Smart Manufacturing

Robot-assisted assembly of high-voltage connectors for electric vehicles

Masterpiece for Mexico Assembling high-voltage connectors for electric and hybrid vehicles at a rate of five million per year calls for sophisticated automation solutions. Especially when regular retooling for new models and variants is the norm. Against this background, a pioneering system with six Stäubli robots, 13 image processing systems and inline quality control at every stage is now ensuring highly flexible production. Electro-mobility is the buzzword of our times, and the market for vehicles with electric drives is steadily gaining momentum worldwide. For some time now, this trend has also been spurring demand for the type of assembly solutions for electric components offered by specialized machine builders such as Eberhard AG. The company, based in Schlierbach near Stuttgart, Germany, was recently asked by a multinational automotive supplier to implement a complex project. Specifically, it involved the planning and realisation of an assembly line for high-voltage connectors. The system would have to not only perform the actual assembly work, but also the visual inspection at each stage, the testing of every single connector for leak-proofing, and finally the packing of the finished high-voltage connectors in trays. As Abdullah Kotan, Project Planning and Application Team Leader at Eberhard describes, “The special features of the project included the target output of 5,000,0000 units per year, a short cycle time of no more than three seconds per connector, and a future-proof system design to accommodate a large number of possible connector variants. “Given these requirements, it quickly became clear that the only possible solution would include robots, an image processing system and a highly flexible feed system.” Founded in 1964 and now employing 320 people, Eberhard has extensive experience in the field of PCB assembly and connector production. Because customized automation and assembly solutions are among the company’s core competencies, management was firmly […]

Grundfos partners with Singapore Polytechnic to develop smart sustainable solutions for industries

From L to R: Eric Lai, Regional Managing Director for Industry APAC and Country Director, Singapore, Grundfos; Humphrey Lau, Group Senior Vice President of Global Industry Sales, Grundfos; Georgina Phua, Deputy Principal (Development), Singapore Polytechnic; Loh Yew Chiong, Senior Director, Computing, Chemical & Life Sciences Cluster, Singapore Polytechnic. Grundfos, a global leader in advanced pump solutions and watertechnology, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Singapore Polytechnic (SP) to co-develop energy and water efficient smart solutions that support industries in Singapore in their efforts to be sustainable, through collaboration, talent development, and sustainability education. In alignment with the Singapore Green Plan 2030, Grundfos and SP will be jointly exploring and developing smart sustainable solutions for industries, as well as driving initiatives focused on UN Sustainability Development Goals such as SDG6 (clean water and sanitation) and SDG13 (sustainableconsumption and production patterns) for climate action. The partnership will see both parties contributing complementary expertise, knowledge, and talent that will advance sustainability efforts for industries. SP will facilitate the various touchpoints between academia and industry, while Grundfos will tap into its extensive network and industry knowledge to provide staff and students with the necessary resources and industry opportunities to successfully codevelop innovative sustainable solutions. These solutions will be subsequently implemented with industry manufacturers in Singapore through pilot projects. To achieve this, the 3-year partnership will focus on sustainability education and talent development. Grundfos and SP will look to roll out a comprehensive range of solution packages, projects, events, courses, and trainings to proactively promote sustainability and smart sustainability to the industry, which includes webinar sharing sessions, seminars, and conferences. To build talent pipelines and foster talent development, Grundfos will also be working closely with SP across various programs such as mentorship programmes, book prizes, student projects, and internships. One such initiative includes […]

