Latest news with #Bastin
The Hindu
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Tiruchi company trains women to become e-auto rickshaw drivers
Eden Green Mobility (EGM), an electric-vehicle shared transportation company based out of Tiruchi, is aiming to bring women drivers into its fold through a special training and employment programme for its e-auto rickshaws, in collaboration with the Namma Yatri ride-booking App. 'A total of 30 women are currently enrolled for training; we hope to start on the second batch soon. Women are initially reluctant to become auto-drivers, but they are convinced when the skill empowers them with financial independence, especially in rural pockets. Auto-driving gives women a sense of accomplishment, and they can earn a regular monthly income. Above all, e-vehicles are more eco-friendly,' Sona Bastin, director, EGM, told The Hindu. On Tuesday, approximately 20 women trainees from Musiri and Thuraiyur gathered at a public ground in Mannarpuram to test their e-auto rickshaw driving skills as instructors rode with them to grade their performance. 'The training is offered through theory and practical lessons. Besides this, we also help our candidates to secure jobs once they graduate. Those who get employed by us can expect to earn ₹20,000 per month, besides being enrolled on the Namma Yatri App, which ensures drivers' benefits like insurance and financial aid for children's studies. We have kept the entire process free of charge to encourage more women to join,' said Ms. Bastin. The company, which has been the operational partner of Namma Yatri in Tiruchi for the past four months, has also been collaborating with the Indian Overseas Bank's Rural Self Employment Training Institute (RSETI). ' We are also in talks to establish a women's only fleet of e-auto rickshaw for the local administration's schemes such as mobile vegetable vending vehicles. People with disability and transgender persons are also welcome to join,' said Ms. Bastin. The company's auto rickshaws are powered by solar energy. EGM maintains a charging station at Chathiram Bus Stand.
Morocco World
06-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Aviation: Masterflex Group To Open New Plant Near Morocco's Casablanca
Rabat – Masterflex Group, a company specializing in manufacturing connections and hose systems, announced on Monday its plans to open a new plant in the MIDPARC free trade zone near Casablanca. 'With an investment of almost three million euros over the next five years, the company plans to build a production facility and offices on an area of around 4,000 square meters,' Masterflex Group said . The company added that the opening of the facility is part of its first step, seeking to create at least 65 jobs in the coming years. Masterlex CEO Andreas Bastin commented on the opening of the new plant, recalling the importance of the global aviation industry that is experiencing an 'extraordinary increase in demand for air travel.' The sector is reaching 'record highs both nationally and internationally,' he said, noting that Morocco has become an attractive location for aviation companies thanks to its investment-friendly climate and its proximity to Europe. 'The good training, the high quality of the work, the strict adherence to processes and quality standards, but also the geographical proximity and the overall costs – these are all factors that convinced us to choose Morocco,' Bastin explained. The group further stressed the importance of the aerospace and automotive sectors in Morocco, noting that the Masterflex Group is benefiting from a major investment program in this sector. Data from 2024 shows that Morocco's aviation manufacturing sector concluded last year with unprecedented growth. Exports increased by 17.3% to reach $2.1 billion in the first ten months, surpassing the previous year's record. President of Midparc Hamid El Andaloussi said in an interview last August that the country's aerospace exports are expected to double to $4 billion by 2030. A new analysis by Marie-Noelle Nwokolo, an associate researcher at the Brenthurst Foundation, also highlighted the growing importance of Morocco's aviation sector. According to Nwokolo, the North African country was the first African country to sign an Open Skies agreement with the EU in 2006. Morocco has long emphasized its vision to double employment in the aerospace sector by 2030. The sector created an overall of 20,000 jobs, reaching an integration rate exceeding 40.5%. Tags: aviationaviation in morocco
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
Lumberjack Jet-Powered One-Way Attack Munition Can Drop Its Own Precision Bomblets
