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November 2008
Welcome to MGA Research Corporation
 
Greetings!

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Featured Article...
When One Door Closes, Another One Opens
Alisshia Woods - Troy, MI (alisshia.woods@mgaresearch.com) 
 
Sunload_test
As part of MGA's ongoing advancement in testing validation, we are pleased to offer complete door trim and module capabilities. Whether in a vehicle or using one of our designed fixtures, our engineers are highly proficient in many of the corresponding OEM Standards. You can expect our team to monitor and report on your project throughout the testing duration.
 
Power and Pneumatic Life Cycling
Our personally designed and built pneumatic life cycle controllers allow us to cycle the doors using both the inside and outside handles. We use state-of-the-art data  acquisition systems to match any slam profiles that may be needed.

We also utilize power life cycle controllers to run any electrical components that need testing. Do your electrical components need to be time-controlled, respondant to limit inputs, or both? Our power life cycle controllers have these capabilities and many more. To optimize efficiency and space, our hybrid controllers allow us to utilize both power and pneumatic controls simultaneously.
 
Safety Considerations For Testing Batteries 
Suzanne Phillips - Akron, NY (suzanne.phillips@mgaresearch.com)  
 
Safety_Photo
The topic of alternative energy is frequently in the news. Hybrid and electric vehicles, wind power, solar power, and nuclear energy are all being discussed from the halls of Congress to kitchen tables as possible "clean" and "green" solutions to perceived energy and environmental issues.   
 
Additionally, the demand for portable power continues to increase. From the latest notebook computer that can last for 24 hours on a single charge to the newest I-Phones, consumers are demanding greater portability with less downtime to charge their gadgets.  
 
One of the key elements of both alternative energy and greater portability is the battery. For over 100 years, the battery has been the primary product for the storage of electrical energy, and it looks like this will continue for the foreseeable future. However, battery storage capability continues to evolve as new chemistries are used to provide more power and longevity. Currently, the lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery is the most promising type to meet the demands of better energy storage.  
 
Most people are familiar with potential issues with Li-ion batteries due to the massive recall of Li-ion notebook batteries in 2006 and 2007. Although the failures were extremely rare, the batteries in some notebook computers vented, ruptured, and even caught fire. The issue was traced back to a manufacturing defect, and improvements in technology and chemistry have lead to much safer batteries. However, these incidents demonstrated the potential issues with Li-ion batteries.   
 
Going Green Update
Steve Fazlovic - Burlington, WI (steve.fazlovic@mgaresearch.com)
 Recycle
We at MGA would like to thank all of those who participated in our GO GREEN initiative last month.  The response of readers that switched from our paper newsletter to the electronic E-Newsletter was great! It is, however, never too late to make the switch. If you would like to make this transition and receive your E-Newsletter with all of the same great features of the paper version, simply contact Natalee Ramsden at (864) 848-3088 (natalee.ramsden@mgaresearch.com). Tell her that you would like to "GO Green" with your next newsletter edition. Together we can continue to successfully help our environment and reduce paper waste.
Battery Power 2008 
Laura Gonnam - Akron. NY  (laura.gonnam@mgaresearch.com)  
 2008_Battery_Power
Come see us in Texas! We will be attending the Battery Power 2008 conference being held November 11-12 in Dallas, Texas. Battery Power 2008 is an international conference which highlights the latest battery developments and technology in the battery industry.  
 
This sixth annual event will feature more than 30 presentations on portable, stationary, and automotive battery technology, as well as battery manufacturing, materials and research & development. Topics will include new battery designs, emerging technology, battery materials, charging and testing systems, power management, battery health, and the latest market trends affecting the industry.  
 
Stop by our booth (#306) to learn more about us, and don't forget to enter our giveaway. Hope to see you there!  
Eye on Equipment... 
Reconditioned Equipment
Jason Gilham - Akron, NY (jason.gilham@mgaresearch.com)
 
Over the past 20 years MGA's Akron, NY facility has designed, manufactured, and provided testing equipment for our Troy, MI and Burlington, WI facilities. Typically, the equipment is provided in order to satisfy testing contracts received by our test labs. In other cases, relatively new test systems have been purchased from other laboratories that are shut down.  In any case, MGA has excess test systems which can meet the requirements of key specifications. So what does MGA do with the excess equipment?   

Reconditioned Equipment 

  Above is an example of equipment that was recently purchased from another lab.  This system, a hydraulic-driven single axis vibration table, can be sold as a re-conditioned system.

Due to the reality that many of our customers have restricted budgets, we offer this equipment at a reduced price. With purchasing a piece of our reconditioned equipment, our customers are confident that they will be receiving a proven piece of equipment since it has already been in use at our labs. This equipment can be provided as "turn-key" systems in most cases, and offered with the same installation and training packages that would be provided with a new piece of our equipment. Since we offer a variety of automotive related testing and services, our reconditioned equipment inventory contains equipment able to perform tests in accordance to many federal safety standards throughout the world.

If you are interested in receiving more information on our reconditioned equipment inventory, contact Jason Gilham at jason.gilham@mgaresearch.com or by phone at (716) 542-5672.
Volume 22 No.: 11
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In This Issue
Featured Article: When One Door Closes, Another One Opens
Safety Considerations for Testing Batteries
Going Green Update
Battery Power 2008
Eye on Equipment
Touching Base
Touching Base
with Dr. Patrick Miller - Akron, NY
 
Electoral College
 
Every four years, we elect the president and vice-president of the United States. According to the constitution, this election is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November. This year the election is November 4th, so on the evening of November 4th we all know the winners, or do we?  
 
When the ballots are cast, the citizens aren't really voting for the candidates, but rather for members of the Electoral College. This controversial institution was created by the framers of the constitution. At that time, some members felt a popular election would be too reckless, while others felt that Congress should not have this power. As with most political decisions, a compromise was developed where the people would vote for electors who would then cast their votes for the candidates. The system was set up so that each state would have the number of electors equal to the number of its senators (2 in each state) plus the number of its representatives.  
 
It was left to the states to determine how they would select their electors. In 48 states, a vote for the candidate is really a vote for all of the state's electors, even though their names may not appear on the ballot. This is known as the "winner-take-all system". Two states, Maine and Nebraska, have a district system where two electors' votes are given to the candidate with the most votes statewide and the remaining electors go to the candidate who has the most votes in each congressional district.  
 
Electors are nominated by the political parties. They cannot be a Representative or a Senator or other high ranking public official who could profit from the position.  Usually, electors are people who have supported the party for many years and their selection is a reward for their support. Electors are not bound to vote for the candidate of their party, but to do otherwise would likely place their party position in jeopardy.
 
Read More...
Natalee Ramsden
MGA Research Corporation
(888) MGA-LAB1