Smart Manufacturing

Strong demand for construction continues across APAC, but project delivery risk intensifies

Project delivery risk has emerged as the critical theme for the industry to navigate even as activity levels remain high Construction markets across Asia Pacific (APAC) entered 2026 in a strong position, but that momentum is now under pressure following geopolitical disruptions and energy shocks in the first half of the year. The latest Construction Market Insights mid-year report by Linesight revealed that APAC remains among the strongest growth regions for construction, supported by investment in digital infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, energy, transport, and major public programmes. Most markets within APAC experienced an expanded construction output in 2025 and are on track to sustain this positive trajectory this year. In particular, Malaysia is anticipated to lead growth in the APAC region in 2026, with a projected 6.5% increase in construction output. Other Southeast Asian markets are also demonstrating robust growth, with Singapore and Thailand expected to deliver an increase of 4.5% and 3.7% in construction output respectively. While demand remains strong, risks in project delivery are rising as market conditions are increasingly shaped by execution constraints rather than demand, influenced by persistent challenges in labour, supply chains and power availability. In an environment of intensified macroeconomic uncertainty and geopolitical disruptions, supply chains are also facing severe constraints and pressures. The report highlighted that recent tensions in the Middle East have pushed the global supply chain pressure index (GSCPI) to its highest level of 1.82 this year since July 2022. Key market-specific insights to note for 2026 and beyond include: Malaysia: Construction industry is projected to grow an average of 3.5% per year from 2027 to 2030, led by investment in industrial, transport, and energy projects. Construction inflation remains elevated at 5–6%, driven by global commodity costs and domestic subsidy and labour pressures. Data centre demand continues to rise, with strong hyperscale interest. Singapore: Construction industry is expected to […]

Rockwell Automation’s Singapore site named a World Economic Forum Global Lighthouse

Recognition highlights advanced manufacturing capabilities at Rockwell’s Singapore facility and the company’s role in scaling AI-driven transformation. Rockwell Automation, the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, has announced its Singapore manufacturing facility has been named a member of the Global Lighthouse Network by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The designation recognises this facility for applying advanced technologies at scale to deliver measurable improvements in productivity, quality and workforce enablement. Rockwell’s Singapore site was recognised with distinction in the productivity category, reflecting its transformation into a highly flexible, data-driven operation. By deploying more than 50 digital and AI-enabled solutions – including intelligent automation, AI-driven quality control and predictive maintenance – the facility improved output efficiency, reduced defects and accelerated workforce onboarding. “This recognition reflects how Rockwell is applying advanced automation technologies not just within a single site, but in ways that can scale across our global operations and for our customers,” said Bob Buttermore, SVP and chief supply chain officer at Rockwell Automation. “We are focused on turning data into decisions and AI into outcomes – helping manufacturers build Factories of the Future that are more resilient, adaptive and productive.” According to the World Economic Forum, this latest cohort of Lighthouse sites demonstrates how AI is becoming embedded into core operations, enabling organisations to improve decision-making, accelerate innovation and continuously optimize performance. Rockwell’s participation in the Global Lighthouse Network connects the company to a global community of leading manufacturers advancing industrial transformation. Through this collaboration, Rockwell will share best practices and work alongside other Lighthouse members to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies across industries and regions. “The world’s leading manufacturers are no longer optimising individual processes; they are reimagining entire operating systems,” said Kiva Allgood, managing director, World Economic Forum. “The newest Lighthouse sites show how […]

Sidel drives smart manufacturing innovation at ProPak Asia 2026

Booth AG 28, Hall C2: 10 to 13 June, IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok, Thailand. At ProPak Asia 2026, Sidel will spotlight its advanced technologies, complete line expertise and digital solutions that are helping manufacturers improve efficiency, flexibility and sustainability across production operations. From Aseptic Predis X4™️ and EvoBLOW Laser to integrated digital services and multi-format packaging capabilities, visitors will discover how Sidel enables producers in building more agile and future ready operations. Alongside these core technologies, Sidel will also bring its expertise across beverage, food, and home and personal care (FHPC) markets, reinforcing its position as a partner for complete, future-ready production solutions. As Asia’s premier exhibition for processing and packaging moves to the expanded IMPACT Muang Thong Thani venue, ProPak Asia 2026 provides an ideal platform for Sidel to demonstrate its leadership in end-to-end line solutions, advanced engineering and smart services. With more than 40 years’ experience in complete lines for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, Sidel combines deep category expertise with continuous innovation to support customers in navigating increasing production complexity and evolving consumer demands. Delivering value across the entire line Designed to meet the needs of every stakeholder, from line managers and operators to maintenance teams, Sidel’s solutions address complex production requirements while driving higher equipment availability, line efficiency and operational reliability. Through advanced engineering, comprehensive project management, smart services and customer-focused support, Sidel delivers a seamless end-to-end experience that supports long-term production performance. Showcasing complete line expertise Visitors will gain insights into Sidel’s complete line solutions, from line design, installation, performance optimization to lifecycle support. Tailored to the specific needs of each customer, these integrated systems help streamline operations, maximise performance and minimise downtime. Building deep expertise in managing bottles of any material, shape or resistance, Sidel supports companies across PET, can and glass formats, as […]

