Latest news with #Bentley
Auto Car
17 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Car
Going off-grid with the £190k 'Bentley of caravans'
The information I'm sent before I collect the Bruder EXP-7 (I feel a little strange calling it a caravan, but we'll come back to that) contains some surprises. There's no bedding or kitchenware inside, I'm told, but there is a washer-dryer. Now, I went caravanning when I was a kid, and I can still remember the noise of the pump when we had to pedal a lever repeatedly to draw water to the tap. People with water containers that were round barrels so they could be rolled rather than carried across the campsite were positively flash gits. But now I'm going to try a caravan with a washing machine? Swoon. I'm sure things have moved on a bit in the conventional caravan world, but even by today's standards the Bruder EXP-7 is a bit special. It's from an Australian company founded by two brothers – hence the Bruder logo with kangaroos as umlauts – who grew up camping and being driven around the outback, and who kind of haven't stopped. They would go to places that would quickly leave a conventional caravan looking like it had been used in one of those novelty banger races, so what they make, it says here, are described as 'luxury off-road expedition trailers'. Sometimes companies over-egg a description, but maybe not this lot, I think, as I have a nose around the EXP-7 outside Bentley's Crewe factory. There's no official tie-in with Bentley, by the way. The people there just thought the Bruder was quite the thing, and I think they're keen to remind people that the Bentayga is a properly accomplished tow car and off-roader. There is a perception sometimes that luxury is about five-star hotels and restaurants you can't get into. I'm not sure that's the only case: luxury, for me, is naffing off from all of that, being in a wide open space, on your own terms, in your own time, where the office can't find you and you can't get social media fomo because there's no phone reception.
Hans India
20 hours ago
- Automotive
- Hans India
Bentley Systems' digital twins to accelerate infrastructure growth
Hyderabad: Bentley Systems, into infrastructure engineering software, hosted its flagship Innovation Day —Hyderabad, bringing together senior stakeholders from government agencies, engineering firms, and infrastructure consultancies to highlight the transformative impact of digital twins on India's infrastructure landscape. The full-day event highlighted Bentley's cutting-edge technologies for transportation and water infrastructure, emphasising how digital twins—virtual replicas of physical infrastructure—are driving real-time decision-making, enhancing operational efficiency, and enabling sustainable development. Through a combination of live demonstrations, case studies, and interactive sessions, Bentley showcased its commitment to advancing India's digital infrastructure journey in alignment with national programs like Gati Shakti, Smart Cities, and the Jal Jeevan Mission. In recent years, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have made significant strides in multi-sector infrastructure development. Andhra Pradesh is expanding regional connectivity through new railways, highways, ports, and airports, while Telangana focuses on urban modernisation, road development, and industrial zone creation. Bentley's technologies are playing a pivotal role in these initiatives by offering scalable digital solutions tailored to both public and private sector needs. 'Innovation Day is not just an event—it's a platform to bring together leaders shaping the future of infrastructure,' said Kamalakannan Thiruvadi, Regional Executive – South Asia, Bentley Systems. 'As India scales its ambition in digital delivery, Bentley is proud to support this journey through technologies that make infrastructure more intelligent, interconnected, and resilient.' The event featured a keynote by Abhishek Sinha, Solution Architect at Bentley, who outlined how Bentley's solutions address modern infrastructure challenges across the asset lifecycle—from design and construction to operation and maintenance. Topics included subsurface modeling, stormwater management, 4D/5D visualisation, and the integration of AI, geospatial intelligence, IoT, and Python scripting within Bentley's digital twin platforms.
