Developments

Low-height skidding system moves heavy loads in the tightest of spaces

Enerpac’s new Low-Heigh t Skidding System is ideal for transformer maintenance. Global hydraulics and heavy lifting technology specialists Enerpac are introducing to Australasia a new Low-Height Skidding System – which stands at just 92mm with the track – for the accurate positioning of heavy loads in tight and awkward spaces. The Enerpac LH-Series Low-Height Skidding System is a modular track system that can jack and slide heavy loads, such as transformers, generators, motors or drives, over a pre-constructed track. Skidding systems are ideally suited to tight spaces where cranes can’t access the load effectively. The new low-height system takes this one step further by using a rigid, durable design that can access even tighter spaces, while still providing high lifting capacities. Skidding systems are typically 200-600mm high, which is still an enormous advantage when cranes can’t access a lift site, but the Low-Height system, at just 92mm, opens possibilities in even tighter, more compact applications. The Low-Height Skidding System is comprised of a series of skid beams moved by hydraulic push-pull units, travelling over a pre-constructed track. A series of special PTFE-coated pads are placed on the skid tracks to reduce friction. The push-pull units are powered by a standard Enerpac Split Flow Pump to ensure each skid beam travels synchronously. When using two skidding units together, the maximum capacity is 3,560 kN of force, which can lift 400 tons, utilising 700 bar (10,000 PSI) hydraulic pressure. The Low-Height Skidding System has a push-pull stroke of 600 mm and is designed to easily change skidding direction, using Enerpac’s globally proven hydraulic pumps and cylinders. Customised solutions can be implemented for complex projects, such as utilising optional track support and connecting both power units together to provide synchronous travel of the load. Such a configuration would be used in applications like […]

Leading Vietnam ceramics manufacturer going from strength to strength

Ian Trousdell, Director, Flowform International Ltd on site with some of the products made for his company by Doan Potters Ltd including Matatiki models. Hung Tran, Senior Merchandiser Doan Potters Ltd is on the right. Doan Potters Ltd., Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Doan is one of Vietnam’s leading manufacturers of ceramics. With more than 24 years in the business, they provide a good customer experience through their design, quality and reasonable pricing. Established in 1994, Doan Potters Ltd had a turnover in 2017 of $12.5M. The company operates from a 280,000 square feet factory and has production capacity of 200,000 pieces per month and 2,400,000 pieces per year. Their products are mainly shipped to the US market and have the advantage of being manufactured handmade, with special and unique charms. The company has a highly skilled workforce. They conduct in house laboratory testing -lead test, frost resistant test and transit test. Including for consistency of color for mass production, new development test, i.e.: new color, new clay, new technique. Major customers include Lowes, USA; London Drugs, Canada; Home goods, USA; Westelm, USA ad Pier 1, USA. Products shipped for these clients include indoor and outdoor planters, lanterns, candle holders, stools, basket wares and other indoor home accessories. Ian Trousdell, Director of Flowform International and Design for Life Ltd – www.flowform.net – ian.trousdell@flowform.net – currently expanding into China, experienced technical difficulty making figure […]

