Business News

Following Six Years in Hong Kong, Organisers Relocate Seventh Edition Vitafoods Asia, the only event dedicated to the nutraceutical, functional food and beverages, and dietary supplement industries in Asia, announces that its next edition now in Asia’s leading food and nutrition hub – Singapore – is expected to be twice as large as before. From 5 – 6 September, the 2017 event will take place in Singapore for the first time in the Sands Expo and Convention Centre at Marina Bay Sands, and will present more of the best innovations that the industry has to offer. New City, New Opportunities The Singapore government’s efforts to grow its integrative research capabilities for food sciences, biomedical sciences, chemistry, and engineering industries in recent years have attracted investments from numerous multi-national corporations and international companies from the food industry to the island nation. The industry’s call to product innovation is keenly felt in Singapore, with top food companies – BASF, CP Kelco, DSM, Fuji, Ingredion, and Nestlé – having chosen to set up their R&D centres and regional offices in the Southeast Asian city. Vitafoods Asia’s strategic move to Singapore further strengthens the event’s appeal, both worldwide and within the Asia Pacific region. As a well-connected global city, Singapore is accessible to 4 billion people within a 7-hour flight radius. The organisers of the event expect to draw in new visitors from more parts of the world with this change in venue, catering to attendees that were unable to participate in previous editions. The industry has responded positively to the move, and the event has attracted the participation of a strong portfolio of major manufacturers and service providers to date, including analyse & realise, AstaReal, Catalent, Gelita, Graminex, Ingredia, KSM, Lesaffre, Sabinsa, Troikaa, and Vidya Herbs. Chris Lee, Managing Director at Informa Exhibitions’ […]

SEMICON Southeast Asia 2017, held at the SPICE arena in Penang on 25-27 April, is Asia’s premier showcase for electronics manufacturing innovation. KUALA LUMPUR – At SEMICON Southeast Asia 2017, Dr. Chen Fusen, CEO of Kulicke & Soffa Pte Ltd, Singapore, will give a keynote on the digital transformation in the manufacturing sector. Chen believes that Smart Manufacturing, or Industry 4.0, is no longer hype, but real and Asia needs to get on board sooner rather than later. SEMICON Southeast Asia (SEA) 2017, held at the SPICE arena in Penang on 25-27 April, is Asia’s premier showcase for electronics manufacturing innovation. “Digital transformation has proven to provide solutions for addressing challenges in the manufacturing industry but there is still the issue of acceptance as well as lack of skills and knowledge that needs to be addressed,” said Chen. “With disruptive technology changing our world, I expect that more companies will see the value of their investments realised as this technology accelerates the creation of more individualised products and services.” Dr. Hai Wang from NXP Semiconductors Singapore Pte Ltd, Singapore agreed that more consumer-related innovations would stem from digital transformation as demand for solutions that provide efficiency and security increases. “At NXP, we look at developing advanced cyber security solutions for the automotive industry, such as tracking and analysing intelligence around connected and automated vehicles, which will help to counter any adverse threats in real time. These innovations are real and will soon mark a shift in the future of automation and manufacturing. It is vital that we embrace the change and adapt accordingly,” he said. Other speakers at SEMICON SEA also feel strongly about the importance of Smart Manufacturing and digital transformation. David Chang of HTC Corporation, Taiwan, sees a dramatic shift in the value of being a “smart” manufacturer […]

