Business News

Malaysian manufacturers share journeys at APAC cobot conference

The manufacturing industry is a key contributor to Malaysia’s export revenue, job creation and GDP, at 24 percent in Q2’23, second only to services industry. Despite slipping by 4 percent in June, Malaysia’s manufacturing sector still recorded a sales value of RM147.4 billion—highlighting its importance and untapped potential to the nation’s economy. Collaborate APAC 2023 Against this backdrop, Universal Robots (UR), a leading provider of collaborative robots (cobots) will be holding Asia Pacific’s largest cobot conference, Collaborate APAC 2023 in Malaysia. The conference aims to provide a platform for manufacturers to share both the challenges and successes of their automation journeys in combatting roadblocks of the sector and explore automation solutions to address emerging manufacturing issues. To be held at Sunway Resort Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, the conference includes presentations from Sensata, a global electronics and sensor technology company, and Plasform, a Malaysian plastics manufacturer, where they share about their automation journeys in the quest of hurdling challenges faced in the industry. “Despite a number of headwinds, manufacturing continues to play a vital role in Malaysia’s economic transformation and overall growth,” said Adam Sobieski, Regional President APAC at Universal Robots. “We understand that manufacturing is no simple task, and there is no one blanket solution for every business in the industry. However, automation on the manufacturing floor can act as a catalyst for productivity and innovation, spearheading growth.” The Next Generation Cobot – UR20 Locally, the government has made strides in embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution to ensure the manufacturing sector continues to be competitive. In 2021, there was an allocation of RM100 million for the Smart Automation Grant (SAG) under the PENJANA stimulus package, along with RM50 million under the PEMERKASA aid package. The SAG encourages small-medium enterprises and mid-tier businesses to adopt automation and digitalisation in production processes and operations. The general outlook for Malaysia’s electronics industry remains favourable, […]

Lishen Battery selects Siemens Xcelerator to scale sustainable battery production

Lishen Battery to leverage Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of industry software and battery digital thread to establish traceability and transparency along the entire value chain Siemens Digital Industries Software recently announced the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement with Tianjin Lishen Battery Joint-Stock Co., Ltd. (Lishen Battery), a leading high-tech company specialising in the research, development and production of lithium-ion batteries. The agreement signifies a pivotal milestone in Lishen Battery’s digital transformation journey, with both Siemens Digital Industries Software and Lishen Battery fully dedicated to advancing the evolution of the global battery industry. “Lishen Battery is firmly dedicated to delivering comprehensive power solutions to customers. The strategic collaboration with Siemens will harness the potential of digitalisation to revolutionize the company’s management system and drive our pursuit of high-quality development,” said Tong Laiming, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Board, Lishen Battery. As part of the collaboration, Lishen Battery will leverage Opcenter™ software from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of industry software, to establish a technology center for Lishen. The dedicated facility will be equipped with advanced capabilities for full data traceability and connectivity throughout product research and development as well as the manufacturing process. “The key to improving the competitiveness of the manufacturing industry lies in the deep integration with digital technology, so we are honored that Lishen Battery has selected Siemens Xcelerator,” said Leo Liang, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Greater China, Siemens Digital Industries Software.“Siemens remains committed to our aspiration to foster a collaboration with Lishen Battery that fully leverage Siemens’ expertise and commitment to continuous innovation and comprehensive solutions – ranging from product design, testing and simulation, to production – to contribute to the rapid development of the global battery industry.”

