Smart Manufacturing

Kacha Panyaroj the Country Manager for Thailand (002)

Sustainable Manufacturing – Thailand’s Path to a Greener Future

By Kacha Panyaroj, Country Manager for Thailand, Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence Thailand’s manufacturing sector is at an important juncture, poised for strategic evolution. Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira’s recent concerns over the slowing GDP growth rate—down to 0.8% in Q2 2024—and declining export competitiveness highlight the need for a renewed focus on long-term economic growth. The manufacturing industry, which makes up 27% of Thailand’s GDP and provides jobs for over 6.26 million people, plays a crucial role in shaping this future. The government’s Thailand 4.0 initiative envisions a shift toward a high-tech, innovative economy, with emphasis on sectors like electric vehicles, smart electronics, and biotechnology. However, accelerating progress in these areas is essential to remain competitive in the region. This economic imperative aligns perfectly with our environmental commitments. With Thailand pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030, sustainable manufacturing emerges not just as an environmental responsibility but as a strategic necessity for our future competitiveness. The convergence of these economic and environmental imperatives presents a unique opportunity to reimagine Thailand’s industrial landscape. Why is sustainable manufacturing essential? In today’s global economy, sustainable manufacturing represents more than environmental stewardship – it’s a competitive imperative. As major economies and multinational corporations increasingly prioritise green supply chains, Thailand’s industrial sector must evolve to maintain its competitive edge while meeting our national commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030. A diverse industrial landscape offers compelling opportunities for this transformation. Thailand’s electronics sector, as the world’s second-largest producer of hard disk drives, stands ready for sustainable innovation. The chemicals and petrochemicals industry, contributing 5% to GDP, faces the critical challenge of reducing its environmental footprint while maintaining productivity. Perhaps most promising is our burgeoning electric vehicle sector, which aims to produce 1.2 million EVs by 2036 – a goal that perfectly […]

Guangzhou Industrial Technology, 25 – 27 February 2025

Following its well-recieved debut in 2024, the organisers of Guangzhou Industrial Technology have confirmed the event‘s return to the Guangzhou Import and Export Fair Complex from 25 – 27 February 2025. Running under the theme “Smart technology – Unleash the potential of Chinese manufacturing”, the exhibition will showcase a wide range of intelligent industrial technologies, components, equipment and systems designed to meet the requirements and challenges of modern industry. The event is expected to attract manufacturers from Guangdong province, the Greater Bay Area, and the wider national market, supporting China‘s broader efforts to advance its high-tech manufacturing capabilities. China’s vision of “new industrialisation” embodies the country’s drive to modernise its traditional industries, support emerging high-tech sectors and improve overall productivity through the use of advanced technologies such as automation, robotics and intelligent manufacturing systems. These priorities are outlined in the 2024 Government Work Report, an annual document which defines the Chinese government’s objectives and policy directions for the year. The report emphasises the importance of fortifying the industrial system and accelerating new industrialisation, with a focus on encouraging traditional industries to transition toward more sustainable, technology-driven practices. In alignment with China’s new industrialisation objectives, Guangzhou Industrial Technology provides a platform that connects exhibitors and prospective buyers from across the manufacturing value chain. The 2025 edition will cover a wide range of sectors relevant to industrial transformation, including CNC machine tools, bearing processing, mould making and 3D printing, industrial parts and manufacturing, intelligent equipment, industrial automation, digital transformation solutions and more. Among the exhibitors, companies such as Dongguan Yalu Industry Co Ltd, Zhejiang Niulun Bearing Co Ltd, Zhejiang Yidun Mechanical & Electrical Co Ltd, and Hebei Daoming Ceramic and Plastic Bearing Technology Co Ltd will present their latest technologies and share insights on market trends, providing attendees with a deeper understanding […]

