Multisitio 2

A new milestone in mass production of lidar systems and integration into autonomous vehicles

SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Livox Tech, a world-leading lidar manufacturer, announced its collaboration with FAW Jiefang Automotive Co., Ltd. («FAW Jiefang») and Suzhou Zhito Technology Co., Ltd. («Zhito Technology»). FAW Jiefang is an OEM manufacturer with the highest sales globally for heavy-duty trucks, while Zhito Technology is a vehicle intelligence research and development company launched by FAW Jiefang. As one of the world’s top manufacturers of commercial vehicles, FAW Jiefang has been the leader in heavy-duty trucks sales in China for four consecutive years and the industry’s top performer in the sales of tractors for 14 consecutive years, and sales for a single brand globally for two years in a row.

Recently, FAW Jiefang and Zhito Technology unveiled the J7 L3 super-truck, a joint development by the two companies. Partnering with Livox to add automotive-grade lidars, the J7 L3 model is the first mass production heavy-duty truck to use lidar. This historic partnership pushes truck manufacturing and logistics into the era of smart driving with the latest hardware and software.

Livox boasts a unique solid-state rotating-polygon technology and is supported by DJI’s established supply chain management and manufacturing capabilities as well as quality control system. Through years of experience, Livox has managed to overcome bottlenecks such as cost, reliability, and production scalability that have restricted the large-scale application of lidar in the past. Livox products meet the requirements for automotive-grade lidars in autonomous driving, and are highly regarded by the research and development, quality, and commercial teams of Zhito Technology.

Lidar is an indispensable core sensor in high-level autonomous systems because of the advantages it offers such as superior range perception and low-light environment adaptability. Statistics show that heavy-duty commercial trucks typically run on highways continuously for over 17 hours a day. Such year-round, high-intensity use meant that FAW Jiefang’s requirements for Livox lidars were much higher than for passenger vehicles. These strict requirements include higher reliability, stability, and vibration resistance along with a 10-year design life cycle and 1.5 million miles.

Through fast and efficient communication with customers as well as its sophisticated smart manufacturing and supply chain system management, Livox was able to successfully achieve these stringent product requirements. This collaboration is a new industry milestone for the large-scale mass production of lidars since the collaboration with Gaussian Robotics in July this year for a mass production at the 10,000-unit scale.

Livox’s unique patented hermetic packaging technology DL-PACK ensures the high reliability of core emission and reception components while simplifying the focusing process on the production lines. One-time automatic focusing is applied on each Livox product, rendering the manufacturing process dozens of times more efficient than with traditional mechanical lidars. These enable mass production at a large scale while reducing the assembling cost dramatically.

Besides ensuring mass production deliverability, automotive-grade components are also used for all the core parts of Livox Horizon. They meet the AEC-Q and other relevant standards, and have passed reliability standard tests such as ISO16750 and IEC60068 and fulfilled the EMC test standards of ISO11452, ISO7637 and CISPR25. These ensure the service life of the products and various test standards and results meet the automotive-grade requirements.

Backed by DJI’s automotive-grade smart manufacturing center, the Livox production lines are installed with state-of-the-art test equipment and automotive-grade laboratories certified by the state. Furthermore, the planned annual mass production capacity for a single production line has been set at 100,000 units, with four to five production lines to be rolled out eventually at the manufacturing center to meet the annual production requirement of 500,000 lidars. Livox has achieved a major breakthrough in its research and development of automotive-grade lidars, and has the capacity to tackle automotive-grade mass production projects with ease. This ensures the reliability and timely delivery of the smart vehicle products for the FAW Jiefang J7 L3 project.

With competitive advantages such as high product performance, automotive-grade reliability, and mass production guarantee, Livox looks forward to collaborating with more partners in the future to provide better perception solutions and make smart driving a reality as soon as possible.

