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New Ceresana study on the global market for polyethylene-LLDPE

Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) is one of the most widely used types of standard plastics. Other varieties of polyethylene, especially LDPE and HDPE, are sometimes easier to process; however, LLDPE is more flexible and has a higher resistance against tearing, shocks, and punctures. These special properties are the result of the manufacturing process: copolymerisation with alkenes at low temperatures and low pressure results in polymer chains with short branches only. Ceresana releases its third comprehensive report on the global market for linear low-density polyethylene. Bags for China LLDPE films can be produced with reduced thickness, therefore saving considerable amounts of materials. Carrier bags, pouches, packaging materials, and agricultural covering films can be made of LLDPE, among others. The present study expects average growth of approx. 4.1% per year in the global demand for LLDPE until 2026. With a share of 51% of global demand volumes, the region Asia-Pacific is by far the largest consumer of LLDPE. Packaging Films are Main Application The most important sales market for LLDPE in 2018 was the application area “packaging films” with demand of 11.46 million tonnes, followed by bags and sacks. The entire packaging market, including rigid packaging, currently amounts to around 70% of total demand. However, more and more polyethylene of this type is used for other applications: the demand for LLDPE for the production of vehicles, toys, electronic and electrical devices, household appliances, medical technology, as well as mechanical and plant engineering will presumably achieve the highest percentage increases until 2026 with rates of 3.0% per year. Processing by Means of Extrusion Dominates Market The most important processing method for LLDPE is extrusion. More than 24.3 million tonnes of LDPE were processed around the globe in 2018 by means of film extrusion alone. Analysts at Ceresana expect that the global extrusion of […]

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Aquila fully PU coated Nylon gloves for ambulance drivers, nursing home carers

In this desperate and urgent time of uncontrollably high demand for single use gloves, Aquila offer their high-quality alternative range of washable fully PU coated nylon gloves, suitable for front-line workers such as ambulance drivers, nursing home carers, council operatives, the police etc. The comfortable nylon lined CC9009 and CB9009 gloves are considered to offer a superior solution for use outside the hospital work space – since their stretchy PU coating is not permeable and therefore forms a better barrier than single use nitrile disposable gloves. Their light weight and soft flexibility offer maximum dexterity and minimise hand fatigue over the duration of long work periods. It has also been suggested that wearing of one-time disposable gloves may not be as good a prevention as simple washing of hands – for front line attenders and carers this may be required so frequently that it is not a practical option. Frequent washing of PU gloves on the other hand allows for the sanitising action of soap/detergent as often as desired. These ex-stock CC9009 (white PU nylon gloves) or CB9009 (black PU nylon gloves) are highly suitable for use in these front-line support roles, although not to medical grade as would be required for use inside a hospital. In addition, Aquila PU nylon gloves can be washed and reused again and are therefore better for the environment than single use nitrile disposable gloves, which are in any case experiencing considerable delivery issues due to uncontrollably high demand, and being non-recyclable are already causing significant disposal problems.

2000km on a single charge

Lithium batteries will soon power Electric Vehicles (EVs) traveling 2,000 km on a single charge, say the team at Brighsun New Energy. The company is preparing for industrial trials later in the year for a range of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries that can power a cell phone for over a week and can theoretically travel close to 2,000 km on a single charge. The revolution is underway. Through nearly 8 years of research, the Brighsun team developed lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries with an energy density 5-8 times higher than conventional secondary batteries. According to results from an internationally accredited testing agency (SGS), Brighsun’s new technology allows an Li-S battery to keep 91% of its initial capacity after 1,700 cycles at a rate of 2C (being fully charged/discharged in 30 mins). That means the capacity decay per cycle is as low as 0.01%. Even at a more aggressive rate of 5C (being fully charged/discharged in 12.5 mins), Brighsun’s Li-S battery retains 74% of its initial capacity after 1,000 cycles (capacity decay per cycle of 0.026%). The cathode energy density for the 1th cycle after activation at charge rate of 1C is 2103.8Wh/kg. Driven by the growing markets world-wide for EVs, the battery industry has explored a range of chemical combinations: lithium iron phosphate, lithium cobalt oxide and, currently, nickel manganese cobalt. However, current battery systems still suffer from the major disadvantages of relatively low energy density, high raw material costs and secondary pollution during recycling. A Game Changer Brighsun’s advanced Li-S chemistry, offering high energy density and resultant low raw material costs, will be a game changer in the EV industry. Li-S batteries also have the potential to become the most promising energy storage systems for future railways, ships and airlines. Industries such as electric supply grid storage, mobile phones, drones and AI […]

