Ethanol Touted as Innovative Solution to Today’s Rising Gas Prices

As gas prices continue to surge higher and higher and concern over our country’s reliance on foreign oil grows more serious by the day, many experts are pointing to ethanol as a quick and easy solution to the current energy crisis. This article takes a look at Ethanol as the new source of gas and the opportunities it presents.

Keywords:

ethanol production,how to make ethanol,ethanol producer,making ethanol,how to make your own ethanol,homemade ethanol,how make ethanol at home,investing in ethanol,ethanol recipe,ethanol production process

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Copyright 2006 Stephen Pierce

As gas prices continue to surge higher and higher and concern over our country’s reliance on foreign oil grows more serious by the day, many experts are pointing to ethanol as a quick and easy solution to the current energy crisis.

What is ethanol? Ethanol is a clean-burning, high-octane fuel made from plants, often corn, that many claim will be safer for the environment as well as reduce our reliance on oil from the Middle East.

This is Not Your Father’s Ethanol …

While ethanol first gained minor notoriety as a “fad fuel” that was introduced in the 1970s but never really caught on, the ethanol industry has made numerous innovations and improvements to the ethanol production process as well as the final product over the years and now expects to produce over 5 billion gallons of ethanol this year alone.

Of the ethanol that is produced, much is used to boost the octane rating of gasoline. Premium gasoline is made by adding ethanol to the gasoline mixture. The two most common blends are:

1. E10 - 10% ethanol and 90% unleaded gasoline. E10 is approved for use in any make or model of vehicle sold in the U.S. Many automakers recommend its use because of its high performance, clean-burning characteristics. In 2004, about one-third of America's gasoline was blended with ethanol, most in this 10% variety.

2. E85 - 85% ethanol and 15% unleaded gasoline. E85 is an alternative fuel for use in flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs). There are currently more than 4 million FFVs on America's roads today, and automakers are rolling out more each year.

Adding ethanol to gasoline is beneficial because it not only decreases the fuel's cost, increases the fuel's octane rating and decreases gasoline's harmful emissions but it also, according to a recent study, lets drivers travel farther for less money.

At current market prices, $20 worth of ethanol-blended fuel allows a vehicle to travel up to 15 miles farther than on gas without ethanol, according to a pilot study conducted by the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), a national trade association for the ethanol industry headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. “On a twenty dollar bill, drivers who choose ethanol-blended fuel will travel miles farther on less money than those burning straight gasoline,” Ron Lamberty, Vice President of Market Development for ACE said in a press release about the study. “Not only is ethanol's cost-per-mile lower than regular gasoline, the blending economics of ethanol translate to lower prices at the pump for consumers.”

Prices for E10 around the Midwest are as much as 10 cents less per gallon than regular unleaded, the ACE press release indicated. A recent Consumer Federation of America study shows that blending low-cost ethanol with high-priced gasoline can bring down prices at the pump by up to 8 cents per gallon.

The Next Step …

With results like those mentioned above and with new innovations continuing to be rapidly introduced in the ethanol production process, it’s little wonder that many fuel experts are now beginning to talk about shifting from ethanol as a fuel additive to ethanol as a replacement for petroleum-based fuel.

According to these experts, such a switch could allow us to break free from our addiction to foreign oil, could slash gas prices at the pump, could strengthen our national security, could produce jobs to rural America instead of the Middle East – all while protecting our environment.

To see an example of the benefits of increased reliance on ethanol, Americans have to look no further than nearby neighbor Brazil, which has been committed to using ethanol for 30 years.

In Brazil, cars can run on gas or ethanol thanks to “flex-fuel cars.” Drivers can simply choose between the two types of fuel or a mixture of both each time they pull up to the pump.

How far is America away from offering drivers here this same luxury? Many of the flex-fuel cars that triggered the ethanol boom in Brazil were made by GM and Ford and cars with the same technology were first introduced here in the U.S. three years ago. In fact, already three of every four new cars sold in the U.S. have the flex-fuel technology.

Maybe that’s why in a recent speech, President Bush felt compelled to say, “Ethanol will replace gasoline consumption. Ethanol is good for the whole country.”

