch on Thursday, October 20. The event kicks-off with a welcome reception on Sunday, October 16.
For more information on the 2011 VIPAR Heavy Annual Business Conference, visit www.vipar.com or e-mail: info@vipar.com.
"Our theme this year represents three core principles represented by VIPAR Heavy Duty," said Steve Crowley, president and CEO, VIPAR Heavy Duty. "Appropriately, these principles of synergy, strength and support also exist between our company, our stockholders, and our suppliers. It further demonstrates how our combined abilities and efforts increase by a power of three when working together toward the same goals."
To enhance distributor value, VIPAR Heavy Duty has added three specialty breakout sessions to this year's meeting that provide immediate takeaway value. The concurrent breakout sessions will look at how mobile technology can achieve greater efficiencies, success strategies for inventory and supply chain management, and transforming company culture to become customer service focused. The sessions are designed so that all VIPAR Heavy Duty stockholders have the opportunity to attend each session.
The 2011 VIPAR Heavy Duty Annual Business Conference will include a tradeshow, one-on-one stockholder/supplier partner meetings, and the annual stockholders meeting. In addition, a well-known and respected motivational speaker will address attendees during lunch on Thursday, October 20. The event kicks-off with a welcome reception on Sunday, October 16.
For more information on the 2011 VIPAR Heavy Annual Business Conference, visit www.vipar.com or e-mail: info@vipar.com.
Wright Express Earns a Spot on 2011 InformationWeek 500 List of Top Technology Innovators across America
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine, September 15, 2011 – Wright Express Corporation (NYSE: WXS) announced today that it made this year's InformationWeek 500, an annual listing of the nation's most innovative users of business technology, for the first time. The 2011 list was revealed at a recent gala awards ceremony at the exclusive InformationWeek 500 Conference at St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, Calif.
"Innovation is absolutely critical to our current and future business plans, and it's an honor for Wright Express to be recognized among the country's leading technology organizations," said George Hogan, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Wright Express. "We continue to be committed to providing the most innovative payment and information technology solutions to our customers and partners to enable them to grow their businesses by saving money, streamlining operations and achieving scale."
Specifically, Wright Express was included for its new Fuel Site Locator mobile application that allows customers the ability to locate the type of fuel they need at the lowest price – no matter where they are. Based on the 1+ million transactions per day that go through its proprietary network, the fuel price information that Wright Express is able to provide its customers through this application is the most current and accurate available.
Hogan added: "Information has never been so abundant and so available, but the true differentiator in innovation is when data from multiple sources is combined in real-time to create real value. By leveraging our database including more than 90 percent of the nation's retail fuel locations and access to real-time fuel prices, we help fleet drivers find the cheapest fuel within a radius they select and in just seconds. This translates into efficient driving and fueling practices, which is increasingly important amidst today's escalating fuel prices."
"For 23 years, the InformationWeek 500 has chronicled and honored the most innovative users of business technology," said InformationWeek Editor In Chief Rob Preston. "In this day and age, however, being innovative isn't enough. Companies and their IT organizations need to innovate faster than ever before to stay a step or two ahead of their customers, partners, and competitors. This year's ranking placed special emphasis on those high-octane business technology innovators."
InformationWeek identifies and honors the nation's most innovative users of information technology with its annual 500 listing and also tracks the technology, strategies, investments and administrative practices of America's best-known companies. Top winners have included: The Vanguard Group, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Monster Worldwide, USAA, Merck and Colgate-Palmolive. The InformationWeek 500 rankings are unique among corporate rankings as it spotlights the power of innovation in information technology, rather than simply identifying the biggest IT spenders.
For additional details about the InformationWeek 500, please visit www.informationweek.com/iw500/.
"Innovation is absolutely critical to our current and future business plans, and it's an honor for Wright Express to be recognized among the country's leading technology organizations," said George Hogan, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Wright Express. "We continue to be committed to providing the most innovative payment and information technology solutions to our customers and partners to enable them to grow their businesses by saving money, streamlining operations and achieving scale."
Specifically, Wright Express was included for its new Fuel Site Locator mobile application that allows customers the ability to locate the type of fuel they need at the lowest price – no matter where they are. Based on the 1+ million transactions per day that go through its proprietary network, the fuel price information that Wright Express is able to provide its customers through this application is the most current and accurate available.
Hogan added: "Information has never been so abundant and so available, but the true differentiator in innovation is when data from multiple sources is combined in real-time to create real value. By leveraging our database including more than 90 percent of the nation's retail fuel locations and access to real-time fuel prices, we help fleet drivers find the cheapest fuel within a radius they select and in just seconds. This translates into efficient driving and fueling practices, which is increasingly important amidst today's escalating fuel prices."
"For 23 years, the InformationWeek 500 has chronicled and honored the most innovative users of business technology," said InformationWeek Editor In Chief Rob Preston. "In this day and age, however, being innovative isn't enough. Companies and their IT organizations need to innovate faster than ever before to stay a step or two ahead of their customers, partners, and competitors. This year's ranking placed special emphasis on those high-octane business technology innovators."
InformationWeek identifies and honors the nation's most innovative users of information technology with its annual 500 listing and also tracks the technology, strategies, investments and administrative practices of America's best-known companies. Top winners have included: The Vanguard Group, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Monster Worldwide, USAA, Merck and Colgate-Palmolive. The InformationWeek 500 rankings are unique among corporate rankings as it spotlights the power of innovation in information technology, rather than simply identifying the biggest IT spenders.
For additional details about the InformationWeek 500, please visit www.informationweek.com/iw500/.
A. Duie Pyle to Celebrate Expansion with Opening of Allentown Service Center
ALLENTOWN, PA, September 15, 2011 - A. Duie Pyle, a leading Northeast transportation and logistics provider, is planning a celebration of its expanding capabilities in Pennsylvania with the recent opening of the company's newest Service Center in Allentown. A special event for local customers and dignitaries will be held on Wednesday, October 12th.
The facility is one of seven terminals acquired in 2009 from YRCW and New Penn. Extensive renovations were needed in order to bring the building up to Pyle standards.
A Fully Renovated and Updated Facility
A. Duie Pyle's new Service Center incorporates features and technologies designed to better serve customers, assure security, save energy and protect the environment. The new Allentown Service Center represents an approximate $6M capital investment for the company.
The Service Center, strategically located close to I78 and Route 22, features 60 doors for loading and unloading trailers. It also features on-site back up power generation and on-site trailer snow removal capabilities.
