Tag: Europe

Recently, Germany “report to westdeutsche” has reported industry experts Ferdinand Duden Hove forecast on the development of the automotive industry in Europe. This professor of the University of Duisburg – Essen was pointed out, in 2013, European car manufacturers will face the most serious challenges in the past few decades, and the trend of decline in car sales in Europe only may be able to slow down after 2014.

According to Ferdinand Duden Hove forecast, for the European automotive industry, 2013 will be the most difficult year in decades. He pointed out that in Europe, especially in the automotive industry in southern Europe, is facing the most severe test since World War II. In the past year, car sales in France and Spain suffered huge losses

The University of Duisburg – Essen CAR Automation Research Center director said: “The euro area long-term economic slowdown of the European car market will face a more difficult situation in 2013.” 2013 and 2014 will be the bottleneck, and downward trend may stop after 2014. Duden Hough added: “so far have not been able to detect the signs of recovery since the economic crisis.”

Russia and India will overtake Germany as the auto market
Under Duden Hough forecast, in 2013, Europe car sales will less 3.5 million than the same period in 2005. This figure is equivalent to the annual sales of 12 plants. Duden Hough also speculated that most of the region will face a situation of overcapacity in the future. Whats more, he also believes that the government of the southern European countries will be funded aid the car manufacturers.

Duden Hove further pointed out that the balance of power of the global automotive industry will change. Although the United States as a sales market leading position will not change, but the German car market has gradually lost its importance. To Duden Hough estimates, “From 2015 onwards, Germany will no longer be the top five of the world’s largest auto market.” Russia and India are likely to overtake Germany before that.

Spain’s car industry assistance projects
While German Automobile Industry Association (VDA) submitted to the 2012 sales statistics on last Thursday, the automobile industry in France and Spain also announced its sales in 2012 this black year. French car manufacturers (CCFA) announced on Wednesday, in the past year, there is only nearly 19,000 new cars registeredwhich is the lowest figure in 15 years. Compared to the same period in 2011, new car sales fell by nearly 14%.

According to the Automobile AssociationANFACStatistics, Spain car annual sales in 2012 has a decrease of 13.4% over the same period last year. In order to promote sales, the Spanish producers and the government have drafted an aid proposal in November 2012. Until March of this year, if the Spanish car owners to scrap his more than 12 years old car and purchase the more environmentally friendly cars, they will get a bonus of 2000 euros.