Fast Food Operator has Found an Innovative Restaurant Marketing System

Stop Wasting Time and Money on Gimmicks and Start Generating Profit from every Restaurant Marketing Dollar.

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Marketing System, Restaurant Marketing, Marketing Software.

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This morning Tom Martin was the plumber; by mid-morning he was the accountant. All afternoon he was busy doing research and development and ended his workday concentrating on purchasing. Like many small business owners, Tom Martin wears many hats on a typical day. In 1969 he bought his first Taco Box restaurant. A few years later he opened a second and then a third location. Today he operates the Taco Box restaurants in Clovis and Portales, N. M. Business has been good, but Martin is convinced that it will get better.

Despite all of his responsibilities Martin has recently begun to focus on restaurant marketing in a whole new fashion. “For 20 years I have been working with a local advertising agency purchasing bulk radio ads and print ads. We had a birthday club and had gathered some customers’ addresses, but the account representative didn’t know how to make it work,” says Martin.

He continues: “I once heard the following quote, ‘Half of the money spent on advertising is wasted. I just don’t know which half.’ We were never able to track the results from our advertising dollars. I knew there had to be a better way; but being busy running our stores, I never had the time to get out there and try to figure out other restaurant marketing systems.”

Over the years, Martin has purchased numerous restaurant marketing books and followed several of the restaurant marketing gurus. “I have always been skeptical of some of their claims to get rich overnight. I tend to be a plodder and prefer to build our business sensibly and methodically,” says Martin.

Recently Martin started working with a restaurant marketing group that specializes in helping restaurants to build sound, trackable marketing using marketing software. “I like their philosophy of using a systematic approach to marketing; it matches mine.” The restaurant marketing coaches are helping Martin to begin building and structure his database.

RMG supplies the marketing software that makes it easy for Martin to capture and manage the database. In Martin’s case, he has one marketing employee that works part time doing office work. Part of her duties is to enter the data into the system. She has been amazed at how easy the software is to operate.

In a typical restaurant, 30 percent of the customers are bringing in 70 percent of the business. One of Martin’s goals is to get his existing customers to increase their frequency of visiting his restaurants. In addition, he would like to increase the group size for the guests’ visit and get them to spend more when they come in. By building a database of his frequent customers and offering rewards to those loyal customers, Martin has begun accomplishing his goals using the restaurant marketing software.

In addition, Martin would like to encourage new customers to come to his store. “With the help of RMG, I have put together a new move-in program. Clovis is a military town, so there’s high turnover. Our new move-in program offers them a free meal as an incentive to become a customer. Whether or not they come in with another family member or friend or just drive through for their one free meal, I count it as a winner. The national fast food chains lose another one! I want them to see and taste the difference that we offer. Past research shows that people who have lived in our area for more than two years prefer Taco Box over the national chains. That isn’t the case with those who are new to the community. They first need to try us before we can build Taco Box brand loyalty,” says Martin.

RMG provides a weekly restaurant marketing coaching session for Martin. During that phone interview, Martin and the coaches develop the details for upcoming campaigns. In addition to the New Move-In Campaign, Martin developed a “Boxpitality Club” after the VIP Club concept where customers are asked to fill out a card indicating their birthdays and anniversary. As members, they are offered free products on their special days and receive other redeemable offers throughout the year.

“My coach is a pro and truly understands marketing. Besides the coaching, one of the things that I like most about the Restaurant Marketing Group system is that it is fully trackable. By offering redeemable offers that are time sensitive, I will know within a short amount of time exactly how profitable the promotion was and what the return was on my marketing investment,” adds Martin.

He continues: “At this point in my career, after having spent 35 years building my business, I need a shot in the arm. I believe I have found that with the RMG system. I can’t believe all the creative campaign ideas that have been presented to me. Once we have the New Move-In and our Boxpitality Club off the ground, we’ll add additional campaigns.”

Martin is starting to look at his exit strategy and plans to retire in another six years. Before he does that, he wants to see how far he can build his business with a sound marketing plan and a little help from the folks at RMG

Chemical etching - An innovative process for your all nameplate requirements

The article deals with chemical etching as a skilled printing process, method of chemical etching, and different types of metal etchings and varied uses of etched name plates or name tags.