Waterco manufacturing plant reopens to help boost Malaysia economy

Ministry of International Trade and Industry mitigating economic fallout from pandemic The Kuala Lumpur manufacturing plant of water treatment manufacturer and distributor Waterco Limited has reopened and is operating in accordance with Malaysia Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) guidelines six weeks after the coronavirus pandemic paralysed factory activity. The temporary lockdown was in response to the 2020 Malaysia movement control order (Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan Malaysia 2020), commonly referred to as the MCO, a cordon sanitaire implemented as a preventive measure by the federal government of Malaysia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Resuming production of proprietary equipment The MITI approved workers at Waterco Far East to resume production of proprietary equipment which is used in residential, commercial and industrial applications in over 40 countries. “We received approval to start up the factory on 50 per cent headcount,” says Chief Executive Officer, Soon Sinn Goh. “However, we will rotate workers seven days, which means we will be able to achieve 70 per cent of normal capacity. “Hopefully we will be allowed to move to 70 per cent headcount after a few weeks and that will give us 98 per cent.” Covering more than 25,000 square metres, the high-tech facility is separated into production, injection moulding, assembly, testing and distribution. “Workers are refreshed and motivated to work,” says Soon Sinn as well. “We are excited to resume production and help stimulate Malaysia’s economy.”

Huawei holds “5G+, Better World” online summit

“2020 marks the beginning of the third decade of the 21st century”, said Peng Song, in delivering the opening speech. “This year, global digital transformation will accelerate, meaning both opportunities and challenges for telecom operators and industries. To address these opportunities and challenges, operators must aim for more resilient, automated, and intelligent target networks, and their annual network plans and activities should be geared towards achieving these goals.” Peng continued, “Huawei is launching its ‘5G+, Better World’ online platform to work with operators and partners worldwide, share valuable experiences, and build better target networks.” At the event, Huawei released its white paper, Technology against Pandemic: Insights and Practice on Telecom Networks. This white paper provides deep insights into global networks and explains the important role telecom networks have played in the fight against the pandemic. Stable telecom networks have helped people move vital activities online, such as online education, online shopping, and remote working. This has been the basis of continued learning and production when school and work were suspended. The white paper also explains global operators’ best practices for overcoming the pandemic with networks. For example, they introduced 5G, AI, fire 10G PON, and other advanced technologies that enable more applications to combat the pandemic more efficiently. Several guests attended the event and delivered keynote speeches. These included Dr. Su Yu, Deputy Dean of China Mobile Chengdu Industrial Research Institute, Mr. Robert Wigger, Chief Business Officer of Sunrise, Mr. Su Xiaoming, Vice President of YITU Technology, Mr. Shaun Collins, Chief Executive Officer of CCS Insight, and Mr. Bob Cai, Chief Marketing Officer of Huawei’s Carrier BG.

Suprema launches Suprema Mobile Access contactless solution

Suprema, a global leader in security and biometrics, has announced ‘Suprema Mobile Access’, a new mobile contactless solution and complete platform for managing, issuing and tracking access credentials using smartphones. As access control systems have evolved beyond physical access cards, access control solutions using mobile phones as a credential were introduced. Suprema Mobile Access employs a smartphone application with NFC (Near Field Communication) and BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) to communicate with card readers, allowing access to doors and other secured assets. Suprema Mobile Access simplifies the management of access cards as the entire process goes online, without face-to-face interaction, allowing users to remotely manage credentials, issuing and revoking them in real-time. Using Suprema’s ‘AirFob Portal’, the Mobile Access management portal, one can issue mobile access cards to users via email. Using a link in the email, users can then install Suprema’s mobile app ‘AirFob Pass’ on their Android or iOS phone. Once the app has been installed, the mobile access card is ready to be used. Like a physical card, users can tap smartphones on a mobile enabled card reader to access doors and other controlled items. For a seamless user experience, the app supports background mode, which eliminates the requirement to wake up the phone in order to get access. To ensure the security of user data on the platform, Suprema Mobile Access is designed from the ground up with enhanced security features including data encryption throughout the process of issuing and using credentials. The backend server for Suprema Mobile Access is managed separately and the server encryption keys are protected with special proprietary methods. The solution has been certified by an independent audit to be compliant with the ISO 27001 standard for Information Security Management, signifying Suprema’s continuing commitment to the protection of private information as the highest […]

Overcoming Cambodia’s reliance on few trade partners: An analysis by The Asian Vision Institute

The economy of Cambodia is to suffer the effects of two hard blows in the coming months and years. The first is the European Commission’s announced intention to scale back its “Everything But Arms” (EBA) preferential trade arrangement with Cambodia and the second is the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. These events are laying bare the structural weaknesses of Cambodia’s economy, which is over-reliant on the European Union for market access and on China for production capacity, investment and tourist inflow. Cambodia’s most vulnerable citizens, particularly women who work in the garment industry, low-skilled workers and those who have just been lifted from poverty, will feel the brunt of the fallout. The Asian Development Bank and the World Bank have each warned policymakers of the precarious state of the “near poor” in Cambodia. According to official estimates, the current poverty rate is below 10 percent (compared to 47.8 percent in 2007). Although the nation has achieved great success in its fight against extreme poverty, more than 70% of Cambodians still live on less than US$3.20 a day. The Royal Government introduced short-term measures in late February of 2020 to help employers sustain their operations, to help workers who have lost their jobs or whose work has been suspended and to support small and medium enterprises which are the backbone of the economy. The Royal Government is to be commended for this. The protection of livelihoods is tantamount to the protection of human rights. The measures include tax holidays, direct support, training programs, customs facilitation and the reduction of government expenditures. For example, owners of factories that suspend production due to a shortage of raw materials will be expected to pay 40% of wages while the government will pay an additional 20%. An enhanced set of reforms and mid to long term […]

