The Bulletin -- Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008 (967)
Program:
Jim Tooley on Nova Bus
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| Jim Tooley, Plant Manager, Nova Bus (Plattsburgh, NY) |
General Introduction As a subsidiary of the Volvo Group, Nova Bus is one of North America’s top manufacturers of urban transit vehicles. The Volvo Group has nearly 7,700 worldwide employees, and the new plant in Plattsburgh is expected to employ 300 people when fully operational. Nova Bus designs and produces vehicles ranging from Suburbans to hybrid-electric buses.
Unique Products Nova touts its LFS (Low Floor System) bus as an exclusive and innovative design unique to Nova. In 2007, the Articulated Bus (accordion system between the two buses) increases the number of passengers carried in high traffic areas. In an effort to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse emissions, Nova designed a Hybrid Electric Bus. It is used for low speed/frequent stop routes in highly populated areas.
Where Exactly Is My Bus? Nova Bus is proud to announce an initiative making their service more customer centered. They have introduced a system called ITS4Mobility which allows people to track the busss and their exact locations through the Internet.
The Plattsburgh Project Why Plattsburgh? Tooley explained the limited growth potential in Canada and the need for exploring the U.S. market. He said, “With a manufacturing site in the U.S., we expect our sales and volume to increase substantially.” Expounding further, Tooley said that under the Buy America Act (BAA) U.S. customers can have their bus purchases funded to up to 80% of the purchase price if the suppliers are BAA Compliant.
The Nova Bus plant expects to take ownership of the building in 2009 with the completion of the factory in Jan/Feb. In March, the office will open, and by the end of that month, Tooley expects the plant to lay down its first frame. “Our first production of a bus will be completed in the fall of 2009,” Tooley said. “By then we expect to be producing two buses per day on a single shift.”
The factory will be located on the Banker Road near Route 374 and will comprise 136,000 square feet with 108,000 available for production space.
Q: Why do the hybrid electric buses have such a slow speed at 0-15 mph?
A: That’s a good question for an engineer! I would imagine the weight of the battery is a limiting factor.
Q: Are you expecting some of your current suppliers to locate near the new plant in Plattsburgh?
A: Yes. Many of our vendors are considering coming up when we do and several have already signed contracts to that end.
Q: You said at full capacity you expect to have a workforce of 300. Will the facility handle that number designed as it is or will it require additional space?
A: The facility will handle 300 people as is, but not everyone will be there at the same time. Once production ramps up, additional shifts will be added. We are starting with 2 buses per day per shift (one shift to start).
Q: Your former employer worked with a cyclical market. Do you see that happening here as well?
A: Both Canada and the U.S. markets are cyclical, but this bus industry is able to react faster to changes in the market conditions. Buses, in particular, don’t have the design issues other forms of transportation demand.
Q: There has been concern about whether we have a sufficient skilled labor force. Do you have any concerns?
A: I don’t see different challenges than what we face today. At Bombardier, we were fortunate to be able to attract the skills we needed from the local market. We are pleased about the electrical programs starting up at your colleges. We see the Plattsburgh area as having a high level of the skills we need.
Q: How much of your assembly line will be run by robotics?
A: Very little.
Q: Is the BAA a part of NAFTA and do you expect changes?
A: The BAA is separate entity, but it does change. Fortunately “final assembly” has been pretty solidly defined so there is less change now.
Q: Are emissions standards different in CA and USA?
A: Yes. Requirements change from state to state. The design has to be altered to meet them the requirements. California has one of the strictest emission requirements in the U.S.
Announcements:
- The club is considering investing in a new sound system. Upon asking the Sunrise Club if they were interested in going in on the sound system (which they declined) President Steve learned a large number of noon Rotarians have been doing make-ups at their AM meetings. This is great!
- Monday, Dec 17, 12 p.m. — Next board meeting at the Clinton Community College Dining Hall (PARC). This can be used by any member as a make-up.
