Author Archives: Carlos De Sordi

EPA Official In Charge of Emissions Standards Steps Down

The senior Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official in charge of revising vehicle emissions standards has resigned, according to reports.

Bill Wehrum, Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, will resign his position effective June 30. He had been working with officials from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on rewriting vehicle admissions standards through 2026. He was also in charge of standards regarding biofuels. Wehrum testified before congress last week that it would be several weeks before the plan was complete.

Wehrum announced his resignation to his staff and associates via e-mail. Principal Deputy Administrator Anne Idsal will replace him in the interim.

Ongoing Strike Threatens Copper Supply

An ongoing strike at a major copper mine is threatening to cause a major loss in an already short supply of the metal.

According to reports, a work stoppage at Chuquicamata Mine in Chile could cause a loss of 10,000 metric tons of copper from an already tight market. The strike has reached 12 days and there is little sign of agreement between the parties involved. The mine produced 321,000 tons of copper in 2018. It is operated by state run Codelco and is the company’s third largest mine.

No talks are currently scheduled between Codelco and the unions representing Chuquicamata’s striking miners. Miners have said that retirement plans and equal working conditions are the reason for the stoppage.

DEF Contamination a Danger to Pilots

Diesel Exhaust Fluid, or DEF, has become required for diesel engine vehicles to meet new emission standards. However, its ubiquitous presence at airports has led to a series of contamination issues and dangerous emergency landings that have pilots concerned.

Jet fuel contaminated with DEF has caused three reported incidents of engine failure over the past 18 months. Most small plane pilots use an additive to prevent icing in their fuel systems, which are subjected to extreme temperatures when flying at altitude. That additive is almost indistinguishable from DEF, as both are clear and colorless.

“For aircraft fueling, we use something called a flight system icing inhibitor, or FSII, which is an additive added to jet fuel to prevent it from freezing at altitude,” David Oord, Senior Director, Government Affairs for the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA) said. “This will prevent icing and clogging of the system.”

When DEF is added to jet fuel, it causes crystals to form that can clog the fuel system, leading to engine failure. There is currently no way for pilots to determine whether their systems have been contaminated before it’s too late.

“The pilot won’t be aware of it until they are at 30 thousand feet and all the sudden their fuel systems will get clogged and suffocate, starving the engine of fuel,” Oord said. “It could be in the middle of the country, where there isn’t an airport nearby. A lot of these jets can fly trans-Atlantic. What if they took off Eastbound and are out of range to glide back to an airport?”

The first known incident occurred In 2017, when a fuel handler mistakenly added DEF to a tank intended for FSII in Omaha, Neb. No one was killed, but after similar incidents occurred at other airports, the AOPA decided action was needed.

“We thought this was a one off that wasn’t going to occur again,” Oord said. “Unfortunately, it did and we had a near fatality incident. We realized this was an issue we needed to stay in front of.

Oord said having a clear labeling system and well documented procedures are critical for preventing these incidents from occurring more frequently. While pilots need to stay vigilant, there is only so much they can do.

“The crux of the matter is you have two liquids on an airport property. Because they are both clear, they need to be clearly labeled and quarantined,” Oord said. “As pilots, there really isn’t much we can do. There is no test, it’s hard to detect and we really have to count on the fuel handlers and line personnel to make sure they have proper procedures in place.”

While it could become a major issue for small plane operators, patrons need not worry about commercial aircraft engines stalling out due to contaminated fuel. Those engines have heated fuel systems and FSII is not required to keep them from freezing up. For those flying on small aircraft, the AOPA believes removing DEF from airports entirely is the only way to ensure safety.

“There is no known test, but that is something we are exploring. Anytime you have a certification of a test, there is going to be time, complexity and cost involved,” Oord said. We are really trying to focus on prevention and the best solution to prevent this is to not have DEF at the airport.”

For that to happen, they are going to need some help from the EPA.

“It’s going to take some action from the EPA,” Oord said. “We are looking to see if there is a possibility from exempting these on-airport vehicles form the mandate. We are exploring all our options, but that would be the most effective long-term solution.”

Hurdles Block Rekindling of FCA-Renault Merger Talk

The proposed merger between Fiat-Chrysler (FCA) and Renault has failed for now, with two major hurdles standing in the way of a resurrection.

According to reports, FCA officials are concerned about the political climate in France, where Renault is based. FCA would want the French government to relinquish its stake in Renault before it resumed talks. France currently holds a 15 percent stake in the automaker. FCA officials said the new company would be committed to keeping jobs and facilities in France if the merger were successful.

For Renault, support from its alliance partner Nissan would be necessary before re-engaging in merger discussions. According to reports, board members from the Japanese automaker abstained from an informal vote on the proposal.

Metalworking Industry Growth Slows, Still Trending Up

While the metalworking industry continues to grow, it is expanding at its slowest rate since 2017 according to the latest Gardner Business Index report.

According to the report, metalworking posted a 51.6 market growth score, its lowest since lowest since 2017. While growth is slowing, the report indicates the industry is still trending up. A score above 50 indicates growth, while a score below 50 would mean the industry is shrinking.

The report shows a reduction of both backlogs and new orders.

Survey Says Toyota is World’s Most Valuable Car Brand

Toyota is once again the world’s most valuable car brand according to the 2019 BrandZ global value rankings.

