MoreInspiration
Newsletter October 2008
Dear CREAX newsreader,
This month we have 6 fascinating innovations for you: |
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Innovation Highlights
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| The triple-A energy efficiency rated dishwasher can complete a standard 50C program in just 125 minutes or use its varioSpeed function to reduce program time by a further 50%.
The new speedMatic utilizes the special properties of the zeolith mineral to absorb moisture and convert it into energy in order to dry dishes faster and more efficiently. Taking their name from the Greek zein - to boil and lithos - stone, Zeolites are a very species-rich family of silicate minerals that appear in nature in numerous forms. They can serve as catalysts, water softeners or drying agents, and are used in heat storage devices or in "self-cooling beer barrels". Zeolites have provided people with benefits for many years. Now, the developers at Siemens have discovered the mineral for their dishwashers dishwashers .
http://www.gizmag.com/
filed under:
energy,
environment,
household
Property spectrum: Activity
Smart materials are able to adapt automatically to their environment or change in response to a stimulus. The trend is for materials to become increasingly "smart" and for systems to increasingly incorporate smart materials. Smart materials are especially useful for eliminating contradictions in systems.
The zeolites react by converting the absorbed moisture to
energy.
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| Tire is a great invention. Without the tire, the car will not be the same comfortable as it is nowadays. However, there is a company named Resilient Tech give us a new prototype which replaces the key part of tire with a non-pneumatic honeycomb structure.
I guess it won't be comfortable for most drivers, however, you don't need to worry about tire bursting.
This tyre is similar in character to the
tweel.
http://www.inewidea.com/
filed under:
automotive,
military & defence
Property spectrum: Porosity
Solid bodies and shapes trend towards increased porosity. Porosity is achieved through the incorporation of hollow spaces or pores. Porosity allows for reduced weight, improved surface area, and the inclusion of active elements.
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| The state-of-the-art forensic method that can identify fingerprints on bullets could now be used to lift them from bomb fragments even after they have been wiped off. John Bond, scientist at the University of Leicester, who developed the technique with the University chemistry team, said "We have developed a method that enables us to "visualise fingerprints" even after the print itself has been removed. We conducted a study into the way fingerprints can corrode metal surfaces. The technique can enhance - after firing - a fingerprint that has been deposited on a small calibre metal cartridge case before it is fired. For the first time we can get prints from people who handled a cartridge before it was fired. Wiping it down, washing it in hot soapy water makes no difference - and the heat of the shot helps the process we use."
The procedure works by applying an electric charge to a metal - say a gun or bullet - which has been coated in a fine conducting powder, similar to that used in photocopiers.
http://www.newlaunches.com/
filed under:
genetics,
security,
technologies
Property spectrum: State
One of the most prominent property spectra is the state. It
describes an evolution of products and processes starting
with solid matter and then moving to liquids, gases and
finally fields. An electrical charge to a fine powder can
help visualise fingerprints.
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A defrost indicator (a transparent container containing an emulsion with 5-95% by wt. of an edible oil and 5-95% by wt. of water) provides an irreversible indication that a frozen product has become thawed and unfrozen during any portion of time subsequent to its initial freezing. Thus, a 50:50 mixt. of canola oil and water at room temperature is agitated vigorously to form an emulsion. Before the emulsion can separate it is injected into a transparent plastic flat bag which is sealed and inserted into a food package to be frozen. When thawed, the emulsion breaks and separates into a yellow oil phase and a colorless water phase.
http://www.omnexus.com/
filed under:
food & beverage,
measuring/testing,
technologies
Property spectrum: Information
Systems and subsystems tend to evolve from requiring external input to becoming self-controlling through the use of feedback mechanisms. The
indicator shows if a product has been de-thawed and unfrozen
after its initial freezing.
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This washing machine flushes valuable water down the toilet, literally. A notable mention in the Greener Gadgets Design Competition 2008, the prototype stores water after each washing cycle, which is then used to flush the toilet below it. In addition to its eco-friendly aspects, it is also a good space saver.
http://www.popsci.com/
filed under:
environment,
household
Property spectrum: Integration
This property describes integrating different functions in your product to increase the user convenience. Some of the benefits of adding additional functions are: integrating other functions
(the washing machine added to the toilet) and reusing the
available resources (the water).
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Scientists have created metal foam made of a nickel-manganese-gallium alloy; metal foam is enough to wrap your mind around, but this is pretty much a super material. It's cheaper, lighter, and potentially stronger than other materials that have its most defining property: it can return to its original shape after being deformed by physical or magnetic force. This is the very first foam with magnetic shape memory.
