Manufacturing Technology

Zoomlion empowers product and market development with Glocalization strategy

CHANGSHA, China – Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (“Zoomlion”) shared the milestone achievements of their Glocalization strategy and future roadmap with its global partners and customers at its technological achievements exhibition themed “Technology Salute to the New Era” from May 11 to 14. About 500 Zoomlion’s international customers attended its technological achievements exhibition held in Zoomlion Smart Industrial City in Changsha Zoomlion has accelerated its business model transformation in overseas markets converging a globalization mindset with localization, as well as empowering business operations through digitalization and optimizing strategic layout, to expand its international presence. In 2022, Zoomlion’s sales revenue in countries of the “Belt and Road” Initiative increased by more than 100 percent year-on-year, and its overseas revenue in the first quarter of 2023 has grown 123 percent year-on-year. End-to-end digital management: breaking through barriers with a shared platform with localised support The rapid development of information technology has provided solid foundations for remote management, and with the establishment of end-to-end business platforms, leveraging technologies such as IoT can achieve information sharing and real-time monitoring to guarantee high-efficiency operation. The platform, known as the “port,” supports the production lines, business units, and operations in terms of logistics and services for international operations. The majority of the ground teams are local employees who can communicate better with the customers to provide efficient services and support. The platforms are also supported by technical engineers who take the customer’s local demands into consideration to develop customised products that better meet the needs of the local markets. Zoomlion has also achieved localised manufacturing and supply chain management. In addition to the solid performance of the companies it has acquired overseas (CIFA, m-tec, Wilbert), Zoomlion’s overseas production facilities, including an industrial park in Belarus are also developing steadily. Zoomlion’s factory in […]

Green Buffers wins Swedish Steel Prize 2023

The winner of the international Swedish Steel Prize 2023 is Green Buffers from Sweden. The prize is awarded for their highly sophisticated use of energy-absorbing high-strength steel to make trains safer for passengers and more economical for operators. “The Green Buffers system uses high-strength steel profiles to dissipate the energy from a train collision in a controlled way. Their new generation coupling technology opens up for sophisticated custom design solutions that will save lives and reduce costs,” says Eva Petursson, chair of the Swedish Steel Prize jury and head of SSAB’s research and innovation. New generation train coupling technology Existing crash management systems for trains are primitive. Safety standards are based on technology from the 1960s or 1970s and even minor accidents result in derailments. This is where Roger Danielsson and his colleagues at Green Buffers saw room for improvement. Inspired by the automotive industry, they have developed an energy dissipation system based on high-strength steel that makes train travel safer for passengers and more economical for operators. The system consists of twelve deformable units mounted in the coupling interfaces throughout the entire train set. In a collision the Strenx® 700 MC steel profiles in the units fold like an accordion, absorbing the impact of the shock in less than a second. By averting the initial peak force and by minimizing all other peak forces, energy from a collision is distributed in a controlled manner. “Unlike with cars, practically all train collisions are frontal. This gives our system enormous significance,” argues Roger Danielsson. For further improvements in the future the energy-absorbing units can be provided with sensors to provide even more information on energy absorption. With their innovative system and their ambitious goal – zero uncontrolled derailments related to train accidents – Green Buffers have the potential to revolutionize train […]