A proprietary QUALCOMM satellite tracking system, used in Allentown and throughout A. Duie Pyle operations, offers real-time communication between drivers, dispatchers and customers, further enhancing the company's Just-In-Time delivery capabilities.
The security of freight and facilities, and the safety of employees, was also a consideration in renovating the Allentown Service Center. The site is fully gated with a security and monitoring system that was designed with full access control and digital recording technology capabilities. Security Systems are monitored 24/7 by a third party and the building is fully protected with dry fire suppression sprinkler systems.
Energy efficient systems have been installed for lighting, heat and air conditioning. Interior and exterior lights are controlled by occupancy sensors and photo cells and the building's climate control systems can be controlled off-site from the company headquarters in West Chester, PA. Contemplating the future, the facility has designed in capacity for electric car charging as an employee benefit.
Investing for the Future
Despite what many consider as an unstable economic environment, A. Duie Pyle is committed to continued growth.
"We're investing for the future," notes Peter Latta, A. Duie Pyle Chairman and Owner. "We have a great team, and a reputation for a high reliability service. With our locations, facilities and technologies, we can better serve customers following Just-In-Time practices. We will continue to build our tools and infrastructure so that we can continue to serve our customers well."
The facility is one of seven terminals acquired in 2009 from YRCW and New Penn. Extensive renovations were needed in order to bring the building up to Pyle standards.
A Fully Renovated and Updated Facility
A. Duie Pyle's new Service Center incorporates features and technologies designed to better serve customers, assure security, save energy and protect the environment. The new Allentown Service Center represents an approximate $6M capital investment for the company.
The Service Center, strategically located close to I78 and Route 22, features 60 doors for loading and unloading trailers. It also features on-site back up power generation and on-site trailer snow removal capabilities.
A proprietary QUALCOMM satellite tracking system, used in Allentown and throughout A. Duie Pyle operations, offers real-time communication between drivers, dispatchers and customers, further enhancing the company's Just-In-Time delivery capabilities.
The security of freight and facilities, and the safety of employees, was also a consideration in renovating the Allentown Service Center. The site is fully gated with a security and monitoring system that was designed with full access control and digital recording technology capabilities. Security Systems are monitored 24/7 by a third party and the building is fully protected with dry fire suppression sprinkler systems.
Energy efficient systems have been installed for lighting, heat and air conditioning. Interior and exterior lights are controlled by occupancy sensors and photo cells and the building's climate control systems can be controlled off-site from the company headquarters in West Chester, PA. Contemplating the future, the facility has designed in capacity for electric car charging as an employee benefit.
Investing for the Future
Despite what many consider as an unstable economic environment, A. Duie Pyle is committed to continued growth.
"We're investing for the future," notes Peter Latta, A. Duie Pyle Chairman and Owner. "We have a great team, and a reputation for a high reliability service. With our locations, facilities and technologies, we can better serve customers following Just-In-Time practices. We will continue to build our tools and infrastructure so that we can continue to serve our customers well."
OVE.COM'S INDEPENDENT AUCTION SUMMIT HELPS PARTNERS EXCHANGE IDEAS AND GROW ONLINE SALES
ATLANTA – OVE.com – the leading 24/7 bid or buy now wholesale vehicle marketplace – brought independent auctions together again this year for its second annual summit. During the summit, attendees learned how to take advantage of OVE.com to grow their digital business. Industry experts also discussed recent trends and shared best practices.
Sandy Schwartz, president of Manheim, talked about how advances in digital technology are transforming a variety of industries and businesses. Joe George, group vice president of Manheim Digital, explained how digital advances are transforming the auto remarketing industry. George also described how those advances will impact the future of remarketing, and he shared strategies for leveraging mobile technologies to counter non-traditional competitors.
"The OVE.com summit was very beneficial for our business," said Lynn Weaver, general manager of Harrisburg Auto Auction. "Our internet sales manager and I both came away with new ideas and a better understanding of how OVE will benefit us now and even more in the future. We are already putting our plans in place."
"I value the opportunity to exchange ideas about how our industry is evolving," said George. "You look around in the room and say, 'Wow, this is a talented group of industry leaders!'"
In addition to learning best practices from industry experts, networking with colleagues, sharing success stories and exchanging ideas, summit attendees also had the opportunity to give OVE.com leadership their suggestions for how to improve the platform and make the site even more efficient and effective.
"This is our fourth year working together to provide our buying and selling customers with options that simplify the process," said Sue Boehlke, senior vice president of products and processes at Manheim. Boehlke, who kicked off the summit event, explained, "We believe it's important to offer our independent partners an industry platform to feature their sellers' inventory. We have a long-standing commitment to our partners and that will continue."
To help its independent partners reach their ongoing goal of selling more vehicles online, OVE.com is bringing back its popular Strive 4 Five promotion. The promotion provides participants with financial incentives to capitalize on the incremental dealer business opportunity OVE.com provides. Not only are partners able to use OVE.com as a defensive and offensive tool, they're able to earn more money at the same time when they participate in the Strive 4 Five promotion. The promotion began in September and is currently underway.
Sandy Schwartz, president of Manheim, talked about how advances in digital technology are transforming a variety of industries and businesses. Joe George, group vice president of Manheim Digital, explained how digital advances are transforming the auto remarketing industry. George also described how those advances will impact the future of remarketing, and he shared strategies for leveraging mobile technologies to counter non-traditional competitors.
"The OVE.com summit was very beneficial for our business," said Lynn Weaver, general manager of Harrisburg Auto Auction. "Our internet sales manager and I both came away with new ideas and a better understanding of how OVE will benefit us now and even more in the future. We are already putting our plans in place."
"I value the opportunity to exchange ideas about how our industry is evolving," said George. "You look around in the room and say, 'Wow, this is a talented group of industry leaders!'"
In addition to learning best practices from industry experts, networking with colleagues, sharing success stories and exchanging ideas, summit attendees also had the opportunity to give OVE.com leadership their suggestions for how to improve the platform and make the site even more efficient and effective.
"This is our fourth year working together to provide our buying and selling customers with options that simplify the process," said Sue Boehlke, senior vice president of products and processes at Manheim. Boehlke, who kicked off the summit event, explained, "We believe it's important to offer our independent partners an industry platform to feature their sellers' inventory. We have a long-standing commitment to our partners and that will continue."
To help its independent partners reach their ongoing goal of selling more vehicles online, OVE.com is bringing back its popular Strive 4 Five promotion. The promotion provides participants with financial incentives to capitalize on the incremental dealer business opportunity OVE.com provides. Not only are partners able to use OVE.com as a defensive and offensive tool, they're able to earn more money at the same time when they participate in the Strive 4 Five promotion. The promotion began in September and is currently underway.
