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Market prospects
Automotive Composite car maker targets emerging nations THE DEVELOPER of the WorldStar composite utility vehicle, Composite Automobile Research (CAR), California, USA, is to target sales at 189 developing nations that combined have more than 60% of the world’s population. The US Office of Automotive Atfairs is projecting that growth rates for motor vehicle sales in emerging countries is ten to fifteen times more than that of the USA. CAR says that it wants to help these developing nations by strategically placing manufacturing facilities within their borders to create jobs, build infrastructure, and attract new business, instead of importing vehicles from larger facilities outside of the country. The company estimates that at present there are 5 million people throughout the world who do not have automotive transport and that this plan, and the development of the WorldStar, meets the transportation needs of emerging markets - traditionally a factor that automotive manufacturers have been slow to address. The long term goal for CAR is for the global production of 2% of the present new vehicle market which would equate to 1 million WorldStar vehicles a year.
Reducing efficiency
weight for fuel in cars
THROUGH the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) programme its materials technical team, DaimlerChrysler, Ford and GM, in collaboration with national laboratories, universities and suppliers, are working to dramatically reduce the weight of vehicles as compared to today’s medium sized family cars. Doing this would allow PNGV vehicles to achieve the goal of up to three times the fuel efficiency of today’s cars. The pursuit of a variety of advanced powertrain options, such as fuel cells, by the three car makers to meet the fuel efficiency goal is challenged by the integration of these
powertrains into vehicles whilst overcoming their increased weight. Without a reduction of around 40% in the total weight of the car, the fuel economy targets cannot be achieved and this is a prime area in which composites have benefits over traditional materials.
Oil and gas UN sanctions hit oil industry in Iraq THE trade sanctions against Iraq, imposed by the United Nations after Iraq’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait, have resulted in increased corrosion problems in the’ country’s oil industry as a result of the lack of materials and equipment. With an estimated US$lO million a year required for materials to protect against corrosion in its industries Iraq needs to find ways to manufacture materials and equipment locally, as left alone the cost of corrosion could snowball into billions of dollars. At present the UN’s ‘oil for food programme has allowed the country to purchase $600 million worth of spare parts to upgrade its dilapidated oil industry, and has recently extended this programme to allow Iraq to sell $5.3 billion worth of oil to allow it to purchase food and medicine for its population.
Mass transit Bombardier pursues rail growth in new markets A GOAL to double its worldwide sales in rail transportation has been set by Bombardier as it pursues the continued growth of the sector. The company intends to build on its core expertise in passenger rail rolling stock, while expanding into new markets. Bombardier says the outlook for the North American market is particularly strong, predicting a growth of 50% in demand for rolling stock over the next five years. Mexico and Latin America also offer a number of avenues for expansion, including vehicle maintenance, and increasing demand for freight cars
as a result of the privitisation of railways. Growth of around 20% is expected over the next five years in Western Europe where Bombardier Transportation already landed a CAN$2.6 billion Virgin Rail contract. Elsewhere, a recent joint venture for the manufacture of passenger rail vehicles in China has presented the company with further penetration of the Asian markets. Bombardier also sees growth possibilities in the just completed Advanced Rapid Transit (ART) project in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which is currently tracking more than 200 potential projects worldwide. Both are encouraging signs that the worst of the economic uncertainties that put a damper on transport markets in some regions are now in the past. Bombardier has also joined a consortium to bid for contracts as part of the UK government’s initiative for the upgrading of the London underground network. The scheme will see the network split into three infrastructure companies covering both sub-surface and deep tunnel lines. It is expected that private companies will invest 68 billion to improve the ageing underground network.