About FAW Jiefang
Established on January 18, 2003, FAW Jiefang Automotive Co., Ltd. is a manufacturer of heavy, medium, and light-duty trucks as well as buses, with an annual vehicle production capacity of 310,000 units. In 2019, it manufactured 369,700 vehicles and sold 336,000 vehicles, of which 21.8% were medium and heavy-duty trucks. FAW Jiefang has been the industry’s leader in the sales of heavy-duty trucks for four consecutive years and medium and heavy-duty trucks for three years in a row, while having achieved the highest sales for a single brand globally for two consecutive years. It has also been the industry’s top performer in the sales of tractors for 14 consecutive years, and has recorded substantial growth in the sales of light-duty trucks for four years in a row.

About Zhito Technology
Established in 2019, Zhito Technology is a technology research company launched by FAW Group Co., Ltd. It is the first smart-vehicle company launched by an OEM in China. Zhito has taken the lead in applying autonomous-driving products to various scenarios such as highways, ports and industrial parks. It is the technology company that covers the broadest range of scenarios for autonomous commercial vehicles with the fastest implementation speed in China. Backed by the brand and technical support of FAW Group Co., Ltd., Zhito Technology has brought together dozens of partners from the industry chain within a year of its establishment, to form the Zhito smart-driving eco-sphere. The company is committed to transforming itself into the leading brand in China for autonomous commercial vehicles.

About Livox
Livox Technology Company Limited is an independent company founded in 2016 through DJI’s Open Innovation Program. Livox seeks to revolutionize the lidar industry by providing sensors that offer better performance at a fraction of the cost of traditional lidar units. By making lidar far easier and affordable to integrate into products and applications, Livox will transform innovations in autonomous driving, smart cities, mapping, mobile robotics and more. Livox products are sold in more than 30 countries around the world today, including Canada, China, the European Union, Japan and the United States.

For more information, please visit:
Website: https://www.livoxtech.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnLpB5QxlQUexi40vM12mNQ  
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LivoxTech
Facebook: https://facebook.com/LivoxTech
Google Groups: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/livox-lidars 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/livox-tech

SOUTHAMPTON, England, Oct. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — At an official handover ceremony with the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany on Friday, P&O Cruises took ownership of Iona, the latest addition to its fleet and the largest cruise ship ever built for the UK market.

At 185,000 tonnes, 345m in length with 17 guest decks and setting new ground for guest experience, Iona is the first British cruise ship to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).

P&O Cruises president, Paul Ludlow, who was present at the event in Papenburg and signed the Protocol for Delivery and Acceptance said:

«Iona’s delivery is a very positive signal for the future of cruising. She is now officially part of the P&O Cruises fleet and we are focused on readying her to welcome guests during her new maiden season to Northern Europe, Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands from our home port of Southampton.

«Already eagerly anticipated by our guests, crew and the communities we visit, events this year have increased the sense of anticipation even more.

«Whilst our operations are currently paused until early 2021 Iona will not be sailing for the moment but we look forward to our guests experiencing this game-changing ship as we will continue to offer unparalleled holidays at sea whilst also upholding the latest approved travel protocols.»

Iona will also herald a new era in cruise holidays with many first of their kind features including the unique two-deck SkyDome. Its glass dome roof and spacious layout flooded with natural light offers relaxing and unrivalled views of the surrounding sky and sea. SkyDome is a tranquil pool environment by day with dining and entertainment by night, including stunning specially commissioned aerial entertainment shows under the stars.

Guests can also craft individual gins at the first ever gin distillery at sea or unwind in the Oasis spa featuring a range of destination-themed treatments.

Iona will have eight specialty restaurants including yet to be unveiled concepts, as well as 13 entertainment venues, four swimming pools including a spectacular infinity pool at the aft of the ship and 16 whirlpools.

For more information or to book, call P&O Cruises on 03453 555 111, visit www.pocruises.com or visit a travel agent.

About P&O Cruises 

P&O Cruises is Britain’s favourite cruise line, welcoming guests to experience the good life and enjoy a blend of discovery, relaxation and exceptional service catered towards British tastes.  P&O Cruises fleet of premium ships combine genuine service, a sense of occasion and attention to detail, ensuring guests have the holiday of a lifetime, every time.