Headquartered in Hong Kong, Gammon Construction is one of SE Asia’s leading construction companies, with an annual turnover of US$2.5bn, and is a keen adopter of new technology with a focus on adding value for its customers through innovative and sustainable solutions. With over 8000 employees, the engineering and construction company, like others in the Hong Kong construction industry, has long faced manpower shortages, together with an aging workforce. Consequently, in an effort to lure talented new workers and to reduce the workload of its employees, the company recently invested in two sets of “zero-gravity arms” (Zero G Tool Arms) from Sigma Ergonomics, one of Australia’s leading providers of ergonomic systems to a wide range of industries. Manufactured by US company Ekso Bionics, the innovative mounted exoskeletal system functions without the need for power, allowing workers to comfortably operate heavy tools including impact drills, chipping hammers and grinders for extended periods. With the zero-gravity arms shouldering the weight of the equipment, workers are not affected by the strain and fatigue caused by repetitive tasks such as drilling, tiling, chipping and grinding. The Ekso Bionics Aerial System, to which the Zero G system is mounted, is designed to increase safety and productivity while working from an elevated work platform (EWP). As well as eliminating the risk of dropping heavy tools from heights, the system significantly reduces the risk of injury from heavy tool usage and awkward body position. In a recent direct comparison with an Access Work Platform (AWP) at a height services installation, the Zero G system improved the productivity of the drilling work task by over 50% while reducing worker fatigue and improving safety and efficiency. Thomas Ho, Chief Executive of Gammon Construction, is a passionate supporter of innovation and highlights the Zero G system as one of the […]

The impact of the Internet of Things (IoT) will be on display at SEMICON Southeast Asia, 25-27 April at SPICE in Penang. The global exhibition and conference is organised by SEMI, the global non-profit association connecting the worldwide electronics manufacturing supply chain. More than 70 industry speakers and 200 companies and 7,500 attendees will participate in SEMICON Southeast Asia. Creating new business opportunities and fostering stronger cross-regional engagement, SEMICON Southeast Asia features a tradeshow exhibition, networking events, market and technology seminars, and conferences. With tens of billions of IoT devices forecasted to be connected to the internet by 2020, the IoT is changing how people work, play, and live. The IoT connects devices to the internet and to each other – from mobile phones, washing machines, lamps, wearable devices through industrial applications on airplanes and oil rigs. Alongside IoT ubiquity, the borders between real and digital worlds are blurring with technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) becoming part of our everyday lives. The enabler for IoT and the new digital world is the vital electronic manufacturing supply chain. SEMICON Southeast Asia will gather over 300 exhibitors, the leaders in manufacturing equipment and materials for semiconductors, MEMS, sensors, LEDs, and flexible hybrid electronics. A special “World of IoT” Futura-X Showcase will highlight system innovations made from the devices of the exhibitors. System innovation exhibitors include: HTC VIVE(TM) virtual reality gaming device; ADAWARP Teleporter for controlling a real-life robotic avatar; and the first Malaysia autonomous vehicle from REKA, an indigenous innovation on converting a traditional automotive to an autonomous vehicle. According to Ng Kai Fai, president of SEMI Southeast Asia, the IoT has already seen a big shift in the interaction between humans and machines, and has brought about significant transformations in manufacturing. “At this year’s SEMICON Southeast […]

China’s President Xi Jinping defended economic globalisation in his first speech to the World Economic Forum at Davos. “It is true that economic globalisation has created new problems. But this is no justification to write off economic globalisation altogether. Rather we should adapt to and guide globalisation, cushion its negative impact, and deliver its benefits to all countries and all nations,” he said. At a time when protectionist and nationalist forces are on the rise in the West, President Xi warned against making globalisation a scapegoat. “Some people blame economic globalisation for the chaos in our world. Economic globalisation was once viewed as the treasure cave found by Ali Baba in the Arabian nights, but now it has become the Pandora’s Box.” However, the world’s problems could not simply be laid at globalisation’s door, from the “heart-breaking” refugee crisis to the financial crisis. “The international financial crisis is another example, it is not an inevitable outcome of economic globalisation, rather it is the consequence of the excessive chase of profit by financial capital and a great failure of financial regulation,” he said. President Xi said that “the global economy is the big ocean you cannot escape from” and that China had “learned how to swim.” After 38 years of reform and opening up, China has become the world’s second-largest economy. “China’s development is an opportunity for the world. China has not only benefited from economic globalisation but also contributed to it,” he said. Looking ahead, President Xi warned against protectionism.“We should commit ourselves to growing an open global economy,” he said. “No one will emerge as the winner in a trade war.” He added:”China has no intention to boost its trade development by devaluing the Renminbi still less by launching a currency war” The speech ended with a plea for […]