Doug Green

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Optimise your manufacturing operations in Asia

Join Asia Manufacturing News at the Asia Manufacturing Strategies Summit 2012, an exclusive event taking place 15th- 16th October 2012 in Singapore. Attending will provide you with a unique opportunity to discuss the best practice for yourÊmanufacturing needs through 2 focus streams, interactive workshops, real life case studies and facilitated one-to-one networking. Confirming your place at Asia Manufacturing Strategies Summit 2012 will enable you to learn more about: * Adapting manufacturing operations to disruptive events * Human resource management in the manufacturing industry * Rise of new manufacturing hubs in the ASEAN region * Balancing cost competitiveness and quality * Reducing environmental impact through innovative green strategies For further information please: * Visit the summit website at www.asiamanufacturingsummit.com * Email Laurann de Verteuil, the event marketing manager, at laurann.deverteuil@wtgevents.com * Call us on +65 6521 2941 Complete your registration by visiting www.asiamanufacturingsummit.com/register Asia Manufacturing News www.asiamanufacturingnews.com is the primary media partner of Asia Manufacturing Strategies Summit 2012.

Eyes and Ears’ guard major oil pipeline

A high-tech UK security system has been chosen to protect a vital part of India’s energy infrastructure, the 670-kilometre-long Mangala oil pipeline. The Mangala is the world’s longest continuously heated and insulated pipeline. Operated by Cairn India it will have access to 75 per cent of IndiaÕs refining capacity after it reaches Bhogat in Gujarat. The state-of-the-art security OptaSense system – developed by Qineti, the UK’s largest international defence and security technology group – is designed to detect, classify and locate potential threats to buried pipelines. OptaSense is a buried cable fibre-optic sensor system that can detect multiple, simultaneous disturbances every 10 metres over a 40-kilometre length of existing or installed optical fibre. In border and perimeter security applications, anyone climbing or cutting wire fences or digging near the perimeter alerts the sensor and sets off an alarm. The system then classifies the disturbance, provides the position and cues other aids/sensors, such as cameras, to ensure the operator instigates the appropriate response. In cable and pipeline protection applications, any activity – such as the approach of a digger or the lifting of a manhole cover – also generates an alarm. The system’s acoustic sensitivity can also be used to listen to the flow through a pipe, to allow the location of blockages and leaks. OptaSense has huge implications for pipeline operators, where a real-time alert of a leak and its location could save millions of dollars. Vandalism, terrorist attacks or problems with these assets can impact on the environment, the economy and on the lives of staff and consumers. The contract was awarded by Cairn India and ONGC Joint Venture through Qineti”s distribution partner, Optilan, following tests in 2010. Under the contract, Qineti”s OptaSense system will be installed along the whole length of the pipeline to provide highest-level security. “Pipeline […]

3D tools added to ArtCAM Insignia artistic CADCAM

Delcam has added 3D modelling tools to ArtCAM Insignia A range of 3D modelling tools have been added to Delcam’s ArtCAM Insignia software for volume production of artistic items by signmakers, furniture manufacturers, engravers and sculptors of materials from wood or metal to ice. Like all the members of the ArtCAM family of software, Insignia allows artistic users to produce high-quality decorative items, with all the productivity and consistency benefits of computer-based manufacturing but without the need for any detailed engineering knowledge. A demonstration version is now available for download, with a series of online webinars showing the new functionality planned for 20th January. Full details are available on the ArtCAM Insignia website www.artcaminsignia.com. Within the new 3D modelling tools, the most powerful option is the Shape Editor. By simply double clicking on a specific colour of a bitmap image or a selected vector, the user can quickly transform it into a 3D design. The Shape Editor can not only determine the shape’s profile, angle and height but also how it is combined with any 3D relief that has already been created. A second method for creating 3D designs from vector art is the Two-Rail Sweep. By selecting multiple vectors for the edges of the shape and any number of cross sections for chosen positions, users can quickly create a 3D sweep shape or a swept surface. Once the initial design has been created it can be edited in a number of ways. The surface of the model can be given a smooth, unblemished appearance with the Smooth Relief tool. Options are available to smooth over the entire 3D design, an area within a specific vector or a selected colour, in a number of passes. This is a particularly useful way of smoothing evenly across a scanned 3D model for […]