ARI® Ranks 30th on 2011 InformationWeek 500
Mount Laurel, NJ, September 14, 2011 – ARI®, Automotive Resources International (ARI), a leading global fleet solutions provider specializing in complex car and truck fleets, announced today that it ranked 30th on this year's InformationWeek 500 – a list of the top technology innovators in the U.S. The annual list was revealed last night at a gala awards ceremony at the exclusive InformationWeek 500 Conference taking place at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, CA.
With the development of its new Analytical and Predictive Business Intelligence tool, ARI broke through InformationWeek's Top 100 and is a fleet management industry leader through the combined excellence of its people, flexibility and most significantly, its technology.
ARI's president, Carl Ortell, stated, "With substantial, ongoing investments in our systems and technology, ARI continues to deliver tools that bring true business value to our customers and the industry as a whole. We are honored to be among InformationWeek's top achievers this year. This prestigious award recognizes our strategic commitment to innovation and reinforces our industry leadership in advanced technology."
Serving the fleet management industry, ARI helps companies make informed, cost effective decisions regarding the cars, trucks and equipment that drive their businesses. ARI's new Analytical and Predictive Business Intelligence tool, a feature of the web-based and mobile fleet management system, ARI insights®, allows ARI account managers and clients to obtain more accurate fleet performance projections and, therefore, make more informed business decisions, including but not limited to purchasing, asset allocation, maintenance and repairs, driver productivity and replacement cycling. Fleet managers receive real-time data through which they can make valuable business decisions that will reduce total cost of ownership, show successful management skills to their superiors and align the fleet departments with their companies' overall objectives.
Through ongoing Business Intelligence initiatives, ARI has already increased its market share, specifically in its target market of complex fleets and is evidence to its leadership. From 2005, ARI has shown the largest percentage of managed vehicle growth among the U.S. industry's top fleet management companies according to published managed vehicle inventory comparisons (43%). This increase, alone, shows the value ARI's system is bringing to the industry as more and more customers are relying on ARI insights for its integration, analysis and projection capabilities to improve the total cost of ownership of their fleets.
"For 23 years, the InformationWeek 500 has chronicled and honored the most innovative users of business technology," said InformationWeek Editor In Chief Rob Preston. "In this day and age, however, being innovative isn't enough. Companies and their IT organizations need to innovate faster than ever before to stay a step or two ahead of their customers, partners, and competitors. This year's ranking placed special emphasis on those high-octane business technology innovators."
InformationWeek identifies and honors the nation's most innovative users of information technology with its annual 500 listing, and also tracks the technology, strategies, investments and administrative practices of America's best-known companies. Top winners have included: The Vanguard Group, CME Group, Conway, National Semiconductor, Kimberly-Clark, Hilton Hotels and Unum. The InformationWeek 500 rankings are unique among corporate rankings as it spotlights the power of innovation in information technology, rather than simply identifying the biggest IT spenders.
Additional details on the InformationWeek 500 can be found online at www.informationweek.com/iw500/
With the development of its new Analytical and Predictive Business Intelligence tool, ARI broke through InformationWeek's Top 100 and is a fleet management industry leader through the combined excellence of its people, flexibility and most significantly, its technology.
ARI's president, Carl Ortell, stated, "With substantial, ongoing investments in our systems and technology, ARI continues to deliver tools that bring true business value to our customers and the industry as a whole. We are honored to be among InformationWeek's top achievers this year. This prestigious award recognizes our strategic commitment to innovation and reinforces our industry leadership in advanced technology."
Serving the fleet management industry, ARI helps companies make informed, cost effective decisions regarding the cars, trucks and equipment that drive their businesses. ARI's new Analytical and Predictive Business Intelligence tool, a feature of the web-based and mobile fleet management system, ARI insights®, allows ARI account managers and clients to obtain more accurate fleet performance projections and, therefore, make more informed business decisions, including but not limited to purchasing, asset allocation, maintenance and repairs, driver productivity and replacement cycling. Fleet managers receive real-time data through which they can make valuable business decisions that will reduce total cost of ownership, show successful management skills to their superiors and align the fleet departments with their companies' overall objectives.
Through ongoing Business Intelligence initiatives, ARI has already increased its market share, specifically in its target market of complex fleets and is evidence to its leadership. From 2005, ARI has shown the largest percentage of managed vehicle growth among the U.S. industry's top fleet management companies according to published managed vehicle inventory comparisons (43%). This increase, alone, shows the value ARI's system is bringing to the industry as more and more customers are relying on ARI insights for its integration, analysis and projection capabilities to improve the total cost of ownership of their fleets.
"For 23 years, the InformationWeek 500 has chronicled and honored the most innovative users of business technology," said InformationWeek Editor In Chief Rob Preston. "In this day and age, however, being innovative isn't enough. Companies and their IT organizations need to innovate faster than ever before to stay a step or two ahead of their customers, partners, and competitors. This year's ranking placed special emphasis on those high-octane business technology innovators."
InformationWeek identifies and honors the nation's most innovative users of information technology with its annual 500 listing, and also tracks the technology, strategies, investments and administrative practices of America's best-known companies. Top winners have included: The Vanguard Group, CME Group, Conway, National Semiconductor, Kimberly-Clark, Hilton Hotels and Unum. The InformationWeek 500 rankings are unique among corporate rankings as it spotlights the power of innovation in information technology, rather than simply identifying the biggest IT spenders.
Additional details on the InformationWeek 500 can be found online at www.informationweek.com/iw500/
Car Charging Group Partners With Central Parking and Subsidiary, USA Parking System for a Nationwide Rollout of EV Charging Stations
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. and NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 15, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Car Charging Group Inc. (OTCBB:CCGI), a provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging services, today announced a partnership with Central Parking System Inc. and its subsidiary, USA Parking System Inc., the nation's largest parking garage operator, to provide EV charging services at locations nationwide via Coulomb Technologies'
ChargePoint(R) Network.
"There are close to 17,000 parking garages in the U.S., and they will play one of the most vital roles in the development of a national EV charging infrastructure," said Brian Golomb, Director of Sales of Car Charging. "By partnering with two of the most important companies in this sector -- companies that understand the benefits of electric vehicles -- we will move much quicker in the rollout of this nationwide infrastructure."
Car Charging Group plans to install EV charging stations at sites owned by the two parking garage operators. The operators have 2,200 locations nationwide with 1.1 million parking spaces.
