Smart Manufacturing

350 global security and fire safety suppliers sign up for Secutech Vietnam in Hanoi

Hanoi is poised to become the focal point of the security and fire safety business as Secutech Vietnam returns to the city for the first time in seven years from 19 – 21 July 2023. The sold-out fair will welcome 350 exhibitors from across the globe, including Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Italy, Luxembourg, Malaysia, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden, Taiwan, the UAE, the UK and the US, while Japan, Korea, Singapore and Vietnam will be represented at pavilions across 11,000 sqm of exhibition space at the Friendship Cultural Palace. “We are thrilled that all booth space was fully booked two months before opening, but more importantly, strong international exhibitor participation this year is evidence of the show’s position as one of the most influential trade fairs for security and fire safety in Vietnam,” explains Ms Regina Tsai, General Manager, Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd – Taiwan Branch. “With support from the Ministry of Public Security Vietnam and the Fire and Rescue Police Department, we are honoured that the 61st Anniversary of the Traditional Day of the People Police Force will be celebrated at the show. This will attract government officials and large numbers of relevant industry players to join this important event, allowing suppliers to demonstrate their products and services to them face-to-face.” The fair has attracted a contingent of well-known overseas suppliers such as Bisen, FNK, Hangzhou JF Tech, Motorola Solutions, Network Optix, Quantum, TVT Shenzhen and Videonetics Technology, while Singapore exhibitors will be highlighted at a dedicated pavilion displaying security and fire safety products. Vietnamese suppliers are also well represented, including ASTEC, DAI AN, Silversea, Techpro and Tran Duy. Concurrent events and fringe programme strengthen business links As a unique one-stop platform for a diverse scope of products, the show will once again […]

WEF’s Technology Pioneers of 2023

Technology Pioneers community has 100 new innovative members. Full of young and growing tech companies, the 2023 cohort is forging new paths in healthcare, food production and more with cutting-edge technologies. This year’s incoming group includes companies with a broad range of innovations. Farmerline, from Ghana, connects farmers, agribusinesses and governments to form an end-to-end, holistic solution to the sector’s challenges. In Israel, Electriq Global is pioneering new methods of separating hydrogen from water to create a renewable energy alternative to fuel. And CarbonCapture, from the US, is removing CO2 from the atmosphere via direct air capture technologies. There are start-ups from 31 economies, with a third led by a woman chief executive. The United States has the highest representation, with 29 companies, followed by China with 12. Examples of innovation include: Sustainability ClimateAI, based in the US, applies artificial intelligence (AI) to climate risk modelling and its platform provides short- and long-term insights into weather and climate impact. Based in Switzerland, Transmutex aims to develop a non-self-sustaining chain reaction nuclear energy system able to produce carbon-free energy with the highest safety profile. Meanwhile, Huue, in the US, is using biotechnology to create sustainable dyes to reduce the use of chemicals in fashion supply chains. Healthcare M20 Genomics, based in China, is developing single-cell sequencing technology to effectively diagnose diseases and provide relevant treatment. Dot, in the Republic of Korea, is a pioneer in smart technology for the vision-impaired and the deaf-blind, helping them to lead more independent lives. Advanced Manufacturing Boston Materials, based in the US, develops advanced materials that are lightweight, corrosion-resistant and have energy-diffusion capabilities. Monolith, based in the United Kingdom, empowers engineering domain experts in various industries to reduce expensive, time-intensive testing and cut product development times. Following their selection as Technology Pioneers, this year’s companies will join an impressive group of alumni that include […]

Propelling smart manufacturing in APAC to the next frontier with AI

–Leonard Lee, President APAC, Beyond Limits As one of the global hubs for manufacturing, Asia Pacific (APAC) accounts for about 48.5% of the worldwide manufacturing output. In the region, opportunities are ripe for smart manufacturing to move to the next level, largely due to the well-developed manufacturing ecosystem and government support. Spending within the artificial intelligence (AI) market is also expected to grow to US$49.2 billion in 2026, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.5% from 2021 to 2026. The increased investments are expected to fuel the growth of automation through the use of technologies such as robotics and control systems, thus enhancing the performance metrics of the production processes. For APAC manufacturers, the most pressing challenges in the implementation of Industry 4.0 include the reluctance to embrace new technology, a shortage of skilled personnel to oversee its implementation, as well as difficulties in measuring the ROI of smart manufacturing digital solutions. There is also a sense that competitive differentiators are rising in importance. Manufacturers know they must step up on their digital investment, as those companies with higher digital maturity have shown greater resilience and are better able to adapt to supply chain challenges with increased supply chain visibility. Providing manufacturers with a competitive advantage AI has already transformed many enterprise processes, and the use of AI technology is now treated as a business imperative. Manufacturers are exploring ways to effectively utilise their existing data and insights, boost efficiency, reduce expenses, and achieve operational advantages. However, conventional AI technology that manufacturers still rely on acts as a “black box” that creates models from data without providing any explanations. To allow manufacturers to reap the full benefits of technology, they must pivot to Cognitive AI. Cognitive AI acts as a “glass box”, providing detailed justifications for its suggestions […]