Northrop Grumman has just unveiled its new Lumberjack loitering one-way attack drone at the Modern Day Marine conference in Washington, D.C., at which TWZ is in attendance. We talked to Michael Bastin, Director of Technology for the firm, on the show floor to get the low-down on Lumberjack and what it brings to the table. The jet-propelled weapon falls into the U.S. military's Group 3 uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) category, defined as designs weighing between 55 and 1,320 pounds, able to fly at between 3,500 and 18,000 feet, and having top speeds of between 100 and 250 knots. Lumberjack can be launched from the surface or the air. It carries a payload size similar to that of a 250-pound class Small Diameter Bomb (SDB). It can be configured for kinetic strike, including dropping submunitions of its own, or other roles, such as acting as an electronic warfare platform or reconnaissance. This flexibility comes via a modular center base compartment. 'Because it is air-launched and/or ground-launched, and it has a several hundred-mile range, you can basically put in kinetic effects from a forward-deployed ground base — very modular — it's a two-man lift. So you can have an ability to sort of reach out and defend surface and land capabilities, as well as air deploy, and have non-kinetic electronic warfare protection for your main forces,' Bastin told us. It can also trade its range for loitering endurance, staying in the air over an area for 'a couple hours.' In terms of launch options, Bastin told us that 'we've demonstrated two different launchers. One is an electric rail system developed for… the Navy, intended actually to launch off of ships. So you could actually launch this off of surface vessels. We've also launched it using a pneumatic technique, which is field-deployable. It's very similar to what's being employed currently in Europe… If the ground forces want it, it's basically a large, effectively a potato gun. Very cheap, very easy to build. You can build it in, you know, local components.' Cost-wise, Lumberjack is aiming to come in at around '$75 to $100k,' per weapon, according to Bastin. This would be a comparatively attractive price, especially for a modular kamikaze drone that is jet-powered and can fly at least a few hundred miles. This would equate to roughly half the cost of a Hellfire missile. Alternately, a single 227mm M31 GMLRS guided artillery rocket, which has a range of around 50 miles, costs around $150k. Lumberjack would not strike as fast as the M31, but it would cover a much larger area and do so more flexibly from a single position than current GMLRS offerings, and even the forthcoming GMLRS-ER, which has nearly double its progenitor's range. With this in mind, from a single ground position, Lumberjack would allow a very small team to take on targets anywhere in a circle ranging at least 200 miles (possibly significantly further) in any direction, and do so relatively rapidly thanks to the Lumberjack's jet speed. Once again, this is a capability far beyond the range of traditional and guided rocket artillery systems, and one that can be employed without the need to put airpower overhead. That is a huge amount of territory that can be put at risk very cheaply. The ability for a single Lumberjack to attack multiple small targets geographically separated using submunitions on its one-and-only sortie it will fly is also a major plus, both in terms of value and flexibility. Lumberjack's potential use as a ship-based weapon is also attractive, especially due to its cost, range, and smaller size. Its loitering ability could come in use for many roles, from electronic warfare to reconnaissance, but especially for setting up force protection pickets between the ship and potential small surface threats. You can read all about how a weapon just like this could be a huge plus for surface combatants in this past feature of ours. As for air launch capabilities, that seems a little less defined as of now. The weapon has roughly the same size and mounting provisions as a Small Diameter Bomb (SDB), Bastin told us, and the company is working with a 'number of government partners' investigating a variety of launch platforms. When it comes to the possibility of putting this on fast jets, not just slower helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, there are 'customers interested in certifying it for that,' Bastin said. Then there is the fairly bizarre name, Lumberjack. Bastin wasn't sure how that came about, but as we look at the concept and its submunitions dropping capability, as well as other Northrop Grumman products, it may be that it is intended to drop Hatchet, the company's 6lb micro guided munition, which is already finding its way onto other Group 3 unmanned aircraft. The pairing of these two concepts together would be highly logical and would up the procurement case for Lumberjack. According to Bastin, Lumberjack has been undergoing test flights and demonstrations since last year in conjunction with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD R&E). The system is at the point now that Northrop Grumman is looking for a customer to move it out of the experimental development realm. We will keep an eye on how Lumberjack progresses, but it certainly fits with the broader trends in warfare we are experiencing. Whether or not it will actually get a chance to take a chop at the enemy on a real battlefield, we'll have to wait and see. Howard Altman contributed to this story. Contact the author: Tyler@
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
County council gets information on regional utility district