As part of the agreement, Central Parking has the right to purchase five percent of the Common Stock of Car Charging Group. "We are very excited about this partnership, because it will greatly expand the reach of our nationwide EV charging network," said Michael Farkas, CEO of the Miami Beach, Fla.-based Car Charging Group. "Furthermore, we hope to further enhance our already strong relationship with these companies by giving Central Parking the opportunity to be a shareholder in our company and to take part with us in electrifying the U.S.
transportation system."
Central Parking believes that electric vehicles can make a difference in the transportation sector, and they look forward to being a partner in building a nationwide network of EV charging stations.
"Electric vehicles are no longer a mirage -- they are becoming an ever increasing presence on our roads and we are proud to be working with such an innovator in the EV sector," said James Marcum, CEO of Central Parking Systems. "By installing EV charging stations in our garages, we will be providing added services to our clients and strengthening our position as an industry leader in environmentally-friendly initiatives."
USA Parking System, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Nashville, Tenn.-based Central Parking System Inc. also aims to benefit both the clients and the environment through its agreement with Car Charging.
"We are proud to be working with Car Charging Group in helping to expand the critical infrastructure necessary to make EVs a mainstay of our transportation sector," said William Bodenhamer, president and CEO of USA Parking. "Already leaders in the parking garage industry, we look forward to becoming corporate leaders in environmental sustainability efforts as well."
Car Charging Group provides EV charging stations at no charge to property owners/managers while retaining ownership, thus allowing their partners to offer their customers, tenants and employees charging services without incurring any outlay of capital. In addition, Car Charging Group's partners realize a percentage of the charging revenue generated by the charging services paid for by the EV owners.
About Car Charging Group Inc.
Car Charging Group Inc. is an owner and provider of EV charging stations with the mission to establish a nationwide infrastructure, enabling EV and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) owners to charge their EVs anytime, anywhere. As part of its strategy, the company owns, provides, installs and maintains EV charging units and works with its landowner partners to identify appropriate locations for its charging stations. The company provides convenient, safe and affordable charging stations away from home in customer-friendly public locations, including municipalities, shopping malls, parking garages, multi family residential and commercial properties.
An estimated 40 million plug-in electric vehicles, such as the Nissan LEAF, GM Chevrolet Volt, Fisker Karma, Tesla Model S, Ford Focus EV as well as many others, are expected to be on the road by 2030. Car Charging Group recognizes the need to establish a comprehensive network of charging stations that delivers easy, convenient access to drivers wherever they live, work and play. By investing at the forefront of the electric car revolution, Car Charging Group seeks to become the leading provider of electric car charging services. The Company launched its operations nationally in September of 2009 and is looking to expand its operations internationally.
Car Charging Group, Inc. is based in Miami, Fla. The company's website can be viewed at www.CarCharging.com.
About Central Parking
Central Parking (www.Parking.com) is the leader in professional parking management. With offices in all major metropolitan areas in the United States, the Company operates approximately 2,200 parking facilities containing 1.1 million spaces. The Company's clients include some of the nation's largest owners and operators of mixed-use projects, office buildings, hotels, stadiums and arenas as well as airports, hospitals and municipalities.
About USA Parking
USA Parking System (www.USAPark.com) was founded by Bill Bodenhamer in 1980. USA Parking, "The Hospitality Parking Company(R)" has taken the parking industry to a new level of aggressive hospitality service and operational excellence. The company's specialty is the management of high end, service-oriented parking facilities and transportation-related services, which include resorts, office and mixed-use projects, retail/entertainment-oriented projects and airport-related facilities. USA Parking System's client list is unparalleled in the industry
Today, USA Parking operates in eight (8) states and Puerto Rico. They manage and operate over 100 parking facilities in excess of 100,000 parking spaces. The Company's success is attributed to their commitment to quality service and to their full time training facility managed by USA Parking University. USA Parking has built a corporate management team of 24 professionals with a total of 314 years of USA experience and 400 years of Parking Management experience which is second to none in the country.
ChargePoint(R) Network.
"There are close to 17,000 parking garages in the U.S., and they will play one of the most vital roles in the development of a national EV charging infrastructure," said Brian Golomb, Director of Sales of Car Charging. "By partnering with two of the most important companies in this sector -- companies that understand the benefits of electric vehicles -- we will move much quicker in the rollout of this nationwide infrastructure."
Car Charging Group plans to install EV charging stations at sites owned by the two parking garage operators. The operators have 2,200 locations nationwide with 1.1 million parking spaces.
As part of the agreement, Central Parking has the right to purchase five percent of the Common Stock of Car Charging Group. "We are very excited about this partnership, because it will greatly expand the reach of our nationwide EV charging network," said Michael Farkas, CEO of the Miami Beach, Fla.-based Car Charging Group. "Furthermore, we hope to further enhance our already strong relationship with these companies by giving Central Parking the opportunity to be a shareholder in our company and to take part with us in electrifying the U.S.
transportation system."
Central Parking believes that electric vehicles can make a difference in the transportation sector, and they look forward to being a partner in building a nationwide network of EV charging stations.
"Electric vehicles are no longer a mirage -- they are becoming an ever increasing presence on our roads and we are proud to be working with such an innovator in the EV sector," said James Marcum, CEO of Central Parking Systems. "By installing EV charging stations in our garages, we will be providing added services to our clients and strengthening our position as an industry leader in environmentally-friendly initiatives."
USA Parking System, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Nashville, Tenn.-based Central Parking System Inc. also aims to benefit both the clients and the environment through its agreement with Car Charging.
"We are proud to be working with Car Charging Group in helping to expand the critical infrastructure necessary to make EVs a mainstay of our transportation sector," said William Bodenhamer, president and CEO of USA Parking. "Already leaders in the parking garage industry, we look forward to becoming corporate leaders in environmental sustainability efforts as well."
Car Charging Group provides EV charging stations at no charge to property owners/managers while retaining ownership, thus allowing their partners to offer their customers, tenants and employees charging services without incurring any outlay of capital. In addition, Car Charging Group's partners realize a percentage of the charging revenue generated by the charging services paid for by the EV owners.
About Car Charging Group Inc.
Car Charging Group Inc. is an owner and provider of EV charging stations with the mission to establish a nationwide infrastructure, enabling EV and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) owners to charge their EVs anytime, anywhere. As part of its strategy, the company owns, provides, installs and maintains EV charging units and works with its landowner partners to identify appropriate locations for its charging stations. The company provides convenient, safe and affordable charging stations away from home in customer-friendly public locations, including municipalities, shopping malls, parking garages, multi family residential and commercial properties.