Hans India
a day ago
- Business
- Hans India
Bentley Systems' Innovation Day—Hyderabad Spotlights the Power of Digital Twins to Advance India's Infrastructure
Bentley Systems, Incorporated (Nasdaq: BSY), the infrastructure engineering software company, successfully concluded its Innovation Day—Hyderabad on July 17, 2025. The full-day event brought together senior leaders from government agencies, engineering firms, and infrastructure consultancies to explore how digital twins and open, integrated digital delivery are transforming the way India designs, builds, and manages infrastructure. The event focused on Bentley's industry-leading capabilities in transportation and water infrastructure, showcasing how digital twin technology is enabling real-time decision-making, operational resilience, and long-term sustainability. The diverse agenda reflected Bentley's commitment to helping infrastructure stakeholders accelerate their digital maturity through automation, AI integration, geospatial intelligence, and collaborative digital workflows. Over the past year, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have made notable progress in infrastructure development across transportation, urban planning, industrial growth, and energy sectors. Andhra Pradesh has focused on enhancing regional connectivity through new railways, ports, highways, and airport projects, while also advancing metro systems and industrial parks to support economic expansion. In Telangana, infrastructure efforts have centered on road development, and urban modernization. Major upgrades in Hyderabad's transport network, including metro expansion and new flyovers, have complemented the state's push for the creation of new industrial zones. Enabling India's Infrastructure Vision Through Digital Leadership Bentley Innovation Day—Hyderabad reinforced the company's strategic role in India's digital infrastructure evolution. Through live demonstrations, local case studies, and interactive knowledge-sharing, attendees saw firsthand how Bentley is enabling: · Real-time visibility across infrastructure assets · Cost-effective operations and predictive maintenance · Scalable solutions for government missions and private sector innovation As India pushes forward under national programs like Gati Shakti, Smart Cities, and Jal Jeevan Mission, Bentley is equipping engineers, planners, and public agencies with the digital tools and insights needed to deliver projects that are sustainable, resilient, and future-ready. Both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are actively pursuing integrated, multi-sector development to strengthen connectivity, attract investment, and drive long-term regional growth—contributing to the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Aligned with this vision, Bentley Systems is committed to supporting resilient infrastructure and enabling inclusive, sustainable development across the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana region. Event Highlights and Key Sessions The day began with a welcome address by Kamalakannan Thiruvadi, Regional Executive – South Asia, Bentley Systems, that set the tone for industry transformation by highlighting Bentley's longstanding partnership with India's infrastructure ecosystem: 'Innovation Day is not just an event—it's a platform to bring together leaders shaping the future of infrastructure. As India scales its ambition in digital delivery, Bentley is proud to support this journey through technologies that make infrastructure more intelligent, interconnected, and resilient.' Abhishek Sinha, Solution Architect at Bentley, delivered the keynote, illustrating how Bentley addresses modern infrastructure challenges from design to operations. He highlighted cutting-edge capabilities including: · Subsurface modeling and structural engineering · Stormwater and wastewater network management · 4D/5D construction visualization · Next-generation solutions including AI, 3D Geospatial, Python integration, IoT, and Digital Twin applications User Success Stories: Digital Twins in Action In a session led by Amit Shrivastava, Senior Director, Solution Engineering, attendees heard firsthand how Indian organizations are leveraging Bentley's digital twin technology: · NHAI's live digital twin platform for highway project management · Orange City Water's integration of SCADA and GIS to optimize Nagpur's water system Bentley Technology in Action · Geospatial Intelligence and Infrastructure Delivery: Bentley team members demonstrated how the company's geospatially-enabled digital twins—powered by the iTwin Platform—enable smarter, faster decisions across the infrastructure lifecycle. · Integrated Workflows for Linear Infrastructure Projects:This session featured Bentley's Open applications and digital collaboration platforms, with insights from Prithviraj Singh of Arth Design Build. It also included a spotlight on workflow automation from Jacobs' engineering leads, Pradeep Devarabhotla and Sowmen Pradhan, focused on highways and rail. · Empowering Resilient Water Infrastructure: Biswajit Saha of GKW Consult GmbH explored how Bentley's OpenFlows drives performance in water networks—aligned with India's Smart Cities Mission and sustainable utility management. · Next-Gen Structural and Geotechnical Solutions: This session explored automation across PLAXIS, and Leapfrog. Tadepalli Prasanth of SECMEC Consultants shared unique challenges and digital solutions in the cement industry, further illustrating the breadth of Bentley's engineering applications. Reflecting on the event, Thiruvadi concluded,' India's infrastructure ambitions demand more than physical assets — they require a digital foundation that scales. The power of technology to accelerate project delivery, upskill the workforce, and drive data-driven decision-making is key to unlocking a more self-reliant, sustainable, and future-ready India. Bentley is proud to support this transformation, helping empower engineers and organizations shaping India's leadership on a global stage.'