Analog Devices strengthens its South-East Asia Operations with new Singapore facility

Analog Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADI), a global semiconductor leader, today announced the launch of a new state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly, 38,951 sq. ft. facility in Singapore. Located within the Kallang Industrial Park, the facility is planned to serve as a central hub for the more than 200 employees working in Singapore in key divisions of the company, including research and development, test engineering, sales, and manufacturing. ADI established its first location in Singapore in 1995 and has steadily grown its operations and workforce since then. This new strategic investment aligns with the company’s global expansion plans, which include enhancing its capabilities in the Asia Pacific region. “Our new facility is an important milestone in ADI’s global growth strategy,” said Jerry Fan, President of Asia for ADI. “Enhancing our capabilities in Singapore is vital to leveraging the country’s superb talent pool and advanced manufacturing capabilities to serve our regional and global customers’ needs. Our investment reinforces ADI’s presence within Singapore’s thriving semiconductor ecosystem, which is supported by the nation’s digital growth initiatives.” The new facility features a more spacious and advanced laboratory to foster interaction between the research and development team as well as customers in the region. Through this forum for the exchange of ideas, ADI and its customers plan to deepen their collaboration and deliver innovative products for the Intelligent Edge. In addition, a dedicated space has been allocated for test development purposes within the new facility, custom-tailored to accommodate multiple automated test equipment (ATE) stations. These on-site testing stations are designed to enable faster initial testing of ADI’s state-of-the-art products and accelerate the timeline of ADI engineering’s ability to meet customers’ toughest challenges. Fan continued, “Customer intimacy, business strategy, engineering processes, manufacturing capabilities, and problem-solving are essential for creating long-term value for our customers. We are confident the environment […]

Electronics manufacturers adopt generative AI and Omniverse to digitalise state-of-the-art factories

Electronics manufacturers worldwide are advancing their industrial digitalisation efforts using a new, comprehensive reference workflow that combines Nvidia technologies for generative AI, 3D collaboration, simulation and autonomous machines. Supported by an expansive partner network, the workflow helps manufacturers plan, build, operate and optimize their factories with an array of technologies. These include: Omniverse, which connects top computer-aided design apps, as well as APIs and cutting-edge frameworks for generative AI; the Isaac Sim application for simulating and testing robots; and the Metropolis vision AI framework, now enabled for automated optical inspection. At Computex, Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang showcased a demo of an entirely digitalised smart factory — an industry first for electronics makers. “The world’s largest industries make physical things. Building them digitally first can save enormous costs,” said Huang. “We make it easy for electronics makers to build and operate virtual factories, digitalise their manufacturing and inspection workflows, and greatly improve quality and safety while reducing costly last-minute surprises and delays.” Foxconn Industrial Internet, a service arm of the world’s largest technology manufacturer, is working with Nvidia Metropolis ecosystem partners to automate significant portions of its circuit-board quality-assurance inspection points. Innodisk is deploying Nvidia Metropolis to automate optical inspection processes on its production lines, saving cost and improving production efficiency. Pegatron, a leading electronics manufacturer and service provider, is using the reference workflow to digitalise its circuit-board factories with simulation, robotics and automated production inspection. Quanta, a major manufacturer of laptops and other electronic hardware, is using AI robots from its subsidiary Techman Robot to inspect the quality of manufactured products. Techman is leveraging Isaac Sim to simulate, test and optimise its state-of-the-art collaborative robots while using NVIDIA AI and GPUs for inference on the robots themselves. Wistron, one of the world’s largest suppliers of information and communications products, is tapping Omniverse to build digital twins of its automated […]

Penn Color opens its first production plant in Thailand

New facility serves growing APAC region demand, and complements Penn Color’s Technology Center in Singapore opened in January. Rayong, Thailand – Penn Color, Inc. has taken a significant step in expanding its manufacturing capabilities with the opening of a world-class facility in the Pluak Daeng Subdistrict, Rayong Province, Thailand. Situated in the heart of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) and located near major industrial areas and the largest ports in Thailand, this new factory allows Penn Color to supply high-quality colorant and additive masterbatches to markets throughout the Asia-Pacific region. “This state-of-the-art facility has been planned with remarkable levels of flexibility to meet the most demanding technical and quality requirements, for packaging, consumer goods, building products and transportation. We bring here decades of experience and our most advanced manufacturing techniques,” says Scott Stamback, VP Sales EMEA & Asia. Specifically designed to allow for future expansion to meet the increasing demand in the APAC region and beyond, one of the most outstanding features of this facility is that it uses the most recent technology for energy efficiency of its primary equipment, including a major portion being powered by solar-generated electricity. “The team has managed to deliver on time despite having to navigate the challenging waters of the pandemic during the early stages of this project,” concludes Stamback. With the country’s strong customer base, availability of raw materials, industry expertise, and highly skilled workforce, Thailand is the ideal location to establish a manufacturing presence as the company further strengthens its footprint in Asia. Additionally, Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) is promoting policies that aim to advance the country’s development toward an Industry 4.0 standard, using modern technology and infrastructure to operate at the highest level of efficiency. Penn Color is excited to be a part of this progression and is confident that […]

