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Sage waste absorbs oil spills

Picture:Metroxylon sagu or commonly known as the Sago palm thrives in tropical lowland forests and freshwater swamps. The state of Sarawak in Malaysia is one of the world’s largest exporters of sago products with annual exports of approximately 43,000 tons. Waste material generated by Malaysia’s sago palm industry has potential for use as an adsorbent for cleaning up oil spills, according to a study published in the Pertanika Journal of Science and Technology. Conducted by Zainab Ngaini and colleagues at the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, the study found that when sago waste (consisting primarily of cellulose and lignin) is chemically modified using fatty acid derivatives, the resulting material is more hydrophobic than untreated sago waste, implying that it has less affinity for water and an excellent affinity for oil. The authors conclude that chemically modified sago waste may be suitable for applications where engine oil needs to be removed from an aqueous environment. By contrast, untreated sago waste could be used for absorbing oil in a dry environment. Sago palm is commonly found in tropical lowland forests and freshwater swamps. Sarawak is one of the world’s largest exporters of sago products with annual exports of approximately 43,000 tons. However, the mass production of sago produces large amounts of waste residues. From 600 logs of sago palm per day, an estimated 15.6 tons of woody bark, 237.6 tons of waste water and 7.1 tons of starch fibrous sago pith residue are generated. Currently, sago pith residues are either incinerated or discharged into waterways, which eventually contributes to environmental problems. Until now, no studies have examined sago waste’s potential as an oil adsorbent, despite its resemblance to previously studied natural oil sorbents such as cotton, wool and bark.

Low-tech manufacturing, the new hidden champion of innovation

The so called “Low Tech” companies are vitally important because they employ 60% of workers. We have been overlooking the value and innovation that goes on in so called “low tech” companies, according to a European expert on industry. Auckland University recently hosted Prof. Dr. Hartmut Hirsch-Kreinsen Chair of Economic and Industrial Sociology TU Dortmund University, Germany. He spoke about the latest research that is uncovering these “low tech” innovators. He says everyone has been in love with “high-tech”companies, the definition of which is companies that have an R & D investment of over 5% of turnover and “low tech” having 1% or less investment in R & D. However the so called “Low Tech” companies are vitally important because they employ 60% of workers – many more than the medium to high tech companies, and they are remarkably stable and innovative in a specific way. Common attributes are step by step product improvement, incremental innovation, small batches and also large scale production, relatively stable market segments, close to important customers, flexible and fast delivery, and semi-skilled or unskilled workers. They have the capacity to integrate external knowledge and high tech components and are the recipients and carriers of high tech innovations. They learn by doing, trial and error and have the capability to manage networks. Policymakers (Callaghan Innovation and MBIE) should also focus on the so called “low-tech” businesses. Innovation is more than just R & D investment as low tech businesses are good at using high tech developed elsewhere and leveraging it in innovative ways. So what can policy makers do to support? Prof Kenneth Husted from Auckland University says; • Support creative reconstruction (don’t write off industries as “sunset” just because they are going through change) • Stimulate collaboration across sectors and size • Support to aggregate […]

Software AG Appoints Stanimira Koleva COO for Asia Pacific and Japan

SINGAPORE- Software AG today announced the appointment of Stanimira Koleva as Chief Operating Officer in its Asia Pacific and Japan region to strengthen the company’s regional business and drive new growth initiatives in the region. Based in Software AG’s regional headquarters in Singapore, Ms. Koleva is responsible for managing Software AG’s business across Asia Pacific and Japan. She will report to Eric Duffaut, Chief Customer Officer and Member of the Management Board, Software AG. Eric Duffaut said: “Software AG has earned a strong reputation across Asia for delivering best-in-class enterprise software products, solutions and services. Many top banks, insurance and telecommunications companies in Asia use our products bundled in our Digital Business Platform to manage mission-critical business applications for their transformation to digital enterprises. Software AG has been present in Asia Pacific for more than 22 years and is well represented in nine countries across the region. I am delighted to welcome Stanimira to the Software AG team She joins us with tremendous experience and successes in the Asia Pacific region to bring our business to new heights.” Ms. Koleva brings more than 23 years of executive and senior management experience in the ICT industry in Asia Pacific and Europe. In her most recent role, she was responsible for the Small and Medium Sized Solutions and Partner Group (SMS&P) at Microsoft Asia Pacific. She also held senior leadership positions at Cisco and 3Com both in Asia Pacific and Europe. Originally from Bulgaria, she has lived and worked in several different parts of the world including the UK, Germany and Singapore, spending 8 years managing businesses in Asia Pacific region. She holds a Masters degree in Electronic Engineering and an MBA. Stanimira Koleva commented: “It’s an exciting time to take the lead at Software AG in the region, where the growth potential is […]