Basic elements Collection chambers and vacuum valve units Vacuum sewer lines Central vacuum station Vacuum technology is based on differential air pressure. Rotary vane vacuum pumps generate an operation pressure of -0.4 to -0.6 bar at the vacuum station, which is also the only element of the vacuum sewerage system that must be supplied with electricity. Interface valves that are installed inside the collection chambers work pneumatically. Any sewage flows by means of gravity into each house collection sump. After a certain fill level inside this sump is reached, the interface valve will open. The impulse to open the valve is usually transferred by a pneumatically (pneumatic pressure created by fill level) controlled controller unit. No electricity is needed to open or close the valve. The according energy is provided by the vacuum itself. While the valve is open, the resulting differential pressure between atmosphere and vacuum becomes the driving force and transports the wastewater towards the vacuum station. Besides these collection chambers, no other manholes, neither for changes in direction, nor for inspection or connection of branch lines, are necessary. High flow rates keep the system free of any blockages or sedimentation. Vacuum sewer systems are considered to be free of ex- and infiltration which allows the usage even in water protection areas. For this reason, vacuum sewer lines may even be laid in the same trench as potable water lines (depending on local guidelines). The system supplier should certify his product to be used in that way. To achieve the condition of an infiltration-free system and therefore allowing to reduce the waste water amounts that need to be treated, water tight (PE material or similar) collection chambers should be used. Valve and collection sump (waste water) preferably should be physically separated (different chambers) in order to protect service personal against direct contact with waste water and to ensure longer life cycles (waste water is considered to be corrosive). In order to ensure reliable transport, the vacuum sewer line is laid in a saw-tooth (length-) profile, which will be referred to more precisely afterwards. The whole vacuum sewers are filled with air at a pressure of -0.4 to -0.6 bar. The most important aspect for a reliable operation is the air-to-liquid ratio. When a system is well designed, the sewers contain only very small amounts of sewage. The air-to-liquid ratio is usually maintained by “intelligent” controller units or valves that adjust their opening times according to the pressure in the system. Considering that the vacuum idea relies on external energy for the transport of fluids, sewers can be laid in flat terrain and up to certain limits may also be counter-sloped. The saw-tooth profile keeps sewer lines shallow, lifts minimise trench depth (approx. 1.0 1.2 m). In this depth, expensive trenching, as it is the case for gravity sewers with the necessity to install continuously falling slopes of at least 0.5 – 1.0%, is avoided. Lifting stations are not required. Once arrived in the vacuum collection tank at the vacuum station, the wastewater is pumped to the discharge point, which could be a gravity sewer or the treatment station directly. As the dwell time of the watewater inside the system is very short and the wastewater is continuously mixed with air, the sewage is kept fresh and any fouling inside the system is avoided (less H2S). Advantages closed, pneumatically controlled system with a central vacuum station. Electrical energy is only needed at this central station no sedimentation due to self-cleansing high velocities spooling and maintenance of the sewer lines is not necessary manholes are not required Usually only a single vacuum pump station is required rather than multiple stations found in gravity and low pressure networks. This frees up land , reduces energy costs and reduces operational costs. investment costs can be reduced up to 50% due to simple trenching at shallow depths, close to surface flexibility of piping, obstacles (as open channels) can be over- or underpassed reduced installation time small diameter sewer pipes of HDPE, PVC materials; savings of material costs aeration of sewage, less development of H2S, with its dangers for workers, inhabitants, as well as corrosion of the pipes may be avoided; sewage is kept fresh no odours along the closed vacuum sewers no infiltration, less hydraulic load at treatment station and discharge sewers absolutely no leakages (vacuum avoids exfiltration) sewers may be laid in the same trench with other mains, also with potable water or storm-water, as well as in water protection areas Lower cost to maintain in the long term due to shallow trenching and easy identification of problems In combination of vacuum toilets it creates concentrated waste streams, which makes it feasible to use different waste water treatment techniques, like anaerobic treatment Limitations vacuum systems are not capable of transporting sewage over very long distances, but can pump long distances from the vacuum station to the next STP or main gravity sewer. vacuum sewerage systems are only capable for the collection of wastewater within a separated system (not for the collection of storm-water) the lines can only reach up to 3-4 km laid in flat area (restrictions of the system due to headlosses (3-4.5 m) (friction and static)) systems should be designed with help of an experienced manufacturer (concepts are usually free of charge) external energy is required at a central point for collecting sewage odours close to the vacuum station can occur, a biofilter may be necessary Integrity of the pipe joints is paramount Application Fields Vacuum sewer systems becomes more and more the preferred system in the case of particular circumstances: Especially difficult situations as ribbon, peripheral settlements on flat terrain with high specific conduit lengths of longer than 4 metres per inhabitant are predestined for the application of vacuum sewerage systems. In the case of sparse population density the influence of the costs for the collection chambers and vacuum stations are less important in comparison to the costs of long and deep sewers on gravity. Missing incline of the ground, unfavourable soil (rocky or swampy grounds) and high groundwater table (with the necessity of dewatering trenches) lead to enormous investment costs in regards to gravity sewerage systems. On the contrary vacuum sewers that are small in diameter can be laid close to the surface in small trenches. Vacuum sewers can pass through water protection areas and areas with sensitive high ground water tables, because there is no danger of spoiling groundwater resources (vacuum sewers have a high leak tightness due to their material; moreover the vacuum itself does not allow exfiltration). Vacuum systems has also been applied to collect toxic wastewater. Vacuum systems are seen as a priority in many environmentally sensitive areas such as the Couran Cove Eco Resort close to the Barrier Reef in Australia. In seasonal settlements (recreation areas, camping sites etc.) with conventional gravity sewer systems, sedimentation problems can easily occur as automatic spooling from the daily waste water does not take place. High flow velocities within vacuum sewers prevent such sedimentation problems. The Formula 1 race tracks in Shanghai and Abu Dhabi are using a vacuum sewer system for that reason. Even in old narrow and historical villages, the use of vacuum sewer systems becomes more and more