Oct 15, 2019 | Uncategorized
Although actually dissatisfied with the sound, many Mercedes drivers are put off from replacing the factory speakers installed in their vehicle. Not without good reason: Mercedes OEM systems are constructed for a specific vehicle, for example having specially formed baskets or mounting brackets. Finding speakers that fit in the Mercedes is therefore not to be taken lightly. On top of that the factory systems are mostly installed in a complicated way so that till now replacement could only be achieved with a great deal of installation effort and experience.
These times are over as there are now several vehicle-specific speakers from car audio specialist EMPHASER (http://www.emphaser.com/) which are perfectly tailored to Mercedes vehicles – not only in terms of their construction but also acoustically. German Car & HiFi magazine has subjected the newcomers to a thorough installation test in issue 05/2019. The question is: Can the sound in a Mercedes really be audibly improved simply by replacing the speakers?
To answer this question the testers removed the original factory system of a Mercedes E220 – a 2-way front component system, a coaxial system in the rear doors, and a subwoofer in the passenger footwell – and replaced it 1:1 with the equivalent components from the EMPHASER range. They installed the front component system EM-MBF1, the rear speaker EM-MBR1, and the 8″/20 cm subwoofer EM-MBSUBR.
The minimal installation effort was enough to enthuse the testers: “The installation of the door speakers is straightforward and easy enough for the interested layman. (…) The speakers can be installed entirely without any changes to the vehicle. The EMPHASER chassis fit perfectly into the original spaces, requiring very little time to install.”
As regards the construction details and high quality components of the new Mercedes speakers the trade journalists were full of praise for these too: “Both mid/woofers work with aluminum cones, with the tweeter of the front system naturally being a woven dome. A lot of effort has been put into the crossovers. Beside level adjustment of the tweeter they also offer a high pass for the system, which also works well with a factory radio.”
But what is the improvement in the sound performance like? The journalists were also agreed on this: “It is hard to believe what just replacing the speakers can do for the sound” was their report after the listening tests. “First of all we were pleased by the voluminous and amazingly powerful bass, which fills the vehicle. It is not only really fat but also blends into the sound image.”
The testers were also of the opinion that the overall tuning has been very well done: “No interference, the sound is clear. The tonality gives little to complain about, and the resolution and fine dynamics also make a good impression.”
Better sound only with new speakers? At the end of the test the tech journalists answered this question with an emphatic ‘yes’, awarding the EMPHASER systems the score 1.1 and the “price/performance: outstanding” accolade. “For just 750 euros the speaker upgrade offers a distinct improvement in the sound”, says Car & HiFi. “You can go for this as it is. (…) If you want something more, or have something over in the budget later, then order the (DSP) power amp in addition – all of this can be easily done.”
Oct 14, 2019 | Uncategorized
On October 17-18 October 2019, ScaleUp 360° Auto Vision brings together more than 200 automotive decision makers and leading technical professionals to discuss challenges and solutions in developing and integrating the latest sensor hardware and computer vision approaches for Level 5 automation.
In 12 webinars over 2 days participants have the chance to learn, engage and discuss tech innovation in real-time with thought leaders across the globe – right from their desks.
These are our topics at the 2019 ScaleUp 360° Auto Vision:
– Image processing and Computer Vision – What to expect from this liaison?
– Leveraging sensor hardware – How to overcome challenges in lidar, radar and camera sensor development?
– Training & Validation: How to implement computer vision algorithms for object detection?
– Sensor Fusion Technology – How to merge sensors to perceive the whole environment around the vehicle?
– Getting a clearer image – What are tools to overcome design and image quality challenges for camera sensors?
– AI and ground truth data – How to train and validate computer vision models for object detection?
– In-cabin sensing – How intelligent driver monitoring sensors improve autonomous vehicle safety
– Putting perception on the map – How to combine sensor technology with HD mapping to deliver high quality data?
– How can the use of edge computing lead to a much faster perception by automated vehicles?
