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Obviously, it is great that they are attending this event. That means someone is there for a reason. As cash strapped as they might be, we all know this is not a boondoggle for a suntan!
Since I constantly support a sales and marketing effort, I am mollified by the fact that they are getting their name and at least one person involved in a marketing event. Let's hope they are schmoozing with the right people and getting their products in front of the right engineers.
Onward and upward!
Thank goodness. Get the word out!!!
Anyone gonna be near San Diego that week? Sure would be interesting to get some inside scoop!!!
Selling now makes little sense, especially when 1m shares is only worth $1500.
I agree with Boobie that patience is a challenge. Many have been patient with this company for years. Movement has been scarce. Let's get something moving, drattit!!!
We do indeed know a great potential AFTC rep. I know it's somewhat humorous, but the idea is spectacular. It's seriously a great way to get the word out there.
Now more than ever is the time for AFTC to install a pump in a working truck and drive around proclaiming the virtues of DME, Oberon fuels, Volvo engines, and how easy it is to convert using AFTC's fuel pump.
Drive up to every trucking company, engine manufacturer, fuel dispensary - whoever maintains a business in this industry and let them know how easy and cost-effective it would be to convert.
It's all marketing now!
500k at .0019 was a good buy. Not someone just painting the tape. Looks like all the .0019's are gone now, which is nice.
It will still take at least a modicum of good news to move this up, but nice to see people recognize the potential!
500 shares at .0014 this morning? Really?!?!??!
If you read that profile, AFTC looks pretty good!
I have my fingers crossed that the order is for 250+ pumps and that the trials go extremely well...
Once that happens, we are on our way.
Two things:
There is no cause for alarm. The company is pushing forward with cash in the bank and orders on the horizon.
Though no large contracts loom, there is plenty to cheer. Even the relatively small order of 100-250 pumps is significant. Why would they only order that money? As a precursor to ordering many more down the road.
I'm not sure what else they need to do to demonstrate progress! This was not a dramatic update - I thought Kathy's letter to Monda was more insightful - but it shows a company in growth mode.
Based on Jim's age I would peg her in low 60's. But how does 39 sound!??!
This company won't grow strictly on R&D projects. They need to reach production stage to get bigger, meaningful contracts.
For everyone concerned about a delayed report.... Keep your hair on! The "update" that Monda got from Kathy was already ten times better than the "update" we got in the spring.
I was down on the this stock all summer - until I saw Kathy's e-mail. Very positive steps being taken by the company. I have no idea what this new update will contain, but I now understand why it may be delayed. It takes time to do financials correctly. It takes time to nurture contracts, develop products and solutions, get commitments for new business.
At least Kathy was forthcoming and honest in her e-mail assessment. I'm willing to be patient - and I am not, by nature, a patient person!!!
Quite frankly, I was delighted with the letter Monda posted. I am stunned that the rest of this board (if there are any people left out there) hasn't picked up on this extremely good news.
AFTC is growing. If not by leaps and bounds, they are making steady progress. Prior to the spring report, this board was buzzing with the hope that we would get news like what was just conveyed by Kathy. If we had gotten this letter in March, I think we would have hit at least a half a cent, maybe more.
Where is the buzz? I'm back to being a believer. Kathy finally conveyed some concrete guidance on what the company has been working on and some of the potential for the near term. Even if they don't get a contract for a year yet, they are being highly productive.
This is sensational news. Come on people, get back on board! There is no rationale for this selling in the teens.
Thank you, Kathy. That was a very well written response to Monda and provided some insight into what AFTC is doing. Had she posted that in March, I would have been more than satisfied. Finally, something well written and well thought out.
The big news is that they are doing well. As Monda constantly states, how many pinkies can say the same? This may still be a longer term play, but the company - based on Kathy's update - is very healthy (even if Amelia has been out sick). Get better soon, Amelia!
I will repeat the thank you to Kathy because this info was much more in line with what a company president would say.
Onward and upward!
Monda, the idea of hiring a sales person to sell is premature.
I'm talking about a consulting-oriented business development professional who is the constant educator on how to produce a commercially viable DME car.
I am not naive enough to believe that Ford, Toyota, Honda, etc do not know how a DME automobile would work. And I realize that I am oversimplifying. But if AFTC had working models of Honda's, Toyota's, Chevy's, etc. that they could demo, that would be a start.
"Here is a car we modified to run on DME using our technology." Those cars (and even better, those trucks should they hook up with trucking diesel manufacturers)should be on display everywhere there is a DME convention or summit. "Running on AFTC technology with Oberon Fuel" and co-brand with companies trying to push the same agenda.
If the AFTC bus were to show up at the next meeting, people would pay attention. Take the bus on a national tour and stop at every mayor's office. What great press!
