Analysis

Smart city and wireless communication network, business district

Smart Cities to fuel growth of Asia-Pacific’s Internet of Things market by 2026

APAC IoT market is expected to reach $436.77 billion in revenue by 2026; spending on smart cities accounts for almost one-third of the market Frost & Sullivan’s recent analysis finds that Asia-Pacific’s Internet of Things (IoT) market is rapidly being transformed by Mega Trends, including the integration of edge-computing networks into IoT systems and new narrow-band (NB) IoT deployments. Driven by growing investments in 4G/LTE and 5G, reduced IoT sensor costs, and government support, the buoyant APAC IoT market is expected to reach $436.77 billion in revenue by 2026 from $96.92 billion in 2020, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.52%. China leads IoT spending, accounting for over half of the APAC market, followed by Japan and Australia. Government spending on smart cities accounts for almost one-third of the region’s combined spending, followed by transportation and logistics, then manufacturing. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted customers’ transformation journeys across several industry verticals, resulting in delays in projects such as integrating innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), Blockchain, and cloud adoption. “The APAC region accounts for about 40% of global Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) connections, with NB-IoT accounting for 97% of them,” said Hemangi Patel, Information and Communication Technology Research Analyst at Frost & Sullivan. “We forecast that the rise of NB-IoT technology will benefit low-resource IoT devices penetration. NB-IoT is expected to be an integral part of IoT connectivity, addressing requirements related to low-bandwidth, low-speed connections in utilities, industries, and households.” Patel added: “On a macro level, increasing government focus on smart cities and Industry 4.0 initiatives is driving demand for digital IoT solutions in the region, such as eGovernment, public transportation, smart traffic management systems, and smart power grids. Given their portfolios ranging from business application solutions to data analytics and end-to-end platforms, telcos are […]

Ford and HP collaborate to transform 3D waste into auto parts

An Industry First Ford says 3D printing has potential to revolutionise customisation of low-volume vehicle parts, accelerate sustainability Companies found way to extend life of already-used 3D printed powders and parts, turning them into auto components for Super Duty F-250 trucks, creating closed-loop on waste Implementation completed in less than one year from ideation to application in parts Ford is continuing to drive the future of automotive 3D printing, this time teaming up with HP to innovatively reuse spent 3D printed powders and parts, closing the loop and turning them into injection molded vehicle parts – an industry first. Sustainability is a priority for both iconic companies, which through joint exploration led to this unlikely, earth-friendly solution. The resulting injection molded parts are better for the environment with no compromise in the durability and quality standards Ford and its customers demand. The recycled materials are being used to manufacture injection-moulded fuel-line clips installed first on Super Duty F-250 trucks. The parts have better chemical and moisture resistance than conventional versions, are 7 percent lighter and cost 10 percent less. The Ford research team has identified 10 other fuel-line clips on existing vehicles that could benefit from this innovative use of material and are migrating it to future models. “Finding new ways to work with sustainable materials, reducing waste and leading the development of the circular economy are passions at Ford,” said Debbie Mielewski, Ford technical fellow, Sustainability. “Many companies are finding great uses for 3D printing technologies, but, together with HP, we’re the first to find a high-value application for waste powder that likely would have gone to landfill, transforming it into functional and durable auto parts.” HP 3D printers are already designed for high efficiency, with systems and structures to minimise the excess material they generate and reuse a […]

Hitachi High-Tech expands metals analysis range with OE720

Hitachi High-Tech Analytical Science has further expanded its metals analysis range with the launch of the OE720. A year ago, the reveal of the ground-breaking Hitachi OE750 caused waves in the industry by making high-performance metals analysis finally accessible to all sizes of metals producers. Designed to help foundries, fabricators and manufacturing plants meet ever more demanding specifications, the new OE720 joins Hitachi High-Tech’s new OE series. The OE720 boasts the same high-performance as the OE750 but offers an attractive price advantage to companies who don’t need additional gas analysis capability. High performance made affordable: Complex supply chains and increased use of scrap metal as a base material puts foundries and metals manufacturers under increasing pressure to control tramp and trace elements within the melt and finished product. The OE720 optical emission spectrometer covers the entire spectrum of elements in metal except for gases like oxygen and hydrogen and has some of the lowest detection limits in its class. The result is an analyser that has the capability of much more expensive instruments, bringing high quality analysis within reach for the first time for many foundries and metals manufacturers. Innovative technology: The secret to the Hitachi OE series’ performance is its unique LightWing optic design*, coupled with superior CMOS detector technology. This unique combination achieves the very large wavelength range necessary to measure the entire range of elements within metals at ppm levels; essential in meeting today’s tight metals specifications. Low cost of ownership: The second advantage of the LightWing optics is reduced argon and power consumption, thanks to its ultra-compact design. As well as a fast start-up and measurement time, helping keep costs down and productivity high. Developed for the aluminum industry: The OE720 is the ideal analyser for aluminum casting as it can determine phosphorous to very low […]