In 2021, P&O Cruises will launch Iona. The new LNG-powered ship, with 5,200-guest capacity, will be the largest ship built to serve the UK market. Iona will feature enhancements to already successful brand signature venues from the existing fleet, as well as features newly developed for Iona. These include a breathtaking three deck atrium in the heart of the ship as well as SkyDome – an exclusively designed glass dome by award-winning British engineers Eckersley O’Callaghan. This will be a world first at sea and offer a unique space for both relaxing in all weathers and providing entertainment, featuring aerial performers and a wealth of live acts.

P&O Cruises visits over 200 destinations worldwide and offers itineraries generally ranging from two to 17 days and also an annual world cruise. P&O Cruises sails to Australia & New Zealand, Baltic, the British Isles, Canada, the Spain, Portugal & the Canary Islands, the Caribbean, Central America, Dubai & the Arabian Gulf, the Far East & Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, South America, the South Pacific, the United States and Western Europe.

The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE:CUK).  

For images visit:
https://www.pocruisespresspictures.com/

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/po-cruises-officially-welcomes-new-ship-iona-to-its-fleet–a-positive-signal-for-the-future-301149879.html

SOURCE P&O Cruises

– New material is made of at least 90 percent renewable raw materials

– Röchling-BioBoom is suitable for a large part of the product range of the company

– By 2035, Röchling Automotive aims to become the leader in bioplastics and recycled materials in the automotive industry

WORMS, Germany, Oct. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Green materials ensure sustainable mobility: The automotive industry is increasingly working on aligning vehicle production with the principles of sustainability. The development of appropriate materials plays a decisive role in this process.

With the bioplastic Röchling-BioBoom, Röchling Automotive is the first company on the market to have a patented polylactide (PLA)-based biopolymer that consists of at least 90 percent renewable raw materials. In this way, the company offers an ecological and economical alternative to most conventional materials such as polyester (PC, PET, PBT) but also polystyrene (ABS), polyolefins (such as PP) and polyamides (PA6).

«We want to support our customers in the development of environmentally friendly vehicles and thus help shape the transformation of the industry towards a sustainable one,» explains Prof. Dr. Hanns-Peter Knaebel, Chairman of the Board of Management and CEO of Röchling Automotive. «With our bioplastics, we are bringing a sustainable solution to the market that originates from a completely self-controlled supply chain – from renewable resources to the automobile manufacturers.» Röchling Automotive has built up internal expertise in materials development over many years in cooperation with various partners.

With significant improvements in terms of thermal stability and chemical resistance compared to standard PLA, the new biopolymer family meets the company’s high technical requirements and specifications.

Röchling BioBoom enables greenhouse gas emission savings that are about 70 percent higher than those of PP and almost 90 percent higher than those of PA6. This means that if the proportion of petrochemical plastics in a mid-sized car is replaced by Röchling Automotive’s bioplastics, 515 kilograms of CO2 emissions can be saved per vehicle production.

Three standard types of Röchling Automotive biopolymers are currently available, which are suitable for applications in the engine compartment and underbody as well as for the interior of a vehicle. Each of the three types can be tailored to individual customer needs and the respective specific requirements. Röchling BioBoom can also be used for almost the entire product portfolio of Röchling Automotive.

With Röchling BioBoom, the plastics specialist once again underlines its role as a pioneer in the industry. For Prof. Dr. Hanns-Peter Knaebel, the sustainable material is also an initial indicator for a green future for the company: ‘We have set ourselves the goal of becoming the leading supplier of bioplastics and recycling materials in the automotive industry by 2035 at the latest. This means that we will noticeably increase our development activities in this area’. With the newly developed biopolymer, Röchling Automotive has already successfully initiated this important transformation process. 

Please go to https://www.roechling-automotive.com/products-solutions/biopolymers for more information on Röchling-BioBoom.

– Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com) –

The Röchling Group has been shaping industry. Worldwide. For nearly 200 years. We transform the lives of people every day with our customized plastics: they reduce the weight of cars, make medication packaging more secure and improve industrial applications. Our workforce of around 11,500 people is located in the places where our customers are – in 90 locations in 25 countries. The Group’s three divisions generated joint annual sales of 2.352 billion euros in 2019.

