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The article discusses the author's nostalgia for the old days of performance testing in UK car magazines. The author reminisces about the excitement of road testing and the use of traditional test equipment. However, the author acknowledges that modern cars and testing methods have changed, with platform sharing, emissions regulations, and automated transmissions becoming more common. The author also emphasizes the importance of looking beyond simple acceleration figures to understand a car's true performance. The article concludes with a plea to return to traditional benchmarking sessions. [Extracted from the article]

The structural testing of existing pavement and overlay design using conventional sampling and laboratory testing is not only expensive and time consuming, but also a difficult task. In contrast, nondestructive testing (NDT) using equipment such as portable dynamic cone penetrometers (DC Ps), falling weight deflectometers and defectographs can be used to investigate the structural capacity of the different layer materials and for the design and rehabilitation strategies for the pavement. Consequently, an extensive NDT program was carried out in the U.K. and Pakistan on unbound granular material using DCR This paper presents an empirical relationship between DCPs and California bearing ratio (CBR) testing for road-base/sub-base materials. Using this relationship, the CBR vaLues can be calculated using the knowledge of the layer strength of materials based on its DCP values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on requirement of better technology and collaboration in oil and gas industry of Great Britain which will contribute in success of this sector. Topics discussed include need for advanced technology in fracking which has been banned by the Scottish Parliament, development of inspection technology like guided wave ultrasonic testing (GWUT) system for monitoring tank and more efficient solutions can be achieved by sharing expertise and technology.

The article examines principles of vision screening and discusses different vision screening equipment. Vision screening in the workplace is said to offer a useful safety net to diagnose those whose vision may be insufficient to safely and efficiently do a specific task. Care is required when interpreting the results of vision screening tests. Meanwhile, most vision screeners include tests of distance visual acuity, near visual acuity, stereopsis and color vision.

The article discusses the 2014 landscape report compiled by the NDT Working Group which identifies the prospects and barriers for the development of the non-destructive testing (NDT) industry in Great Britain. Topics include the key issues highlighted in the landscape report which include the lack of awareness for NDT and the need for new NDT inspectors and the impact of the technology transfer process on the introduction of new technology in the NDT industry.

Discusses a guide on finding and interpreting farm tractor test reports through the site of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Great Britain. Role of OECD in accreditation of the national tractor test stations; Procedure for downloading tractor reports; Data about tractor model that are available for access; Indication of summary graphs in the OECD Web site.

The article discusses the emergence of the shear cell technology as the test method of choice for powder flow testing in the bulk solid industry. This test methodology was identified as part of a collaborative initiative with funding support from the government of Great Britain in 2004. It notes that the method simulates the virtual conditions experienced by powders when stored in a bin or silo prior to discharge. An overview of a Flow Function test performed by the shear cell is also provided.

The article reports on the disassembly and scrapping of a Class 101 DMU, an ultrasonic test unit 901001 composed of 51433 and 53167 Driving Motor Brakes, in Great Britain.

UPDATED: Release of OvPlex ovarian cancer test in UK sends shares soaring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the approval of the SDL Atlas Moisture Management Tester (MMT) test method for performance fabrics for active wear and other clothing by the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC). The importance of the approval process to new technology is cited. Also noted is the capability of MMT units to show the ability of a fabric to improve apparel comfort. The SDL Atlas Group has offices in Great Britain, the U.S. and China.

The article informs that the U.S.-based not-for-profit organization Green Electronics Council is making its Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (Epeat)--which identifies green high-performance PCs and monitors--available to Great Britain-based companies. It is further informed that the Epeat system uses a number of environmental standards, including the European Union's Waste and Electronic Equipment (Weee) directives to determine if products meet green criteria.

The article presents information on the new-build Yak-3, which has been acquired by display pilot Chris Bellhouse. The aircraft has started test flying at Dijom in France in the hands of Christrophe Jacquard. It was the last of the Allison-engined Yak fighters to be produced in Russia. Bellhouse's aircraft will be flown to Great Britain, where he will use it for airshow work. The Yak-3 has been configured as a Yak-9, the only difference being the canopy. The painting of the two aircrafts is also similar. Bellhouse's Yak-3 will be a welcome addition to the warbird scene of Great Britain when it arrives.