Grundfos introduces one of the world’s most efficient motors with an IE5 rating

For the first time in the Asia Pacific, pump manufacturing pioneer Grundfos has launched one of the world’s most efficient motors. New generation Grundfos MGE motors – from 0.25 kW to 11 kW – are now capable of attaining this ‘super’ status. Achieving the highest efficiency level available for electrical motors in the market today, these MGE IE5 motors will enable Grundfos pumps to reach 10 per cent in energy savings and 25 per cent in payback time, as compared to the IE3 solution. Reaching IE5 in efficiency means that businesses, residences and industrial players will not only meet but exceed IE3 premium efficiency legislative standards set worldwide, including the European Union, the US, and Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Australia and China in Asia Pacific Region. To align with international standards, minimum energy performance standards for industrial motors in Singapore will be set at IE3 level from 1 October 2018. Eric Lai, Regional Business Director – Industry, Asia Pacific Region, Grundfos said the pump manufacturer is dedicated to supporting worldwide efforts to reduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, in line with the Paris Agreement commitments. “Sustainability is a very important part of Grundfos’ DNA and we aim to create cleaner and more energy efficient technologies to enable our customers to reduce their water and energy consumption to limit the impact on the environment. “Our new MGE motors are a result of our continuous development efforts and extensive experience in the pumps sector. They perform to the highest standards and we are proud to announce they have been awarded IE5, the highest energy efficiency rating worldwide,” Eric Lai said. The key to Grundfos’ new MGE motors’ unparalleled performance is their state-of-the-art intelligent solutions as they adapt to the surrounding system which, coupled with the high-efficiency IE5 motor, drive down energy consumption. […]

Revolutionary new beam welding technology to fast-track large manufacturing projects

A new technology could improve the efficiency of large-scale manufacturing projects by enabling firms to perform electron beam welding without a vacuum chamber. EBFLOW, which features a local coarse vacuum that can be transported to and operated on site, has been developed by Cambridge Vacuum Engineering and was launched on 1st January 2018. The technology is designed to simplify the process of thick section welding in the manufacture of a wide range of large structures including ships, pressure vessels, wind farms and towers, nuclear plants, and many of the structures involved in oil and gas exploration and civil engineering projects. To date it’s only been possible to perform electron beam welding – a key technology in the fabrication of large, heavy wall structures – at sites equipped with a vacuum chamber large enough to house the structures under manufacture. But EBFLOW’s coarse vacuum can be mounted on tracks and operated locally. The technology can be used in any plant where large components are welded. In tests, EBFLOW has been shown to be 20 to 30 times faster than conventional arc welding, offering transformational gains in productivity. At the same time, it uses less power than conventional arc processes, lowering a plant’s carbon footprint. Among the myriad of other benefits are the ability to perform low-heat input welds that result in reduced distortion – ensuring quality – and the option to perform NDT testing immediately after welding, fast-tracking the manufacturing process and driving down costs. Speaking ahead of the launch Bob Nicolson, Managing Director at Cambridge Vacuum Engineering said: “This technology will transform the productivity of fabrication processes throughout the world of heavy engineering. In many cases the speed of welding can be 30 times faster than current methods. “The technology has been fully developed and pioneered in Britain and we are […]

SDK to re-expand capacity to produce high-grade SiC epitaxial wafers

Showa Denko has decided to re-expand its capacity to produce high-quality-grade silicon carbide (SiC) epitaxial wafers for power devices, which have already been marketed under the trade name of “High-Grade Epi” (HGE), in addition to currently conducted expansion work of HGE production facilities. After the initial expansion work which is scheduled to be finished in April, SDK’s capacity to produce HGE will be increased from current 3,000 wafers*1 per month to 5,000 wafers per month. After the re-expansion work which is to be finished in September 2018, that capacity will be increased to 7,000 wafers per month. When compared with the mainstream silicon-based semiconductors, SiC-based power devices can operate under high-temperature, high-voltage, and high-current conditions, while substantially conserving energy. These features enable device manufacturers to produce smaller, lighter, and more energy-efficient next-generation power control modules. In addition to the traditional use as power sources, SiC-based power devices are now replacing conventional silicon-based power devices for on-board use such as inverter modules for railcars, on-board battery chargers and rapid charging stations for EVs, in parallel with rapid expansion of the EV market. SDK’s SiC epitaxial wafer business has been achieving growth rate higher than that of the market because manufacturers of power devices appreciate the lowest incidence of crystal defects and the highest homogeneity of wafers in the world which SDK’s HGE achieved. SDK decided this time to conduct re-expansion of its HGE production facilities since the initially expanded HGE production facilities are expected to reach full capacity operation by the middle of 2018. SDK will continue responding to the demands of the market through establishment of stable supply system of HGE. *1 This number is based on a conversion into SiC epitaxial wafers for power devices having withstanding voltage of 1,200 V. Showa Denko K.K. is a major manufacturer and […]