An estimated 40 million plug-in electric vehicles, such as the Nissan LEAF, GM Chevrolet Volt, Fisker Karma, Tesla Model S, Ford Focus EV as well as many others, are expected to be on the road by 2030. Car Charging Group recognizes the need to establish a comprehensive network of charging stations that delivers easy, convenient access to drivers wherever they live, work and play. By investing at the forefront of the electric car revolution, Car Charging Group seeks to become the leading provider of electric car charging services. The Company launched its operations nationally in September of 2009 and is looking to expand its operations internationally.
Car Charging Group, Inc. is based in Miami, Fla. The company's website can be viewed at www.CarCharging.com.
About Central Parking
Central Parking (www.Parking.com) is the leader in professional parking management. With offices in all major metropolitan areas in the United States, the Company operates approximately 2,200 parking facilities containing 1.1 million spaces. The Company's clients include some of the nation's largest owners and operators of mixed-use projects, office buildings, hotels, stadiums and arenas as well as airports, hospitals and municipalities.
About USA Parking
USA Parking System (www.USAPark.com) was founded by Bill Bodenhamer in 1980. USA Parking, "The Hospitality Parking Company(R)" has taken the parking industry to a new level of aggressive hospitality service and operational excellence. The company's specialty is the management of high end, service-oriented parking facilities and transportation-related services, which include resorts, office and mixed-use projects, retail/entertainment-oriented projects and airport-related facilities. USA Parking System's client list is unparalleled in the industry
Today, USA Parking operates in eight (8) states and Puerto Rico. They manage and operate over 100 parking facilities in excess of 100,000 parking spaces. The Company's success is attributed to their commitment to quality service and to their full time training facility managed by USA Parking University. USA Parking has built a corporate management team of 24 professionals with a total of 314 years of USA experience and 400 years of Parking Management experience which is second to none in the country.
Wissmann: IAA impressive demonstration of automotive industry's innovative strength / Chancellor Merkel opens the world's most important trade fair for mobility
Frankfurt am Main/Berlin (ots) - "This IAA demonstrates the automotive industry's capacity for untiring renewal and innovation: Over 1,000 exhibitors have displays, covering an area equal to 33 football pitches. A total of 183 world premieres await 800,000 visitors, and more than 11,000 journalists from over 90 countries are reporting on the world's most important trade fair for mobility. The IAA is the automotive industry's 'crystal ball': here people can see, in a concentrated form, both the present and the future of mobility,"
stressed Matthias Wissmann, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), at the opening of the IAA in Frankfurt am Main. Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel opened the 64th IAA Cars at a ceremony attended by numerous high-ranking guests from politics, business and society.
The slogan of this IAA - "Future comes as standard" - makes it clear, Wissmann said, that at this leading trade fair not only vehicle concepts are being presented, but also cars that would soon be seen as series models on the roads: "Progress and its inherent dynamism are like gravity: simply not negotiable," Wissmann stated.
He added that over the last five years the German automotive industry had invested nearly 100 billion euro in progress and in the year 2010 alone it had applied for over 3,000 new patents in Germany. "In order to see the results of this creativity, you do not have to visit the Patent Office, but the IAA," he continued. A large proportion of the innovation came from the suppliers, he explained, who account for 75 per cent of the value-added in a car.
"Manufacturers and suppliers together characterise the unique innovative strength of our industry. And we are not the only people who think so. In a recent study by Ernst & Young, foreign automotive managers selected Germany as the world's most attractive automotive location. That had not only to do with drive for innovation, but also with quality and productivity," the VDA president emphasised.
Wissmann recalled that in the years 2008 and 2009 the "management and works councils, the trade union IG Metall and the VDA, all pulling together, plus the well-directed support from the German Government," with the extension of short-time working, had been crucial in overcoming the crisis. "Let us continue writing this history together," he said. The recovery had also arrived in the workforce: today the automotive industry employs 724,100 people in Germany, which is over 18,000 more than it did last year. The VDA President also drew Chancellor Merkel's attention to the political promise in the coalition agreement, of keeping mobility affordable.
"This earns you particular recognition from motorists."
"We do not just talk - we deliver," Wissmann said regarding the successes in CO2 reduction. Four years ago the passenger cars newly registered in Germany had an average CO2 value of 170 grams per kilometre, but two years ago the figure had already fallen to 154 grams. Wissmann stated, "Currently we are at 145 g CO2/km. This corresponds to fuel consumption of 5.9 litres per 100 km." The German group brands were able to show especially large progress. For example, the CO2 values of the newly registered passenger cars from German brands were, on average, lower than those of the competitors in all ten segments.
"Here in Frankfurt we are demonstrating recipes for the future CO2 diet: the optimised classical internal combustion engine, hybrid cars, plug-in vehicles and range extenders, plus 100-per-cent battery-powered electric vehicles and vehicles with fuel cells," Wissmann stressed. For the first time, he added, the IAA has a hall dedicated to the entire value-added chain for electric mobility. "So you are - if you like - also at the largest electric mobility fair in the world," the VDA president explained.
Concerning the situation on the financial markets Wissmann said: "We have not yet come through the crisis and the financial markets still look as though they are ailing. However, real life ensures relief. 2011 is turning into an automotive year. The global market will expand this year to over 65 million passenger cars sold, which is 10 million more than two years ago and a new record. The forecast for the year 2020 is 90 million passenger cars world-wide!"
The automotive business was currently in the process of returning to normal, Wissmann said. "This is not a new development. But in my understanding of economics, there is a huge difference between 'decreasing dynamism' and false talk of 'recession'," he emphasised, adding that the greatest concern was the debt situation in the USA and some European countries. "These 'loans' taken out on the present and the future have to be eliminated in a credible manner and under strong leadership. If the international scourge of debt can be overcome, confidence in the stability of the financial markets will return. The German Government has our support, if it consistently supports the European idea and our common currency, and simultaneously consistently pushes through a European debt limit."
Only with a strong manufacturing sector, with a strong industrial base, could the challenges in Germany and Europe be mastered, he stated. "The financial markets have to serve the manufacturing sector again. Computer-aided high frequency trading and non- transparent financial products demand a comprehensive 'renaturation,' i.e. global regulation of this sector. And one thing must definitely apply if Europe wishes to maintain its place in global competition. Not the weakest get to set the standards, but the most innovative and the best," Wissmann underlined.
stressed Matthias Wissmann, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), at the opening of the IAA in Frankfurt am Main. Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel opened the 64th IAA Cars at a ceremony attended by numerous high-ranking guests from politics, business and society.