Asia-Pacific to spearhead global economic growth in 2023

The global economic growth is poised to gain momentum in 2023 due to easing inflation pressures in food and energy sectors, the gradual revival of European nations, strong growth potential in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, and North America’s resilient labor market. As economies move through diverse business cycle stages, regional disparities may emerge. Nevertheless, APAC nations are set to drive nearly 70% of the global growth, whereas Western peers could encounter significant economic deceleration, reveals GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. Against this backdrop, GlobalData has revised its 2023 economic growth projection for the global economy by 0.11 percentage points (pp) to 2.1% in June 2023, compared to its previous projections in March 2023. GlobalData’s latest report, “Global Macroeconomic Outlook – Q3 2023 Update,” reveals that all regions are expected to experience a slowdown in economic growth in 2023, except for the APAC region. However, in June 2023, growth projections were revised upward for APAC to 3.8% (0.10 pp higher than March 2023), the Americas to 1.2% (0.11 pp increase), and Europe to 0.6% (0.22 pp higher). On the other side, the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region’s growth projection was downwardly revised to 2.8% (a 0.37 pp decrease) due to declining oil prices and lower production. Less developed African nations also face challenges from high food prices, complicating their economic recovery. The global inflation rate is estimated to decrease to 5.3% in 2023 from 8.7% in 2022, but it is projected to remain above the target set by major economies’ central banks. GlobalData estimates inflation rates to ease across all regions—APAC (6.6% in 2023 vs 7.6% in 2022), the Americas (9.9% vs 10.4%), Europe (7% vs 11%), and the Middle East & Africa (16% vs 19%). Ramnivas Mundada, Director of Companies and Economic Research at GlobalData, comments, “In […]

Tool Up, India – biggest event of the year at HTF Expo 2023

With the turn of the decade, India has emerged as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, owing to the infrastructure boom and exponential growth in export sector with industrial tools, machinery and equipment leading the way. The global Power Tools market was valued at US$ 26.61 Billion in 2022 andIndia’s share stands at an impressive US$ 5.6 Billion, indicating the remarkable growth and demand of industrial tools in the subcontinent. Applications in Agriculture, Aviation, Construction and Automotives have propelled the development of the industry. Often referred to as India’s largest Hand Tools, Power Tools and Fasteners Expo, HTF Expo is a series of international events that play a major role in showcasing the strength of the Indian & international Industrial Tools, Fasteners, Cutting & Welding Equipment, Laser Technology Used Machinery, Engineering and Machine Tools Industries. The events provided a common place for the fraternity to converge, network, witness latest technology and products and strike lucrative deals for lasting business partnerships. HTF 2023, along with other collocated events, was an international exhibition on Heavy Engineering Tools, Construction Tools, Automotive Tools, Woodworking Tools, Aviation Tools and Gardening & Agrico Tools featuring a range of products like Spanners, Wrenches, Hammers, Pliers, Cutting Tools, Industrial Tools, Saw blades, Rotary & Oscillating Tools, Grinders & Sanders, Routers & Cutout Tools, Heat Guns & Seamers, Industrial Fasteners and Fixings, Aerospace Fasteners, Screws & Washers, Fastener Manufacturing Technology, Fastener Manufacturing Machinery and Inserts & Rivets. Over 300+ exhibitors & brands from 9+ countries included Austria, China, France, India, Italy, Taiwan, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, USA attended the premier event alongside over 12,000+ visitors in attendance. The event was supported by all major Trade Associations, Trade Media & Portals of Metal, Metalworking and Allied Industries. Hand Tools & Fastener Expo 2023 delivered a quality audience from […]

TANAKA establishes production system in China for fuel cell electrode catalysts

Contributing to carbon neutrality in China’s rapidly growing fuel cell market via a technical assistance agreement with Chengdu Guangming Paite Precious Metal Co., Ltd. in China. TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K., which operates an industrial precious metals business as a core company of TANAKA Precious Metals,has signed a technical assistance agreement with Chengdu Guangming Paite Precious Metal Co., Ltd., an affiliated company in China, in the area of fuel cell electrode catalyst manufacturing technologies. As part of the agreement, production equipment will be installed at the plant of Ya’an Guangming Paite Precious Metal Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Chengdu Guangming Paite Precious Metal, with plans to start full-scale production in the summer of 2024. The companies also plan to start production of fuel cell electrode catalysts for the Chinese market by the end of 2025. As a member of TANAKA and with the leading share of the global market for fuel cell electrode catalysts, TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo aims to use this agreement to meet the growing domestic demand for fuel cell electrode catalysts in China. TANAKA’s Fuel Cell Electrode Catalysts TANAKA’s FC Catalyst Development Centre, within its Shonan Plant, is currently developing and manufacturing electrode catalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEFCs) and polymer electrolyte water electrolysis (PEWE). The company sells highly active, highly durable platinum catalysts and platinum alloy catalysts for PEFC cathodes[1], highly CO-tolerant platinum alloy catalysts and OER catalysts[2] for PEFC anodes[3], and iridium oxide catalysts for PEWE anodes. PEFCs are used in applications such as fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) and residential-use fuel cells (ENE-FARM), with their use expected to expand in the future to also include buses, trucks, and other commercial vehicles, forklifts and other material handling vehicles, heavy construction machines, robots and other industrial machines, and large stationary equipment. Compact, lightweight, high-output PEFCs employ a […]