Defence Kuwait steps up defence programme /Ql IT recovers from a drop in global oil prices Kuwait is in the process of reviving some of its substantial arms plans. After the occupation of Kuwait by Iraqi forces in 1991 the small state launched a 12 year plan to spend LJS$12 billion on new arms and the rebuilding of its military. The first phase of a US$1.2 billion military command system, worth around $350 million, was scheduled at :he end of 1998 but has now been postooned to this September. The main contenders for the deal are firms from the UK and the USA. A UK Aerospace and Lockheed-Martin Learn and a Raytheon led consortium have been invited to discuss the mat;er further. The third main bidder is a :onsortium led by the UK’s GEC and Litton of the USA.
Composites
Business
Analyst
I
Reducing efficiency
weight for fuel in cars
THROUGH the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) programme its materials technical team, DaimlerChrysler, Ford and GM, in collaboration with national laboratories, universities and suppliers, are working to dramatically reduce the weight of vehicles as compared to today’s medium sized family cars. Doing this would allow PNGV vehicles to achieve the goal of up to three times the fuel efficiency of today’s cars. The pursuit of a variety of advanced powertrain options, such as fuel cells, by the three car makers to meet the fuel efficiency goal is challenged by the integration of these
powertrains into vehicles whilst overcoming their increased weight. Without a reduction of around 40% in the total weight of the car, the fuel economy targets cannot be achieved and this is a prime area in which composites have benefits over traditional materials.
Oil and gas UN sanctions hit oil industry in Iraq THE trade sanctions against Iraq, imposed by the United Nations after Iraq’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait, have resulted in increased corrosion problems in the’ country’s oil industry as a result of the lack of materials and equipment. With an estimated US$lO million a year required for materials to protect against corrosion in its industries Iraq needs to find ways to manufacture materials and equipment locally, as left alone the cost of corrosion could snowball into billions of dollars. At present the UN’s ‘oil for food programme has allowed the country to purchase $600 million worth of spare parts to upgrade its dilapidated oil industry, and has recently extended this programme to allow Iraq to sell $5.3 billion worth of oil to allow it to purchase food and medicine for its population.
Mass transit Bombardier pursues rail growth in new markets A GOAL to double its worldwide sales in rail transportation has been set by Bombardier as it pursues the continued growth of the sector. The company intends to build on its core expertise in passenger rail rolling stock, while expanding into new markets. Bombardier says the outlook for the North American market is particularly strong, predicting a growth of 50% in demand for rolling stock over the next five years. Mexico and Latin America also offer a number of avenues for expansion, including vehicle maintenance, and increasing demand for freight cars
as a result of the privitisation of railways. Growth of around 20% is expected over the next five years in Western Europe where Bombardier Transportation already landed a CAN$2.6 billion Virgin Rail contract. Elsewhere, a recent joint venture for the manufacture of passenger rail vehicles in China has presented the company with further penetration of the Asian markets. Bombardier also sees growth possibilities in the just completed Advanced Rapid Transit (ART) project in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which is currently tracking more than 200 potential projects worldwide. Both are encouraging signs that the worst of the economic uncertainties that put a damper on transport markets in some regions are now in the past. Bombardier has also joined a consortium to bid for contracts as part of the UK government’s initiative for the upgrading of the London underground network. The scheme will see the network split into three infrastructure companies covering both sub-surface and deep tunnel lines. It is expected that private companies will invest 68 billion to improve the ageing underground network.
Defence Kuwait steps up defence programme /Ql IT recovers from a drop in global oil prices Kuwait is in the process of reviving some of its substantial arms plans. After the occupation of Kuwait by Iraqi forces in 1991 the small state launched a 12 year plan to spend LJS$12 billion on new arms and the rebuilding of its military. The first phase of a US$1.2 billion military command system, worth around $350 million, was scheduled at :he end of 1998 but has now been postooned to this September. The main contenders for the deal are firms from the UK and the USA. A UK Aerospace and Lockheed-Martin Learn and a Raytheon led consortium have been invited to discuss the mat;er further. The third main bidder is a :onsortium led by the UK’s GEC and Litton of the USA.
Composites
Business
Analyst
I