The slogan of this IAA - "Future comes as standard" - makes it clear, Wissmann said, that at this leading trade fair not only vehicle concepts are being presented, but also cars that would soon be seen as series models on the roads: "Progress and its inherent dynamism are like gravity: simply not negotiable," Wissmann stated.
He added that over the last five years the German automotive industry had invested nearly 100 billion euro in progress and in the year 2010 alone it had applied for over 3,000 new patents in Germany. "In order to see the results of this creativity, you do not have to visit the Patent Office, but the IAA," he continued. A large proportion of the innovation came from the suppliers, he explained, who account for 75 per cent of the value-added in a car.
"Manufacturers and suppliers together characterise the unique innovative strength of our industry. And we are not the only people who think so. In a recent study by Ernst & Young, foreign automotive managers selected Germany as the world's most attractive automotive location. That had not only to do with drive for innovation, but also with quality and productivity," the VDA president emphasised.
Wissmann recalled that in the years 2008 and 2009 the "management and works councils, the trade union IG Metall and the VDA, all pulling together, plus the well-directed support from the German Government," with the extension of short-time working, had been crucial in overcoming the crisis. "Let us continue writing this history together," he said. The recovery had also arrived in the workforce: today the automotive industry employs 724,100 people in Germany, which is over 18,000 more than it did last year. The VDA President also drew Chancellor Merkel's attention to the political promise in the coalition agreement, of keeping mobility affordable.
"This earns you particular recognition from motorists."
"We do not just talk - we deliver," Wissmann said regarding the successes in CO2 reduction. Four years ago the passenger cars newly registered in Germany had an average CO2 value of 170 grams per kilometre, but two years ago the figure had already fallen to 154 grams. Wissmann stated, "Currently we are at 145 g CO2/km. This corresponds to fuel consumption of 5.9 litres per 100 km." The German group brands were able to show especially large progress. For example, the CO2 values of the newly registered passenger cars from German brands were, on average, lower than those of the competitors in all ten segments.
"Here in Frankfurt we are demonstrating recipes for the future CO2 diet: the optimised classical internal combustion engine, hybrid cars, plug-in vehicles and range extenders, plus 100-per-cent battery-powered electric vehicles and vehicles with fuel cells," Wissmann stressed. For the first time, he added, the IAA has a hall dedicated to the entire value-added chain for electric mobility. "So you are - if you like - also at the largest electric mobility fair in the world," the VDA president explained.
Concerning the situation on the financial markets Wissmann said: "We have not yet come through the crisis and the financial markets still look as though they are ailing. However, real life ensures relief. 2011 is turning into an automotive year. The global market will expand this year to over 65 million passenger cars sold, which is 10 million more than two years ago and a new record. The forecast for the year 2020 is 90 million passenger cars world-wide!"
The automotive business was currently in the process of returning to normal, Wissmann said. "This is not a new development. But in my understanding of economics, there is a huge difference between 'decreasing dynamism' and false talk of 'recession'," he emphasised, adding that the greatest concern was the debt situation in the USA and some European countries. "These 'loans' taken out on the present and the future have to be eliminated in a credible manner and under strong leadership. If the international scourge of debt can be overcome, confidence in the stability of the financial markets will return. The German Government has our support, if it consistently supports the European idea and our common currency, and simultaneously consistently pushes through a European debt limit."
Only with a strong manufacturing sector, with a strong industrial base, could the challenges in Germany and Europe be mastered, he stated. "The financial markets have to serve the manufacturing sector again. Computer-aided high frequency trading and non- transparent financial products demand a comprehensive 'renaturation,' i.e. global regulation of this sector. And one thing must definitely apply if Europe wishes to maintain its place in global competition. Not the weakest get to set the standards, but the most innovative and the best," Wissmann underlined.
Annual College Scholarship Awards for 2011 Announced by Kinedyne
BRANCHBURG, NJ (September 14, 2011) – Kinedyne Corporation has concluded its third annual Kinedyne Cares College Scholarship Program with $2,500 awards to two students – one from New Jersey and one from Alabama. The scholarships were presented following a competition conducted in association with the New Jersey Motor Truck Association and the Alabama Trucking Association.
The winners of the annual Kinedyne Cares College Scholarship Program for 2011 were Moorestown, NJ resident Stephen Boyle, who attends Villanova University, and Roanoke, AL resident Madison Duffy, who attends Jacksonville State University.
The recipients of this year's awards were selected based on their 500-word essays addressing the topic "How the trucking industry has positively impacted my life." The competition was open to all members of the respective trucking associations, as well as to members of their immediate families. Payments will be made directly to the winning students' bursar accounts for tuition costs.
"We are pleased that this program has been so well received by members of the various U.S. state trucking associations," says David Callahan, Corporate Marketing Manager for New Jersey-based Kinedyne, a manufacturer of cargo control products for the transportation industry. "Providing assistance to deserving individuals and families within the trucking industry was our objective when we established this scholarship program in 2009, and the resounding response from so many applicants during the last three years indicates it's a big success."
? A high-resolution, digital image of New Jersey winner Stephen Boyle – with Kinedyne Account Executive Bob Dissinger – is available at http://tinyurl.com/3r98qjn.
? A high-resolution, digital image of Alabama winner Madison Duffy – with Kinedyne Account Executive Buzz Williams – is available at http://tinyurl.com/3lol3bo
About Kinedyne Corporation
Founded in 1968, Kinedyne Corporation is the world leader in manufacturing and distributing cargo control products for the transportation industry. The company maintains the top market share in several industry sectors through the development and engineering of a high-quality product offering that includes multiple patented products. Kinedyne products service users that include OEM's, fleet operators and independent owner/operators. The company serves several markets including Heavy Duty Trucking, Government and Military, Farm and Agricultural, Moving and Storage, Automotive and Recreational Vehicles.
Kinedyne is a New Jersey-based entity that currently has facilities in four countries and is the parent company of a worldwide operations group that includes Kinedyne Canada Ltd. (Canada), Nantong Kinedyne Ltd. (China), and Sistemas Kinedyne, S.A. (Mexico).
The winners of the annual Kinedyne Cares College Scholarship Program for 2011 were Moorestown, NJ resident Stephen Boyle, who attends Villanova University, and Roanoke, AL resident Madison Duffy, who attends Jacksonville State University.
The recipients of this year's awards were selected based on their 500-word essays addressing the topic "How the trucking industry has positively impacted my life." The competition was open to all members of the respective trucking associations, as well as to members of their immediate families. Payments will be made directly to the winning students' bursar accounts for tuition costs.