Rockwell Automation acquires Knowledge Lens, India

Acquisition to accelerate Rockwell’s delivery of Industrial AI solutions to manufacturers globally Rockwell Automation has acquired Knowledge Lens. Based in Bengaluru, India, Knowledge Lens is a services and solutions provider that delivers actionable business insights from enterprise data, combining digital technologies with deep data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and engineering expertise. Knowledge Lens will join Rockwell’s premier digital services business, Kalypso, to accelerate transformational outcomes for more manufacturers around the world. Rockwell’s digital transformation services business is one of its fastest growing, as demand to scale connectivity across the enterprise and enable data-driven predictive and prescriptive insights increases. Together with Kalypso, Knowledge Lens will significantly expand Rockwell’s capabilities to unlock the power of data, enable autonomous manufacturing, and drive continuous optimisation for more manufacturers. “Data offers enormous advantages for those manufacturers able to harness its full potential. But for many, only a fraction of the data generated by their plants and in their supply chains is ever used,” said Frank Kulaszewicz, senior vice president of Rockwell’s Lifecycle Services segment. “The acquisition of Knowledge Lens improves our ability to help more manufacturers around the world discover and use the hidden insights in their data to drive game-changing value for their businesses.” Knowledge Lens, founded in 2013, serves a broad range of manufacturers, with a specialization in highly regulated industries, including life sciences. Knowledge Lens also expands Kalypso’s ability to serve clients with an open platform approach across leading AI and digital technologies. “We are excited to join Rockwell and Kalypso and extend our collective ability to innovate and build a more sustainable, resilient, and human-centric society,” said Sudheesh Narayanan, Chief Executive Officer and founder of Knowledge Lens. “With our combined experience, and Knowledge Lens’ pre-packaged cloud-native solutions for common use cases including smart factory, connected workers, IT/OT integration, data migration, and […]

2023 State of Smart Manufacturing Report

Finds over 45% of Asia-Pacific manufacturers struggle to outpace competitors, due to lack of innovation, skilled Workforce and technology. Rockwell Automation has announced the results of the 8th annual “State of Smart Manufacturing Report.” The global study surveyed more than 1,350 manufacturers across 13 of the leading manufacturing countries including Australia, China, India, Japan and the Republic of Korea. This year’s report reveals a focus on delivering profitable growth without sacrificing quality, an emphasis on accessing data’s true potential, and increasing adoption of technology to build resilience, enable agility, increase sustainability, and address workforce challenges. Key findings include: “Balancing quality and growth,” and “tracking or quantifying sustainable practices” are the biggest internal obstacles inhibiting progress for Asia-Pacific (APAC) manufacturers this year, compared to deploying and integrating new technology in 2022. Globally, twice as many manufacturers believe their organization lacks the technology needed to outpace the competition, as compared to 2022. Four out of five manufacturers still lack an end-to-end supply chain planning solution. Close to half (44%) of APAC manufacturers plan to adopt smart manufacturing within the next year; out of this, China (80%), Australia (60%) and India (59%) are already using some components of smart manufacturing. The biggest barriers to adopting smart manufacturing for APAC manufacturers are employee resistance to technology adoption and change, lack of skill set to manage smart manufacturing implementation, and lack of clear definition of the value/ROI of smart manufacturing. Quality management system (QMS) is the smart manufacturing system that APAC respondents have seen the largest ROI, followed by manufacturing execution system (MES) and enterprise resource planning (ERP). Cybersecurity risks rank highest as the obstacle all respondents are looking to mitigate with smart manufacturing initiatives. 88% of APAC manufacturers plan to maintain or grow employment due to technology adoption. Additionally, 39% of respondents believe they […]

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2023 Media Kit available

The www.asiamanufacturingnews.com Media Kit 2023 is now available as your company plans and strategises activities for the year. There is plenty of scope for Company Profiles, Interviews, Development stories, Trade Fair News, Analysis and any other earth shattering activities you want to share with readers. Asia’s Manufacturing Future is the theme for 2023, as we go forward in these challenging times of climate change, supply chain issues, green energy, component sourcing and equality in the workplace. Doug Green, Publisher publisher@xtra.co.nz

Vietnam’s FPT Software launches chipmaking subsidiary; Produces first semiconductor chips