And it's a great way to demo the no soot, clean burning, great power, good mileage product that a bus manufacturer, AFTC, and Oberon could jointly sponsor.
They are just ideas, but that's how you grow your business. And that's not selling, that's marketing.
Amen!
I don't look at the budget for this position as a major expense. Simply put, you've got to spend money to make money.
In a week, we should get a glimpse of their financials. That will give us some insight on what type of cash they have available.
An alternative is to split the cost of a person with Oberon or someone else. After all, we're talking about partnerships here.
As a CEO, this is where Kathy has to get creative about how to grow the business. There are MANY options and only she can determine what's viable. But if they don't do something, they are doomed to relying on grants and subsidies that may or may not recur.
Go BIG or go home!!!
I respectfully disagree with your two options.
I would hire a sales person with a consulting title. Someone who can take a physical pump with them and a video of all of their tests with Volvo, et al.
That person would be at every trade show they can get to. Maybe they could be a speaker like Jim was.
That person should have an office at Oberon! Meaning they spend a lot of time with them.
And Ford. And Toyota. And Honda....
They should be working with UPS, USPS, Fed Ex - anyone involved with logistics and putting together working partnerships that include Oberon, AFTC, and the logistics company.
They should be working with bus companies to provide clean fuel alternatives to cities. You sure see a lot of natural gas "tests" being done by city transportation.
That's my point. Since Jim "left" AFTC has no one doing that. To my knowledge. How do you actively promote yourself waiting in MI for the phone to ring?
I LOVE this product. Even though AFTC needs a lot of help to get to market with it, it will move forward faster if they are actively searching for partnerships with bigger, better funded organizations.
Where does the money come from? You're talking $80k annually that will result in significant contracts.
What happens if they don't do it?
Someone else will catch up and develop a bigger, better product. And they've missed the window.
Just sayin'.
My fear is that OEM's will not just jump on board. Someone needs to explain the technology, how it works, what the benefits are - in other words, "what's in it for me?" with me being the OEM's.
AFTC needs a sales person who is on the road 365 days a year demonstrating the benefits of this technology. The more people who see it work, the more likely they are to look at solutions involving DME.
Other than Monda, I don't know anyone in the world who is "selling" this company and their benefits.
Since they reported nothing substantial last time, they have literally 7 months or more of catching up to do. If I did nothing at my job for seven months, I would have no job. There had better be some movement!!!
You guys made the point that AFTC is a known quantity in the industry. That's great. How many are partners. How many are we selling to? How many are we selling with?
If you have a great product, there is always a limited shelf life. AFTC should be in testing partnerships with several engine manufacturers, several DME refineries, and several trucking companies. People will REALLY know about it when they can demonstrate a commercially viable product.
Am I over-simplifying? Let's get this thing into some serious American road tests!
I remember a couple of years ago, when I would tell my friends about this great little company and the amazing niche they had found in the energy space. Great product, visionary leadership, cutting edge technology.
We were moving in the right direction. Then the last news report came out. Fifth grade homework assignment. Now I don't bring this company up to my friends any more.
Surely, Kathy must understand the concept of marketing. It's getting people excited about your products and services. Where would Geico be without the Gecko?
For better or worse, Kathy is our gecko. Are you going to get us pumped up and excited to hear more about your products and services? Or are we going to have the AFT Ostrich as our spokesperson?
I hope there is reason for excitement. The rest of the market seems headed south.
Luna, you're back! You must be so excited about the August news you just couldn't stay away.
Exactly. Kind of like a board of directors meeting. With us being the board. This is a board, isn't it!??!? LOL.
We are only 17 days (max!) away from news. There has not been much buzz this time. It leads me to wonder whether we will get "Professional-business-woman-Kathy" news or "Procrastinated-until-the-last-day-on-my-term-paper-Kathy" news.
There were so many great happenings at AFTC in 2013-14 that I was really excited prior to the last update.
Without any substance in this update, we are languishing here in the .001 range for a long time, my friends.
Looks like something they could have bid on, though. Wonder if they found it before JT? Hard to do without a sales/marketing team.
The only thing that will improve the volume and the price is good news on ~August 14th. That is only four short weeks away, my friends...
Doesn't look like anyone is buying down here either. The joys of the market. If no one is buying, lower the price until someone becomes interested. Clearly, there is not enough interest at these levels. Ouch.
You are absolutely correct about Kathy. I'm sure she is working very hard on a variety of fronts.
But is there a growth strategy? Or are they content with their minor research projects and grants? If they want to grow, they need sales and marketing. They need to be at trade shows and talking to potential partners. Who is doing that? What is their growth strategy?