The article offers information on the Test House at Keighley Laboratories in Great Britain. It states t hat the Test House offers a comprehensive array of expert facilities through non-destructive testing (NDT) and inspection procedures applied by highly qualified technicians. It also tests ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys to establish their mechanical properties, employing an array of equipment and techniques such as impact testing and Charpy and Izod testing.

The article reports on the propensity for the employees of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to be balloted again after the talks between the government agency and the drivers union Prospect on the introduction of new contracts as a result of the implementation of next generation testing (NGT).

The article reports on the move by Bespak Ltd. to perform free height test and compressive/tensile force tests on the springs to ensure conformance with specification in Great Britain. It stated that Mecmesin Corp., a designer and supplier of force and torque measurement solutions, supplied a MultiTest 1-i computer-controlled force testing system. The said system provides automated control of all test parameters, removing inaccuracies arising from manual force application.

The article reports on the growing importance of used test equipment as telecommunication operators and engineering companies tried to avoid in embarking in heavy financial investments in Great Britain.

The article reports that Labour member of Parliament (MP) of Great Britain Ann Cryer has accused the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) of failing to impress anyone, with its plans for Authorised Testing Facilities (ATFs). She has called on the Department for Transport (DfT) to intervene with the planned closure of the testing station in Steeton, Bradford. Cryer has criticized VOSA's decision to shut the Steeton testing station.

The article discusses the long usage of test equipment by the military. Among the developments in the test regime of Colonel John Abbott's team in the Ministry of Defence's Defence Equipment and Support organization (DE&S) of Great Britain are the General Purpose Suspension Equipment Test Set which assesses the state of the pylons and attachments that carry missiles on the undersides of aircraft and the Digital Diagnosis and Repair system for the upgrading of equipment. INSET: Testing in for the long haul.

The article reports on the industrial product used at John Crane facility in testing gas seals in Great Britain. It states that the facility is using a Phastite connectors from Parker Instrumentation to provide high pressure, permanent flow connections inside each of its five test rigs. Moreover, Phastite T-shaped connectors were also used by the facility to provide junction points for the large-bore gas service tubes that supply compressed air and helium gases to the test cells.

This article reports on the development of a sub-system by First Pass of Great Britain that allows eight dynamometer test rigs to share a single calibration unit. It is noted that the approach is based on a digital TorqSense transducer from Sensor Technology. First Pass designed the system for a manufacturer to assess its needs for life testing electric motors.

The article reports that Kane International has integrated its Kane 455 Flue Gas Analyser with Cognito Inc.'s mobile workforce management software. Kane International is a manufacturer of portable test equipment for heating engineers. Chris Collins, Great britain sales manager at Kane, said that with faster, safer data collection, engineers also improve the efficiency of their service and further cost benefits are gained through improved time management of engineers.

The article reports on the development of a testing device that would measure faults in automatic cluster removal (ACR) equipment by Oliver Sauvee in Great Britain. According to Sauvee, the system measures the initial delay before ACR starts monitoring milk flow. It simulates the end of milking using water or salt water. It also reduces the stimulated flow by steps of 100 grams a minute.

The article reports on XJTAG Ltd.'s plan to launch its test products in Great Britain. Contract manufacturers are being offered a free development kit called XJRunner by the company. The development kit costs 3,500 pound. A free 30-day trial of the full system is also offered along with the kit. According to CEO Simon Payne, this strategy will help the company to achieve its objective of becoming the number one boundary test supplier in the country.

The article focuses on the launch of the Smart FieldMeter range of radio frequency environmental monitor by Laplace Instruments, at the Electromagnetic Compatibility-United Kingdom show in 2006. The products offer a combination of portability and simplicity of a multimeter with the major features of professional quality test equipment. The Smart FieldMeter range is fully calibrated with traceable laboratory certification and has an option of an in-field calibration verification unit/field gauge to ensure integrity of readings.

This article reports that self-certifying minor test rectifications would save Great Britain £3.5 million a year. Operators should be able to self-certify the rectification of minor test failure items, according to proposals drawn up by the Cabinet Office and put out for consultation by the Department for Transport. Productivity gains of £250 and fees of £75 per truck are identified. If 5% of test failures were affected, the total saving would be £3.5 million a year.

