Developments

The future of Asia: Decoding the value and performance of corporate Asia

Discussion PaperBy Chris Bradley, Wonsik Choi, Jeongmin Seong, Ben Stretch, Oliver Tonby, Patti Wang, and Jonathan Woetzel Corporations in Asia have grown in scale but lag behind the global average on profits, and the Covid-19 crisis poses new challenges. The Covid-19 crisis is an unprecedented global challenge in the post–World War II period. The pandemic has proven to be not only a public-health crisis but also a major disruption to supply chains, which may permanently change long-standing business practices in the next normal. But Asia has come through crisis periods before and emerged stronger for it—and there is reason to believe it can do so again. The dynamism, speed, and agility of companies in Asia have given the region resilience, enabling it to achieve macroeconomic stability in a volatile world. Corporations in Asia have grown rapidly and risen to global prominence over the past decade. However, bigger has not always meant better for economic profit (net of the cost of capital), a measure of value creation and companies’ ability to beat the market. As a group, companies in Asia lag behind their counterparts in the rest of the world. An external shock of the magnitude of the Covid-19 pandemic may accelerate the widening of the gap between underperforming and outperforming companies. There are many opportunities for corporations in Asia to build their ability to sustain long-term growth in what will be a more volatile context in the wake of the Covid-19 shock. Corporations can accelerate digital adoption and thereby unlock productivity, build scale by exploring M&A and continued regionalization, and be bold and agile in the management of portfolios. In addition, business leaders need to manage for multiple time horizons, putting in place plan-ahead teams. Corporate Asia has added scale; however, it has underperformed in economic profit Over the past decade, $1 of every $2 in new […]

A resilient return for Asia’s manufacturing and supply chains?

By Didier Chenneveau, Matteo Mancini, and Sahil Shinghal Asia shows an early glimpse of how manufacturing and supply-chain leaders are responding to disruption caused by the pandemic. The Asia-Pacific region is at widely varying points on its journey through the COVID-19 pandemic. China is broadly beginning to restart its operations amid recovering domestic demand, while other geographies, such as Southeast Asia, Japan, and South Korea, are still tackling cases and under a range of control measures to help stop the spread. To understand the differing sentiment and responses among manufacturing leaders across the whole region, we surveyed more than 200 manufacturing and supply-chain leaders across industries including advanced industries; consumer goods; chemicals; metals and mining; oil and gas; construction, engineering and infrastructure; and transportation and logistics. Recovery is coming, but isn’t here yet Overall, 39 percent of respondents are confident that the manufacturing sector will recover rapidly from disruptions caused by COVID-19, estimating that as little as two to three months will be sufficient. However, 61 percent expect that recovery will take at least six months. Once we looked at responses split by subregions across Asia Pacific—Australia and New Zealand; China; Japan and South Korea; South Asia; and Southeast Asia—we saw that optimism closely aligns with the stage of progression through the pandemic timeline. Nearly half of respondents in China expect rapid recovery, possibly because the country is further along the timeline in its pandemic response. Responses from Southeast Asia, Japan, and South Korea, on the other hand, report markedly lower confidence in a swift recovery. The majority of these regions are still tackling cases and only just beginning to ease lockdown measures—South Korea is currently preparing to slowly and cautiously proceed to the next normal under “everyday quarantine” measures. Japan’s lack of confidence is worth noting, as the country has a […]

Suprema further enhances cyber security with new BioStar 2 release

Suprema, a global leader in security and biometrics, has released a new version BioStar 2 platform, enhancing the cyber security features. Suprema BioStar 2 is a web-based, open, and integrated security platform that provides comprehensive functionality for access control and time & attendance. In addition to existing encryption of personal data, used for authentication with passwords, fingerprint templates and face templates, BioStar 2 now encrypts every data available that may potentially link to any specific individual. With this enhancement in BioStar 2 v2.8, this upscaled security will be made available not as an option but a default feature of the system. Introducing this new update, Young S. Moon, CEO of Suprema Inc., remarked, “We place absolute top priority to strengthen security measures and reinforce our security framework. Along with the current update of BioStar 2, we will continue to strive to make our solutions secure to make sure our customers’ personal data is protected.” Suprema Inc. is a leading global provider of security and biometrics technologies. Suprema’s extensive range of products includes biometric access control systems, time & attendance solutions, mobile authentication solutions and embedded fingerprint solutions. Suprema has No.1 market share in biometrics access control in EMEA region and has worldwide sales network in over 130 countries.