Hexagon acquires CADLM

Hexagon AB, a global leader in sensor, software and autonomous solutions, has aquired CADLM SAS, a pioneer in powering computer-aided engineering (CAE) with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to revolutionise the impact of simulation in product development processes and lifecycles. Founded in 1989, France-based CADLM has years of experience developing computational design and optimisation methods for industrial products and processes, and since 2014 has been developing AI and machine learning solutions. Its ODYSSEE software platform applies AI and machine learning to real-world sensor data and physics-based simulation data to produce accurate, predictive models of a product at efficient computing power levels. The combination enables faster, more efficient simulations of dynamic, multi-physics phenomena – such as automotive crash and safety – that fully characterise and understand real-world product behaviour. This insight enables engineers to explore the design space more extensively and interactively and improve next-generation products without prohibitive computing cost or time. Furthermore, the pervasive use of the digital twin beyond the early design phase enables manufacturers to leverage image recognition, predictive simulation and fault prediction to address challenges such as downtime, throughput, quality and flexibility throughout the manufacturing process. “The convergence of CAE with advances in data management, AI, machine-learning and an increasingly connected manufacturing lifecycle is transforming the industry’s ability to address increasingly complex design challenges with rapid innovation and increased productivity,” says Hexagon President and CEO Ola Rollén. “CADLM’s AI knowledge and technology further strengthen our Smart Manufacturing solutions portfolio, putting data to work beyond the early design phase to improve product design innovation, manufacturing productivity, product quality and environmental sustainability through reductions in material waste.” CADLM will operate as part of Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division. The acquisition has no significant impact on Hexagon’s earnings. Completion of the transaction (closing) is subject to normal closing conditions. Hexagon […]

Learn from Asia

Fabian von Heimburg Co-founder and Managing Director, Hotnest When I started my technology company in China 7 years ago, everybody in the West thought China was just copying European and US technology and there was no real innovation taking place. The overriding theme in the media and at conferences – where I spoke about the daily reality of operating in the Chinese startup world – was always belittling Chinese innovation, while South East Asia was not even mentioned. But what I saw seven years ago from my daily experience is that China was already very innovative in many areas – from e-commerce to social media – and had created a unique ecosystem. The world was surprised when China was suddenly recognised as being innovative and leading the way in AI, IoT and electric vehicles – areas where the West thought it was ahead. The problem was an inability and unwillingness from western observers to understand or acknowledge the tremendous development that was taking place. The West is frankly not used to learning from others. Europe and the US are mostly looking at each other, or worse, just internally for innovation and progress. Many Asian countries on the other hand, are used to observing very closely what is happening in Europe and the US in terms of innovation and progress. The West’s judgement of the rest of the world is more and more clouded by judgement based solely on differences in values. If Europe wants to keep progressing like it has in the last 50 years, it needs to finally start learning from Asia, just as Asia has been doing from Europe for decades. Our future depends on cooperation and mutual learning, avoiding conflict and solving the world’s biggest problems, such as climate change, together. Europe needs to learn how to […]

Autoliv announces new inflator manufacturing plant in India

Autoliv, worldwide leader in automotive safety systems, announced its plan to build a new inflator manufacturing plant in India, focused toward supporting its strong Indian market position. This is the latest development in Autoliv’s long commitment to the Indian market through its world class life-saving solutions for mobility and society. Autoliv India has its corporate office, Engineering Centre, and Airbag facilities in Bangalore. The new inflator plant will be built close to Chennai and will serve Indian demand. The localisation of inflator production will meet customer requirements while mitigating global supply chain disruptions and fluctuations. The new inflator plant will further encourage sustainable market growth in India from global and local OEMs. Autoliv entered the Indian market in 1994 and has since become the clear leader, with six facilities, in this dynamic market. “The establishment of the new inflator plant is another milestone of Autoliv’s development in India, demonstrating our strong commitment to customers and to the Indian market,” said Mr. Joydeep Roy, Autoliv India President and Managing Director. “We are optimistic about the business prospect here. We will continue our dedicated work of leading the way to Saving More Lives in India and being a trusted supplier and partner to our customers,” he added.

