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Yes, I've mentioned that getting out there 'in the field' could garner AFT more business. That's how Col. Sanders did it. Loaded up the ole Chevy wagon and hit that two lane ribbon of highway.
One pressure cooker, 11 secret herbs and spices, and some guy with a crazy dream......
The fact that we are getting regular updates is a good sign to me.
As for this possible manufacturing contract, I think the real benefit may be beyond the sale of perhaps 250 pumps, as Kathy alluded to. At best that would amount to $750,000 and a chunk of that would go to the actual manufacturer.
The longer term benefit I believe is that it will get AFTC's name passed around. Getting hooked up with a major defense contractor is like free advertising.
Sometimes I think of us shareholders as Gen. John Bell Hood, and the big money corporations as central command.
I'll go along with that. The company may not last another 5 years existing on meager nickel and dime R/D contracts. They have a top of the line product, just need to get themselves hooked up with the right operation.
Kathy mentioned their pumps and fuel injectors can meet specifications other than just DME. Maybe something will develop there.
I disagree. Kathy stated why the update might be delayed. Nevertheless, an update on their website is not going to make the PPS move too much. When/if they have blockbuster news, then they should go public with it.
I didn't read any guarantee of big news. What I am expecting is the usual update. Also, Kathy has said this up date may be post-poned a bit.
Not worried about that, I still see aftc as a long term play. It's just that this 'long term' keeps getting longer.
I said earth shaking news, as in a multi-million $ contract, which aftc has never had. I believe they will upgrade and issue official PR's if that happens. But that's a big 'if'.
I'm forced to agree. When there is earth shaking news, it will come through official PR's, not internal company statements.
I was hoping 2014 would be aftc's breakout year. Still 4 months to go, so we will see.
Volvo does have a multi-million $ research/engineering dept. Maybe they came up with a product that equals AFTC's.
As for the Army, I don't think the verdict is in. The 100-300 pumps that they are supposedly looking to buy is perplexing.
That many pumps for field testing? Or maybe for their own inventory. Which means there could be a deal going on with a private contractor for other JP-8 fuel pumps.
No trades today, good. That means no games being played. But let us not expect too much with this next update. Can we hope for any specific SBIR contract info next week?
But it's still as murky as the muddy Mississippi.
I'm not sure our upcoming August news will cement any of this for the shareholders.
Doesn't worry me though. When big news is ready, it will come through loud and clear.
Looking back at their last update:
They are in negotiations with a major defense contractor regarding a fuel injection system for aircraft. They are also negotiating 100-300 fuel pumps for the Army. I can't make heads or tails out of that.
I speculated that the fuel pumps were for the Navistar MaxForce diesels, and would be used for field testing operations. But Kathy's vague and murky wording leaves much to the imagination.
I would like to get more details on what SBIR contracts are for what products.
Bringing us up to speed on their SBIR contracts would be a nice gesture. As for big $ deals....., I think not. If that were in the offing, they should act like a real publically traded company and issue real PR's. But when that time comes, I believe they will.
For a sub penny, this has tremendous potential. What's holding it back is the technology they have developed is still ahead of the curve. DME as a replacement for (cough, cough) diesel fuel is out there, just not enough to sway the market. Dirty diesel fuel is still cheap, so that's what the industry goes with. Can't blame them.
AFTC's other deals are Army SBIR contracts. Some progress, but no big contracts yet.
It seems like that. But I think DME is just around the corner. 1 year, 2 years....
However, China and other countries are looking beyond their pollution filled cities. America is still at the mercy of Big Oil, and a government that will not resort to the 'Carrot and the Stick' to get things moving.
Think about this: Government tax breaks for any diesel fuel operation that converts to DME. Followed with, heavier taxes in 5 years for those that don't.
That will get the ball moving. But where is our green energy President on these issues?
And your DD is based on reading the yearly chart. I see. Ever dug any deeper? The average profitable stock takes 5 years to mature.
Yeah, rocket to .0015.
You made some very good points. But in all fairness to Kathy, if there is no significant news to report at this time, IE, big money contracts, AFTC's info will be Spartan at best.
Yes, and I would like to see one of those result in a $ contract.
AFT has a genuine quality product. But they have to market it. Why not procure some over eager local college kid with an interest in sales and marketing to get the word out?
"If you can't bring Mohammed to the mountain, bring the mountain to Mohammed."
A former co-worker of mine tried to talk me into the Iraqi dinar scheme/scam a few years ago. I said the country will break up after a bloody civil war, and the dinar will be worthless. And here it is.
So when Volvo says they have complete DME systems to unveil, all based on their own technology, that means they have pumps, fuel injectors, etc, that are proven and available to the international DME market?
Then AFTC had better get their own ball rolling.
Good for you. When it's at .05 you can buy it back.
True, but until AFT gets out there and proves it, who will know?