Universal Robots Academy empowers over 200,000 people to use collaborative robotics

Since 2016, Universal Robots has offered robotics training to customers and others with an interest in collaborative robots. And now, after having grown increasingly popular in the past years and with 119 onsite training centers across the globe, more than 200,000 robotics enthusiasts have joined the Universal Robots Academy. “It is amazing to see that so many robotics enthusiasts from all over the world have joined us to enhance their robotic skills and benefit from the training we offer,” says Mikkel Vahl, Global Head of Academy and Education. “We’re a company on a mission – automation for anyone, anywhere. A key part of this is providing our customers and robotics enthusiasts with high quality training that gives them the skills they need to unleash the full potential of their cobots.” With customers ranging from big global companies to small, family-owned businesses, Universal Robots helps automate anything from bin picking to heavy-load palletising and ship welding. This variety is reflected in UR Academy which offers a range of courses from free virtual e-learning to in-depth and in-person classroom training. “Our courses range from entry level to advanced robotics so, no matter the task or the size of your company, you can find relevant training that can help you become even more successful with your automation. And we can see it works – customers who do take training with us are ultimately more successful and confident,” says Mikkel Vahl. The explanation for this connection is simple, he adds. “Compared to other industrial robots, cobots are simpler to program and operate. But no matter if you are an application engineer, a robotics expert or new to robotics you will benefit from taking instructor-led training.” New training offers coming up The users of UR Academy come from more than 130 different countries and have […]

Profile:Mharicar Castillo-Reyes, President and CEO of Asticom, The Philippines

Where do you see work opportunities for Gen Z? When considering work opportunities for Gen Z? Tech-enabled companies such as Asticom present a wealth of promising prospects. Gen Z is a digitally native generation, and their tech-savvy nature aligns perfectly with the demands of this industry. In the shared services and outsourcing spheres where Asticom operates, there are opportunities in areas such as customer support, data analysis, digital marketing, and IT services, where Gen Z can leverage their familiarity with technology to excel. Focusing on preparing Gen Zs for promising work opportunities, we initiated various programs in Asticom. One of them is AstiELEVATE, a cadetship program that aims to help aspiring young professionals develop their skills and carve out careers through real-world experience. For those taking the Tech path, we’ve partnered with a coding boot camp to help cadets build their software development, web design, and engineering skills. By the end of the program, they were deployed to our subsidiaries. Moreover, we recognize and address Gen Z’s inclination toward work-life integration by offering flexible work arrangements encompassing remote work. How do you see their skill(s) level for adaptability? Having grown up in an age where technology is part of daily life, Gen Z workers are highly savvy in using technology. This is a valuable skill set in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape. They have grown up in a world of constant change, and their ability to quickly learn new technologies, adapt to different work environments, and embrace innovative solutions is a great asset. They are easily taught and can smoothly adapt to new technologies and platforms that are introduced to them. Sometimes, they are even the ones at the forefront of emerging technologies. They are comfortable with various digital tools and platforms, positively impacting their work efficiency and, thus, the […]