Thailand approves $29 billion investment wave as data center demand surges

BANGKOK – Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) has approved six major projects worth a combined 958 billion baht, or approximately USD 29 billion, led by a large-scale data infrastructure expansion by TikTok System (Thailand) Co., Ltd., underscoring the country’s growing role as a regional hub for data centers, cloud services and AI-driven digital infrastructure. The approvals were made at a BOI Board meeting chaired by Mr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. The Board also approved a second batch of projects under the Thailand FastPass mechanism and discussed with energy agencies steps to strengthen electricity readiness and improve access to clean energy — two increasingly important factors in attracting large-scale digital and high-technology investment. Mr. Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary General of the BOI, said the latest approvals reflect growing investor confidence in Thailand at a time when global companies are racing to expand digital infrastructure across Asia. “Amid continuing global volatility, investment in Thailand’s digital and advanced technology sectors continues to grow, reflecting investor confidence in the country’s potential as a regional technology hub,” Mr. Narit said. “For Thailand to capture this new investment cycle, we must be ready not only with investment incentives, but also with sufficient power, clean-energy options, skilled talent, deeper supply chains and a reliable facilitation system that allows projects to move quickly from approval to operation.” Of the six approved projects, three are in data center and data hosting services, with a combined investment value of 913 billion baht, or approximately USD 27 billion. The largest project is by TikTok System (Thailand) Co., Ltd., valued at 842 billion baht, or approximately USD 25 billion. The project will install additional servers and expand data storage and processing infrastructure across Bangkok, Samut Prakan and Chachoengsao Province, supporting rising demand for digital services and strengthening Thailand’s […]

FPT AI Factory partners to launch an agent-native commerce platform

HANOI, Vietnam–FPT AI Factory, in partnership with InFlow and Visa Intelligent Commerce, has launched an agent-native commerce platform, enabling access to frontier AI models that fuel AI agents in action. AI agents can dynamically route between models based on cost, latency, or performance. This collaboration allows seamless AI agent workflows to autonomously research, procure, and pay for services while ensuring security and compliance, pioneering the B2AI economy on a global scale. FPT AI Factory serves as the production inference layer, demonstrating the agent-native commerce platform live where AI agents access compute services, execute high-frequency API calls, and generate sustained, programmatic demand. The Dawn of B2AI Commerce B2AI commerce, where AI agents research, negotiate, and complete purchases autonomously, is rapidly moving from concept to production reality. The new horizon is B2AI: an emerging commercial paradigm in which AI agents are the new customer type executing end-to-end procurement workflows under human-defined intent and outcomes. Just as cloud infrastructure unlocked the SaaS economy, the agent-native commerce platform is now unlocking the B2AI economy, opening an entirely new commerce market. Closing the Loop: The Full B2AI Commerce Stack This three-way partnership assembles every layer required for an end-to-end, agent-native transaction. InFlow provides B2AI commerce infrastructure for both sides of the transaction. AI agents (buyers) onboard, pay, and transact as discrete customers. Businesses (sellers) onboard, transact with, and monetize agent-driven demand at scale. Visa Intelligent Commerce contributes trusted payment credentials and global network access, ensuring every agent-initiated transaction is authenticated, policy-governed, and fully auditable. FPT AI Factory serves as the production inference layer, demonstrating the agent-native commerce platform live where AI agents access compute services, execute high-frequency API calls, and generate sustained, programmatic demand. Together, the three companies cover the complete transaction stack: identity, payment credentials, and AI compute, making B2AI commerce operational today. What This Unlocks for […]

