Engineering

Planting Machines in “Machine-tending” — Operations in a Collaborative Industry 5.0 World

Shih Pin Tan, Head of Sales Channel Asia Pacific, Universal Robots Boasting a fleet of over 10,000 aircraft, taking a commercial flight in Asia might not be as novel as before. In generations prior, it was not as easy to manufacture these machines, with the average commercial jet airliner comprising of over 350,000 individual parts. In crafting these parts—whether metal or plastic, one process is essential: machine tending. A well-functioning manufacturing workflow relies on machinery consistently being loaded and unloaded with parts or materials. When done well, machine tending increases productivity and yields – driving down the cost of production over time. Without it, production would grind to a halt. As the sector looks forward into the future, advancements in manufacturing will rest on optimising this crucial task. The next industrial revolution Stemming from the early 2010s, Industry 4.0 saw manufacturers integrating new technologies into their production facilities and throughout their operations. Industry 5.0 builds on this, using R&D to transition to a more sustainable, human-centric and resilient industry. With that, collaborative automation has a vital role to play. Already integral to Industry 4.0, greater automation of machine tending – more specifically collaborative robotics – will help manufacturers transition to Industry 5.0. In fact, the European Commission sees Industry 5.0 as playing a vital role in providing solutions to challenges for society, including the preservation of resources and climate change. The future of manufacturing and the transition to Industry 5.0 rests on ensuring machine tending benefits from both human skill and automated consistency, something collaborative robots (cobots) are specifically designed for. The man-machine partnership Over decades, human machine operators have been slogging away at the repetitive and physically demanding task of machine tending. This poses a multitude of issues for both workers as well as manufacturers and must be […]

Electronics Asia Conference 2023 to Highlight IoT, AI/ML, Automotive, and Wireless Developments

Now on its second year, EAC will focus on how IoT, AI/ML, automotive, wireless, and the industrial sectors are powering innovations in Asia’s semiconductor ecosystem. Following the success of its inaugural edition, the second Electronics Asia Conference (EAC), a virtual conference and exhibition organised by AspenCore, the publisher of EE Times Asia, EE Times India, and EDN Asia, is set to take place from October 17 to 19, 2023. With the theme “Strengthening Asia’s Semiconductor Manufacturing Ecosystem,” EAC 2023 aims to highlight the latest technology trends, innovations, and strategic insights within the electronics and semiconductor industry in Asia. The global semiconductor industry reversed its five straight quarters of decline by registering a 3.4% revenue growth in the second quarter of 2023, according to Omdia. Driving the turnaround are the wireless segment, the automotive electronics sector, and artificial intelligence (AI), mainly due to growing demand for generative AI and data processing chips in the server space. According to International Data Corp. (IDC), spending on AI—including software, services, and hardware for AI-centric systems—in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to reach $78.4 billion in 2027, reflecting a shift toward adopting cutting-edge technologies to transform operations and maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly changing market. Meanwhile, the increasing adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies is fueling the automation and digitalisation trends in the industrial space, thereby stimulating demand for Internet of Things (IoT) and embedded systems, as more manufacturers embrace smarter manufacturing. These key trends are among the many developments driving Asia’s electronics and semiconductor supply chain. EAC 2023 will put the spotlight on technology innovations that are driving the latest developments and new applications in sectors including IoT, AI/ML, embedded systems, industrial automation, smart manufacturing, the wireless sector, and the electronics and semiconductor supply chain. The event will feature a virtual fairground, an […]

BICES-2023-XCMG-Takes-Center-Stage-Intelligent-Eco-Friendly-Construction-Machinery

XCMG Machinery takes centre stage with intelligent and eco-friendly construction machinery