6th India Aerosols Expo, 28 February – 1 March 2025, Mumbai

India’s Aerosol market likely to cross USD 1 billion by 2031 Expo to focus on innovation, sustainability and growth India’s only trade show dedicated to the Aerosol (sprays) industry, 6th India Aerosols Expo (IAE2025) is to be held from 28 Feb to 1 March 2025 at Jio World Convention Centre, BKC, Mumbai, India. Organised every two years by Aerosols Promotion Council (APC), this niche trade fair is the ultimate business platform showcasing innovation in aerosols; displaying a varied range of products, inputs, technologies and machinery related to aerosols. Globally, focus is now shifting toward sustainable forms of packaging boosting the “perennially recyclable” aerosol cans industry as is evident from the steady growth it has recorded over the past few years. With participation from a large number of Indian and International companies displaying Personal Care, Health Care, Auto Care, Agri Care, Home Care Spray Products, Paint Sprays, Industrial Lubricants, Cleaners and Coating Sprays, IAE2025 is set to bring together leading minds and innovators from Indian & global Aerosols industry. Says Harrishh Arora, Hon Secretary & VP, APC, “With larger focus on innovation, sustainability and growth of this dynamic sector, IAE 2025 is expected to attract senior-level buyers from Personal Care, Health Care and Pharmaceuticals, Home Care, Auto Care, Paint & Chemical Industries as well as many other sectors for exploring packaging solutions or sourcing private label aerosols from exhibitors.” Buoyed by the fast changes in consumer behaviour, increasing disposable income and greater consciousness towards sustainability, the Aerosol segment in India is growing at a rate of around 8% annually fueled mainly by massive growth in personal care, industrial and FMCG sectors. The domestic aerosol market stood at USD 634.9 million in 2023 projected to cross USD 1 (one) billion by 2031. Aerosols are designed to dispense products in the form of […]

Weichai energises global markets through strategic partnerships and innovation

On December 10, the 2025 Weichai Global Partners Conference overseas session was held in Weifang, China, drawing global customers, partners and key stakeholders from the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. The event served as a platform for reviewing past collaborations, deepening ties, and strategizing future ventures aimed at driving sustainable growth in the global energy sector. Driving Growth through Global Collaboration In 2024, Weichai demonstrated robust growth, leveraging comprehensive supply chain collaborations to capitalize on global market opportunities. The company’s engine exports are projected to grow by 7.7% year-over-year, marking significant inroads into high-end markets with its state-of-the-art data center power generation products across North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Innovations in Energy and Power Systems Weichai has strategically positioned itself with 14 innovative platforms, delivering power solutions ranging from 18 to 4550 kW. These systems are designed for critical applications across multiple sectors including data centers, financial institutions, public utilities, and emergency services, showcasing versatility with fuel adaptability including diesel, natural gas, and biogas. This breadth of application underscores Weichai’s commitment to delivering competitive, globally relevant energy solutions. Maritime and Construction Machinery Advances Weichai has made significant advancements in marine propulsion, optimizing power solutions for high-speed boats, tugs, fishing vessels, and transport ships. The company now offers 21 distinct marine engine series, each designed to deliver a broad spectrum of power outputs. These engines are versatile, supporting a variety of fuels including diesel, heavy oil, methanol, liquefied natural gas, and B100 biodiesel. This range ensures adaptability across diverse marine applications, from fishing vessels and inland waterway transports to coastal transports and high-speed ferries, underscoring Weichai’s commitment to innovation and environmental stewardship in the marine sector. In the construction machinery power market, Weichai has accelerated the introduction of large-bore products, targeting high-end markets and supporting diverse […]

Sumitomo Rubber Industries selects Rockwell Automation to standardise global plant operations

Rockwell Automation, Inc.the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, has been selected by Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd., a leading global tire and rubber manufacturer, to support the company’s digital transformation efforts across plant floors globally. Sumitomo Rubber, known for its Dunlop and Falken brands, will deploy Rockwell’s FactoryTalk® ProductionCentre®, a manufacturing execution system (MES) platform, as part of its strategy to integrate and standardise business and production data. Deployment will begin at the company’s Shirakawa plant in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, and expand to other plants worldwide following evaluation. Sumitomo Rubber is addressing growing business challenges, including material cost increase and labour shortages, by implementing highly efficient production systems through digital technology. The company aims to standardise production across its global sites, which handle high-mix, low-volume production. To enhance integration with its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, Sumitomo Rubber chose Rockwell’s FactoryTalk ProductionCentre for its seamless compatibility with existing systems and its specialised knowledge in tire manufacturing. “We believe leveraging Rockwell Automation’s expertise will enable us to standardise manufacturing management and enhance operational efficiency globally, driving our growth,” said Kenji Saito, executive officer and general manager of the tire manufacturing headquarters at Sumitomo Rubber Industries. “Based on our mid-term management vision, we intend to deploy the new system beginning with the domestic plant. We will continue to collaborate with Rockwell Automation, a global leader in manufacturing, and embrace new challenges with a forward-looking approach, making full use of AI.” “We are pleased to support Sumitomo Rubber by integrating our tire MES solution, FactoryTalk ProductionCentre, into their existing systems,” said James Glasson, vice president, global Industry auto, tire and advanced mobility. “This initiative will enhance operating efficiency, minimise manufacturing risks, reduce implementation costs and significantly accelerate speed to market.” Sumitomo Rubber aims to strengthen its organisational structure through […]