According to the report, which has been released annually for the past 14 years, Toyota is the world’s 41^st most valuable brand, dropping five spots from 2018. The only other automotive brands to crack the top 100 were Mercedes-Benz at 54^th and BMW at 55^th. Honda and Ford rounded out the top five for automotive brands.

While it finished 9^th amongst automotive brands, Volkswagen was the only brand to improve its valuation from 2018. Porsche entered the top 10 after failing to qualify last year. To read the entire report, click here.

Get Prepared for the Year’s Busiest Driving Season

Summer is here and that means its time for the biggest, busiest driving season of the year.

As school lets out and work slows down, many Americans families take to the roads for everything from beach weekends to cross country trips. It isn’t just families taking to the roads more often. Commercial and industrial vehicles are also being driven more. This, coupled with the rising temperatures, leads to a lot of extra wear and tear on vehicles. That is why it’s important to ensure your vehicles are prepared.

“When preparing your vehicle for the summer, it’s important to think about how you will be utilizing the vehicle,” Jeff Cox, President of the Automotive Maintenance Repair Association (AMRA), said. “Are you going to take any road trips? If so, you will want to make sure components like your tires, battery and air conditioning are in good shape. Many local repair facilities perform comprehensive inspections and I highly recommend having one done prior to any road trip.”

While the impact of cold weather on motor vehicles is well documented, summer heat can be just as dangerous as winter chills. Most drivers would correctly assume cooling systems are heavily strained in hot weather, but few consider its impact on other components, like batteries.

“Hot weather can put a strain on your vehicle and one particular item is the battery,” Cox said. “Most people think of a cold winter day when their battery fails but it’s the heat that destroys the battery. The vehicle’s cooling system will be strained on hot summer days. Ensuring the cooling system is not leaking and filled with the correct type of coolant is a great way to ensure your vehicle doesn’t overheat. If you do notice a leak, take it to your local repair shop for a diagnosis.”

Maintenance is key in keeping vehicles running and there are steps owners can take to reduce breakdowns. While some maintenance can be taken care of at home, other tasks are better left in the hands of professionals.

“Owners who want to be proactive can check some items like tires and fluids on their own,” Cox said. “There are some item’s where it is best to leave to professionals. Having the battery tested or the A/C services should be left to someone how is certified to work on those systems especially with the complexity of today’s vehicles.”

The summer is also a busy season for auto shops and repair facilities. This can lead to additional business and serve as a great opportunity to attract new customers. However, owners must ensure they are ready to provide the best service they can.

“For shop owners, it’s important to be prepared for those first hot days,” Cox said. “Your customers are counting on you to get them where they want to go so ensuring your equipment is working properly and your staff is trained on the various system will help you move through the increased car count efficiently.”

The summer is always a busy season for driving, so planning ahead is critical. Preparation will go a long way in helping vehicle owners avoid breakdowns and auto shop owners better serve their customers.

“People who plan will be ahead of the rest,” Cox said. “If you are taking a summer road trip and want to have your vehicle inspected, don’t wait until a few days before you have it done so if your vehicle does need a repair prior, it can be accomplished prior to the trip.”

ASI Warns Pilots of fuel contaminated with Diesel Exhaust Fluid

The Air Safety Institute (ASI) has released a safety notice asking pilots to be aware of jet fuel contaminated with diesel exhaust fluid (DEF).

According to reports, the notices were issued in response to an incident where two Cessna jets in Florida experienced in-flight failure as a result of contaminated fuel. This was the third incident in the last 18 months related to contamination. DEF can sometimes be confused with Jet Fuel additives that prevent icing, as both are clear and colorless. However, it is not approved for use in aircraft and can cause engine failure and substantial damage.

DEF is becoming increasingly popular at airports, as many new ground vehicles in use require it. While the ASI says there are no known pre-flight procedures that can identify fuel that has been contaminated, they are asking pilots to be vigilant and prepared.

Iowa Office Building the First to be Constructed with Dowel-Laminated Timber

An office building in Des Moines, Iowa will be the first multi-story commercial building in the United States constructed dowel-laminated timber.

According to reports, mass timber is becoming increasingly common in commercial construction due to its ease of use and environmental friendliness. However, systems like the one used to construct the East Village Building in Iowa have raised questions about safety. The wood panels used in the construction are pressed together with dowels and not secured by fasteners or nails.

Mass timber is created by using several small planks to create larger pieces. Reports indicate there are as many as 200 mass timber buildings in the United States, but the East Village will be the first to use the dowel-laminated wood.

FCA Has Proposed a Merger with Renault

Fiat-Chrysler (FCA) has proposed a merger with French automaker Renault, which would create the world’s third largest motor vehicle OEM.

According to reports, the new business would be owned 50 percent by Renault’s shareholders and 50 percent by FCA’s. The newly created company would trail only Volkswagen and Toyota in terms of vehicle production. Its board would contain 11 members, including a representative from Nissan, who is part of an alliance with Renault. Nissan and fellow Japanese automaker Mitsubishi would remain in a partnership with the newly formed company if the proposed merger does take place.

Reports indicate the merger would be unlikely to result in any plant closures. The news comes as former Renault chairman Carlos Ghosn awaits trial in a high profile fraud case.