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Straits Times
What's in a fob? The surprising complexity of designing car keys
The key fob for Bentley vehicles is likened to a business card for the luxury car brand. With 905 horsepower and a 0-100kmh sprint time under three seconds, the Lotus Eletre is more powerful than a Lamborghini Huracan and faster than a Porsche 911 Carrera. The US $230,000 (S$296,000) sport utility vehicle (SUV) is also the foundation of Lotus' plan to electrify its line-up. So, designing the right key fob for it was… well, key. It is an interesting subject – the fob. The way a consumer first interacts with a car is also one of the least relevant details of the driving experience. Yet, it serves as a handshake: A good design will communicate brand values, even status. A lot more thought goes into creating a fob than drivers may realise. 'We didn't want an over-featured key that becomes a big, bulky thing,' says Mr Mat Hill, head of interior design at Lotus. BMW's oversized 'display key' from 2015 was a cautionary tale: A US$670 option with so many functions that it required a touchscreen, the gadget was discontinued in 2022 because of low consumer interest. 'It's not about technology for technology's sake,' Mr Hill says. 'It's about, 'Does it actually make my life better?' ' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 30% of aviation jobs could be redesigned due to AI, automation; $200m fund to support workers: CAAS Singapore Residents in South West District get help to improve employability, find career opportunities Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Singapore UOB awarded $17.7m in civil suit against Lippo Marina Collection over inflated housing loans Life Kinokuniya opens third bookstore in Raffles City, weeks ahead of schedule Business DBS shares rally to a new record as STI clocks yet another high Singapore 5 foreigners charged over scheme to deliberately get arrested in S'pore to sell sex drugs Asia Lightning strikes kill 33 people in eastern India For the Eletre, designers spent six months developing a smooth ceramic fob that resembles a guitar pick, also the shape of the Lotus logo. The grey device has one button, which locks and unlocks the vehicle. They nicknamed it 'the pebble'. It is ingeniously simple, handsome and – crucially, at less than 7.6cm across – small. 'If you've got a nice suit on, it doesn't spoil the line when it's in your pocket,' Mr Hill says. That less-is-more sensibility is a rarity in the automotive world. Fobs can now start a car as you approach; unlock the front door (and rear, separately, if you want); open the boot to varying heights; adjust the temperature; tell you if the windows are up; and give you the battery life and fuel range. With the rise of push-button ignitions, fobs are also functionally the keys too. Things have come a long way since Cadillac introduced a radio-based keyless entry for the Allante in the 1980s. A modern fob generally consists of an electronic circuit board, a battery and a switch pack that receives signals from sensors. Sometimes, a metal emergency key is hidden inside. The key fob of the BMW 750Li xDrive (2015) came with a display. PHOTO: BMW The design can speak volumes. Porsche 911 fobs evoke the silhouette of the cars themselves. So do the soft lines of the Mercedes-Benz smart keys that unlock E-classes. Volvo's rectangular fobs recall the brand's historically brick-shaped fleet. And at Audi, Ford, Subaru and Toyota, they have merged into a softly rounded coffin-like shape. Still, others denote serious status, such as the ovoid disks from Bentley. The company spent two years and €1.5 million (S$2.37 million) developing the Continental GT's fob to feel like the interior of the car. The key has a knurling pattern along its edges, just like the interior controls, and shiny chrome accents. 'We see the key fob like a business card for Bentley,' says Mr Darren Day, head of interior design. The brand's 'B' badging went on the top of the key because that is how people see it when it is left on a table or a bar. 'It's that first impression,' he adds. A key that does not match the excellence of the vehicle works against it. In 2025 , when Cadillac premiered its Rolls-Royce competitor, the US$360,000 Celestiq, it included the same plastic fob found across the General Motors line-up, albeit in a leather sheath with stitches like a baseball mitt. Compared with the slinky lines of the hatchback itself, it was woefully incongruous. Conversely, while the credit card-like 'keys' for Rivian Automotive's R1T and Tesla's Cybertruck may repel Luddites, they match the high-tech feel of those electric vehicles. They also signal an inflection point. 'In the future, the key fob will be obsolete,' says Ms Rebecca Lindland, managing director of automotive at Allison Worldwide, a marketing consulting firm. Hyundai put fingerprint sensors in its SUVs as far back as 2019, while Ford is developing facial recognition. Ms Lindland operates her Alfa Romeo Stelvio almost exclusively via the smartphone app. 'The whole ecosystem needs to feel like an extension of my phone,' she says. A low battery does not faze her the way losing an actual key does. It is always easier, quicker and cheaper to charge a dead mobile phone than to order a new fob. 'At least with the app, there's a support system,' Ms Lindland says. In fact, Lotus' Mr Hill says half of Eletre buyers do not even care how cool the pebble looks. 'Early adopters are heavy users of the app,' he says. 'A key can be a nuisance.' His father-in-law, however, still wants to feel something in his pocket when he leaves the car. 'It's that bit of cognitive recognition,' Mr Hill says. And the pebble holds one clear advantage over his phone: With its tough ceramic shell, it will fare better if he drops it. Bloomberg
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Haldimand mayor skips heated meeting over CAO firing