SANY Empowers Intelligent Port Construction to Achieve Major Breakthrough

SHANGHAI – Sany Marine Heavy Industry Co., Ltd., the port machinery subsidiary of SANY Group, has achieved a significant breakthrough with its H-Move2.0 intelligent system in the tire crane automation project at the Port of Tianjin. The system has improved the operational efficiency of tire cranes to 20 moves per hour, setting a new standard in the development of green, digital, and intelligent ports. With the upcoming COP29 and the manufacturing industries calling for net-zero development, SANY is firmly taking the path of industrial transformation with concrete actions to reach the carbon goals. SANY Marine is committed to becoming the technology leader of logistics equipment, providing electric, intelligent, unmanned and integrated solutions for intelligent ports and supporting the green transformation of the global port machinery industry. Faced with challenges such as energy saving carbon reduction, and intelligent development, the need for anti-shaking and anti-twisting capabilities, and labor shortages, SANY Marine’s intelligent port solutions have provided significant advancements. These include real-time anti-shaking and anti-twisting technologies to ensure automated and safe operations, pushing operational efficiency beyond traditional manual methods. Leveraging digital twin technologies, the team can predict and simulate the trajectory and position of the containers and adding the spreader lowering action to essential technical functions to achieve exceptional results. The automation efficiency of a traditional tire crane is about 15 to 16 cycles per hour, while the new version integrating GPS, AI visualisation, and 3D scanning imaging technologies can significantly improve the signal’s reliability. After four months of test trials, the No.45 machine has improved the automated working efficiency to 20 cycles per hour, surpassing manual labor for the first time in the industry. By predicting and simulating the trajectory and position of the landing box, the action of lowering the spreader is added to the technical essentials of manual work, […]

Founder Group secures multiple contracts worth approximately US$5.5 million

KUALA LUMPUR – Founder Group Limited, a pure play, end to end engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning (EPCC) solutions provider for solar photovoltaic systems in Malaysia, is pleased to announce the receipt of several Letters of Award (LOAs) for multiple large-scale solar projects, with a combined contract value of approximately US$5.5 million (equivalent to approximately RM22.5 million). Under the terms of these LOAs, Founder Energy will assume various responsibilities across the projects, including full EPCC services, the supply and installation of DC and AC electrical systems, Instrumentation & Control (I&C) systems, and civil works. These responsibilities encompass projects within the Corporate Green Power Programme (CGPP) as well as a utility-scale solar project. This demonstrates the Company’s flexibility in addressing the diverse needs of large-scale solar initiatives. Malaysia’s solar EPCC services industry is projected to reach approximately US$350 million (about RM1.5 billion) by 2026, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.5%, driven by the country’s strong commitment to renewable energy. As part of this effort, Malaysia aims to achieve a 20% renewable energy mix by 2025, up from just 2% in 2018, supported by initiatives like the Green Technology Financing Scheme, according to the ASEAN Energy Database System. In 2024, the government introduced the Solar for Rakyat Incentive Scheme (SolaRIS) to further accelerate residential solar adoption, complemented by tax exemptions and green technology investment allowances. “We are pleased to have received these Letters of Award, which are a testament to the trust placed in us by various project owners and highlight our commitment to supporting Malaysia’s transition to renewable energy. We look forward to leveraging our expertise in EPCC solar PV projects as we continue to deliver large-scale solar initiatives moving forward,” said Lee Seng Chi, Chief Executive Officer of Founder Group Limited. The company’s primary focus is on […]

