Industry News
Lockheed Martin Awarded Contracts to Improve US Postal Service Processing
Lockheed Martin has been awarded two contracts totaling US$9 million from the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to upgrade and increase the processing capability of the Remote Computer Reader (RCR) system.
The Remote Computer Reader upgrade will provide additional capacity to handle processing during peak periods. The additional capacity will allow the USPS to sort more mail and create more flexible mail processing options, which are extremely beneficial during the holiday season.
RCR consists of arrays of computer servers loaded with software trained to decipher printed or handwritten addresses on letters. RCR now accurately machine reads 86 percent of handwritten addresses, versus 2 percent in 1995, and 93 percent of typed or printed addresses, up from 35 percent in 1995. It is installed in approximately 350 U.S. Postal Service Processing and Distribution Centers in major cities.
Lockheed Martin is a leading supplier to the U.S. Postal Service and other postal systems around the world of address recognition solutions, which read handwritten or machine printed addresses automatically.
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Raytheon Receives $7 Million Award for Network Centric Airborne Defense Element Work
Raytheon Company has received a $7 million contract from the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) for a risk reduction demonstration associated with the evolving Network Centric Airborne Defense Element (NCADE) program. NCADE is a missile defense system that will affordably leverage operational tactical missile technologies and infrastructure. The 12-month Raytheon effort will focus on propulsion systems and seeker enhancements as part of the overall NCADE system capability. Successful results of the effort will be evaluated by MDA to determine applicability to a dynamic, cost-effective capability development program. Work on this contract will be performed at Raytheon's Missile Systems business in Tucson, Ariz. Aerojet will perform propulsion work at its Redmond, Wash., location.
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IBM Invests US$2.2 Million to Expand Linux Technology Center in Brazil
Representatives of IBM announced the company will invest US$2.2 million in 2006 to expand its Linux Technology Center (LTC) in Brazil.
Developers at IBM's Linux Technology Center in Brazil will work to make Linux better as part of the open source community specializing in developing Linux with cell, power and virtualization technologies.
The investment will be used to complete construction of a Linux development laboratory in Hortolândia and expand a second lab in Campinas, on Brazil's Unicamp campus. It will assist with upgrading lab construction and equipment, furthering software development projects with Linux, and expanding student internships and job opportunities for recent graduates as a result of a collaboration between IBM and Brazil's Unicamp campus.
With the announcement, The Linux Technology Center in Brazil will now become one of the five largest Centers of its kind in the world. IBM Linux sales in the key emerging markets of Brazil, Russia, India and China, "BRIC" countries, grew 75% from 2005 to 2006.
Investment Supports Innovative Linux and Open Source Projects
The investment will enable engineers and developers at the Linux Technology Center in Brazil to work on the following new projects:
- Linux development for IBM's Cell processor.
- Linux development for IBM's Power processor.
- Ease of use improvements for Linux on IBM Systems.
- Improved virtualization for Intel-based processors.
- Common Criteria Security certification for Red Hat Enterprise Linux version
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BP to Market for Sale Dutch E&P and Gas Infrastructure Business
Representatives of BP announced that it intends to market for sale its exploration and production (E&P) and gas infrastructure business in the Netherlands, comprising its onshore and offshore production assets and its Piek Gas Installatie (PGI) at Alkmaar.
The business will be offered as an ongoing, fully staffed operation and BP does not expect any redundancies as a result of the sale.
It is expected that the sale will be completed by the end of the year, subject to consultation with the Works Council.
BP's Dutch E&P/gas infrastructure business has a staff of around 120 employees and long term contractors. It operates assets both onshore and offshore in the Netherlands and had net gas production of around 1.8 million cubic metres a day (62 million cubic feet a day) in 2005.
This sale does not affect BP's other significant business activities in the Netherlands which comprise energy trading, refining and marketing of fuels and lubricants as well as a renewable energy business
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General Dynamics to Acquire Division of Chamberlain Manufacturing Corporation
Representatives of General Dynamics entered into a definitive agreement with Chamberlain Manufacturing Corporation (CMC) to acquire CMC's Scranton, Penn., division, a manufacturer of artillery projectiles and 120mm mortar bodies. CMC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Elmhurst, Ill.-based Duchossois Industries, Inc. Terms of the acquisition will not be disclosed; the acquisition will be immediately accretive to General Dynamics.
The acquisition has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is subject to normal regulatory approval. General Dynamics expects the transaction to be completed in the third quarter of 2006.
CMC's Scranton operation, which has approximately 400 employees, is a leading supplier of large-caliber projectile metal parts to the U.S. government, including forged bodies for 105mm artillery, 120mm mortars and 155mm artillery ammunition.
The Scranton operation will become part of the General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems business unit, which is a world leader in the manufacture of large- and medium-caliber direct- and indirect-fire munitions, bomb bodies and Ball Powder propellant. General Dynamics also manufactures precision metal components and designs and produces shaped-charge warheads and control actuator systems.
Duchossois Industries is a privately held company, headquartered in Elmhurst, Ill., which owns The Chamberlain Group, AMX Corporation and Duchossois Technology Partners. Duchossois Industries also holds a strategic interest in Churchill Downs, Inc., and a number of other diversified businesses.
General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems is based in St. Petersburg, Fla.
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Nortel Launches WiMax Trial at National Taiwan University
The Graduate Institute of Business Administration and Electrical Engineering departments of National Taiwan University (NTU) are collaborating with Nortel in a WiMAX broadband service trial that includes interoperability testing using a variety of wireless devices and multimedia applications.
The NTU WiMAX lab trial site supports field-testing and demonstration of a wide range of high-bandwidth multimedia applications - such as VoIP, video streaming, video surveillance and a WiMAX/WLAN handover to 3G networks - using PDAs, laptop computers, Wi-Fi handsets and WiMAX customer premise equipment.
Nortel previously announced a Center of Excellence for WiMax Devices in Taipei. A significant number of worldwide Wi-Fi devices are designed and manufactured in Taiwan, and Nortel is working closely with Taiwan-based global specialists who are developing, for example, a portable dual mode WiMAX/Wi-Fi handset that will work with Nortel's WiMAX solution, and with the Nortel Wireless Mesh Network solution deployed in Taipei and Kaohsiung as part of the government's M-Taiwan initiative. Nortel's full, end-to-end WiMAX ecosystem will also include a wide range of other products from leading suppliers, including USB devices, PCMCIA cards, home gateways, portable PCs, PDAs and more.
In addition, Nortel has signed an agreement with Chunghwa Telecom to deploy a WiMAX solution in the operator's experimental park to create an environment for testing WiMAX and wireless mesh integration.
Nortel is working with key industry leaders and suppliers to develop a full end-to-end WiMAX ecosystem of products and solutions. A fundamental part of that ecosystem is leveraging the experience acquired through Nortel's own product development including activity through our joint venture LG-Nortel, and extensive collaboration with several major global industry influencers and device manufacturers.
Nortel is a member of the WiMAX Forum, an industry-led organization that promotes interoperability and certification of wireless products for delivery of faster, more affordable data, voice and video services to businesses and consumers. Nortel also owns many key patents in the technologies underlying the WiMAX standard and the company's seven years of work in OFDM and MIMO technology.