Rockwell Automation appoints new regional director for Southeast Asia

Marcelo Tarkieltaub assumes role as Regional Director, Southeast Asia, with a mandate to increase market share in the region. Rockwell Automation has announced that Marcelo Tarkieltaub has been appointed as Regional Director, Southeast Asia. Based in Singapore, Tarkieltaub will be responsible for sales and business operations across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Pakistan and Vietnam, as well as driving strategic growth for Rockwell Automation in Asia Pacific. “Asia Pacific has long been a vital growth market for us, and our continued success in the region is a testament to the increasing market demand for digital solutions as well as the competencies of our dedicated leadership team and employees” said Scott Wooldridge, Rockwell Automation Regional Vice President, Pacific Rim. “Marcelo’s deep knowledge of driving high performance teamwork in multicultural environments will be a great asset to us, and we are extremely privileged to have him on board.” With over 20 years of experience at Rockwell Automation, Tarkieltaub was most recently Regional Director, Southern Cone, a portfolio within the Latin America region covering the markets of Argentina, Chile, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia. Tarkieltaub has built and developed several high-performing teams, leading the execution of key regional growth strategies for the business. Tarkieltaub replaces Pierre Teszner, who served as Regional Director, Southeast Asia, since 2016. Having made a significant impact in his role, Teszner was recently named as Regional Director, Central and Eastern Europe. “Throughout my career with Rockwell Automation, I have experienced a variety of different global markets and business environments. I am delighted to be joining the Asia Pacific team and I look forward to applying these experiences in my new role” said Marcelo Tarkieltaub, Rockwell Automation Regional Director, Southeast Asia. “Southeast Asia continues to be a key area of strategic growth for Rockwell Automation as we look to increase […]

Yokogawa acquires Danish startup Grazper Technologies, specialists in AI for image analytics

Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces that on March 20, 2020, it completed the acquisition of all shares in Denmark-based Grazper Technologies ApS (Grazper), as mutually agreed. Grazper has developed advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for analysing images, and Yokogawa aims to leverage these technologies within its various existing businesses and to develop new industrial AI solutions. Recent advances in deep learning and related technologies have enabled the practical application of AI in industry, and it is expected that as image identification and data forecasting accuracy continue to improve, the use of AI will only expand further. In particular, by improving the recognition accuracy for moving imagery, it becomes possible to observe the overall environment and context of the whole image, opening up new applications in the security field and for image analysis and robot operations on production lines. Grazper is a venture company founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2015, and later funded by Danish venture capital firm Promentum Equity Partners. It possesses advanced AI-based technologies for image analysis, and one notable strength is a solution that allows AI software to run efficiently on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA*), a type of integrated circuit. The software employs image recognition methodologies that have been theorised using algorithms and 3D modeling, and it can be operated with limited computing resources. Yokogawa is developing and providing AI-based solutions for plants and public infrastructure projects. Acquiring Grazper’s technology will enable the company to provide solutions that use AI for image analysis, such as capturing image information for robots, detecting abnormalities at plants, and monitoring security using cameras. As a first step, Yokogawa’s subsidiary, amnimo Inc., will embed Grazper’s FPGA IP core into its Edge Gateway industrial LTE gateway, which is currently under development. This will make possible solutions for smart city projects and security applications […]

Millions lost in APAC carve-out deals

Third of global carve-outs fail to go to plan, with APAC most likely to experience deal delays, TMF Group research shows. The number of carve-out acquisitions is expected to rise as businesses in Asia-Pacific (APAC) look to restructure because of the COVID-19 turmoil. Those that do should approach with a note of caution after research revealed around a fifth of carve-outs result in millions of dollars wasted because of inefficiencies. While the deal economics of carve-outs can be very attractive, an independent survey, commissioned by TMF Group, found that 34% of senior executives from private equity firms with buy-side experience and 27% from corporations said their most recent cross-border carve-out failed to deliver on expectations, with 24% and 19%, respectively, saying costly overruns significantly impacted the deal. The survey also revealed that businesses in APAC were much more likely than those in other regions to experience deal delays (33%), against just 18% of those in the Americas and 16% in EMEA. Where a delay resulted in increased cost, a clear majority of those from private equity firms (92%) said it added 10% or more of the original value of the deal, with 30% saying more than 16%. The figure for corporates was equally high, with 85% claiming it increased add-on costs by 10% or more, and 38% at 16% or more – all considerable sums given that most of the carve-outs were valued at over US$ 50 million, and some more than US$1 billion. The research comes at a time when the market has seen a three-fold increase in the annual volume of spin-offs and carve-outs since 2016. The onset of COVID-19 will dampen deal volumes in the immediate period, but will create special situations for cash rich buyers as affected companies in the region look to restructure their […]

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