Machine learning and Big Data offer massive potential

Marianne Culver, President of RS Components, looks at the short- medium- and long-term impacts of Big Data and how it can be exploited for machine learning and Artificial Intelligence. Just a few decades back, the defence industry was quick to exploit the potential of intelligent machines and systems that could use in-the-field data in order to ‘think for themselves’; primarily to make simple, fact-based decisions that removed the workload from human operatives. This concept of data-based machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now seeing much wider deployment in civilian applications too – with many of us not actually realising that we are the information sources creating the data upon which these systems base their decisions. Leading tech firms, such as Google and Netflix, regularly leverage huge amounts of on-tap user-specific data to feed algorithms that ultimately help them streamline and enhance their customer offerings. Replace the term ‘user-specific data’ with ‘machine-specific data’ and it quickly becomes clear that Big Data and machine learning have the potential to revolutionise the manufacturing, process and, indeed, any other networked or machine-based industries. In fact AI-driven procedures are already making a difference across a number of industries, with companies such as Presenso and Predikto already providing AI-based analytical solutions for maintenance operations. Predictive maintenance is a perfect illustration for AI-based systems, as it can leverage a relatively small number of simple but incredibly informative data sets and then use them to predict and provide remedial actions. With the advent of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and, as a result, Big Data, coupled to an almost exponential expansion in the number of data-providing end points or nodes, this type of capability will become more prevalent, powerful, informative and effective. However, even a single simple manufacturing cell can generate in excess of 50 […]

Extended application period for second edition of Free Electrons global startup acceleration program

The application deadline for the second edition of Free Electrons has been extended. This application is a global acceleration program for startups that TEPCO launched with 7 other international utilities in December 2017 to recruit energy startups that will drive the next generation of ideas in clean energy, energy efficiency, e-mobility, digitisation and on-demand customer services. Startups chosen for Free Electrons participate in three separate week-long acceleration modules in the Silicon Valley and two other locations around the world. Free Electrons was initiated by eight international utilities, AusNet Services, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), ESB (Electricity Supply Board), EDP (Energias de Portugal), innogy, Origin Energy, Singapore Power (SP) and TEPCO. A win-win approach for startups and utilities The utilities behind the Free Electrons program are committed to a future where energy is smart, clean and accessible to everyone. The global accelerator program is designed for energy startups to further refine their products and services, with the potential of scaling them for a global customer base of 73 million. Industry leaders will offer expertise, resources and access to their customer with opportunities for investment and partnership. A global calling Energy startups around the world with a working prototype are encouraged to apply to Free Electrons. The brightest startups will be selected by the eight utility partners to participate in the six-month accelerator program. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is the largest utility in Japan serving millions of homes and businesses. Worldwide the company has more than 34 subsidiaries and 32 affiliates in 8 countries and employs approximately 42,060 people. Consolidated revenue for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017, totalled 5.3 trillion Japanese yen. The company was established in 1951 and is listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

HIMA expert to speak on Singapore’s safety case compliance at TÜV Rheinland conference

The leading independent provider of smart safety solutions, HIMA, is speaking at the Singapore Safety Case Symposium to address the functional safety aspects of the new legislation for process plants and bulk storage facilities. This symposium, from 14 to 15 March and organised by TÜV Rheinland, focuses on facilities that are considered a Major Hazard Installation (MHI) under the new Workplace Safety and Health regulations. HIMA’s expert will speak on the role of functional safety in helping industry practitioners currently administering and overseeing the safety case for their facility to understand how to fulfil the technical requirements of the new legislation. Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower has introduced the Major Hazards Installations (MHI) Regulations under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, to be implemented from the last quarter of 2017 through 2019. The core feature of the MHI Regulations is the Safety Case Regime where the submission of a safety case is compulsory. The Safety Case Regime is a structured set of documentation that sets out how major accidents are prevented and the risks to people and environment mitigated at MHIs. Sujith Panikkar, Senior Consultant Functional Safety/ Safety Instrumented Systems, HIMA Asia Pacific, who will be speaking at the symposium, said: “The safety case and functional safety are closely related. Moreover, the functional safety aspect of building the safety case tends to be the most important, and also the most technically complex. Many working in MHIs will need assistance in building their safety case to comply with regulators. So through our collaboration with TÜV Rheinland, we hope to help those tasked with this challenge. “The complex operating environment and the presence of large amounts of hazardous chemicals at MHIs mean that any accident can potentially result in catastrophic consequences. Therefore, strict compliance with the legislation is essential in ensuring a safe […]