Malaysia’s nearshoring edge: A gateway to Southeast Asia

From electronics to aerospace, Malaysia’s growth potential is unmatched, offering strategic benefits across multiple industries. Strategically positioned in the heart of Southeast Asia, Malaysia is a veritable gateway to the region. Its major shipping routes and international airports connect businesses to key Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The nation’s locational advantage enables it to offer faster delivery times and reduced transportation costs for efficient regional operations. It comes as little wonder that Malaysia’s capital city, Greater Kuala Lumpur, is globally recognised as an ideal nearshoring hub. It serves as a conduit for businesses to bring their operations closer to their partners and customers in Southeast Asia. This is especially important in today’s global economic climate, where rising labor costs and inflation have pushed businesses to explore alternatives like nearshoring, or outsourcing business processes to a nearby country or location to trim their overheads. Malaysia boleh: The Malaysian advantage It is easy to see why Malaysia is a prime hub for nearshoring in Southeast Asia. Besides its favorable geographic location, Malaysia boasts abundant natural resources vital for producing advanced materials. In its New Industrial Master Plan 2030, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry identified graphene, nitinol, rare earth, and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) polymers as Malaysia’s core advanced materials. These materials support the country’s electric vehicle (EV), aerospace, and healthcare industries. Its culturally diverse population complements Malaysia’s geographical and natural resources. Predominantly comprising Malay, Chinese, and Indian ethnic groups, Malaysians are proficient in speaking at least two languages, with a high level of proficiency in English. Thus, its workforce is well-equipped to bridge language and cultural barriers, connecting Malaysian businesses to the rest of Southeast Asia. To solidify this advantage, the Malaysian government has proactively developed technical education. In March 2024, the government expanded its Technical and Vocational Education and […]

Nexif Ratch Energy Secures Financial Close 145MWp Bacolod Solar Power Project in the Philippines

Nexif Ratch Energy, a leading independent power producer focused on renewable energy solutions, is thrilled to announce the financial close of its 145MWp Bacolod Solar Power Project, its second solar power project in the Philippines. The Bacolod Solar Power Project, developed by Negros PH Solar Inc, is located across Bacolod City and Bago City in the Negros Occidental province. It is a 145 MWp ground-mounted solar photovoltaic project that will connect to NGCP’s Bacolod Substation and can potentially power to up to 52,600 households. Majority of its output will be sold through a 10-year Power Supply Agreement to a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corporation, with the remainder to the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market. The project investment of more than US$100m is funded by equity from Nexif Ratch Energy and project finance facilities from Security Bank Corporation and Philippine National Bank on a limited recourse basis, with SB Capital Investment Corporation acting as the Mandated Lead Arranger and Bookrunner and PNB Capital and Investment Corporation acting as Arranger. Construction is set to begin in October 2024, with the goal of achieving commercial operations by Q4 2025. Focus is now on an expansion on the existing site, through increased solar PV capacity of up to 20 MW and a Battery Energy Storage System. Beyond its Calabanga and Bacolod solar projects, Nexif Ratch Energy is developing wind energy projects including the San Miguel Bay Project, a nearshore wind project with a capacity of up to 500 MW and the Lucena Project, an offshore wind project with a capacity of up to 475 MW. Mr Surender Singh, Chairman of Nexif Ratch Energy, said “The successful financial close of our 145MWp Bacolod Solar Farm highlights the exceptional collaboration with our partners and the dedication of our local development team. We are excited to bring this […]

Delta Electronics showcases integrated solutions at ITAP 2024

Delta, a global leader in power management and provider of IoT-based smart green solutions, is highlighting the importance of integrated solutions at the seventh edition of Industrial Transformation ASIA-PACIFIC (ITAP 2024). Showcasing its modular and integrated portfolio designed to optimise processes and space, address labor shortages, and enhance power dispatch and renewable energy smoothing, Delta will feature key products such as the DIATwin Virtual Machine Development Platform, intuitive building management systems, and its Energy Storage System (ESS). “Delta is at the forefront of developing integrated solutions that drive energy efficiency and sustainability. Our focus on advanced technologies ensures we deliver smarter systems for a greener future, addressing the growing demand for clean energy and intelligent infrastructure,” said Mr. PS Tang, General Manager, Delta Electronics, Singapore. “ITAP 2024 provides a strategic avenue for Delta to collaborate with industry leaders and explore new opportunities for industrial efficiency and sustainability across the Asia Pacific region. By showcasing our technologies, we aim to help companies optimize operations while reducing their environmental footprint, building a smarter, more sustainable industrial future,” said Mr. David Leal, Regional Vice President of SEA Business, Delta Electronics. Core Technologies Focus: Virtual Simulation, Building Automation, and Energy Storage Solutions As the market shifts towards low-volume, large-variety production, Delta’s smart manufacturing solutions tackle challenges in production efficiency and sustainability. The Digital Twin Solution, featuring the DIATwin Virtual Machine Development Platform and the Reconfigurable Transformer Machine, enables engineers to optimize production virtually, enhancing coating quality and reducing programming time. Similarly, Delta’s building automation systems ensure easy solutions for energy management and smart workspaces. These include programmable controllers, touch panels, and IoT interfaces that make offices more integrated. For example, the Delta Intelligent Meeting Room Control allows the activation of a single button to lower the blinds, adjust the temperature, dim the lights, and […]

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