DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF by Maryanne Kane, Journalist

 DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF

                                                                      

                 By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane

 

BMW'S ZERO EMISSIONS YACHT 

                                                            Source:  BMW Group

• Luxury car maker BMW, along with partner TYDE, debuted their zero-emissions yacht "Icon" at the 76th Cannes Film Festival
• Glass boat with 360-degree rotating seats, 32' voice controlled touchscreen & its own music soundtrack
• Almost silent when it operates & has no vibrations or shocks
• Lavish, emissions free mode of travel with hydrofoil technology incorporated to help Icon reach higher speeds with hull floating on surface and a wing structure positioned below the water
• Key Data:

1. Powered by 2, 100 kW electric motors generating 240 kWh of energy from six batteries
2. Range of 50 nautical miles
3. Top speed of 34 mph & average speed of 27 mph
4. 80% more energy efficient than most boats
5. Length of 43 feet, width of 4.5 meters
6. Price & availability - not available yet

• Prism-shaped structure that BMW says represents a "future facing form of luxury" created by designers in LA, Munich & Shanghai.

INNOVATION AT A UK WINE VINEYARD

                                Source:  Colin Bennett

• In north Wales, a vineyard owner is making history by creating great wines by covering the stalks of his grape vines with sheep wool
• The wool, laid below the vines, has greatly improved the quality of the grapes and reduced the need for chemicals
• Gwinllan Conwy Vineyard owner Colin Bennett took the advice of a nearby farmer to give it a try and he says the results are "phenomenal"
• He's eliminated disease problems without chemicals and hopes to make the vineyard fully organic
• The woolen fleece reflects the sunlight onto the vines, retains moisture and deters pests
• Vines using fleece become riper and produce wine that is better and more full-bodied with higher alcoholic content
• This 1-of-a-kind innovation on a small, 4-acre vineyard in north Wales is now being suggested for thousands of vineyards in the UK and beyond
• It also could be a boon for sheep farmers, who in the UK are sheering their sheep at a loss.  

HEINZ DIGITAL SAUCES

                                                                    Source:  Stock

• Heinz has gotten very innovative with its new Remix condiment mixing machine that enables consumers to personalize their favorite sauce for dipping fries or smothering their burger with flavor
• The new machine can create 200 new flavor combinations
• Remix is customizable & digital
• You first choose a base sauce - ketchup, ranch, 57 Sauce or barbecue - then you add "enhancers" like jalapeno or buffalo & select from 3 different levels of intensity
• The new machine will debut at the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago this weekend and go into pilot phase at restaurants later this year
• Heinz's plan is to make it available at various venues like restaurants, baseball stadiums and movie theatres.