PolyU-made space tool sets for inter-planetary mission

A Russian spacecraft carrying the state-of-the-art space tool made by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) embarked on a one-year space journey to the Red Planet at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in November. This historical mission, also known as the “Phobos-Grunt” (which means soil of Phobos, the largest moon of Mars), marks the first strategic interplanetary collaboration between China and Russia. This is also the first interplanetary mission of Russia after the dissolution of the former Soviet Union. PolyU has been entrusted with the responsibility of designing a mission-critical space tool known as the “Soil Preparation System” (SOPSYS) for the Sino-Russian Mars Mission. Of interest to the scientific community will be the mission’s first bold attempt in the history of mankind to land on the Martian moon Phobos and collect soil sample for in-situ analysis. If the mission goes as planned, the spacecraft carrying both PolyU-made space tool and Chinese satellite Yinghuo-1 will go near the Red Planet in November 2012. The explorer will then release Yinghuo-1 into orbit around Mars; and seek to release the Lander carrying PolyU-made SOPSYS onto the surface of the potato-shaped Martian moon Phobos. SOPSYS weighs merely 400 grams and measures slightly larger than a cigarette pack. It is capable of grinding and sifting Phobos rock to the size of less than 1mm in diameter and then from it into a plug of measured size for in situ analysis. This procedure is considered a crucial step in understanding the evolution of the universe and the formation of the planet Mars. PolyU researchers have been working closely with IKI (Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Science) and the Russian aerospace company NPO Lavochkin in testing the functionality of SOPSYS under extreme environment. Dr Alexander V Zakharov, Chief Scientist of the Space Research Institute […]

Maintaining the advantage

By Doug Green Manufacturing environments are rapidly evolving due to global competition and changing customer requirements. This is from the Lead Article (Page 5) that in a very comprehensive way describes the need to maintain competitiveness and look after critical business decisions in Asia, South Pacific regions. So how is your company managing this? Vehicle manufacturers seem to be pretty much on to it and I am always being informed of key refinements to manufacturing environments, especially from South Korea. So have your say as well and email words@xtra.co.nz and we will publish your observations and share your manufacturing methods with our readers around the world. We also look at Product Data Management (PDM) and the need to look at such an integrated system (Page 19). There is no point wasting valuable time looking for or recreating designs that already exist, which can put your company at a competitive disadvantage. Using existing designs can save time and money and bring new products to market faster. A fascinating read! Energy conservation and environmental protection is now the catch phrase for sustainable global growth. Do you agree with that observation? In China the State Council is looking at ways for sustainable growth by developing an innovative model. So Speeding up Green Technology in China (Page 30) describes a campaign underway to do better business environmentally. This is a sound initiative especially with economic indicators around the globe showing a slowdown of activity. Seizing the moment is definitely the way to go. Our Asia Pacific economies face huge challenges. And that’s okay – through issues arising new opportunities are created. Let us all grab hold of 2012 and make it a successful business year.

Consumables have longer life

SINGAPORE: Hypertherm, a U.S. based manufacturer of advanced metal cutting systems, is now selling consumables for Kaliburn Spirit plasma cutting systems that last at least twice as long as the OEM consumables. Testing shows the life expectancy of the consumables increases by two to three times when cutting at 275 amps and below, and increases more than 50 percent when cutting at 400 amps. In addition to lasting longer, the consumables deliver better and more consistent cut quality, resulting in the need for less secondary work. The life and performance improvements are the result of advanced Hypertherm technology. SilverLine electrodes contain a solid silver front so they wear more slowly; CoolFlow nozzles have an angled o-ring, deep cooling contours and thicker walls to extend the working life; and the swirl ring is made with lava instead of ceramic, making it more robust and economical. “These new Centricut consumables for Kaliburn reduce the overall cost of operation and deliver exceptional cut quality and process reliability,” said Martin Geheran, product marketing manager for Hypertherm’s Centricut brand. “At the same time, they maintain the fast cutting speeds that are especially important in today’s economic environment.” The Centricut brand consumables are available for all Kaliburn Spirit and ProLine systems. Like all Hypertherm products, they are precision manufactured to tight tolerances so customers get consistent, reliable performance from their cutting system. Hypertherm’s Centricut brand engineers and manufactures advanced plasma and laser cutting consumables. Its product line includes consumables that deliver increased value to people who own most any non-Hypertherm cutting system including systems by ESAB, Kjellberg, and Trumpf. All Centricut brand products are engineered and manufactured to exacting standards and incorporate the latest technological advances that help to reduce operating costs, while delivering increased cut speed and quality. Centricut products include free technical support and […]