The Industrial division is the expert for optimal materials for every use. We develop and supply individual products made of plastic for all industrial areas. This is why we have the broadest product range of thermoplastics and composite materials. We supply our customers with semi-finished products or machined components.

The Automotive division advances mobility. Our product solutions in the areas of aerodynamics, propulsion and structural lightweight help solve major challenges. We protect the environment while also improving the driving experience.

The Medical division is the reliable partner to leading global companies when it comes to the components, services and smart plastic products that are needed in the healthcare industry. We develop solutions in the fields of diagnostics, fluid management, pharma as well as surgery and interventional.

WORMS, Germany, Oct. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Green materials ensure sustainable mobility: The automotive industry is increasingly working on aligning vehicle production with the principles of sustainability. The development of appropriate materials plays a decisive role in this process.

With the bioplastic Röchling-BioBoom, Röchling Automotive is the first company on the market to have a patented polylactide (PLA)-based biopolymer that consists of at least 90 percent renewable raw materials. In this way, the company offers an ecological and economical alternative to most conventional materials such as polyester (PC, PET, PBT) but also polystyrene (ABS), polyolefins (such as PP) and polyamides (PA6).

«We want to support our customers in the development of environmentally friendly vehicles and thus help shape the transformation of the industry towards a sustainable one,» explains Prof. Dr. Hanns-Peter Knaebel, Chairman of the Board of Management and CEO of Röchling Automotive. «With our bioplastics, we are bringing a sustainable solution to the market that originates from a completely self-controlled supply chain – from renewable resources to the automobile manufacturers.» Röchling Automotive has built up internal expertise in materials development over many years in cooperation with various partners.

With significant improvements in terms of thermal stability and chemical resistance compared to standard PLA, the new biopolymer family meets the company’s high technical requirements and specifications.

Röchling BioBoom enables greenhouse gas emission savings that are about 70 percent higher than those of PP and almost 90 percent higher than those of PA6. This means that if the proportion of petrochemical plastics in a mid-sized car is replaced by Röchling Automotive’s bioplastics, 515 kilograms of CO2 emissions can be saved per vehicle production.

Three standard types of Röchling Automotive biopolymers are currently available, which are suitable for applications in the engine compartment and underbody as well as for the interior of a vehicle. Each of the three types can be tailored to individual customer needs and the respective specific requirements. Röchling BioBoom can also be used for almost the entire product portfolio of Röchling Automotive.

With Röchling BioBoom, the plastics specialist once again underlines its role as a pioneer in the industry. For Prof. Dr. Hanns-Peter Knaebel, the sustainable material is also an initial indicator for a green future for the company: ‘We have set ourselves the goal of becoming the leading supplier of bioplastics and recycling materials in the automotive industry by 2035 at the latest. This means that we will noticeably increase our development activities in this area’. With the newly developed biopolymer, Röchling Automotive has already successfully initiated this important transformation process. 

Please go to https://www.roechling-automotive.com/products-solutions/biopolymers for more information on Röchling-BioBoom.

– Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com) –

The Röchling Group has been shaping industry. Worldwide. For nearly 200 years. We transform the lives of people every day with our customized plastics: they reduce the weight of cars, make medication packaging more secure and improve industrial applications. Our workforce of around 11,500 people is located in the places where our customers are – in 90 locations in 25 countries. The Group’s three divisions generated joint annual sales of 2.352 billion euros in 2019.

The Industrial division is the expert for optimal materials for every use. We develop and supply individual products made of plastic for all industrial areas. This is why we have the broadest product range of thermoplastics and composite materials. We supply our customers with semi-finished products or machined components.

The Automotive division advances mobility. Our product solutions in the areas of aerodynamics, propulsion and structural lightweight help solve major challenges. We protect the environment while also improving the driving experience.

The Medical division is the reliable partner to leading global companies when it comes to the components, services and smart plastic products that are needed in the healthcare industry. We develop solutions in the fields of diagnostics, fluid management, pharma as well as surgery and interventional.