The article reports on the decision of the British Vehicle & Operator Services Agency to sign a major contract for testing station equipment in April 2006. The contract for the new test lane refresh programme will include a variety of equipment. David Grant of the Retail Motor Industry Federation expressed concern about the contract. A number of sites have just started trailing the programme.

The article reports on the enhancement of the mobile electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) test capability of Qinetiq in Great Britain. The improvements was made to enable the company to provide onsite EMC evaluation and testing for all vehicle platforms and fixed installations. The large air-conditioned mobile microwave instrumentation unit of Qinetiq was upgraded to provide 18-40 gigahertz of susceptibility and measurement of attenuation. The device can be positioned on customer locations, ensuring fast turn-around times.

The article reports on the £300,000 investment of the British Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) in a new headlamp testing equipment at its testing stations. LET NV will supply 170 Luminoscope type PLA 20-DR headlamp testers to 87 British lgv testing centers of VOSA between mid-December 2005 and March 2006. The new equipment will provide rapid, accurate alignment.

The article reports on the decision of The Schaffner group to divest the test systems division as of September 2005. According to Paul Dixon, managing director of Schaffner in Great Britain, Schaffner plans to divest the test systems division because the company is not becoming an international leader in the test and measurement business. He claims that in today's globalized business environment, companies must consistently focus their attention on those areas of their business where they can achieve dominance.

This article reports that Swiss company Schaffner is looking for a buyer for its test equipment business and intends to focus on its components business. The company's managing director Paul Dixon in Great Britain told this journal that it was a strategic move and not a move to raise capital. In Great Britain the test division of Schaffner has some 45 staff, a mixture of engineers and sales staff. The test division is being sold as a viable, profitable business. The test business has manufacturing facilities in Germany, Switzerland and Ireland.

Reports on the positive response of the livestock industry to the plan of the European Commission to part-fund a three-year destruction scheme for cattle born before August 1996 in Great Britain. Benefits of the scheme to farmers; Estimated numbers of cows born before August 1996 still on farms according to the British Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Role of the Food Standards Agency's decision to adopt the installation of brain-testing equipment in abattoirs in the success of the scheme.

Presents several problems posed by the inadequacies of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency of Great Britain in relation to their transportation test results and testing stations. Arrangements for a voluntary brake testing; Different readings from sets of brake rollers; Increase in cost of retesting and lost downtime.

Focuses on the investigation into the reliability of official brake testing equipment used by the Ministry of Transport (MoT) in Great Britain. Complaints of dealers on the inconsistencies in brake tests of the MoT and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA); Efforts of the VOSA and the Retail Motor Industry Federation to publish a guide on ways to prepare trucks for brake tests; Suggestion from Roger Trubridge, scheme manager for heavy goods vehicle testing at the VOSA, on achieving a service brake efficiency.

Reports on the plan of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) to replace the brake roller testing equipment in Great Britain. Conflict between the plan and the increase in fees for trucks and trailers to be implemented by the VOSA; Information on a meeting among the Freight Transport Association, the Road Haulage Association and the VOSA; Failure of contracted firms to provide a solution to the replacement of the equipment.

Presents an update on the National Sprayer Testing Scheme program in Great Britain as of May 21, 2004.

Reports on a request by truck dealers for an investigation of government brake testing equipment in Great Britain as of March 18, 2004. Statement from Alistair Manson, director of the Retail Motor Industry (RMI) Federation, on the high failure rate of vehicles that have undergone the government's brake testing; Possible reasons for the discrepancy between brake testing equipment used by RMI members and those used by the Vehicle & Operator Services Agency; Dealers of the Harris Group that experienced the problem, according to Frank Parr, the group's director.

Reports on the results of the quality tests performed by vehicle security tester Thatcham on cab security devices from Protekdor in Great Britain. Background on the operations of the company; Advantages of the devices; Information on two products that will be launched by Protekdor.

Presents information on the test systems for military equipment from Schaffner EMC, the British subsidiary of Swiss company Schaffner EMV of Switzerland. Applications of the test systems; Features of the test systems; Benefits of the test systems.

Reports that the Great Britain-based SATRA Corp. has created its own test rig to evaluate gloves and clothing that may come into contact with molten metal or welding sparks.

Reports on the commercial launch of P945-D, a spring-contact test probe from British firm Peak Test Services. Total length of the probe; Key features.