FPT Software aims to tap into Asia Pacific’s semiconductor market which accounts for 60 percent of global semiconductor sales. FPT Tower – FPT Corporation’s headquarter in Hanoi, Vietnam. Vietnam’s leading ICT company FPT Software has launched a new subsidiary, FPT Semiconductor, marking a key milestone for the company as it enters the booming semiconductor industry. Through the new subsidiary, FPT Software aims to gain a slice of Asia Pacific’s semiconductor market which accounts for 60 percent of global sales[3]. IDC projects that worldwide semiconductor revenue will reach $661 billion in 2022, an increase of 13.7 percent over 2021[4]. FPT Semiconductor released its first integrated circuits (ICs), which were designed in Vietnam and manufactured in South Korea, in August 2022.These ICs will be used in Internet of Things (IoT) medical devices. By 2023, FPT Semiconductor plans to supply 25 million chips globally in seven types to meet diverse needs in telecommunications, IoT, automotive technology, energy, electronics, and others. “We look forward to contributing to the development of the fast-growing semiconductor industry in Vietnam and Asia on a broader scale,” said FPT Semiconductor’s Founder & Chief Executive Officer Nguyen Vinh Quang. “FPT Semiconductor looks to become the chip supplier of choice for businesses in Vietnam and further in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, the United States, and Europe” he said. After 23 years of leadership in IT services and solutions in Vietnam, FPT Software decided to venture into fabless manufacturing. With the establishment of FPT Semiconductor, FPT Software continues to extend its comprehensive ecosystem of digital transformation services and solutions. Building on the global presence and years of experience across various domains, FPT Software hopes to accompany clients with consulting and implementing tailor-made solutions, and now with supplying semiconductor components added to its portfolio. “We are proud that the whole research and development […]

Solar testing lab opens in Shanghai

DEKRA recently inaugurated a new testing center for renewable energy in Shanghai, China. With this step, the global expert organisation is meeting the growing demand from the Chinese solar industry for high-quality testing and certification services. The DEKRA Shanghai Renewable Energy Testing Center is its biggest and most state-of-the-art solar laboratory to date in Baoshan, Shanghai, with the aim of providing even greater support to the development of the solar industry. China is the world’s largest manufacturer of solar modules and the industry is experiencing strong growth. “DEKRA and its customers share a commitment to a safe and sustainable world. Sustainability and renewable energy are crucial factors in safeguarding our future on this planet,” said Mike Walsh, head of DEKRA’s APAC region and Executive Vice President of the DEKRA Group. “I’m proud that DEKRA has made this significant investment. The DEKRA Shanghai Renewable Energy Testing Center demonstrates our commitment to the future of our planet and our enhanced expertise in terms of solving the challenges we all face to ensure we do business sustainably.” “We are investing in leading testing infrastructure as well as talent, so that we can keep pace with the ever-growing requirements in the renewable energy industry. The new testing center demonstrates our commitment in this field, and we’re delighted to be able to support the industry with these new resources. “Thanks to our innovative and pioneering testing services, we can offer solutions to 80 percent of the world’s leading manufacturers of photovoltaic modules today,” said Kilian Aviles, Senior Vice President of DEKRA’s APAC region and Managing Director of DEKRA China, at the official opening ceremony. The DEKRA Renewable Energy Testing Center covers some 2,600 square meters and provides leading global expertise in photovoltaic technology. The laboratory offers a broad and varied service portfolio covering testing and […]

Manufacturers can no longer postpone investments in digital technologies

After taking the temperature of process manufacturers, ABI Research finds that manufacturers of fast-moving consumer goods are approaching boiling point. Global technology intelligence firm ABI Research evaluated the impact politics, regulation, the economy, supply chain, Environmental Social and Governance (ESG), and technology are having on manufacturers of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), pharmaceuticals, producers of steel, chemicals, pulp and paper, as well as the mining and oil & gas sectors. “Our assessment found that the FMCG sector is under pressure from all sides,” says Michael Larner, Industrial & Manufacturing Research Director at ABI Research. Securing raw materials is challenging considering lockdowns in China and limited grain supplies from Ukraine. “Supply shocks are raising input costs, and operating costs are rising with higher energy costs coupled with the pressure to pay higher wages and work sustainably. “We all hoped that with the rollout of COVID vaccines, the world would return to ‘normal’,” Larner continues. “However, events have taken a different turn, with the effects felt far and wide. Political decisions and regulations have the most impact on these firms’ operations. After all, governments can lock down cities and restrict transportation. At the same time, production can stop due to product recalls, as currently witnessed with Abbott Laboratories’ baby formula facility in the United States.” Each industry is at very different stages concerning its digital maturity. Large mining firms, such as Rio Tinto, are automating many processes, and oil & gas firms, including Saudi Aramco, are utilising data analytics to monitor operations and their immediate surroundings. Steel, pharma, and pulp and paper producers have more work to do to connect their operations digitally and utilise some of the cutting-edge technologies. Meanwhile, FMCG firms (Procter & Gamble is one such example) are working toward aligning IT and OT teams. Manufacturers can no longer postpone investments in […]