– How can virtual testing & validation accelerate autonomous vehicle development?
Join the digital event deep diving into Computer Vision and Sensor Fusion technologies for autonomous vehicle perception!
For more information on the agenda, our partners and online registration, visit our website at https://www.scale-up-360.com/en/auto-vision/
Oct 14, 2019 | Uncategorized
International law is no longer confined to regulating relations between states. Today, it also plays an increasingly important role in business and private law.
Globalization has made the world a smaller place. Trade is conducted across national borders and cross-border business relations are the rule rather than the exception. That being said, increasing globalization and internationalization also have legal consequences that must be borne in mind for both trade and relations governed by private law, e.g., trusts and estates law.
It is in light of internationalization that companies as well as individuals find themselves facing new challenges that necessitate obtaining expert legal advice. As an international commercial law firm, we at MTR Rechtsanwälte https://www.mtrlegal.com/en.html have faced these challenges and advise our clients on a diverse range of international matters. Our comprehensive consulting services include collaborating with world-renowned law firms.
Cross-border business entails exposure to various national and international laws. Different rules and regulations need to be taken into account for a wide range of issues, from drafting contracts and establishing a subsidiary abroad to conducting international litigation or international arbitration proceedings.
Moreover, it is often initially unclear which country”s national laws are applicable in a lot of disputes, it being necessary to consider international private law (IPL) and intergovernmental agreements alike. It is equally possible for parties to contractually agree that a particular country”s national laws will apply to the entire business relationship or parts of the business.
When it comes to contract optimization, familiarity with the potential legal consequences from as early as the drafting stage is therefore crucial.
Yet international law is playing an increasingly determinative role not only in business but also private life. While this is true of marriage and divorce as well as, of course, legal access to children, it also applies to purchasing real estate abroad and inheritance cases with a foreign dimension.
International law is a complex field that affects many aspects of both business and private life. Lawyers with experience in the field of international law can offer advice.
https://www.mtrlegal.com/en/legal-advice/international-law.html
Oct 10, 2019 | Uncategorized
A joint will in which both parties mutually appoint each other as sole heir is popular among spouses. However, they need to be mindful of its strong binding effect.
Joint wills are very popular among spouses in Germany. These generally entail the partners mutually appointing each other as sole heir and designating a final heir for when both parties are deceased. Nevertheless, it is important to consider the strong binding effect associated with this kind of will. We at the law firm MTR Rechtsanwälte https://www.mtrlegal.com/en.html note that it cannot subsequently be unliterally amended if the parties did not have the foresight to include revision clauses.
If a joint will does not include revision clauses enabling the surviving spouse to unilaterally amend its provisions, he or she will remain bound by the joint provisions even if their situation in life has since changed, for example, if the relationship with the final heir has severely deteriorated. It is clear from a ruling of the OLG Düsseldorf, for instance, that in the absence of appropriate arrangements it is then no longer possible to unilaterally amend the provisions appointing the final heir (I-3 Wx 202/17).
In the case in question, a married couple had prepared a handwritten joint will and mutually appointed each other as sole heir. They also designated their son as the final heir. However, following the death of the husband, his widow drafted a second will, according to which another person was to be become the sole heir and her son would only receive the compulsory portion. The latter successfully brought an action against this.
The widowed mother had no longer been entitled to unilaterally amend the joint will. Even though the married couple had included the wording “the surviving spouse is not encumbered or restricted by this will and is free in every sense to make arrangements” in their will, the OLG Düsseldorf held that this did not refer to the appointment of the final heir. The Court ruled that it was not clear the married couple had agreed to a right to make changes.
This example demonstrates that revision clauses are an avenue which ought to be explored as a means of loosening the strong binding effect of a joint will. Moreover, the wording should be unambiguous and leave no room for interpretation. Lawyers with experience in the field of trusts and estates law can offer advice.
https://www.mtrlegal.com/en/legal-advice/private-clients.html
Oct 9, 2019 | Uncategorized
A beverage manufacturer had a combination of colors registered as an EU trademark. In a ruling from July 29, 2019, the ECJ confirmed that the mark is null and void (Az.: C-124/18 P).