Haldimand County councillors called a special meeting Monday to discuss Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley using strong-mayor powers to fire former chief administrator officer Cathy Case late last month. Residents packed council chambers to give the mayor a piece of their mind. But the mayor didn't show. 'Mayor Bentley had a special holiday booked, and she's away. We were aware of that,' said deputy mayor Rob Shirton. Some councillors suspect Bentley fired Case — a lifelong county employee with more than 30 years in the civil service — on June 27 as retribution for the former CAO launching an investigation into a leak of confidential documents during February's provincial election campaign. Longtime civil servant Cathy Case was ousted as Haldimand County's chief administrative officer on June 27. That investigation traced the leak to the mayor's office, with Bentley found to have ordered the documents printed. It remains unknown how they ended up on a Facebook page in what the investigator determined was an attempt to damage the campaign of a rival of Bentley's political ally, MPP Bobbi Ann Brady. Bentley has denied involvement in the leak and told The Spectator she did not fire Case as payback for starting the investigation, which has since been transferred to Haldimand's integrity commissioner. But resident Lesley Powell called Case's firing 'a blatant misuse of authority that has left the residents across this municipality stunned and outraged.' 'Especially considering the circumstances of the mayor currently being under investigation,' Powell said. 'Public trust has been shaken. Organizational morale has plummeted because of the misuse of these powers. And Haldimand County's reputation, once admired provincewide, is now clouded by a troubling lack of leadership integrity.' Powell noted there is a community petition demanding Bentley's resignation that, as of Thursday afternoon, had close to 400 signatories. Marianne Kidd, president of Dunnville's chamber of commerce, spoke of what she called a 'growing disconnect between how decisions are being made and what residents expect of their local government.' She asked council to pass a resolution requesting the province rescind Haldimand's strong-mayor powers, which Kidd said have caused 'organizational instability.' Such a resolution would have little effect, said lawyer John Mascarin from Aird and Berlis LLP , an expert on strong-mayor powers. Mascarin told councillors how Premier Doug Ford has modelled Ontario's municipalities after American cities, whose mayors have more power than their fellow council members. Mascarin called strong-mayor powers 'atrociously dangerous' and an affront to democracy, but said Haldimand is stuck with them until Ford changes the law or voters elect a different provincial government. 'Unless there's provincial legislation, you won't be able to do anything about these powers,' he said. Bentley had initially signalled she would not appoint an interim replacement for Case, saying in her June 27 'mayoral decision' the CAO position would be filled by various senior staffers on a weekly rotating basis. But the mayor changed tack two weeks later, appointing treasurer Mark Merritt as interim CAO July 10. Haldimand spokesperson Kyra Hayes confirmed to The Spectator that Merritt will be in the role 'indefinitely' as the search continues for Case's successor. Mayors are not legally required to provide a written explanation when using strong-mayor powers to make personnel changes such as firing the CAO, Mascarin explained. Using the powers to veto a bylaw or table legislation to support provincial priorities like housing would have to come with a written rationale. But Mascarin said there is no law compelling the mayor to explain why she ousted Case. Coun. Patrick O'Neill, who requested Monday's special meeting with the support of a majority of councillors, said Bentley could have found a way to attend virtually while on vacation. 'It is a choice to get here,' he said. Coun. Brad Adams pointed out Bentley had suggested two dates to have the meeting after she returned from her vacation later this month, which Hayes confirmed with The Spectator. 'However, a majority of the members of council decided to have the meeting on July 14,' Hayes said. Monday's special meeting about strong-mayor powers was immediately followed by a second meeting about recruiting Haldimand's next CAO. Bentley called that meeting herself despite knowing she would not be there, as she had already met last week with Jon Stungevicius, a senior partner with Waterhouse Executive Search. Stungevicius said a committee consisting of Bentley and two councillors will lead the nine-week search for Haldimand's next CAO, with input from his firm and the county's human resources department. Candidates who make the final round of interviews would appear before all members of council. 'It's the mayor's process, but she does want to engage council and staff,' Stungevicius told councillors. That left O'Neill exasperated. 'I'm about to lose it over here,' he said, noting the mayor called the meeting the day before and then did not appear herself. Noting council 'had no input into what happened' to the last CAO, O'Neill was skeptical of Bentley's promise to get council's input before choosing Case's successor. 'This just feels like a slap in the face,' O'Neill said. Megan Jamieson, Haldimand's head of human resources, told councillors the cost to hire a professional recruiter to fill a senior position is typically 10 to 25 per cent of the new hire's annual salary. In Ontario, chief administrators make roughly $250,000 per year. Add in the severance payment to Case and the result of any lawsuit she may launch, and councillors are worried about the potential cost of Bentley flexing her strong-mayor powers. 'The county's looking at a very big bill,' Coun. Dan Lawrence said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