important due to a fast (traffic, tourism), cost-effective and flexible installation. Good examples and references can be found in France, such as the village of Flavigny, in Oman at the township of Khasab and Al Seeb. Lack of water in many countries and drastic water savings measures have led to difficulties with aging gravity networks with solids blocking in the pipes. Neither the lack of water nor solids affect resp. occur in vacuum sewer systems. That’s why this technology becomes interesting for such kind of applications. As PE or PVC pipes are used, no solids from ageing pipes will enter the system. All other solid are kept out at the collection chambers. vacuum sewer systems don’t have any manholes to dump big solids into the system. Project Examples The county of Sarasota, Florida and the city of Carnation, Washington are developing a county wide collection system and is incorporating vacuum sewers. In Germany, several hundred well-working systems are operating since the 1970. Especially in the Middle East (United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman), vacuum sewer systems become more and more important due to easy and fast installation along with water saving effects and easiness of maintenance. The world’s most famous vacuum sewer project is currently the Palm Island Jumeirah, located at the coast of Dubai City, United Arab Emirates. Approx. 23.000 people will be connected to this vacuum sewer system with only 1 central vacuum station. The vacuum station is considered to be the biggest vacuum station in the world. The biggest installation in Europe (several vacuum stations) can be found in Gerasdorf (near Vienna), Austria, where many benefits of a vacuum sewer system helped to overcome difficult conditions in this mountainous area. Good examples can be found on the Maldives, the post-tsunami WATSAN project UNICEF – UN, where on several islands vacuum sewer systems have been the best option. Several other project, mainly for resorts, have already been realized on the Maldives. Vacuum sewer systems are not only used in the Europe or Middle East but even in low developed third world countries. Several vacuum sewer systems have been already built or are currently under construction in Africa (South Africa, Botswana, Namibia) for townships and rural areas where the benefit of fast construction time, cost saving trenching and high flexibility have come to full effect. Australia has been one of the largest users of vacuum sewer systems due to the low installation and operational costs. The largest system to-date has been at the Tea Gardens development in New South Wales, which will ultimately handle over 4.500 houses. The Water Corporation in Western Australia is considered the largest single owner of vacuum systems in the world with over 30 schemes now under their operational control. The United Kingdom is well served by Vacuum Sewerage Systems, the region most extensively served are the low lying fenlands of the East of England. High water tables (in some cases less than 1metre below the surface) and poor ground conditions have meant that the local Water Company Anglian Water has embraced the use of Vacuum Sewerage, taking advantage of the system’s requirement for small bore sewer pipes laid in shallow trenches, dramatically reducing the requirement for pumping stations as would be required by conventional gravity sewer systems. The largest Vacuum Sewerage scheme in this region serves the villages of Outwell and Upwell, 4 vacuum collection stations serve some 1500 homes in this agglomeration. On initial costings for a conventional gravity sewer to serve the area, previously served by domestic septic settlement tanks the site would have required the installation of 32 pumping stations. Using a vacuum sewer system, this number of pumping stations was reduced to 4 vacuum stations. Other companies in the UK such as Southern water operate vacuum sewer systems, too. Lately, vacuum sewer systems become popular for industrial and commercial projects as well, where only little domestic waste water occurs and where the flexibility of a vacuum sewer system allows easy coordination with usually plenty of other utilities in the ground. Good examples can be found again in the Middle East, such as some small industrial areas in the Emirate of Ras al Khaimah or the newly built Qatalum Aluminium Plant in Qatar, the world’s largest primary aluminium plant. The well known eco-city of Masdar, U.A.E., uses a vacuum sewer system as well to separate grey from black water. Installation and construction The following section covers some basic information regarding the installation of vacuum sewer system. This section is not complete and should only give a basic overview. Based on long term experience, only HDPE pipes should be used for vacuum sewer system pipe works. The recommended pipe classification is SDR11. Preferences should be given to electro fusion joints rather than butt welding. In general, butt welding shall only be allowed for pipe diameters bigger or equal than 150mm as the internal beads from butt welding methods will reduce the diameter especially for 90mm pipes significantly which can cause blockages inside the pipes. It is most important not to use any 90 connection within the pipe work. This refers to any main or branch lines connections as well as to horizontal direction changes. Only wye-fittings and 45 bends may be used. Using 90 connection will lead to blockages within the system and may create water hammers with temporarily pressure drops affecting the equipment. It is furthermore very important to follow the pipe profiles which should be given by the system supplier. A minimum requirement is a constant slope of 0.2% within the so called saw tooth profile. Upwards slopes and deviations from the given pipe profiles will lead to water sags causing temporarily blockages and pressure drops resp. additional head losses. In worst case, this can lead to a failure of the system. Especially the connection line from the collection pit to the next branch or main line needs to maintain a certain slope as otherwise water sags may cut off the valves from the vacuum inside the pipe system causing malfunction of the valves. Special attention has to be given to the civil works related to the pipe work installation. Over-compaction or damages to the pipes by excavators may result in significant problems during operation. Even if the pipe withstands the pressure tests during construction and after backfilling, squeezed pipes or pipe full of concrete or other construction debris will lead to blockages and water sags during operation. Although international guidelines give clear recommendations for gate valves (every 400-500m within main lines and for branch lines longer than 200-250m), all important side branches should be equipped with a gate valves. This will allow much faster pressure tests and leak detection during construction and will allow emergency measures if problems occur. Ruling technical guidelines and norms EN 1091 DWA-A 116-1 (also known as ATV-DVWK-A 116, Part 1) WEF (Water Environment Federation) Alternative Sewer Systems (Second Edition -2008) WSA 07 (Australian Code) AS 4310 – 2004 (Australian Vacuum Interface Valve Standard) External links Airvac, International (U.S.A.) Roevac, International (Germany) Iseki, UK Quavac, Netherlands Flovac, International Vacuum sewerage systems on Wikipedia References ^ PCS: Vacuum Sewer Construction ^ http://www.ci.carnation.wa.us/sewer/factsheet-vacsystem.pdf Categories: Sewerage infrastructure