Keywords:

Chemical etching, nameplate, nameplates, custom name plates, industrial name plates, personalized name plates, name tags, custom labels, identification tags, custom name tags

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Chemical etching is a skilled practice of engraving your brand name on a nameplate. Texas Nameplate Company etches your emblem directly or indirectly on the metallic or non-metallic base and makes it more pliable to any lacerations. Chemical etching can be a substitute for embossing. The chemical etched nameplates are made by masking certain areas of metal by acid resistant material and then taking off desired amount of exposed material by acid. Widely custom name plates are etched on aluminum, stainless steel, brass, alloys etc and then baked after stuffing with varnishes for a perfect finish. The depth of industrial name plates etching varies from 0.0015 to 0.003 inches, depending on the height and stroke of letters and the type of metal or alloy. Along with chemicals gas and electric processes can also etch these wide ranges of metals.

Etching, also termed as ‘milling’ is of different types like laser etching, abrasive etching in which abrasives are used, photo chemical etching which is quite inexpensive and a high quality etching method. Photo chemically etched metals thus produced can be used as cost effective name tags, custom labels, panel boards, personalized name tags, industrial name plates for commercial uses and personalized name plate. Electro etching in which electric current is used instead of chemicals, dry etching does not use chemicals at all, Reactive ion etching which uses electric circuits and gas having chlorine or fluorine as iodized particles and vapor phase etching which also make use of reactive gases and many others to add to the list.

Chemical etching is preferred for practical applications and product identification tag. Name Tags made by chemical etching are durable items, which withstand even the harsh surroundings. Chemical etching makes your custom name tags withstand toughest
environments, high temperatures and extreme outdoor conditions. Thus solve your purpose year after year. Texas Nameplate Company compliments the etching with screen-printing to avoid splitting or other form of wear and tear. Various adhesives are also added to etched metal name tags according to your specifications for pasting or welding. You can use our chemical etching nameplates on truck, tankers and trailer, control panels, dials and gauges of aircrafts, asset and property plates; and operating and warning signs for numerous electronics, military vehicles, and machinery etc. Chemical etching is also used to create stencils for commercial art and woodworks.

You can always depend upon TNC for any queries regarding the etching of your nameplates and sort out material suiting your specific requirements.

Five Ways to Make Your Organization Innovative

Creative ideas are what turn ordinary companies into market leaders. These companies see the end result first and then build a path to achieve those results.

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Five Ways to Make Your Organization Innovative

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Creative ideas are what turn ordinary companies into market leaders. These companies see the end result first and then build a path to achieve those results.

A safety zone needs to be established. Often, failure is punished but success is not rewarded. We must remember that failure is the second cousin to success. We learn from our mistakes.

Creativity and innovation are key elements that propel businesses to the top. Without either, your company comes in second at best, and no one remembers No. 2. While being No. 1 certainly doesn't guarantee continued success, it is definitely better than being forgotten.

Here are some ways to keep your company at the top:

* Foster a business climate that's open to innovation and creativity. Innovation is the ability to come up with ideas and solutions to pressing problems. It is the process of producing something that has value and did not exist before. Creativity is the ability to take that new idea and make it valuable in your customers' eyes. Realize that every problem has a solution, although the solution may not be in plain sight.

* Become No. 1 with your clients. The more satisfied your clients are, the more business you'll have in the future. Realize that the only commodity your clients know is you. Since you are the catalyst providing the solution to their problem, you are accountable for fulfilling their needs. As a result, you need to invest time in keeping the channels of communication open.

* Create a partnership with clients. Clients recognize partnerships when the companies they work with function as problem solvers. Remember, value is something you produce by the acceptance clients place on what you do for them.

* Create a partnership with employees. Asking people to be creative and then shooting down their ideas creates a rift in your organization. Instead, show people that bringing their imagination on the journey is welcome. Information wealth flows directly from innovation, not optimization.

* Implement next-generation approaches. Replacing "rules" with "roles" will free your employees from the "we have always done it this way" syndrome. The secret is not knowing the formula; it is applying information in a way that works for your employees and benefits your clients. James Feldman is a motivational speaker and business consultant.