JD.com to build China’s first carbon-neutral logistics industrial park in Xi’an

JD.com is making progress in its construction of the first carbon-neutral intelligent industrial park for China’s logistics industry, with the Xi’an Asia No.1 logistics park expected to be carbon-neutral on the operations level by early 2022. At nearly 300,000 square meters, JD’s Asia No.1 logistics park in Xi’an has deployed 100,000 square meters of rooftop solar PV with a capacity of 9 MW, which generated a total amount of about 8,500 MWh of electricity from January to October in 2021 — equivalent to providing electricity for about 3,900 Chinese households for a year, and reducing carbon emissions by approximately 5,670 tons when compared to purchasing electricity from local power plants. In addition, Xi’an Asia No.1 can meet heating needs through distributed air conditioning instead of a conventional boiler room in certain areas. New energy is widely used in forklifts and other special equipment, including 22 sets of charging terminals that can support charging 44 vehicles at a time. Streetlights in the park will also gradually be replaced by solar lights. With the support of advanced technologies including 5G, blockchain and AI, JD is also researching an industry solution for carbon neutral parks by further improving operating efficiency and lowering energy consumption. Green warehousing: Automation enabling warehouses to operate without lighting JD.com pioneered a rooftop-distributed solar PV system in its Shanghai Asia No.1 location in 2017, which now generates 3.11 million kWh per year, supplying the energy for warehouse lighting, automatic sorting, packaging, picking and other activities. Currently, JD has completed installation of PV systems at 12 logistics parks, while automation systems and robots also enable warehouses to operate without lighting. Such “dark operations” help save an average of 2,283 kWh per minute at JD’s logistics parks, which is equivalent to the electric consumption of a normal household for one and […]

Korea’s Hanho distributor of Verton safe lifting technology

Hanho International has always put safety and efficiency at the forefront of its crane operations, and its new distribution agreement with Verton will also secure its reputation as an industry innovator. Effective immediately, Hanho is distributing Verton’s lifting and load orientation technology across South Korea/Korea. Verton’s remote-controlled load orientation products, rotate suspended loads without the need for taglines, using gyroscopes and sophisticated control systems, removing the need for personnel near or under loads. Since 1989, Hanho International has been a leading exporter and importer of used cranes in Korea. They have earned the trust of their customers by consistently supplying high-standard cranes of excellent condition across a wide range of industries. They specialise in crawler cranes, all-terrain cranes, and rough-terrain cranes, while also accommodating the diverse needs of their customers. Hanho International CEO, Jim Park, says that partnering with Verton will be of significant benefit to their customers. “To put it simply, there is no-one else doing what Verton is doing to improve the safety of workers on the job site,” he said. “There is no other technology that delivers this significant level of risk removal while providing a cost-effective solution that also provides more efficient operations. “Our market research shows that our target market for Verton solutions will include management and planning installation companies, and crane rental companies to begin with. “We are eager and proud to offer the Verton range of products to our customers.” CEO of Verton, Tim Ekert, said that this distribution agreement with Hanho International will mean safer and faster turnarounds for countless projects. “It’s exciting to witness new audiences benefiting from Verton’s technology in their lifting operations,” he said. “Verton’s range of lifting solutions uses gyroscopes and sophisticated control systems that make even the most difficult job safer, without the need for taglines or […]

MHI awarded major turbomachinery order for Ust-Luga LNG Export Plant

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has been awarded by Linde Engineering the main refrigeration gas compression trains for the Ust-Luga LNG project in Russia. The order consists of the best in class, high efficiency dual shaft 120 megawatt H-100 gas turbines and centrifugal compressors. H-100 Gas Turbine Led by RusChemAlliance LLC, the 50-50 special-purpose venture of PJSC Gazprom and JSC RusGazDobycha, the Ust-Luga LNG project is a world class natural gas liquefaction plant designed to apply the liquefaction technology owned by Linde and Gazprom, with two trains to produce upwards of 13 million tons per annum (mtpa). The liquefaction plant to be located near the Baltic seaport of Ust-Luga, Leningrad Oblast will utilise natural gas gathered from domestic sources via Russia’s Unified Gas Supply System (UGSS). The EPC contract was signed in September 2021 eyeing to start LNG production by 2026. MHI President & CEO Seiji Izumisawa said, “We are pleased to supply MHI’s H-100 driven compressor trains for this prestigious Ust-Luga LNG plant. This project will showcase the benefits of MHI’s LNG solution in terms of lower production costs, increased productivity, reduced complexity and lower lifecycle costs, while significantly reducing plant emissions.” MHI has an extensive record of delivering state-of-the-art turbomachinery to the oil & gas and petrochemical industries and continues to be a major turbomachinery player in the Russian market. MHI’s H-100 is ideally suited to drive the main refrigeration compressors in large scale LNG plants for several reasons, including: 1. Higher efficiency in its Heavy-Duty class, which reduces CO2 emissions, compared with the conventional types of Heavy-Duty gas turbine2. The dual shaft design does not require a large external starter / helper motor, thus contributing to a more compact footprint and space savings3. Operational flexibility, including broad variable-speed operation and full pressure re-starting of the refrigeration […]