SOURCE Röchling Automotive SE & Co. KG

CANCUN, México, Oct. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Recently the World Travel Awards announced its candidates for the 2020 awards and nominated Sunset World’s Hacienda Tres Ríos Resort, Spa & Nature Park in three categories, including World’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort, World’s Leading Family Resort and World’s Leading Beach and Luxury Lifestyle Resort.

Every year the World Travel Awards lists nominees on its website and the general public is invited to vote. Voting is open in two stages, at the regional and global level. The latter is open until October 25. It is worth mentioning that the World Travel Awards is an organization that rewards and celebrates excellence in all sectors of world tourism.

In addition, Hacienda Tres Ríos was awarded the Gold Crown and Excellence in Service awards from RCI, obtained the Safe Travels seal from the World Travel and Tourism Council and the Protection and Health Prevention Certification in Tourist Facilities from the state of Quintana Roo, making it a favorite vacation resort for the new normal.

«We are very excited and proud of the recognitions and certifications that Hacienda Tres Ríos has received during this difficult year,» said Annie Arroyo, Sunset World Group Corporate Brand and Communication Director, «They are the fruits of our staff’s efforts and we hope that many people will vote for us in the World Travel Awards,» she concluded.

Hacienda Tres Ríos is the only environmentally responsible luxury resort that offers exclusive access to the Tres Ríos Nature Park in the Riviera Maya and a truly comprehensive All-Inclusive Plan. Enjoy architecturally acclaimed accommodations, fine dining, world-class spa services, and dazzling experiences at the exclusive Tres Ríos Nature Park with guided tours through mangrove forests, swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking along winding natural rivers or simply unwind on its tranquil beaches.

Sunset World Group is a family-owned Mexican company and a leader in the hospitality industry, offering authentic and unforgettable vacation experiences in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. It was founded more than 30 years ago and has grown to offer six resorts, world-class travel services, amenities and a diverse network of operational and marketing solutions that focus on providing the best vacation experiences for its Members and guests. From cultural excursions to water sports, the Members of Sunset World are never far from their next great adventure.

SOURCE Sunset World

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla., Oct. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Early in the year, Cruise Planners committed to providing a comprehensive internship experience to prepare young adults of various abilities for independence and job readiness in partnership with the Dan Marino Foundation’s Marino Campus. When the COVID-19 pandemic posed a new risk to derail the internship program until next year, Cruise Planners proposed a virtual internship to support the commitment it made to the students. For almost thirty years, the Dan Marino Foundation’s mission is to empower individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. Cruise Planners was not going to let any obstacle get in the way of its participants. At Cruise Planners, its diverse team members come from different backgrounds and cultures, yet three things unite the team: a passion for travel, commitment to one another and a shared vision of success.

Unstoppable Innovation
Cruise Planners’ Information Technology team was integral in facilitating the internship program, which required students to complete over 300 internship hours. The Marino Campus offers coursework in the areas of independent living and life skills in addition to Hospitality and Computer Technology. Cruise Planners supported the Marino Campus educational model by blending classroom instruction, business internships, and social enrichment opportunities to equip students for a professional career. Students Braedon Shevitz and Chris Landry completed two programs as part of their virtual internship experiences: Microsoft Office Specialist and IT fundamentals. The internship proved to be fruitful as Landry applied his hands-on learning experience from Cruise Planners to land a new job in his chosen field.

«We are extremely excited to have leveraged our technological infrastructure as one of the first virtual internship sites with the Dan Marino Foundation’s Marino Campus program,» says Vicky Garcia, COO, and co-owner of Cruise Planners. «As the nation’s largest home-based travel advisor franchise network, where you can run your business virtually from anywhere, we felt the students could benefit greatly from a remote internship.»

CP Cares
For years, CP Cares (https://www.cruiseplanners.com/about-us/cp-cares ), a corporate initiative spearheaded by the organization’s leadership has activated its team members to support fundraising efforts and accrue hundreds of hours volunteering for various charities including Shoes for Africa, Forgotten Soldiers Outreach, and, most notably, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS.) Cruise Planners believes that differences in age, race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical ability, religion, education and background bring richness and creativity to the work environment. Diversity within the Home Office Team and travel franchise community is celebrated.