Mölnlycke invests EUR 50 million in a new surgical gloves plant

Mölnlycke is investing EUR 50 million in a new plant in Kulim, Malaysia, to meet future demand for high-quality surgical gloves. The new plant will start production in September 2022 and will generate 500 new local job positions. With sustainable manufacturing as one of the main drivers for the initiative, Mölnlycke is partnering with ENGIE for energy solutions and Veolia Water Technologies for wastewater treatment solutions to ensure best-in-class energy and waste water management at the new plant. “The new plant is a key part of our future plans for sustainable growth within the surgical gloves business. It will enable us to expand production to meet projected demand. But the best part is that we will achieve this in a less resource-intensive way, while creating a state-of-the-art working environment for our colleagues in Malaysia,” says Zlatko Rihter, the CEO of Mölnlycke. “As part of our commitment to reduce our operational carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 (baseline 2016), and in support of Malaysia’s national agenda to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, Mölnlycke is focused on driving continuous energy efficiency to transition to 100% renewable electricity across all our sites globally. “We intend to optimise the new plant’s energy consumption by tapping digital energy management to monitor how energy is being used and where it is being lost. This increased transparency will help us optimise our efforts to reduce consumption.” Four out of Mölnlycke’s 14 plants are already operating fully on renewable electricity; and as of March 2022, additionally three of the surgical gloves manufacturing plants in Malaysia could be added to the list of factories fully powered by green electricity. Mölnlycke’s journey to become a zero waste company by 2050 at the latest continues with focusing on both promoting a circular economy to reduce waste in all our manufacturing processes […]

Schaeffler’s Autonomous Mobile Robot, DEX awarded with “Red Dot: Best of the Best”

Schaeffler, a leading global automotive and industrial supplier, was recently awarded the Red Dot: Best of the Best award for its Dual EXtendable (DEX), the Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) project in the Red Dot Design Award under the Design Concept category. DEX was designed to reimagine the dexterity and intelligence of collaborative robots and their relationships with shopfloor employees. Featuring bi-directional leg extensions, WLAN and middleware integration, 2D/3D SLAM-based precise localization, as well as speech and gesture recognition capabilities, DEX serves as a research testbed to infuse functionality with smart social behaviors to support and boost productivity in industrial settings for a wide range of tasks. Commenting on the award, Mr. Han Boon Siew, Chief Information Officer Schaeffler Asia/Pacific, Director at Schaeffler Hub for Advanced Research, said: “Being awarded the Best of the Best award for DEX from one of the most prestigious awards is testament to our continuous passion and commitment in developing cutting edge solutions to drive new possibilities for mobility and motion – both with our customers and for our production operations.” The research project is part of Schaeffler’s Schaeffler Hub for Advanced Research (SHARE) program that comprises a global research network with leading universities worldwide via its company-on-campus concept. The concept enables particularly intensive exchange and close cooperation between Schaeffler employees, scientists and academics through applied research to expand the current state of technology and transfer research insights into product development activities. DEX was also designed in collaboration with Orcadesign Consultants Pte Ltd, who worked closely with the SHARE at NTU technology team to visualise the concept and vision of DEX while integrating their insights and expertise in defining the user experience that included the robot’s form and touchpoints. “At Schaeffler, we see collaboration as key to the strategic development of components and technologies […]

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