Leading construction machinery manufacturer XCMG Machinery exhibited 28 flagship equipment products from eight major sectors, innovative intelligent technologies, and comprehensive set solutions at the 16th China Beijing International Construction Machinery, Building Material Machines, and Mining Machines Exhibition & Seminar (BICES 2023) held from September 20 to 23 in Beijing, China. XCMG has signed strategic cooperation agreements with China Anneng, Sinopec Fourth Construction, Shenda Group, JCHX Mining Management, and Beijing Hengshi, an order of more than 100 units of equipment products with Linyi Shihou Tianyuan, and delivered the order to China Railway 10th Bureau Group. At BICES 2023, XCMG introduced the all-new upgraded walking excavator products known as “steel mantis”. The 10-ton and 20-ton modular walking excavators are providing more solutions for emergency rescue and special operations in mountainous conditions. XCMG also highlighted Asia’s only all-terrain, rubber-tracked bulldozer with a maximum speed of 58 kilometers per hour, a high-speed excavator with the industry’s first mechanical steering technology and a steady travel speed of 80 kilometers per hour, and more as part of the emergency rescue solutions. XCMG has launched the 2023 digital and intelligent construction fleet at the exhibition, featuring a series of comprehensive solutions from intelligent construction equipment and digital monitoring to coordinated fleet operation. The 15 new energy equipment products showcased at BICES 2023 included the world’s largest tonnage hybrid all-terrain crane, the XCA300L8-HEV. Its highly efficient fuel-electric conversion in extended range mode can save 80,000 to 100,00 yuan (US$ 10,959-13,699) of operation costs annually. Its “Peacock” series large-tonnage high-voltage lithium forklift, 105-ton electric mining ruck XGE105, the world’s first unmanned electric mining truck XDR80TE-AT, pure electric excavator XE215E, hybrid pump truck HB62VH, pure electric mixing truck G4802BIIVE, as well as new energy aerial work platforms, are bringing sustainable, green solutions for global customers. As XCMG continues to advance […]

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 […]

TSMC, Bosch, Infineon, and NXP establish to bring advanced semiconductor manufacturing to Europe

Robert Bosch GmbH, Infineon Technologies AG and NXP Semiconductors N.V. will jointly invest in European Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (ESMC) GmbH, in Dresden, Germany to provide advanced semiconductor manufacturing services. ESMC marks a significant step towards construction of a 300mm fab to support the future capacity needs of the fast-growing automotive and industrial sectors, with the final investment decision pending confirmation of the level of public funding for this project. The project is planned under the framework of the European Chips Act. The planned fab is expected to have a monthly production capacity of 40,000 300mm (12-inch) wafers on TSMC’s 28/22 nanometer planar CMOS and 16/12 nanometer FinFET process technology, further strengthening Europe’s semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem with advanced FinFET transistor technology and creating about 2,000 direct high-tech professional jobs. ESMC aims to begin construction of the fab in the second half of 2024 with production targeted to begin by the end of 2027. The planned joint venture will be 70% owned by TSMC, with Bosch, Infineon, and NXP each holding 10% equity stake, subject to regulatory approvals and other conditions. Total investments are expected to exceed 10 billion euros consisting of equity injection, debt borrowing, and strong support from the European Union and German government. The fab will be operated by TSMC. “This investment in Dresden demonstrates TSMC’s commitment to serving our customers’ strategic capacity and technology needs, and we are excited at this opportunity to deepen our long-standing partnership with Bosch, Infineon, and NXP,” said Dr. CC Wei, Chief Executive Officer of TSMC. “Europe is a highly promising place for semiconductor innovation, particularly in the automotive and industrial fields, and we look forward to bringing those innovations to life on our advanced silicon technology with the talent in Europe.” Dr. Stefan Hartung, chairman of the Bosch board of management: “Semiconductors are not only a […]

