Web Page sponsored by MILLBROOK
Millbrook, based in Bedfordshire, UK, makes a significant contribution to the quality and performance of military vehicles worldwide. Its specialist expertise is focussed in two distinct areas: test programmes to help armed services and their suppliers ensure that their vehicles and systems work as the specification requires; and design and build work to upgrade new or existing vehicles, evaluate vehicle capability and investigate in-service failures. Complementing these is driver and service training and a hospitality business that allows customers to use selected areas of Millbrook’s remarkable facilities for demonstrations and exhibitions.
Tel: +44 (0) 1525 408408
www.millbrook.co.uk/military
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30 Jun 11. Nanostellar Inc., a Silicon Valley developer of advanced materials, has completed the commercialisation of a gold-based catalyst, NS Gold™, which is now in production with one of the four largest European diesel car manufacturers. The World Gold Council has provided an additional investment which will help the company to accelerate wider commercial adoption of NS Gold™. The inclusion of gold in this technology provides significant benefits for diesel vehicle manufacturers, providing emission reductions of up to 30%, manufacturing cost reductions, or alternatively improved fuel economy. Catalytic converters in cars and trucks use precious metals, such as platinum, to catalyse the oxidation of harmful by-products in the engine exhaust, and thereby reduce noxious emissions. The potential to use gold in this type of application has long been considered by the industry, but until Nanostellar’s breakthrough the technical challenges concerning catalyst durability prevented its use. Following rigorous performance and durability testing, the NS Gold™ catalyst has proven to be fully compliant with the current European vehicle emissions standards (Euro-5). Dr Richard Holliday, Director, Technology at the World Gold Council, said, “This is one of the most advanced and exciting applications of gold in technology, with the potential to address stricter legislation on reductions in engine emissions cost-effectively, while broadening the technological uses for gold. We look forward to continuing our strategic partnership with this cutting-edge, innovative company and sharing our expertise to help spur further progress in other technologies.” Nanostellar, which was recognised by the World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer in 2008, has led the way in the use of gold in diesel emission control systems and has been supported in its commercial application by the World Gold Council since its first investment in the company in late 2007.
27 Jun 11. Oshkosh Defense featured its MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) tactical ambulance at the AUSA’s Army Medical Exposition taking place June 27-29 in San Antonio, Texas. The M-ATV tactical ambulance offers an enhanced design that exceeds the military’s original M-ATV ambulance survivability requirements and delivers exceptional off-road mobility so military medics can reach and care for injured personnel in challenging operating environments.
“The M-ATV tactical ambulance is the lightest and most mobile MRAP ambulance available to Warfighters today, and it delivers MRAP-level protection mirroring the protection on M-ATVs now equipped with underbody improvement kits to keep them safe on the battlefield,” said Ken Juergens, vice president and general manager of Joint Programs for Oshkosh Defense. “As we have proved since we started work on the M-ATV program, Oshkosh has the production capabilities to deliver this vehicle in response to urgent needs in the field.”
The M-ATV tactical ambulance’s seating arrangement accommodates two litter and two ambulatory patients, or any combination thereof, providing increased capacity and configuration flexibility. Additionally, it takes less than t