At some point AFT has to start marketing their product. It's a product that can compete with any other out there. But...who will know? Volvo won't be pushing AFT's technology.
Yahoo article on LNG and CNG.
https://autos.yahoo.com/news/natural-gas-long-haul-trucks-version-makes-more-113439639.html
Lets post some info on DME. Pros, cons, benefits, vs NG.
Your post kinda fits in with AFT's "If you build it, they will come." line of thinking.
And yet some company's still foolishly have salesmen. Why would any commercial operation in the U.S. have a sales staff? The fools.
It's called sales and marketing. Or....Getting the word out.
There is lots of potential here. But the time frame for a payoff is unknown. Later this year, or next year or two?
They are doing R/D work for the Army, and also have finished products ready for the alternative diesel fuel market. So.....
DME is the better choice. I just wonder how long before AFT's products will get picked up? Article here:
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2013/06/dme-20130607.html
They might have a better chance with China, which is investing in DME production.
http://www.chinaenergy.com.sg/
The answer is right under their nose. But they can't see the forest for the trees.
It seems getting energy companies and those that operate diesel vehicles to latch onto the benefits of DME is like turning a battleship around.
Who is selling and marketing products for this company? Or do they just wait for business to come to them? Could happen, I guess...
Indeed. I don't see how it could negatively hurt AFT if they took a more pro active approach regarding their products. All this "sit back and wait for the phone to ring" policy has not sucked in a whole lot of business. In fact, they're damn lucky some competitor hasn't swooped in and stole their thunder.
Some of us have been in the red for a few years here. Still not hitting the panic button. In fact, looking forward to some backyard BBQ's this weekend.
Yes, 8.6 million shares traded, but no movement. What's behind that? Keeping in mind, we have a fairly tight float.
I think a lot more to follow. What AFTC is proving is that they can redesign a diesel fuel pump to run on JP-8. This one is a Bosch pump for a Navistar Maxx Force diesel. But I would think that same technology could be applied to any number of diesel fuel pumps used by the military, including NATO.
Or as Bogie said in Casablanca....
"Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
She said contact her through her personal email, which is posted on her profile. Not an Ihub PM.
As for AFTC's latest update, Kathy has amended it somewhat and things are now a bit more clear. The Army is very interested in AFTC's JP-8 fuel pump, and Bosch is willing to produce it.
The fact that the Army only wants a few hundred at this time is something AFTC has no say in.
Obviously the Army wants to conduct their own field tests on this new pump and see how it handles various weather and climate conditions. I'm sure they will be sending them to Army bases all over the world. Alaska, the middle east, the swamps of Florida and Louisiana, New Mexico, Japan, South Korea, etc.
Since Bosch is willing to manufacture them, that should fast track the whole process. I'm guessing six months to start delivering pumps to the Army, and another year for Army engineers to reach a decision.
Doesn't surprise me though. They want to know this product will work before they break out the check book and give AFTC a 10-20 million dollar contract.
I may be reading this statement incorrectly.
"The customer has proposed in house manufacturing of 100 – 300 pumps ($300K – $900K), should we reach peak performance."
Could the customer she is referring to be Bosch, which is the fuel pump AFT redesigned, and they are proposing in-house manufacturing? That would be a real coup for AFT.
"As previously stated, we have a contract with a major defense company involving the modification of an aircraft fuel injection system that runs on JP-8. Our work on a prototype pump is ongoing, but we have made significant improvements. The customer has proposed in house manufacturing of 100 – 300 pumps ($300K – $900K), should we reach peak performance. We are optimistic that we will be awarded this contract."
It looks like Kathy has reworded parts of the update to clarify things a bit more. Here's what I get out of this:
First, the customer(Army) has proposed in house manufacturing for the pumps. That doesn't mean AFT cannot subcontract out for the pumps to be made by another company(which would speed up the production process).
Second, the 'aircraft fuel injection system' she mentions, I take it that is still in Phase II?
It only makes sense. The Army will run these pumps ragged. Through the desert, swamps, highways, and see what they've got. Aftc's in house test results are not the final say.
I think it bodes well for AFTC that their product is still in the running.
I still stand by my earlier post that these 100-300 'pumps' are a test run by the Army. Maybe a similar deal has been brokered for one of AFTC's competitors as well. This is new technology, and the DoD is not ready to commit million'$ on unproven equipment.
Something's not right with those figures, unless the Army is just going with a few hundred pumps to see if they can do the job. If there are no issues with the pumps after a years use, perhaps they may up their order?
Exactly. And a gov contract that is announced before the company's says what? Somebody is asleep at the switch. Or.....
Ain't no public announcements. Which says...AFTC has no deal.
I wouldn't bet a weeks pay on aftc putting out quarterly statements. But I believe they will shout it from the rooftops if they have a serious contract.