«We’ve received a lot of great feedback and excitement from our Home Office Team upon announcing the partnership with the Foundation, which is a testament to our beliefs that diversity and inclusion are integral to creating a community within the workplace,» says Garcia.

About Cruise Planners:
Cruise Planners, the nation’s largest home-based travel advisor franchise network and an American Express Travel Representative, has more than 2,500 franchise owners who independently book vacations and travel experiences for their clients. Headquartered in Coral Springs, Fla. since 1994, Cruise Planners provides its travel advisors with access to award-winning, innovative marketing; cutting-edge mobile technology; dynamic, hands-on training; lead generating tools, as well as professional coaching and development. Cruise Planners has achieved top producer status with every major cruise line, many land vendors and maintains a philanthropic drive earning an International Franchise Association FranTech award for innovation, the Cruise Lines International Association highest honors, Magellan Awards from Travel Weekly and The American Society of Travel Advisors first-ever Franchise Partner of the Year. Learn more at http://www.cruiseplanners.com

About Dan Marino Foundation:
Founded by Dan and Claire Marino shortly after their son, Michael’s, autism diagnosis in 1992. The Dan Marino Foundation has a long and distinguished history of life-changing programs and services, with the mission to «empower individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.» The Foundation has raised more than $84 million to create and support unique and impactful initiatives. Among these are the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Dan Marino Outpatient Center, the Marino Autism Research Institute, Marino Adapted Aquatics, and Marino Campus post-secondary schools in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. In the spring of 2021, Marino Virtual Learning will premiere offering online courses focused on social competency, independent living, and gainful employment. At the forefront of creating award winning technologies with partners like Google and Magic Leap to reach non-traditional learners, the Dan Marino Foundation continues to be a game changer for children, teens and young adults with autism and other disabilities. For more information, please visit http://www.danmarinofoundation.org or please follow the organization on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

SOURCE Cruise Planners

BRENTWOOD, Tenn., Oct. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Vickie Storm, iTrip Vacations Vice President of Franchise Development, has been named among the Women of Wonder, which is decided annually by Franchise Dictionary Magazine. The designation is indicative of the influence Storm has had on women interested in the franchise industry.

«It is a pleasure to be a part of the franchise industry with iTrip Vacations and an honor to be recognized as a Woman of Wonder,» said Vickie Storm, V.P. of Franchise Development for iTrip Vacations. «Now, more than ever, individuals displaced from corporate America seek a lifestyle-oriented business, and a franchise model such as iTrip Vacations can provide the ideal option.»

Franchise Dictionary Magazine offers a hands-on resource to prospective franchise owners that explores all aspects of launching and building a franchise. The national publication has more than 350,000 readers and targets prospective franchisees in an informative and educational format. The 50 Women of Wonder (WOW) 2020 issue highlights 50 influential women in the franchise industry, and proceeds from this issue benefit Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

«Each year more women make an impact in the franchise industry,» said Alesia Visconti, Publisher and CEO, Franchise Dictionary Magazine. «They are changing the landscape, implementing new initiatives and bringing groundbreaking ideas to the table. Franchise ownership changes lives and allows people to follow their dreams of business ownership. Our 50 Women of Wonder (WOW) are some of the most talented, strong and dynamic women franchisors in the franchise industry. We thank them and are thrilled to celebrate their contributions!»

iTrip Vacations offers franchise ownership in the short-term rental property management industry. The company has launched more than 80 franchises throughout North America that bring a full-service management program to short-term rental owners and visiting guests. In addition, iTrip Vacations’ technology platform has been recognized by Vrbo — one of the top listing sites in the world — with their Elite Software Partner status.

«Entrepreneurship drives our economy, as represented by many small businesses that serve as the heartbeat of America,» said Storm with iTrip Vacations. «Franchises offer a preferred option for a new business owner by providing a platform of systems and processes to follow that help quickly and successfully launch a new business.»

SOURCE iTrip Vacations