Zoomlion Construction Machinery makes strides in international Markets

Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. is making significant progress in international markets, fulfilling substantial product deliveries in the Middle East, Australia, and Southeast Asia region. This achievement spotlights Zoomlion’s internationalisation and localisation development strategy, underlining its commitment to providing high-quality products and services worldwide. In the Middle East, Zoomlion’s performance has been remarkable. In Saudi Arabia, its excavators, were deployed for NEOM, the “City of the Future.” The quality and quick delivery of these products increased customer satisfaction and led to more orders. Its 110-ton and 80-ton truck cranes are set to be used in Yanbu, a western city in Saudi Arabia, and dozens of concrete mixers have been delivered to Yamama Cement Co., the country’s oldest cement manufacturer. Similar success was experienced in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait, where Zoomlion’s efficient overseas business system enabled rapid fulfillment of large orders. Leveraging its robust overseas business systems, the company swiftly delivered eight out of an order of 17 truck pumps to the UAE in just over 20 days. The speedy fulfillment was facilitated by its Gulf subsidiary based in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone, cutting shipping time from China by over a month. “Our three-tier network layout covers all the major markets in Saudi Arabia, ensuring a rapid response for service spare parts. We’re seeing a marked increase in customer satisfaction,” said Liu Jianwei, Zoomlion’s National Manager in Saudi Arabia. Australia saw the launch of Zoomlion’s first 4S store for earth-moving machinery. This fully equipped facility is set to provide comprehensive sales and after-sales services to clients, showcasing Zoomlion’s commitment to customer satisfaction. Meanwhile, in Malaysia, Zoomlion delivered three wet spraying machines for the challenging East Coast Rail Link construction, highlighting the company’s ability to create adaptable and effective solutions for diverse […]

Hexagon machine training system help manufacturers bridge skills gaps

New training technology now available globally from Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division leverages the power of its digital twins to help manufacturers train machinists and metrology specialists to use valuable shop-floor equipment. By combining hardware that realistically replicates machines with manufacturing simulation and operator’s software tools, it helps trainees gain practical experience without risking damage to expensive business-critical equipment, wasting materials, or tying up valuable production resources. HxGN Machine Trainer was developed by Hexagon to help companies and educational institutions attract and train the next generation of machine workers – something that is vitally important with the industry facing a skills and labour shortage. In the US, for example, job openings are hovering near all-time highs at 800,000 with 55% of roles unfilled 1, while almost three in 10 manufacturing firms in Europe reported production constraints in the second quarter of 2022 due to a lack of workers 2. The skills shortage is compounded by the fact that training people to use CNC machines, and similar tools, is expensive, slow and potentially dangerous. By training machine operators using an accurate and interactive physical simulator, manufacturers can onboard and upskill their staff faster and more cost effectively than ever before. Hexagon’s new hardware simulator bridges the manufacturing skills gap by making it easier to prepare inexperienced staff for the demands of the factory. It is versatile because a digital twin can be created for the specific machine brand, type and configuration they will use. Once trained, workers can easily move from HxGN Machine Trainer to real machines, because the simulator is designed to be as realistic as possible – with hardware that replicates the look and feel of a real machine and a 43-inch screen that displays accurate simulations of a large variety of machine and cutting tools. A light tower, physical […]

Mr Kiyo Uemura, Area Vice President of IAR in APAC ASIA MN

IAR appoints SH Consulting as a distributor to support the growing automotive industry in Vietnam

IAR, the world leader in software and services for embedded development, is pleased to announce that it has appointed SH Consulting as the official distributor of the company in Vietnam. This partnership will allow the two companies to provide software development tools and services to the growing automotive industry in Vietnam. Vietnam is a growing market in the automotive industry, with companies such as VinFast, Thaco, Hyundai Thanh Cong, Toyota Vietnam, Honda Vietnam, and Ford Vietnam making significant strides. In the picture: Kiyo Uemura, vice president of IAR in APAC. As the industry rapidly grows and evolves, it is essential to have the right technology and expertise to keep pace with the competition. IAR’s software development tools are essential for developers in this market who require mission-critical software that is highly reliable, safe, and secure and needs to meet strict industry standards for quality and safety. Southeast Asia, a region of over 675 million in population, is witnessing an overall economic growth rate higher than the global average, becoming one of the major driving forces of world economic development. Revenue in the Southeast Asian Automotive IoT market is projected to reach US$21.26bn in 2023 and is expected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2023-2028) of 18.22%, resulting in a market volume of US$49.10bn by 2028. Based on a recent report, just the Southeast Asian Automobile Market itself is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 20.5% or 1.96 million units, comparing 2022 to 2031. With IAR’s language tools, developers can create robust and reliable software for embedded systems, ensuring that the software meets the strict safety and quality standards required for automotive applications. These tools can help streamline the development process while improving the overall reliability and safety of the software. “We are thrilled to be partnering with IAR […]

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