Hillstone and Flowmon join forces to allow customers to build complete cybersecurity platforms

Hillstone Networks a leading provider of network security solutions, has announced a partnership with Flowmon Networks a vendor developing next generation monitoring and security solutions for network infrastructures. The joint offering between the two visionary companies will help customers build a complete cybersecurity platform. The joint network security solution, consisting of the Hillstone Networks Intelligent Next-Generation Firewall (iNGFW) and Flowmon Anomaly Detection System (ADS), can effectively intercept cyber threats from the Internet and internal networks, defend against modern network attacks, and comprehensively monitor and protect the overall network security posture. The Hillstone Networks iNGFW and Flowmon ADS work in conjunction to support the deployment of linked security policies across internal and external networks. The Hillstone iNGFW is used primarily for threat prevention for external networks, while the Flowmon ADS mainly detects internal network threats and passes details of the internal threat to the iNGFW, in order to complete the risk interception of threats and deliver a closed loop to the security administrator. “Cooperation with Hillstone is a perfect fit. Flowmon ADS eliminates risks that bypass traditional solutions. Its engine utilises sophisticated network behavior analysis, an advanced artificial intelligence based on machine learning. It permanently observes and analyses data communication seeking anomalies, revealing suspicious behavior and thus taking the entire security to the next level,” said Petr Springl, Director of Products and Alliances at Flowmon Networks. The Hillstone Networks iNGFW and Flowmon ADS joint solution can effectively intercept threats from the Internet and internal networks, defend against modern network attacks, comprehensively cover the overall network security posture, and make the internal network and external network stable, reliable, secure and credible. The solution brief is currently available on both Hillstone Networks and Flowmon Networks websites. Hillstone Networks’ Layered Threat Protection provides continuous threat defense at perimeters, internal networks and Cloud. Established in […]

Labelexpo Southeast Asia opens registration for visitors

Trade visitors can now register online for Labelexpo Southeast Asia 2018. Focused entirely on label and package printing, the show makes its debut as it runs 10 – 12 May at BITEC in Bangkok, Thailand. Aimed at printers/converters, brand owners, label and packaging technicians, buyers and design specialists, the event expects visitors to attend from across Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, the Philippines, Japan, South Korea and Australasia. Supported by the Thai Screen Printing & Graphic Imaging Association (TSGA) and the Department of Industrial Promotion (DIP) under the Minister of Industry, the event will cover over 3,500sqm and host 200 of the global industry’s principal manufacturers and suppliers. Confirmed exhibitors so far include HP, Bobst, Epson, Flint Group, Konica Minolta, Lintec, Omet, UPM Raflatac, Xeikon, Yupo Corporation and Zhejiang Weigang Machinery Co. In addition to a sold-out show floor packed with real-time live machinery demonstrations and the multiple product launches due to hit the Asian market, Labelexpo Southeast Asia will also offer a variety of valuable learning opportunities. Alongside the exhibition, visitors will be able to attend a range of topical conference sessions, or register for access to two exclusive workshops being held in association with the Label Academy covering shrink sleeve technology and die-cutting and tooling. Labelexpo Southeast Asia is free to attend and visitors can register for their full expo pass by visiting www.labelexpo-seasia.com.

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