- Wednesday, Nov. 26 and Dec. 3, are the collections for the Christmas Bureau, Salvation Army and the Nursing Homes.
- Saturday, Nov 29 is the Bell Ringing for Salvation Army. Corn Forrence announced a few openings remaining between 11a.m.—2 p.m. Please see her if you have an hour of time to donate.
- Vicki Marking has the names of children for the Toy Drive. Please submit both the unwrapped gift and the name card on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
- Wednesday, Dec. 10 is the Annual Meeting. Jack Dee announced that the new slate of officers will be presented along with a few board positions that are open. Please contact any member of the committee if you would like to nominate a member.
- Wednesday, Dec. 10 we will be taking up a collection for the staff at the Elk’s Lodge who do a great job
- Wednesday, Dec 17 will be the holiday program at Lake Forrest.
Happy Thoughts:
- Stan Ransom announced this Saturday at the Plattsburgh Public Library (11am) Keith Herkalo will be speaking on the Battle of Plattsburgh. From 2-3:30, the Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir will be singing. On Friday the Nov. 21st Jody “Marshall” Carpenter will present on How to Prevent Identity Theft. 2:30-4pm.
- Bill McBride had a dollar for 53 years of marriage.
- Peter Cadieux had a dollar for his daughter who was a stage manager of a wonderful performance at Plattsburgh State.
- Peter Ensel has signs available to hand out to those businesses that want to show their support of SUNY relative to the budget situation in the state. SUNY is going to bear a brunt of the cuts.
- Kevin Killeen announced that a stolen credit card was attempted to be used by someone in Saudi Arabia last week.
- Bonnie Black said that 30 min. documentary on the Mission of Hope would be broadcast on Moutain Lake PBS this Thursday at 8 p.m.
Visiting Rotarian: Connie Fisher; Sunrise Club.
Guests: Ronna Bosko (Jody Carpenter); Roger Ahrens (Jon Cooper).
Fines:
- Jody Carpenter was shown at the Make-A-Wish golf tournament and spun for $1.
- Vicki Marking spun for $3 for being shown with BPW.
50/50: The pot today was $1170, and Gerald Dominy drew the Jack of Diamonds.
Another candle burning for:
- Robert Miller (11/11);
- Paul Grasso (11/13);
- Dr. Angelo LaMariana (11/15);
- Lori Mathieu (11/17);
- Kyle Brister (11/18);
- Luis Marin (11/19);
- Sandra Walker (11/20);
- Donald Moore (11/22).
\Upcoming Programs
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Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2009
- Program/Speaker --Chad Shelmidine -- (Investigator, N.Y. State Attorney General's Office). Topic -- Internet Safety, Your Child's Digital Life,
- Greeters -- Tim McSweeney & Robert Miller
- Hospitality -- Donald Moore
- Blessing -- Kevin Killeen
- Introductions -- Ellie Murray
- Program Intro. -- Bob Parks
- Thank Speaker -- Dave Napolitan
- New Mem. Talk -- Kristen Shrives
- Seasoned Mem. --
- Food Shelf --
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Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2009
- Program/Speaker --
Frank Christopher (Mountain Lakes PBS). Topic -- Creation of PBS special on Samuel de Champlain.
- Greeters -- Faith Long & Charles Paepke
- Hospitality -- Bob Parks
- Blessing -- Stan Ransom
- Introductions -- Bob Perkins
- Program Intro. --
- Thank Speaker --
- New Mem. Talk --
- Seasoned Mem. --
- Food Shelf --
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Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2009
- Program/Speaker - -Janet Duprey and Teresa Sayward (N.Y.S. Assemblywomen). Topic --
What's going on in Albany
- Greeters -- John Prim and Allen Racine, Jr.
- Hospitality -- Colin Read
- Blessing --
- Introductions -- Alice Recore
- Program Intro. -- Keith Tyo
- Thank Speaker -- Nicholas Pope
- New Mem. Talk -- Brian Tuthill
- Seasoned Mem. --
- Food Shelf --