Industry’s first secure SmartNIC Optimised for 25G

NVIDIA has launched the NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-6 Lx SmartNIC — a highly secure and efficient 25/50 gigabit per second (Gb/s) Ethernet smart network interface controller (SmartNIC) — to meet surging growth in enterprise and cloud scale-out workloads. ConnectX-6 Lx, the 11th generation product in the ConnectX family, is designed to meet the needs of modern data centers, where 25Gb/s connections are becoming standard for handling demanding workflows, such as enterprise applications, AI and real-time analytics. The SmartNIC extends accelerated computing by leveraging software-defined, hardware-accelerated engines to offload more security and network processing from CPUs. “Modern cloud and enterprise data centers rely on accelerated networking to address their scalability and compute challenges,” said Amit Krig, senior vice president of software and NIC products in NVIDIA’s Mellanox networking business. “ConnectX-6 Lx SmartNIC delivers cost-effective, accelerated and secure networking for the new era of disaggregated, composable data centres.” Advanced Security Accelerated security features such as IPsec in-line cryptography and Hardware Root of Trust, and a 10x performance improvement for Connection Tracking, enable Zero Trust security throughout the data center. Best-in-class RDMA over converged Ethernet (RoCE), advanced virtualisation and containerisation, and NVMe over Fabrics storage offloads provide highly scalable and performant networking. “The server industry is rapidly transitioning from 10GbE to 25GbE network speeds with very fast growth expected. With increasing requirements being placed on the network, more offloads need to be performed on SmartNICs,” said Scott Raynovich, founder and chief technologist of Futuriom, a technology research firm. “NVIDIA’s Mellanox ConnectX-6 Lx enables SmartNIC offloads, including advanced switching and security, in a cost-efficient 25/50GbE solution.” Key Features The Mellanox ConnectX-6 Lx provides: Two ports of 25Gb/s, or a single port of 50Gb/s, Ethernet connectivity with PCIe Gen 3.0/4.0 x8 host connectivity Security features including Hardware Root of Trust, Connection Tracking for stateful L4 firewalls, […]

Does hybrid manufacturing offer the best of both worlds?

In the wild, zebra and ostriches may appear to be unlikely allies. Here, John Young, country manager for the APAC region at industrial equipment supplier, EU Automation, explains how sometimes a seemingly polarising combination can be very effective, particularly in the realm of additive and subtractive machining. While zebra have excellent eyesight and a poor sense of smell, ostriches have weak eyesight and a much better sense of smell. By working together, they have a greater chance at identifying threats and evading predators. In much the same way, additive and subtractive manufacturing may seem like competitors, but by combining them, it is possible to overcome their respective deficiencies. The additive manufacturing market is growing exponentially, and Asia-Pacific is expected to be at the forefront of this multi-billion-dollar market. Japan, China, Australia, and South Korea are among the key global players, while countries such as Singapore are seeing increased government funding in this area. Despite additive manufacturing being widely heralded as revolutionary, it does have its own set of drawbacks to contend with. Does hybrid manufacturing offer a solution, and could it have even greater potential than its predecessors? Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing as it is commonly referred to, denotes the production of a part by adding, or “printing”, layers of a material on top of one another. Additive manufacturing results in less waste material, lighter and more complex designs, and reduced lead times, ideal for rapid prototyping. However, there are drawbacks too; the printing process takes a long time, and finished parts often have an uneven, stepped surface. Subtractive manufacturing, on the other hand, means creating a product by gradually removing material using techniques including drilling, cutting, and grinding. This method is precise, has a high productivity, and can achieve a range of surface finishes. However, it results in […]