Edge AI Server powers next-Gen AI with AMD EPYC Embedded 8004

IBASE Technology Inc. has unveiled the ES1002 Edge AI Server, a high-performance platform engineered to accelerate next-generation edge AI and data-intensive applications. Powered by AMD EPYC Embedded 8004 (Siena) series processors, the system delivers up to 64 cores and 128 threads, enabling efficient real-time analytics, AI inference, and large-scale data processing at the edge. With support for up to six DDR5-4800 RDIMM slots with a maximum capacity of 576GB ECC memory, along with five PCIe Gen5 x16 slots, the ES1002 provides exceptional computing power and scalability for demanding workloads. It features a 4U rackmount chassis design with a spacious internal layout that significantly improves thermal efficiency and overall system stability. This robust architecture is ideal for long-duration, high-load operations in mission-critical environments. In addition, multiple PCIe expansion slots enable flexible integration of network interface cards, GPUs, and a wide range of AI accelerator cards, allowing the system to adapt to diverse edge AI deployment requirements. Designed to support a broad range of enterprise and edge scenarios, the ES1002 is ideal for enterprise application servers, data storage services, backup and data protection, as well as general network service nodes. Combining powerful computing performance, flexible expandability, high-speed connectivity, and a reliable design, the ES1002 serves as a robust and versatile infrastructure platform for organisations building scalable, future-ready edge AI and IT environments. ES1002 KEY FEATURES: l High-core performance with AMD EPYC™ Embedded 8004 l Massive DDR5 memory capacity (up to 576GB ECC) l Flexible PCIe Gen5 expansion for GPUs and AI accelerators l 4U rackmount design for enhanced thermal efficiency l High-speed connectivity with dual 10GbE

Multi-Year strategic collaboration to accelerate industrial intelligence in the Cloud

AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have announced a multi-year Strategic Collaboration Agreement (SCA) to accelerate the delivery of industrial intelligence in the cloud. The agreement deepens the companies’ existing relationship and establishes a framework for joint technology development, go-to-market execution, and customer migration support across the global industrial sector. Under the terms of the agreement, AVEVA will expand its CONNECT industrial intelligence platform on AWS, as part of its broader move to a multi-cloud architecture. By using services including Amazon Bedrock, Amazon Bedrock AgentCore, and Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2), AVEVA will deliver both public and private SaaS capabilities for industrial customers worldwide, accelerating this multi-cloud strategy and reinforcing AVEVA’s commitment to flexibility and scalability. The collaboration also encompasses listing AVEVA products on AWS Marketplace, joint customer migration programs, and a shared commitment to training and certification across both organisations. By bringing CONNECT and the broader AVEVA portfolio to AWS, the two companies aim to give industrial customers a faster, more scalable path to cloud-native operations, reducing the complexity and cost of managing on-premises infrastructure while enabling new AI-driven capabilities that were previously impractical at scale. “Industrial companies are sitting on decades of operational data that holds enormous, untapped value,” said Rob McGreevy, Chief Product Officer, AVEVA. “As AVEVA advances its multi-cloud strategy, building CONNECT on AWS gives our customers even greater flexibility and scalability, empowering them to turn that data into intelligence that helps them design faster, operate smarter, and optimise continuously. AVEVA’s software sits at the heart of mission-critical operations for more than 20,000 enterprises across 150+ countries. This collaboration accelerates how the industrial world can harness cloud and AI with the freedom of choice they expect.” Key Elements of the collaboration: • CONNECT on AWS: AVEVA will build and […]

TDConnex wins Leading Innovator of the Year award for Electronics at India’s 2026 MSME Awards

TDConnex was one of two recipients in the Electronics category for the prestigious national MSME award in India for 2026. TDConnex, a global leader in micro-precision manufacturing, has been named Leading Innovator of the Year — Electronics at the 2026 India MSME Awards. TDConnex was one of only two recipients of the prestigious national prize for India. The Electronics Innovator of the Year award is among the most selective national recognitions for enterprise innovation in India’s electronics manufacturing sector. The award honours enterprises that have demonstrated distinctive innovation, technical capability, and impact in advancing India’s position in the global electronics value chain. The recognition acknowledges TDConnex’s sustained contribution to building global-scale precision manufacturing capability in India. Since establishing its first Indian manufacturing campus in Tamil Nadu, TDConnex has grown into one of the country’s leading platforms for advanced micro-precision components. TDConnex is an established global leader in producing these high-precision components, used in many of the world’s most advanced electronic products. Today, TDConnex components can be found in over a billion electronic devices around the world. “This recognition is deeply meaningful for TDConnex, and for our global team who have made our ambitious vision for India into a reality today,” said Thanga Venkatachalam, CEO of TDConnex. “When we set out to build TDConnex in India, our ambition was to bring world-class manufacturing capabilities to the country in a way that could help global technology innovators deliver the next generation of electronics to the world. “This award is a testament to the extraordinary engineers, technicians, and leaders on our India team who have turned that ambition into reality. Our fast-growing India team has scaled our business in every dimension: people, capabilities, customers, verticals, capacity, and factory scale.” “We are also grateful to the TDConnex team around the world who have worked unselfishly […]