Siemens, Hyundai Motor Co and Kia combine for DMT

Siemens’ NX Software and Teamcenter Software from the Xcelerator Portfolio replace incumbent solutions to become standard solutions for Hyundai and Kia next-generation data management and design environment. Siemens Digital Industries Software is selected as the preferred bidder for the next generation engineering environment and product data management environment Siemens’ NX Software and Teamcenter Software from the Xcelerator Portfolio replace incumbent solutions to become standard solutions for Hyundai and Kia next-generation data management and design environment Siemens and Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation (Hyundai and Kia) announced today a new technology partnership to accelerate their digital transformation and a new future of mobility. Hyundai and Kia has selected Siemens as the preferred bidder and strategic partner to provide next generation engineering and product data management through NX™ software and the Teamcenter® portfolio from Siemens’ Xcelerator portfolio of integrated software, services and development platform. Hyundai and Kia has evaluated and assessed various alternatives including incumbent solutions and selected Siemens’ software, embracing the world’s most comprehensive digital twin. Hyundai and Kia will cooperate with Siemens as its key trusted partner, to drive the future of mobility. “Selecting NX software and the Teamcenter portfolio from Siemens’ Xcelerator portfolio for our core design and data management platforms will introduce a new working environment for our teams that will pave the way for a leap forward in future car development.” said Albert Bierman, Head of R&D Division, Hyundai Motor Company. “This is the beginning of a huge transformation and an important point of change for Hyundai Motor Company and with Siemens as our trusted partner we will work together to achieve our goals through mutual cooperation and teamwork.” Hyundai and Kia and Siemens will collaborate to establish design methods and develop custom solutions that consider the lifecycle of all automobiles and associated processes and activities, […]

Yili and Ausnutria M & A deal largest in China’s dairy industry

Yili joins hands with Ausnutria, marking the largest M&A deal of China’s dairy industry in recent years. The new parterhsip will enable the two sides to complement each other in terms of supply chains, channels, product portfolio and R&D. Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co., Ltd. ( “Yili Group” or “Yili”), the largest and most valuable dairy producer in Asia, has taken a stake in goat milk formula giant Ausnutria Dairy Co. Ltd. ( “Ausnutria Dairy” or “Ausnutria”) and became its largest shareholder. This marked the largest M&A deal of China’s dairy industry in recent years. According to the announcement made by Yili Group, the company will team up with Ausnutria Dairy through its wholly-owned subsidiary Hong Kong Jingang Trade Holding Co., Ltd. (“Jingang”), as a step to move into the infant formula and nutrition product business. Jingang will acquire a total of 531 million shares from other shareholders at a price of HK$10.06 per share, which represents approximately 30.89% of the total issued shares of Ausnutria. In addition, Ausnutria will issue 90 million new shares to Jingang at the price of HK$10.06 per share. If the above two transactions can be successfully completed, Jingang will hold a total of 621 million shares of Ausnutria, or 34.33% of the total, making Yili the largest single shareholder of the company. Dairy giant joins hands with leader of goat milk formula, forging a strong new alliance Pan Gang, Chairman of Yili Group, said at the signing ceremony that as the two enterprises have much in common, Yili recognises the values, strategic layout, and the core team of Ausnutria. In the years to come, Yili will bring into full play its strengths in terms of company size, brand building, channels and industrial chain to enable Ausnutria’s sound development over the long term. The cooperation […]