"We are pleased that this program has been so well received by members of the various U.S. state trucking associations," says David Callahan, Corporate Marketing Manager for New Jersey-based Kinedyne, a manufacturer of cargo control products for the transportation industry. "Providing assistance to deserving individuals and families within the trucking industry was our objective when we established this scholarship program in 2009, and the resounding response from so many applicants during the last three years indicates it's a big success."
? A high-resolution, digital image of New Jersey winner Stephen Boyle – with Kinedyne Account Executive Bob Dissinger – is available at http://tinyurl.com/3r98qjn.
? A high-resolution, digital image of Alabama winner Madison Duffy – with Kinedyne Account Executive Buzz Williams – is available at http://tinyurl.com/3lol3bo
About Kinedyne Corporation
Founded in 1968, Kinedyne Corporation is the world leader in manufacturing and distributing cargo control products for the transportation industry. The company maintains the top market share in several industry sectors through the development and engineering of a high-quality product offering that includes multiple patented products. Kinedyne products service users that include OEM's, fleet operators and independent owner/operators. The company serves several markets including Heavy Duty Trucking, Government and Military, Farm and Agricultural, Moving and Storage, Automotive and Recreational Vehicles.
Kinedyne is a New Jersey-based entity that currently has facilities in four countries and is the parent company of a worldwide operations group that includes Kinedyne Canada Ltd. (Canada), Nantong Kinedyne Ltd. (China), and Sistemas Kinedyne, S.A. (Mexico).
Audi Premieres A2 Concept Car With Research Frontiers' SPD-SmartGlass Technology at 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show
FRANKFURT, Germany, Sept. 14, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Frankfurt International Auto Show -- Premium auto manufacturer Audi AG debuted its A2 concept car at a world premiere at the 64th Frankfurt International Auto Show being held now through September 25, 2011 in Frankfurt, Germany. The A2 is an electric-powered passenger car equipped with a large SPD-Smart(TM) panoramic glass roof.
Audi describes the spacious, ultra-lightweight A2 as a "peek into the future of electric mobility" that is "packed full with attractive, intelligent technologies." The A2's SPD-Smart panoramic glass roof is a key element of the vehicle's innovative exterior design. The roof's ability to block the sun's heat almost entirely, Audi observes, "is a further contribution to efficient temperature management in the purely electric powered Audi A2 concept." More information about the A2 and about Audi's press conference at the Frankfurt Auto Show yesterday are available on Audi's news site.
Research Frontiers' (Nasdaq:REFR) SPD-Smart automotive products -- sunroofs, side- and rear-windows -- are ideal for all automobiles, and especially electric vehicles. Because SPD-Smart auto glazings can block up to 95% of the sun's heat in their tinted state, they keep vehicle interiors cooler. When the vehicle is not in use or the glass is turned off, SPD-Smart glazings automatically switch to their maximum heat-blocking state without using any energy. This offers significant power efficiency benefits because the electric vehicle does not have to devote as much energy to cool the car as it would if it were outfitted with traditional or even tinted auto glass. Lower demands on a vehicle's cooling system also give original equipment manufacturers the ability to use smaller air conditioning systems to satisfy user needs.
These features of SPD-SmartGlass(TM) technology translate into greater driving range for the vehicle and more potential usable interior space.
Demand for electric vehicles is projected to grow over the coming years. Rising fuel costs, consumers' desire for "green" product solutions, and increasingly stringent fuel economy standards designed to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and lower CO2 emissions are among the growth drivers.
Audi joins Mercedes-Benz as 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show exhibitors with vehicles made using Research Frontiers' SPD-SmartGlass(TM) technology.
The Mercedes-Benz Viano Vision Pearl luxury van, which has roof-, side- and rear windows (eight in total) with SPD-SmartGlass technology, made its premiere at this year's Frankfurt Auto Show. Also making world premieres at this year's show are the Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 CDI and SLK 55 AMG roadsters. All models of the SLK offer the benefits of SPD-SmartGlass technology in the optional MAGIC SKY CONTROL panoramic all-glass roof. The Mercedes-Benz SLK, which is now available, is the first production vehicle to offer SPD-SmartGlass technology.
SPD-SmartGlass technology enhances the driving experience and supports energy efficiency. When compared to conventional automotive glass, Mercedes-Benz reports that the use of SPD-SmartGlass on the roof of its SLK significantly reduces the temperature inside the vehicle by up to 18ºF/10ºC. This increases passenger comfort and reduces air conditioning loads, thereby saving fuel and reducing CO2 emissions.
In addition to Mercedes-Benz and Audi exhibiting vehicles with SPD-SmartGlass technology at the Frankfurt Auto Show, auto industry component supplier Eberspaecher is exhibiting (Hall 8, Booth A33) the control unit it supplies to Daimler AG to regulate the MAGIC SKY CONTROL panoramic roof using SPD-SmartGlass technology on the new Mercedes-Benz SLK roadster. Visitors to the Eberspaecher exhibit are greeted by two large glass panels that are quickly switching from dark to light with information about Eberspaecher and its control system being displayed behind these SPD-SmartGlass panels. Elsewhere at Eberspaecher's exhibition are two overhead skylight-sized panels, one with SPD-SmartGlass and the other using conventional glass. Behind both panels are high-intensity lights and infrared heat lamps. Visitors are invited to press a button and feel the temperature difference between the two panels, with the SPD-Smart panel being demonstrably cooler to the touch.
In Eberspaecher's press release, Frank Giraud, Business Development Manager at Eberspaecher Controls, highlighted the contribution to environmental protection offered by the MAGIC SKY CONTROL roof with SPD-SmartGlass, noting: "Electronically switchable smart glass is far more effective than classic blinds or conventional thermal insulation glass could be." Eberspaecher uses electronics technology jointly licensed to Daimler by Research Frontiers and its licensee SPD Control Systems Corporation.
Joseph M. Harary, President and CEO of Research Frontiers, noted:
"Almost every major car manufacturer here at the Frankfurt Auto Show has been showing production vehicles with large panoramic glass roofs.