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Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity has dropped in the automotive sector, new statistics show. However, experts still believe the outlook for M&As remains positive.

New data from PwC reveals that M&A activity in the automotive sector slowed down in the first half of this year, with 264 deals being closed at an estimated value of $10.6 billion. This is a significant drop since the first half of 2011, when 303 deals were closed to the value of $18.8 billion.

Paul Elie, US automotive transaction services leader for PwC, commented on the trend, “Europe is taking a toll on global M&A deal activity. Historically, Europe has been among the most active regions in automotive M&A. That said, automotive companies from emerging countries like China and India have opportunities to acquire technology or market access at favorable valuations in Europe.”

A number of factors have contributed to the downturn in M&As in the automotive sector, with the main one being the ongoing economic crisis, which saw car registrations drop by 6.3 per cent in the first six months of this year.

PwCs Autofacts predicts that annual car sales in Europe will fall by a 7.3 per cent, which would take the annual total to 12.6 million units, over 3 million units below the 2007 high point.

However, it is not all bad news for Europe. The operating environment in Europe may result in positive valuations and a growth in inbound M&A activity over the next couple of years, particularly around the acquisition of technology and market access.

Outside of Europe, North America is continuing to attract more investments, after it underwent restructuring during the 2008/9 recession. Thanks to this, North American operations are benefiting from healthy profits, resulting in them having cash available to invest in M&A deals. North Americas share of M&A deals is now up to 26 per cent, from 20 per cent in the first half of 2011.

Asia was the most active region for automotive M&As in the first half of 2012. However, 86 of the 96 M&A transactions took place within Asia. As internal sales slow down in India and China, buyers are likely to be looking for ways to boost sales and they may also be on the lookout for technology deals in a bid to remain globally competitive.

Although deal activity was down across all sectors, component manufacturers fared the best, suffering only a 5 per cent drop, compared to drops of 19 per cent and 21 per cent in vehicle manufacturers and other categories respectively.

M&A activity has dropped for both trade and financial suppliers compared to this time last year, the PwC figures show. M&A volume for financial buyers fell to 22 per cent, the lowest it has been since 2008/9. Financial buyer activity was mainly based around component supply with over half of the deals being in this area.

PwC expects M&A activity for the global automotive sector to grow by 300 million units between now and 2018. However, due to technological changes and industry fragmentation, a clearer timescale for growth is not in place yet. |

Paul Elie said, “PwC maintains positive expectations for deal activity contingent upon the following conditions: Successful resolution of Europe’s sovereign debt crisis; strong economic recovery in developed markets such as the US and Japan; and resumption of trend line economic growth in emerging markets like China and India.”
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When your car some things go wrong, you have two ways to deal with it, one is find the root of the problem by yourself, and the other is the use of automotive diagnostic tool.

In recent years, repair the car by yourself is a good choice, the premise is that if you know how to deal with the problem. However, this has two disadvantages: one is the need to spend your times, another worst-case scenario is that you need to constantly try and re-tested.

But now a lot of cars are equipped with sophisticated electronic surveillance systems, and some even more than a dozen electronic detection systems in a car. If you detect these complex systems is a very dangerous or even fatal when you detect the airbag.

Automotive diagnostic detection systems usually near or around the instrument panel center console, he was known Europe board diagnostic port or called EOBD. Its purpose is to reduce emissions in the emissions to the atmosphere, an attempt to fuel consumption efficiency of the vehicle is high, it is more economical.

EOBD means the emergence of automotive diagnostic technician can plug in a special EOBD device port, and in a short period of time to find most of the problems. Although EOBD tools do not include the automotive market all models, but its coverage is very large, covering a wide from Europe and Japan. It also covers a few models from the United States.

For those of you unsure of the diagnosis of the problem, automotive diagnostic equipment can help you test the lists include airbags, transmission, air conditioning, anti-theft lock, CAN bus and brake controller ABS / Traction Control and ABS / Traction Control.

Even if your car is no problem, you still may need to diagnose a service technician, for example, you want to retrofit your airbag diagnostic technicians can help you do this. When the weather is extreme cases, some countries require auto repair auto technician checked regularly. This will avoid possible dangers and safety issues.

Comparison with the previous car diagnostic auto diagnostic difference now is now the diagnostic techniques are mobile, save time, save money, and more convenient.