SENSA for pharmaceutical industries

This is a double-pass reverse osmosis system that produces demineralised water with low conductivity and bacteria for the cosmetics industry. The SENSA complements Veolia’s existing range of water treatment solutions for the pharmaceutical industry, which also addresses the needs of the cosmetics industry. Capable of producing different kinds of water outlet qualities for applications such as ultrapure water production, industrial process water production, and utility water, SENSA meets all the requirements of the cosmetics industry. SENSA is a reverse osmosis (RO) system, where water gets purified through a membrane. This purification process is repeated twice in SENSA’s double-pass RO configuration to achieve higher water quality — removing more than 99% of salts and producing water with a conductivity as low as 5 µS/cm. With six skid-mounted units, it is a high-availability system with flow rates ranging from 1.4 to 10 m³/h depending on the inlet water quality. Compared to conventional systems, SENSA is an eco-friendly system providing high water recovery to minimize water losses of up to 90%. It boasts a plug-and-play unit ready for Clean-In-Place operation and offers remote monitoring and control as well as easy access for maintenance. SENSA is fully designed and standardised with models available according to European standards. Local after-sales service and support teams offer preventative and corrective maintenance programs to ensure long-term, efficient operation of installed plants. In addition, SENSA is compatible with Hubgrade, Veolia’s digital monitoring solution. Clients can benefit from the secure cloud-based offer that provides advanced data analyses and interpretation — allowing for real-time solutions to continuously optimize the operation of the equipment.

‘Chipageddon’: How Taiwan is battling the global chip shortage

Semiconductors are the lifeblood of the modern world, but now there is a critical shortage worldwide and Taiwan is at the center of it. In May, Japanese automobile giant Nissan was forced to put the brakes on its vehicle production and cut its manufacturing output for 2021 by 500,000 units. The reason: a severe shortfall of a coin-sized computer chip needed to power its vehicles. This chip shortage, which has crippled the global automobile industry for the past 18 months, has now spilled over to other sectors. But effort and flexibility among logistics partners are helping to mitigate the crisis and offer ideas for how processes might be improved in the future. Chips, also known as semiconductors, power the modern world. Almost anything electronic, from phones, cars to even an alarm clock, relies on these nano-sized silicon wafers to function. Last year, Taiwan dominated the global market share for semiconductor contract manufacturing, accounting for more than 60 percent of global revenue. “We’re the world’s chipmaking factory. Semiconductor manufacturing is one of the most important industries for Taiwan,” said DJ Shieh, Managing Director of DHL Supply Chain Taiwan. But in the past year, a global pandemic and one of the worst droughts in half a century has severely disrupted production there. Taiwan is also caught in a global tech war between the United States and China. The triple threat has led to a semiconductor shortage crisis so severe that it has been dubbed “Chipaggedon”. “The global chip shortage is affecting every industry. I think very few players expected the sharp fall in supply,” said Shieh. “We’re doing our best to ensure the seamless flow of goods for our semiconductor customers to minimize the fallout, and hopefully resolve, this supply chain crisis.” A perfect storm The Covid-19 pandemic was the catalyst for this […]

BlueBotics and Planet T & S to grow Thai AGV market

BlueBotics, the global reference in natural navigation for automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), has expanded its Asian footprint by signing a new distribution agreement with Thai factory automation specialist Planet T& s Co Ltd. Prior to entering into this distribution partnership, Planet T & S was a navigation customer of BlueBotics. As a result, the company has developed several ANT-driven AGVs, which it now sells into the Thai market. Found in 1997 in Bangkok, Thailand, Planet T & S. is a leading automation technology service provider whose aim is to help Thai businesses lower costs, reduce defects and increase efficiency with technology products and engineering solutions. The company has over five years of AGV experience and has commissioned more than 80 vehicles across Thailand to date. The new partnership between BlueBotics and Planet T & S is the fourth such Asian agreement that BlueBotics has signed in the past three years. The company previously signed distribution deals with MacPion in Korea, Altech Co. Ltd. in Japan, and Shanghai TONGPU Electronics Co. Ltd. in China. BlueBotics is the reference in natural navigation and has the mission to help companies meet the challenge of vehicle automation. With its 20 years of industry experience, the company provides the autonomous navigation technology (ANT) and expert support customers need to bring their AGV, automated forklift or mobile robot successfully to market.

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