China Centre of Excellence for manufacturers

A China based Centre of Excellence has been established by GXS Partners and Future Materials Group (FMG) to support companies in the new materials and advanced manufacturing industries with innovative consulting and advisory services in the Greater China market. The partnership combines GXS Partners’ extensive management consulting experience and Greater China insight with FMG’s deep technical knowledge and commercial market experience. The Centre will provide a variety of services, including market research and competitive analysis; technology assessment; growth strategies; buy- and sell-side M&A strategies and transformation

Order received for Philippines/29MW Binary Power Generation Project at EDC’s Palayan Geothermal Power Plant

♦ Power to be generated making effective use of brine from existing flash type geothermal power plant, previously discharged, as heat source ♦ 29MW carbon neutral power will contribute to regional environmental and economic sustainability ♦ CO2 reduction project to be implemented as Financing Programme for JCM Model Projects in FY2020 Turboden S.p.A., a Group company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) based in Lombardy, Italy, and Mitsubishi Power, Ltd. have jointly received an order for 29-megawatt (MW) binary cycle power generation equipment to be installed at the geothermal power plant operated in Palayan, in the southeastern sector of Luzon Island in the Philippines, by Energy Development Corporation (EDC), a local company which boasts of being the world’s largest vertically integrated geothermal company. Turboden will provide the complete power generation system, and Mitsubishi Power will provide support through its local resources. The order calls for project completion and operation startup by the end of 2022. The power generation system will add new binary cycle geothermal power equipment, whose key component is the company’s proprietary 29MW ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) system*, to the existing 120MW flash type geothermal power plant owned and operated by Bac-Man Geothermal Inc. (BGI), an EDC power subsidiary. The new system will generate power making effective use of brine, which until now has merely been returned to a reinjection well. By replacing power in the power grid now derived from fossil fuels, etc., the new installation will enable reduction of CO2 emissions derived from steam power. This project has been selected as a project for the Financing Programme for Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) Model Projects in FY2020 administered by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment and its execution body, the Global Environment Centre Foundation (GEC). In addition to helping to curb CO2 emissions in the Philippines, the project […]

Street smarts – How composite materials are driving the smart city movement

Singapore is often hailed as the world’s premier smart city. With a 99 per cent connectivity rate, robo-taxis and huge network of sensors providing a large pool of data for analysis, it is easy to see why the island is at the forefront of the smart city movement. But as urban areas across the globe get smarter, how will infrastructure support their progression? Here Robert Glass, Head of Marketing at global composite technology company Exel Composites, explains how composite materials are helping to drive the smart cities movement. Just two per cent of people lived in cities around the world in 1800. By 2050, the United Nations predicts that 68 per cent of the world’s population will be urbanised. Escalating numbers of urban residents is already increasing the strain on public services, infrastructure and resources. Housing shortages, traffic congestion and overcrowded transport are all side-effects of having too many people in one place. To tackle rising urban populations and provide enhanced standards of living, countries across the world are turning to technology. On the rise A smart city uses a variety of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to collect data and manage assets. This data is produced from our devices and infrastructure and is used to control assets such as traffic, transportation systems, water supply networks, waste management and community resources. As a “system of systems”, value is given to a smart city by what it chooses to do with the technology, not just how much data the city has. If we think of our cities growing, they’re going to need to get taller. Rising buildings are going to require highly efficient elevators in order to transport people to their homes and offices, and will require more precise co-ordination. A network of data and analysis systems could […]

Report: “From the Rice Paddy to the Industrial Park” in Myanmar

Working conditions in Myanmar’s labour market faced decades of neglect under authoritarian governments, contributing to a laissez-faire system where employers unilaterally set the terms of employment for their workers and labour rights were neither adequately established under law or respected in practice. At the same time, underdevelopment caused by isolation from the international community and a regime of strict economic sanctions meant that there were insufficient decent job opportunities available. This Report Discussion is now over. However, the report can be read at the above address. Since a wide-ranging political and economic liberalization process was initiated in 2010, intensive efforts at reforming Myanmar’s outdated, contradictory and vague labour legislation were made. Among the key changes were the introduction of a minimum wage, legalisation of labour organisations, establishment of processes for dispute resolution, adopting higher standards for occupational safety and health and expansion of coverage by social security. However, government and private sector sensitivities about research related to working conditions meant that few rigorous large-scale studies were undertaken to determine the impact of the legislative changes on workers themselves. Ten years after the reforms began, the Livelihoods and Food Security Fund conducted a survey of more than 2,400 workers to help fill the knowledge gap by assessing how effective the improved labour governance framework has been in ensuring decent working conditions. In particular, it represents the first major study of the prevalence of forced labour in Myanmar since 2015. The report was launched in August 2020 and research was conducted mostly before the coup, but in the discussion speakers will also reflect on the present conditions. The actions of the Tatmadaw now suggest a return to more openly exploitative employment practices and suppression of worker organizing. Indications are that the return to military rule has already begun to roll back many […]

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