Registering a combination of colors requires overcoming significant hurdles. We at the commercial law firm MTR Rechtsanwälte https://www.mtrlegal.com/en.html note, for instance, that the arrangement of the colors and their relationship to one another need to be clearly defined, and the mark must be sufficiently distinct from products of other providers.
A beverage manufacturer failed to meet these requirements, having registered two combinations of colors as EU trademarks. A rival firm successfully filed challenges to these with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), claiming that the information provided about the combination of colors was much too vague. The ratio of the colors of the first mark was described as roughly 50:50, while the colors of the second mark were described as being depicted next to each other in equal proportions.
This description was first rejected by the General Court of the European Union for being too imprecise. In November 2017, it held that the color mark lacked sufficient distinctive character. This decision has since been upheld by the ECJ in spite of the beverage manufacturer”s argument that the combination of colors had achieved significant brand awareness and possessed distinctive character.
The ECJ clarified that the graphic representation of two or more colors must be systematically arranged in such a way that the colors concerned are associated in a predetermined and uniform way. The mere juxtaposition of two or more colors, without shape or contours, or a reference to two or more colors “in every conceivable form”, will not exhibit the required qualities of precision and uniformity.
According to the case-law of the ECJ, combinations of colors cannot be granted an EU trademark if they allow for a plurality of reproductions. If this is the case, the requirement for a trademark to be clear is not met.
Trademarks are an important asset for businesses. Yet registering a trademark may require overcoming significant hurdles. Lawyers with experience in the field of IP law can advise on trademark law.
https://www.mtrlegal.com/en/legal-advice/ip-law.html
Oct 8, 2019 | Uncategorized
Dietzenbach, Germany, 08. October 2019 – On 3rd October 2019 Cartonplast France successfully completed the certification audits by TÜV SÜD Management Service GmbH according to ISO 22000 and ISO 9001.
Cartonplast (CPL), the leading European supplier of reusable plastic layer pads (PLPs) on a rental basis has been certified in its French subsidiary Dagneux according to the international standard for food safety management system ISO 22000 and for quality management standard ISO 9001. This was a great effort from the whole local team in Dagneux, and we must also thank the other CPL subsidiaries for the generous cooperation we received.
“This is a big step forward for our company with another country providing the high and stable service standard”, explains Sebastian Brzozowski, Head of Quality Assurance at Cartonplast Group. Since 2017 CPL, with its headquarters in Dietzenbach, Germany, has also been operating its globally successful business model in France. The French service and logistics centre has successfully raised its hygienic standards to CPL’s state of the art cleaning technology for the reprocessing of reusable PLPs.
The company has also successfully completed certification in all its subsidiaries worldwide in the field of quality management and internationally recognised food safety standard. For over thirty years, CPL has ensured a high food standard for its customers in the beverage, food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. “We are proud of this certification because it is proof of our successful international quality development and also means great praise for the excellent performance of our employees”, emphasizes Michael Heikenfeld, the Chief Sales Officer and Managing Director of Cartonplast Group.
The global CPL food safety management system ensures stable and world-wide consistent service. The Quality management system with its risk based approach according to ISO 9001 guarantees customer satisfaction and continuous improvement of products and services. For container manufacturers (glass, cans, PET), these certifications guarantee them continuous food safety during transport. “Our most important goal is to guarantee food safety in our processes to our customers and partners here in France and at the same time to act in an environmentally friendly way in our work processes”, adds Julie Serraille, Supply Chain Manager of Cartonplast France.
For more information, please contact us via email at info@cartonplast.com or contact Michael Heikenfeld, Chief Sales Officer, michael.heikenfeld@cartonplast.com.
You can see the full range of CPL services in our explanatory video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocDxBPIOaho). More information and photos are available here (https://www.cartonplast.com/index.php?id=443&L=2).