By turning on a magnetic field the foam will change shape. Once the field is turned off, the metal maintains its new shape. To get it to start reforming to it's original shape, simply rotate it 90 degrees. If you're not familiar with the properties of a magnetic field, this seems like an odd thing to do to make a metal foam start reforming itself to its original shape. But imagine turning a magnet 90 degrees with respect to its poles: you'll have one end that attracts metal suddenly replaced by the end that repels it. Those 90 degrees reverse the direction of the polarity and cause the foam to reshape itself.
http://physicsbuzz.physicscentral.com/
filed under:
materials,
technologies
Property spectrum: Activity
Materials increasingly evolve from passive to full adaptive materials. E.g. shape memory alloys and thermo chromic materials.
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| Please do not hesitate to
send
us a great innovation you have spotted. We might include it in our
next month issue. |
CREAX company news
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MoreInspiration course
 If you enjoy
CREAX newsletters, you will enjoy our hands-on MoreInspiration course. Our next 2-day
course is scheduled for the
29th &
30th of October 2008 (full) and the following course for the
26th & 27th of November 2008.
CREAX also offers exclusive company specific courses. Participants
learn how to apply the CREAX Methodology in their day-to-day job.
(more info)
See the other dates for the 2008
courses.
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Open Company Day
On Sunday 5 October, CREAX participated in the
Open Company Day and welcomed over 1500 visitors.
The visitors were given the opportunity to explore
the CREAX offices, to get to know the CREAX team members and to
check out the CREAX Innovation Methodology.
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Innovation Excellence Conference
The innovation Excellence Conference, held on 18 & 19 September,
in Stockholm Sweden was aimed at creating a driving business model and organizational innovation to achieve R&D effectiveness and boost revenue.
CREAX gave a presentation on Systematic Innovation at this
event. The main focus of the presentation was on the different approaches used by CREAX to find innovative solutions, markets and products.
CREAX would like to thank all attendees for their participation and interest in CREAX.
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Upcoming events
The following events have been planned for the coming months:
| 9
October 2008 |
Vokafé @ CREAX (Ieper,
Belgium)
Meet companies from Flanders, Northern France and West Hainaut and inquire about job opportunities and modality in the Eurometropool. |
| 5-9
November 2008 |
UICB General Assembly (Istanbul, Turkey)
The UICB is an international network of local building centres in 14 countries. All its members are national focal points in the field of building information; they are experts especially in product information.
CREAX is invited by the Belgian Building Research Institute to present the CREAX Innovation method on 06 November. |
| 19-20
November 2008 |
Creativity World Forum
(Antwerp, Belgium)
This is not a conference on creativity. The CWF 2008 aims to inspire you to be more creative. To think further than you are used to. They take on that challenge with a two day, mind shifting creativity break.
* Experience 6 world class key note speakers.
* Exciting stories from 24 carefully selected speakers.
* Experience future-oriented products and services at our expo.
* New concepts from the worlds of business, design, art, technology, media, policy and communications. |
| 24-27
November 2008 |
Cooking Congress: 10, to begin again (San
Sébastian, Spain)
It reflects a philosophy that has been present since inception. 10 represents the search for perfection, a culinary perfection that we are obligated to strive for, knowing full well that it will never quite be reached. And To begin Again conveys a non-conformist attitude, the dedication to a future in which we must open new doors and catapult new figures to the limelight. A evolutionary Congress that looks ahead without forgetting its history, presenting the most dazzling names in the field, renewing itself and growing in stature.
Bernard Lahousse of CREAX Food will be opening the seminar. |
| 27-28
November 2008 |
Future of Europe Summit (Andorra,
Spain)
The Future of Europe Summit 2008 will focus on how Europe can leverage its strengths in the face of the challenges presented by issues of Economic Sustainability - and how to transform these challenges into opportunities. |
| 5-6
January 2009 |
International FoodPairing Seminar (Bruges, Belgium)
The concept of the event is that participating companies (sponsors) each choose a food ingredient.
The flavour profile of the foods is analyzed at the University of Leuven and based on this data a list of pairings is suggested based on the database underlying the
FoodPairing website which currently includes 360 food products. These lists are then given to 11 invited chefs who are given the task of inventing new dishes based on the pairings. These dishes will be presented at the event, accompanied by a wine which will also be selected based on flavour analysis. |
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Miscellaneous
- You missed one of the previous CREAX newsletters? Get an
overview of all
our issues.
- Please send all suggestions & remarks to us at
newsletter@creax.com.
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CREAX
n.v. Mlk.Plumerlaan 113 8900 Ieper Belgium
info@creax.com
www.creax.com
Tel +32 57 229480 Fax +32 57 229481
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