Even with conventional tinted glass, the solar heat gain inside these vehicles can be intense because of the large amounts of glass being used in today's vehicles. SPD-SmartGlass can be 50-60 times darker than a typical sunroof, while also being adjustable at the touch of a button to be about twice as clear. This brings daylighting into the vehicle to create an open-air driving experience while also more effectively managing solar heat gain. When this trend is combined with the growing and current reality of a world with electric vehicles, and the need for greater driving range and more efficient power consumption by these vehicles, the need for SPD-SmartGlass is even more compelling. Through the efforts of Research Frontiers, and those of our licensees and their customers, the benefits of using SPD-SmartGlass are clearly apparent as its presence begins to permeate -- not only in the engineering and design studios of the world's major automobile OEMs, but also in public forums such as the Frankfurt Auto Show, and even in people's driveways."
SPD-SmartGlass is the world's fastest-switching variably tintable dynamic glazing technology. It is the only dimmable window technology that gives users the ability to instantly and precisely control the level of shading to any point between very dark and clear. This provides exceptional control over solar energy while also adding to user comfort and protecting interiors. Available in both glass and lightweight polycarbonate substrates, SPD-Smart products -- windows, sunroofs, skylights, doors, partitions and more -- are laminated glazings that offer a distinctive combination of user well-being, energy efficiency and security. Controlled manually or automatically, they are available in custom sizes and fabrications for original equipment, new construction, replacement and retrofit projects.
Audi describes the spacious, ultra-lightweight A2 as a "peek into the future of electric mobility" that is "packed full with attractive, intelligent technologies." The A2's SPD-Smart panoramic glass roof is a key element of the vehicle's innovative exterior design. The roof's ability to block the sun's heat almost entirely, Audi observes, "is a further contribution to efficient temperature management in the purely electric powered Audi A2 concept." More information about the A2 and about Audi's press conference at the Frankfurt Auto Show yesterday are available on Audi's news site.
Research Frontiers' (Nasdaq:REFR) SPD-Smart automotive products -- sunroofs, side- and rear-windows -- are ideal for all automobiles, and especially electric vehicles. Because SPD-Smart auto glazings can block up to 95% of the sun's heat in their tinted state, they keep vehicle interiors cooler. When the vehicle is not in use or the glass is turned off, SPD-Smart glazings automatically switch to their maximum heat-blocking state without using any energy. This offers significant power efficiency benefits because the electric vehicle does not have to devote as much energy to cool the car as it would if it were outfitted with traditional or even tinted auto glass. Lower demands on a vehicle's cooling system also give original equipment manufacturers the ability to use smaller air conditioning systems to satisfy user needs.
These features of SPD-SmartGlass(TM) technology translate into greater driving range for the vehicle and more potential usable interior space.
Demand for electric vehicles is projected to grow over the coming years. Rising fuel costs, consumers' desire for "green" product solutions, and increasingly stringent fuel economy standards designed to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and lower CO2 emissions are among the growth drivers.
Audi joins Mercedes-Benz as 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show exhibitors with vehicles made using Research Frontiers' SPD-SmartGlass(TM) technology.
The Mercedes-Benz Viano Vision Pearl luxury van, which has roof-, side- and rear windows (eight in total) with SPD-SmartGlass technology, made its premiere at this year's Frankfurt Auto Show. Also making world premieres at this year's show are the Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 CDI and SLK 55 AMG roadsters. All models of the SLK offer the benefits of SPD-SmartGlass technology in the optional MAGIC SKY CONTROL panoramic all-glass roof. The Mercedes-Benz SLK, which is now available, is the first production vehicle to offer SPD-SmartGlass technology.
SPD-SmartGlass technology enhances the driving experience and supports energy efficiency. When compared to conventional automotive glass, Mercedes-Benz reports that the use of SPD-SmartGlass on the roof of its SLK significantly reduces the temperature inside the vehicle by up to 18ºF/10ºC. This increases passenger comfort and reduces air conditioning loads, thereby saving fuel and reducing CO2 emissions.
In addition to Mercedes-Benz and Audi exhibiting vehicles with SPD-SmartGlass technology at the Frankfurt Auto Show, auto industry component supplier Eberspaecher is exhibiting (Hall 8, Booth A33) the control unit it supplies to Daimler AG to regulate the MAGIC SKY CONTROL panoramic roof using SPD-SmartGlass technology on the new Mercedes-Benz SLK roadster. Visitors to the Eberspaecher exhibit are greeted by two large glass panels that are quickly switching from dark to light with information about Eberspaecher and its control system being displayed behind these SPD-SmartGlass panels. Elsewhere at Eberspaecher's exhibition are two overhead skylight-sized panels, one with SPD-SmartGlass and the other using conventional glass. Behind both panels are high-intensity lights and infrared heat lamps. Visitors are invited to press a button and feel the temperature difference between the two panels, with the SPD-Smart panel being demonstrably cooler to the touch.
In Eberspaecher's press release, Frank Giraud, Business Development Manager at Eberspaecher Controls, highlighted the contribution to environmental protection offered by the MAGIC SKY CONTROL roof with SPD-SmartGlass, noting: "Electronically switchable smart glass is far more effective than classic blinds or conventional thermal insulation glass could be." Eberspaecher uses electronics technology jointly licensed to Daimler by Research Frontiers and its licensee SPD Control Systems Corporation.
Joseph M. Harary, President and CEO of Research Frontiers, noted:
"Almost every major car manufacturer here at the Frankfurt Auto Show has been showing production vehicles with large panoramic glass roofs.
Even with conventional tinted glass, the solar heat gain inside these vehicles can be intense because of the large amounts of glass being used in today's vehicles. SPD-SmartGlass can be 50-60 times darker than a typical sunroof, while also being adjustable at the touch of a button to be about twice as clear. This brings daylighting into the vehicle to create an open-air driving experience while also more effectively managing solar heat gain. When this trend is combined with the growing and current reality of a world with electric vehicles, and the need for greater driving range and more efficient power consumption by these vehicles, the need for SPD-SmartGlass is even more compelling. Through the efforts of Research Frontiers, and those of our licensees and their customers, the benefits of using SPD-SmartGlass are clearly apparent as its presence begins to permeate -- not only in the engineering and design studios of the world's major automobile OEMs, but also in public forums such as the Frankfurt Auto Show, and even in people's driveways."
SPD-SmartGlass is the world's fastest-switching variably tintable dynamic glazing technology. It is the only dimmable window technology that gives users the ability to instantly and precisely control the level of shading to any point between very dark and clear. This provides exceptional control over solar energy while also adding to user comfort and protecting interiors. Available in both glass and lightweight polycarbonate substrates, SPD-Smart products -- windows, sunroofs, skylights, doors, partitions and more -- are laminated glazings that offer a distinctive combination of user well-being, energy efficiency and security. Controlled manually or automatically, they are available in custom sizes and fabrications for original equipment, new construction, replacement and retrofit projects.
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