INVT doubles down on India with new Technologies

INVT, a global leader in industrial automation and energy solutions, successfully hosted the “INVT Strategy and New Product Launch 2026” in Goa on May 16 and 17, 2026. The two-day summit brought together more than 125 distributors, strategic partners, industry leaders, and media representatives from across India’s industrial and energy ecosystem, marking one of the company’s most significant gatherings in the country to date. Held under the theme “Leading Smart Industry, Shaping Net-Zero Future,” the summit served as a strategic platform for INVT to strengthen its channel partnerships, introduce its latest technology portfolio, and reaffirm its long-term commitment to India’s industrial modernisation and clean energy transition. Addressing the gathering, Wang Jian, General Manager of Global Sales and Marketing at INVT, outlined the company’s vision for the Indian market and its place in INVT’s broader global expansion plans. “India stands at the forefront of industrial transformation, driven by rapid technological adoption and strong policy support for manufacturing and clean energy. “At INVT, we see India not just as a key growth market but as a strategic partner in shaping the future of the smart industry and sustainable development. Through continuous innovation, localisation, and strong ecosystem partnerships, we remain committed to supporting India’s journey towards intelligent manufacturing and a greener future.” Wang also elaborated on INVT’s commitment to localization as a pillar of its India strategy, emphasizing that the company’s approach goes beyond market presence to building a deeply embedded ecosystem of innovation, collaboration, and customer support. The summit featured key insights from Mr. Zhang Zhi Jun, India Regional Director at INVT, alongside prominent industry voices including Anup Wadhwa, Head of the India Industrial Automation Association. Discussions spanned the growing adoption of integrated automation systems, digital manufacturing technologies, and the accelerating convergence of renewable energy with industrial operations under the Make in India initiative. Partner sharing sessions and […]

Hidden Champion of Five-axis Machine Tools Breaks Foreign Monopoly!

TopNC, the ‘First Chinese Commercial Aerospace Stock’ in Hong Kong, Formally Launches IP Shanghai Top Numerical Control Technology Co., Ltd. (“TopNC” or the “Company”) has officially initiated its IPO process, with plans to commence trading on May 20. It is set to become the “First Chinese Commercial Aerospace Stock” in the Hong Kong stock market. This IPO is jointly sponsored by Guotai Junan International and CCB International. RBC, 3W, Boyu, HHLRA, CDH, TT International, Mirae Asset, GSAM etc. serve as a cornerstone investor. The company plans to globally offer approximately 65,330,000 shares. The share price is set at HK$26.39 per share, with total proceeds expected to reach approximately HK$1.7 billion. As an absolute leader in China’s aviation and aerospace five-axis CNC machine tool sector, TopNC has cultivated the high-end industrial machine tool field for twenty years. It is deeply integrated into national strategic projects such as the C919 large aircraft and Long March carrier rockets, marking a milestone in the domestic substitution of high-end manufacturing. Founded in 2007, TopNC was led and established by Dr. Wang Yuhan, an associate professor at the School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Headquartered in Shanghai, the Company is a national-level key “Little Giant” enterprise and a “Specialized, Fined, Peculiar and Innovative” SME. The Company focuses on the R&D, production, and sales of high-end intelligent manufacturing equipment, with five-axis CNC machine tools at its core. While its products focus on core aviation and aerospace scenarios, they also extend to general industries such as automotive, energy, medical, shipbuilding, and mould manufacturing. The most iconic breakthrough for TopNC was the successful development of the dual five-axis mirror milling machine tool prototype in 2016. This made China the third country in the world, after France and Spain, to master this technology, breaking the long-term technical blockade […]

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