MONEYMAKERS
FUIELLING SUCCESS: Ballard Power Systems of Canada has entered into big league by tying up with Daimler-Benz of Germany. The latter recently announced that it will invest US $290 million in Ballard's technology, which aims at generating non-polluting energy in both stationary power plants and cars. Under the agreement, Benz will form two joint ventures with a 25 per cent stake in ballard. The alliance will help Ballard to mass-produce fuel cells for cars. These cells can coniwert methanol, natural gas or hydrogen into iisal;le electricity without generating yater vapour as exhaust.
FUNGAL REMEDY: A new fungicide developed by the UK-based Zeneca has been approved by the US for use on crops. It is based on naturally occurring fungicides called strobilurins, which are found in some species of wood mushrooms. The Environmental Protection Agency of the US has registered the fungicide Abound for use on grapes, pecans, peanuts, peaches and bananas. Abound is expected to touch sales of US $500 million, which would make it one of the biggest selling products for Zeneca.
JOINT PROGRESS: In an attempt to strengthen their base in the Indian pharmaceutical market, Hoechst I* Marion Roussel, a German multina NW tional company, has tied up with Ran baxy Laboratories (India) for a range of antibiotics and anti-ulcer products. Antibiotics constitute over 16 per cent of Ranbaxy's turnover. Its key brands include Cifran (for typhoid and skin infections) and Roscillin, a semi-synthetic penicillin. Hoechst is also planning to forge an alliance with Lupin Laboratories in the anti-tuberculosis drug sector.
ALTERNATE VEHICLES: Ford Motors of the US has planned to make 250,000 Ranger compact pickup trucks, Windstar minivans and Taurus sedans fitted with flexible fuel engines that allow them to run on both ethanol and gasoline. The company plans to introduce the flexible fuel scheme gradually over a period of three to four years. The cost of converting engines to the new technology would be about US $75 million for all 250,000 vehicles. Ford also sells limited number of vehicles running on methanol and ethanol.
MARCHING AHEAD: Biona, the natural pharmaceutical products division of Hyderabad-based Biological E Limited, is all set to extend its marketing base to the northern parts of the country. The company has already launched its products in the southern and western regions. Its natural products include Remember, a memory enhancer, X-Pain, a pain reliever and Young and Fit, a restorative for body and mind. "We win be launching our products in the northern part by July end and hopefully in the eastern region by the year end," said S Ramachandran, in-charge of the products division.
PREMIUM PELLETS: A fuel pellet plan1to be set up in Vijaywada, Andhra Pradesh, by Zen Global group of companies, aims at making use of 200 tonnes of municipal solid waste per day. The plant has a capacity of 60 tonnes per day, and will make use of refuse-derived fuel technology. The pellets would be used in industrial boilers and they will have only one to five per cent of ash content. The company claimed that tests carried out in different industries proved that 22 per cent fuel saving can be achieved by mixing pellets and coal.