PLN to develop electricity ecosystem in Tanzania

Tanzania Electric Supply Co. Ltd. (TANESCO), a parastatal company incorporated in 1931, has adopted a business transformation implemented by Indonesian state-owned electric company PT PLN (Persero), aiming to carry out similar developments in Africa. The agreement was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between President Director of PLN, Darmawan Prasodjo and Managing Director of TANESCO, Maharage Chande, in the presence of Indonesian President, Joko Widodo and Tanzanian President, Samia Suluhu Hassan in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, on August 22. The signing of an MoU between PLN and TANESCO signifies a significant milestone in the field of international business cooperation. This agreement entails the adoption of PLN’s successful business transformation model by TANESCO, ultimately demonstrating PLN’s intention to expand its presence in the global market. President Director of PLN Darmawan Prasodjo explained that the MoU was a follow-up to a previous meeting in Jakarta on February 10, 2023, with Tanzania’s Minister of Energy, January Makamba and TANESCO Management, regarding a cooperation with Indonesia in developing Tanzania’s electricity sector ecosystem. Darmawan added the MoU specifically outlines four key areas of collaboration. First, it highlights the importance of digital-based transformation, indicating a joint effort to embrace technology and innovation to enhance efficiency and reliability in power supply services, such as Digitalised Power Plant, Digitally Enabled Distribution Excellence, and Super App utility. Secondly, the MoU emphasises the development of the core utility business which includes which includes Maintenance, Repair, and Operation (MRO), and Collaborative Co-investment. The third point of cooperation focuses on the development of non-core utility businesses such maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO). Finally, the MoU highlights the importance of capacity building and comprehensive exchange through an internship program between PLN and TANESCO. This initiative aims to facilitate knowledge transfer and skill development between the two companies, fostering a […]

C-Suite Spot Podcast: Do you really have it under control? Lessons from the front line

In this episode Laura Air and Emily Svadlenak talk to California-based strategic communications expert Leeza Hoyt. Having worked on a wide range of issues – from the heart-breaking impacts of shootings, to helping corporates navigate some gnarly mishaps – we delve into some of the lessons she’s learnt over the years. We talk about the answers to questions including: Is there a common thread in managing far-ranging issues? How to stay calm…or, help clients to retain some sense of calm in the storm? What role does media training play in times of crisis? What can Leaders and Boards do to ensure their risk mitigation strategy is ready to roll at a moments’ notice? https://thecontentplace.podbean.com/ The c-Suite Spot Leaders. What keeps you up at night? Welcome to the C-Suite Spot, the podcast series that expands the traditional term of what a ‘boss’ is to tackle some of the most important issues in business from start-up, through step-up, succession planning and scaling a corporate or global business. Leadership can be lonely. In this series we talk with and learn from inspiring leaders from all walks of life, touching on important topics about how to really live, successful business strategies, overcoming challenges, managing an issue or crisis, getting your company structure right and implementing well, making the tough calls, balancing life and work and getting our priorities right. From business as usual and growing your market to everyday leadership issues or handling 100-year events and everything in between – we aim to provide ongoing inspiration and education and a meeting place for CEOs, founders, management, shareholders and leadership. You can listen to the podcast on all major platforms including: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/the-c-suite-spot/id1538676422 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6fRFUP5qeSeMj8dBCncSAK iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-c-suite-spot-73692882/#

Crown Machinery rewarded with Enterprise Asia Linchpin of Asia Award 2023

With 30 years of experience, customer-oriented manufacturing capability, and excellent after-sales service, Crown Machinery Company Limited (Crown Machinery) is a professional machinery manufacturer in Taiwan that is well-regarded by major multinational companies. Equipped with high-quality design and manufacturing teams, it has the ability to provide up-to-date market analysis and comprehensive plant planning tailored to the needs of its customers. Established in 1992, Crown Machinery initially focused on turnkey designs for the PU & PVC synthetic and artificial leather industries. Throughout the years, it has been consistently focused on the development and innovation of process machinery that does coating, drying, and lamination. The equipment produced by Crown Machinery has been successfully marketed to over 30 countries in Europe, America, Asia, and the Middle East, serving over 280 domestic and foreign customers. Having a global mindset, it strives to provide monitoring and maintenance services with zero time difference to customers around the world. Crown Machinery’s success and commitment to excellence throughout the decades have earned the company the esteemed title of Linchpin of Asia at the Enterprise Asia Linchpin of Asia Awards 2023. The Awards is a premier recognition program dedicated to honoring only the most excellent and elite industry leaders and enterprises exclusively selected across Asia. The prestigious recognition underscores Crown Machinery’s ability to constantly adapt and innovate to remain at the forefront of the ever-changing and competitive market. Since its establishment, Crown Machinery has adhered to the mission of creating a learning-oriented enterprise, maintaining a sustainable business, working for the benefit of mankind, and making Earth a better place. Even with its in-demand processing machinery, Crown Machinery works hard to maintain strong customer relationships. It takes pride in the fact that it can provide service on a global level. This includes its ability to remotely monitor and provide global […]

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