That's what I - and discerning investors - want to know. I am grateful for their six figure R&D projects if it keeps the door open. But they will not lead to major production dollars if that's not where Kathy is headed.
The fun of AFTC is the potential for producing thousands and thousands of pumps for the military. Or some similar project that makes us all brilliant investors. Or selling the technology for big money to a national lab. If there is no end-game strategy like that, what's the point?
I was watching a TV commercial yesterday regarding Nationwide Insurance. One of their "benefits" is that they do not have investors to report to.
AFTC made the decision to appeal to investors by becoming a publicly traded organization. They DO have investors to report to.
So many of us invested, counting on the organization to treat those investors like owners and partners. Unlike Nationwide, AFTC does have the obligation to report to said investors and provide each of them with a return on their investment. No one invests money to lose...
In running a publicly traded company of ANY size, the CEO is obligated - by logic if not law - to provide constant updates as to the state of the business. Ultimately, the idea is to reward investors with profits, not punish them with silence.
While I believe in the potential of AFTC, I am daunted by the lack of solid information and the apparent ignorance of marketing and sales departments within the organization.
If one idea is to let the DOD "buy" the product, make it happen. What's the delay? And as an investor (partner) in the business, why am I not being informed of the progress?
And investor meetings. Whatever happened to those? Aren't they required once a year?
We've had too many un-kept promises regarding big news with this stock to get back to the .002's without ACTUAL news, IMHO.
Conjecture and wishful thinking has gotten this to ~.0035, but we keep falling back because there is nothing to substantiate the rumors.
What will be awesome is when those contract(s) actually hit. You've said it many times, Monda. This is a high-risk, high-reward opportunity. I pray every day for a DOD award!
Dirt cheap is right. We are starting to get into "news" window again. If Kathy takes everyone's advice and gives a more robust picture of where AFTC is headed, we could finally see a decent rise in PPS.
Go TEAM USA today. If we win, AFTC will rocket tomorrow!
This article is not about AFTC, but it does represent Warren Buffett's investing strategy relative to our stock:
http://www.fool.com/ecap/the_motley_fool/homerun-warren-buffett-tells-you-how-to-turn-40-2/?paid=7283&psource=esatab7410860008&waid=7284&wsource=esatabwdg0860008
Buffett says if you pick the right company, it's a matter of "when". In our case, if we believe that this technology will make a difference in the world at some point, it may not happen today or tomorrow. It could be years.
I trust that we have a winning strategy with AFTC. I believe it will happen at some point. I refuse to give up!
Not a single post today? Wow, this thing really flat-lined after that so-called update.
We could really use a shot in the arm. Anyone?
Boobie, sorry it took a while to follow up but I like the way you think. No way this company is going to grow without good ol sales and marketing.
I kind of look at AFTC like Vegas.
I went all in on this stock. Once the bet is placed in Vegas, you can't take it off the board. I can understand why you want out, and I would as well if I could break even today (which would be at about .0035 since I've been holding so long).
But if the owner of this company would proactively market their product, they would find partners and drive home this fuel and this technology. (Drive home, get it?)
The government will have a hard time pushing one particular solution. The armed forces might, but someone at the top would have to make that call. What will drive this energy solution and ultimately our product is the free market.
You don't need a patent (people still sell bread). You need a timely solution that provides at least one significant advantage to interested parties.
Clean air? You bet. DME cheaper than alternative fuels? Possibly. Easy conversion to AFT product? Absolutely (so prove it with a major partner).
Does every major trucking company know about AFT solution? Doubt it. Is Oberon the only DME provider? Unlikely (if AFT would partner with BP, Citgo, ExxonMobil, etc and a major trcuking company).
So many alternatives. So little promotion.
I've said the same thing all along, Boobie. Not sure why that isn't priority number one if they've got a working and ground-breaking product.
Exactly, Boobie. Where are the updates? While Jim's posts weren't robust, there was substance to them and offered great potential. Kathy's anemic posts rarely refer back to previous opportunities. Where did they all go? Where do they stand? Is there any potential going forward? What happened to all the amazing commercial opportunities? What happened to the expansion plan? I have questions about every opportunity that was ever brought up!
If you made a spreadsheet with all the opportunities on the left and current updates on the right, that would make me happy. Instead, we got a short, uninformative, pathetic "note" to investors.
I say again (and then I will stop!), if that's your best effort Kathy, what does your best effort look like to manage this company? That was not an update from a CEO. That was an update from the front line employee everyone wants to fire. No substance, no energy, not uplifting...
Exactly - that was a good update. remember when this company had potential? It's when Jim was out actively promoting the company and potential partnerships. Where is that kind of update and activity now!??!?