Award for Rockwell Automation in South East Asia

Twain Drewett, managing director Rockwell Automation says that the Frost and Sullivan Award for Company of the Year for PLCs recognises the commitment that Rockwell Automation has made to develop a product that meets customer’s needs. Rockwell Automation has received the prestigious 2011 Frost and Sullivan Company of the Year Award for the Programmable Logic Controller in the South Pacific and South East Asia region. The award recognises the leading role Rockwell Automation has played in developing cost-effective technology solutions with improved safety for programmable logic controllers (PLCs). It also confirms the commitment Rockwell Automation has made to the industry and the companyÕs position as a major participant in automation systems across many industries. To qualify for the award, a company is measured on five key criteria: market share position, growth implementation, degree of innovation with products and technologies, gain in market share and leadership in customer value. Rockwell Automation scored consistently high in all five categories for the South East Asia, Australian and New Zealand region. “Rockwell Automation winning this award confirms that the company’s customer value strategies are recognised by the automation industry, and in turn by the broader market,” said Twain Drewett, managing director Rockwell Automation Australia and New Zealand. “The PLC is continuing to evolve into a product that meets the customer’s requirements for plant-wide optimisation and sustainable production, while simultaneously helping to converge the IT arena into the manufacturing space. This value-add of Rockwell Automation Customer Services and Solutions and the strength of our network of partners, has provided the PLC with ‘Best in Class’ differentiation,” concluded Drewett. The Company of the Year Award, now in its fourth year, is presented by Frost and Sullivan, a global industry analyst and growth consulting company with nearly 50 years experience. Frost and Sullivan are specialists in […]

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Have you read September issue yet?

Delcam Summit celebrates 15 years, 2,000 customers for China subsidiary

Delcam held its annual Asian Technical Summit in Zhuhai, China, from 6th to 8th September as part of the celebrations of the fifteenth anniversary of the founding of its Delcam China subsidiary. The Summit is held each year to present the latest developments from the company to its leading customers, academicians and the technical media in the region. This year’s meeting, which was sponsored by HP, was the eleventh in the series and the second to be held in China. Close to 200 delegates attended, mainly from China but also from 10 other countries. The Summit featured presentations on the latest versions of Delcam’s range of CAM systems before their official launch at the EMO exhibition. Updates were also included on the other software in the Delcam portfolio, including the company’s design and inspection programs, plus the dedicated software for the footwear, orthotics and dental industries. Guest speakers alongside the Delcam presentations included Alastair Morgan, Consul General from the UK Consulate in Guangzhou, Kexin Chu, CEO/Chairman of First Auto Works Die Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Marco Kormann from Adidas Group, and Naoto Kitayama from Japan’s Tatematsu Mold Co. Ltd. Delcam formed its Delcam China subsidiary in 1996 after making initial sales into the country through its joint ventures in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Delcam China now employs more than 50 staff in its headquarters in Beijing and regional offices in Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Xi’an, Wenzhou, Qingdao and Quanzhou. In addition, the Delcam Hong Kong and Delcam Taiwan joint ventures operate two offices each in mainland China, and there are more than 30 reseller offices in the country. The Summit comes at a time when Delcam is setting new records for its business in China. Sales of software have increased by more than 50% in the first half of this year […]

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Doug Green

About Doug Green

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