Next-Generation Modular EV Platform

REE Automotive (REE) and KYB Corporation (KYB) have announced a strategic partnership to develop suspension capabilities for future electric vehicle (EV) platforms. Automotive Tier 1 supplier KYB’s unparalleled semi-active and active suspension systems will boost REE’s next-generation EV platform, which delivers complete design freedom and cost-effective, scalable solutions in e-mobility. The combined expertise of REE, a pioneering technology company and leader in electric vehicle platforms, and KYB, a leading global hydraulics manufacturer, will reshape the movement of goods, people and services by revolutionizing electric vehicle design. REE’s partnership with KYB further expands REE’s global manufacturing capabilities. It also ignites a new level of suspension technology within the REEcorner architecture solution, which integrates all drivetrain vehicle components (steering, braking, suspension, e-motor) into the wheel. The REEcorner combines with the REEboard – a completely flat platform – allowing complete freedom of design, improved performance and safety, and modular applications for any vehicle type – from last mile delivery to heavy duty shipping. The KYB-REE partnership marks the first time KYB has formally collaborated on EV platforms with a technology company. “KYB has vast experience in developing and manufacturing advanced suspension systems, and we are excited to partner with REE Automotive and share its revolutionary EV vision by engineering a suspension subsystem that supports the needs of tomorrow’s mobility ecosystem” said Kazunori Masumoto, General Manager of Engineering Headquarters at KYB Automotive Component Business Division. REE’s Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Daniel Barel said, “REE is delighted to welcome KYB to our unique network of global strategic automotive partners, bringing world-class expertise in advanced suspension systems. KYB’s technology will play a crucial role in the rapid development of our next-generation EV architecture, which reinvents the electric vehicle with a completely flat, scalable and fully modular platform, ready to carry the future of e-mobility.”

Covid-19 opportunities for APAC manufacturers to leverage nutrient-rich Yuzu extracts for a healthy halo

East Asian citrus fruit Yuzu has claimed its place among the ‘superfruits’ for its flavor, nutritional value and potential health attributes. Additionally, it has also become a star ingredient in the food, beverages and beauty formulations across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Against this backdrop, manufacturers can exploit the floral and citrus fragrance of Yuzu for products designed to appeal to the consumers looking for a calming and relaxing fragrance in their food and non-food products, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. Yuzu, being a citrus fruit native to northeast Asia, can be found in Korea, China, and Japan. Citrus fruits contain dietary components such as hesperidin, naringin, luteolein, limonene and vitamin C, which confer health benefits that include preventing cardiovascular diseases and improving blood circulation. According to GlobalData Covid-19 week 7 (5-10 May) survey, almost 73% Indians, 61% Chinese and 53% Australians are always/often influenced by how product impacts their health and wellbeing. The survey also reveals 31% Indians and 43% Chinese buy more of vitamins and health supplements since the outbreak of Covid-19. The growing popularity of Japanese cuisine and Asian beauty concepts such as J-beauty, K-beauty and C-beauty is driving global awareness about ingredients from the region such as Yuzu. Modern scientific studies are unravelling the food’s value and potential health, and beauty benefits, and paving the way for the application of the fruit in food, beverage and beauty formulations. Shagun Sachdeva, Consumer Insights Analyst at GlobalData, says: “Yuzu seems to be a promising ingredient in premium, clean-label, personalized health food and drinks. Beyond food and beverages, it will also find its application in personal care sector, given its anti-aging qualities and its floral aroma making it the right ingredient for skincare, make-up as well as bath and shower products.” With the ever-increasing internet penetration, growing health […]

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 […]

Joining hands together - Union concept - with copyspace

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 […]

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