ANDERSON — The Madison County Council met in executive session to gather information on a proposal to create a regional utility district to resolve a pollution issue in Monroe Township. Last month the council tabled a resolution in support of creating a regional utility district to resolve an issue in the Scott's Addition in Monroe Township. The Madison County commissioners have already approved the resolution; the council is expected to consider it again at its Tuesday meeting. In 2023, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management fined Madison County $1,700 over raw sewage flowing into Pipe Creek. The county entered into an agreement order with the state agency to remedy the problem in the Scott's Addition. The agreed order states that IDEM did an inspection on Sept. 21, 2022, and staff observed a broken concrete storm sewer pipe. 'The water flowing in the pipe was black and septic with an odor of raw sewage,' according to an inspection report. 'The pipe was traced to an unnamed tributary where it discharged from a concrete outfall.' Madison County Engineer Jessica Bastin said the commissioners and council have already approved $3.5 million in American Rescue Plan funds to resolve the issue. She said American Rescue Plan funds were used to develop an infrastructure master plan for the county, with water and wastewater high on the list. Bastin said residents in the subdivision are unable to replace existing septic systems, which were installed in the 1950s. Alexandria Mayor Todd Naselroad said the city is willing to allow the connection of a sewer line to the city's wastewater treatment plant and has the capacity to treat the water. Bastin said Commonwealth Engineering has completed a draft of the study, which was discussed with council members during the executive session. She said work was already started to resolve the pollution problem in the subdivision to the east of Ind. 9 several years ago. Bastin said if the letter of support is approved by the county council, it will be submitted to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. She said IDEM will conduct a public hearing and notices will be sent to property owners and advertised 30 days before the hearing takes place. Bastin said county officials will also conduct a public hearing to share information with property owners, and a review of the plan will be submitted to IDEM. That will trigger a 180-day period for public comment, and a second public hearing will take place in Madison County. 'IDEM would have to approve any project,' Bastin said. Councilwoman Bethany Keller raised concerns about the process at the March council meeting, asking if property owners would be required to tap into a sewer line and inquiring about the makeup of the proposed board. The board will consist of five members, with the commissioners, Madison County Council, Alexandria mayor, the county health department and Monroe Township trustee each making appointments.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bastin wears many hats as county engineer
ANDERSON — Although her official title is county engineer, Jessica Bastin wears many different hats when it comes to county government. She is currently the director of the newly created Madison County Parks and Recreation Department. She was instrumental in the distribution of the county's American Rescue Plan funds, and was active with the county's Bicentennial Committee. A native of Pennsylvania, Bastin came to Indiana to attend Rose Hulman Institute of Technology to get her engineering degree and stayed in the Hoosier State. Bastin, 45, came to go to school and fell in love with Indiana. She was appointed to the Pendleton Town Council and lost a bid for re-election. Bastin started as Madison County engineer in 2021. 'I was at Anderson University at the time,' she said of applying for the county position. 'It was during COVID-19. I was not actively looking, but looking for another position. 'A mutual acquaintance showed me the opportunity,' Bastin said. The responsibilities that came with the job were 'not what I expected at that time,' she said. 'But that was in a good way, because I wanted to be involved more than I thought I would. It has been a lot of fun because I get to do so many different things.' Bastin said the opportunity with the American Rescue Plan funds was not on her radar. When the funding was announced, she expected to play a more ancillary role on potential projects. 'It gave me a more active role in that,' she said. 'I got to meet a lot of people and the needs of the community.' Bastin said the experience gave her a wider view of the Madison County community and how her position is involved in other projects. 'My background is infrastructure,' she said. 'Looking at where we want to be and what needs to be done to get there in the areas of transportation, drinking water, waste water and stormwater.' Bastin said she loves being involved in different areas of the community. 'I've had a lot of different mentors over the years,' she said. 'I've been fortunate to have a lot of good people in my life both personally and professionally. It's important to have someone to just talk to at times.' Bastin said her family likes to camp, kayak and hike during her time away from work. The family has a beekeeping business in Henry County.