Delta-Q Technologies commences full production of its 3.3 kW battery charger

The XV3300 battery charger is a 3-in-1 on-board charging system offering stellar performance and features, suited for non-road mobile machinery. Delta-Q Technologies (Delta-Q), a leader in battery charging solutions for electric vehicles and industrial equipment, has announced that its innovative mid-power charger, the XV3300, is now in full-scale production. With its unique 3-in-1 design, this highly efficient charging system integrates a 3.3 kW battery charger, a 500 W DC-DC converter to power the vehicles’ auxiliary loads, and an EV charging station interface. These key features, encased in a ruggedised IP67 design, provide OEMs with an attractive package for simplifying electrification of their off-road applications. “No other 3.3 kW charger on the market also includes a DC/DC converter for auxiliary DC loads and an EVSE charging interface in such a compact size,” said Mourad Chergui, Senior Product Manager with Delta-Q. “As we start full-scale production, we can begin to fulfill the substantial demand we received since we first announced the initial development.” The 3.3 kW charging solution is available in 58.8, 65, and 120-volt DC models and is scalable, allowing OEMs to stack up to three chargers for power levels up to 10 kW. The XV3300 uses complex algorithms to deliver a precise charge to batteries of various chemistries and voltages, maximising battery life and optimising charge time. Key features and benefits of the XV3300 charger include: High Reliability: The XV3300 battery charger is compact, rugged, and IP67-rated. It is tested for automotive-grade shock and vibration. Its fully sealed aluminum die-cast enclosure protects the charger from dust, liquids, and the effects of immersion in up to one meter of water. Enhanced Protection: The XV3300 is a low-voltage charger that optimally charges all battery chemistries and nominal voltages between 48 V to 120 V. It is also protected against short circuits, over-voltage, and […]

PowerUP Asia conference May 24-26 2023

TAIPEI – The growing electric vehicle (EV) industry, increasing calls for renewable energy adoption, the automation trends in the industrial sector, and the rising demand for consumer electronics, are fueling the growth of the power electronics industry as manufacturers set their sights on power efficiency, carbon reduction, and ‘greener’ energy. According to research firm Global Market Insights (GMI), the worldwide power electronics market reached over $22 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5% to reach more than $40 billion in 2032. The Asia Pacific (APAC) region accounted for more than half of the power electronics market, recording a total market share of 55% in 2022, according to GMI, mainly driven by the increasing penetration of EVs. On top of this, the expansion of the IT sector, the growing number of Internet users, and the continuous development and rollout of 5G networks are propelling the demand for data centers in the region, which in turn is driving the demand for more power-efficient devices with higher power densities and more and more compact packages. All these are expected to transform the APAC region into a major hub for power electronics manufacturing. To put the spotlight on the key players and the latest technologies and trends in the power electronics industry in Asia, AspenCore will hold the inaugural PowerUP Asia conference and virtual exhibition on May 24-26, 2023. PowerUP Asia builds on the success of the established PowerUP Expo, a virtual conference and exhibition. Focusing on this region, PowerUP Asia is a three-day virtual conference and exhibition highlighting the latest technology developments and trends in power electronics, including wide-bandgap (WBG) devices, power semiconductors, and related technologies. With fairgrounds, an exhibition hall, and a conference space, PowerUP Asia functions similarly to a live exhibition and […]

TANAKA launches new alloy “TK-FS” for probe pins

Development of material with high hardness, low specific resistance, and high pliability that allows for use in a wide range of probe pins for semiconductor test equipment TANAKA has launched TK-FS, a new allow for probe pins of probe cards and test sockets used in the testing process of semiconductor manufacturing. Samples started shipping in July of 2022, and a material with even better performance has been achieved through continuous research and development. So far, TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo has been manufacturing and selling palladium (Pd) materials mainly for pogo pin-type probe pins used in test sockets for final testing (post-processing) of semiconductor packages. The latest TK-FS launch is a material that can be used in a wide range of types of probe pins besides pogo-pin types, such as cantilever-type or vertical-type for wafer testing (pre-processing) probe cards. This product has three unique attributes: a Vickers hardness of at least 500, specific resistance of at most 7.0µΩ･cm, and durability that can withstand 10 or more times of repeated bending. In TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo’s existing products, there is no material that has simultaneously achieved these three qualities of high hardness, low specific resistance, and high pliability. This product succeeded in addressing all requirements, allowing the same material to be used in various types of probe pins. In the manufacturing process of semiconductors, semiconductor test equipment is used to conduct testing—divided into several stages—to see if the semiconductor is operating properly, how many years it can operate, and whether it is operating safely. Testing using semiconductor test equipment requires extremely high reliability as it is used to assess the performance of the main operations of products that use semiconductors. With the spread of IoT today, the demand for semiconductor-related products is expanding, including the necessity of semiconductors in electronic devices, as well as […]

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 […]

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