Stage set for growth in Tanzania

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania- Tanzania has tremendous untapped potential. According to the World Bank, the economy is set to grow by an estimated 7.2% this year and the government’s significant investment in the national fibre optic cable increases business and citizen access to technology creating opportunities to leapfrog technologies. Together with the emergence of disruptive technologies, the stage is set for tremendous growth opportunities. This is the view of Jane Canny, Chief Operating Officer at Business Connexion Group (http://www.bcx.co.za). Business Connexion Tanzania has been in operation since 2000, with a strong focus on financial services, telecoms, energy and mining and the public sector. “Through the creative use of technology and our partnership with the UmojaSwitch Consortium, we provide 28 banks and 200 automated teller machines in Tanzania access to a secure, shared payment infrastructure. The infrastructure is integrated with five payment switches within in East Africa to allow for international transactions, three major mobile operators to enable mobile payments and various government institutions to facilitate electronic payment collections.” “The Internet Of Things is changing the way businesses operate at a rapid pace,” says Canny. “As customers become more connected, their demands are changing and organisations simply have to evolve as the technology and how we use it changes, or face being left behind by their competitors.” She adds that there are also several ongoing projects to integrate municipals and hospitals throughout the country to enable electronic payment collections. “This is a great example where technology is being used to make consumers’ lives easier,” says Canny. “And as technology continues to evolve, so will the way in which customers interact with their service providers. In the next five years, for example, near field communication or NFC technology will be used throughout the country to enable mobile retail and bill payments. We […]

The growing middle class in India offers potential for manufacturers

Rising income levels mean that India’s huge population of around 1.2bn is becoming an increasingly important market for consumer goods, and this trend will continue during the forecast period. Private consumption expenditure will rise from US$1trn in fiscal year 2013/14 (April-March) to US$2.4trn in 2018/19. The majority of people will continue to be preoccupied with meeting their basic daily needs rather than following the latest consumer trends. However, the presence of a large number of middleclass households offers considerable potential for manu‑facturers and retailers. The rapid growth in personal incomes, combined with a more open domestic market, will make India an increasingly attractive market for foreign companies. Nevertheless, India remains a predominantly agricultural society and is home to around 40% of the world’s poorest people. Moreover, even the middle classes have limited disposable incomes. Demand for large and even medium-sized cars is still limited. Higher-quality products certainly appeal to the country’s consumers, but price remains the main determinant of the level of demand. Unreliable and limited supplies of water and electricity have forced foreign manufacturers of white goods to rethink their approach—for example, by designing smaller and more efficient washing machines and refrigerators. -The Economist

Electroplating Engineers of Japan Launches Ultra-compact Plating Laboratory Equipment

TOKYO, July 15, 2015 – Tanaka Holdings Co., Ltd. today announced that Electroplating Engineers of Japan, Limited (EEJA), which operates the Tanaka Precious Metals’ plating business, has developed, and launched from July 15, the RAD-Plater cup-type[1] ultra-compact plating laboratory equipment for semiconductor wafers, which achieves equivalent films to mass-production machines. The RAD-Plater is ultra-compact laboratory equipment for manufacturing 2 to 8 inch semiconductor wafers. Measuring 800 mm wide and 700 mm deep, it is smaller than mass production machines and can operate on only compressed air and the 100 volt power of general equipment. In addition to gold, silver, palladium, copper and nickel, it can use a wide variety of plating solutions including alloys and lead-free solutions, and at 10 liters or less of solution, it uses about half the plating solution required by dip-type machines, which also reduces experimentation costs. The RAD-Plater uses an EEJA-manufactured Stir Cup[2] and delivers mass-production level plating quality through uniform and bubble-less film thickness and superior filling of deep vias[3]. It also enables reduced plating time by using a high current density[4] achieved with an increased ion supply. Even though the RAD-Plater is laboratory equipment, it achieves a level of plating equivalent to that of mass-production machines, which enables early problem-solving in the development stage for mass production issues such as expected yield, and enables trouble-free rollout to the mass-production line. This is the world’s first cup-type plating laboratory equipment for manufacturing semiconductor wafers, using 10 liters or less of plating solution and handling 8-inch wafers. Many development divisions of manufacturers with mass-production plating lines would have previously contracted out the plating solution experimentation work to equipment manufacturers and others for evaluation, but purchasing a RAD-Plater and conducting experiments in-house now enables a considerable reduction in development lead times. Other customers would have previously […]

GE and NTT DOCOMO to Provide Industrial Equipment for IoT Solutions

TOKYO – GE Energy Japan Co., Ltd. (GE) and NTT DOCOMO, INC. (DOCOMO) have signed a memorandum of understanding today toward a business alliance to provide a new Internet of Things (IoT) solution. The partnership will combine GE Digital Energy’s MDS Orbit Platform, a wireless router for industrial equipment, and DOCOMO’s communication module. GE’s MDS Orbit Platform with DOCOMO’s embedded communication module will enable private companies with infrastructure facilities, as well as customers of local governments, to monitor real-time operational data such as temperature and vibration on infrastructure equipment. The solution will provide data for remote areas on roads and bridges, plants, electricity, gas, and water. By combining the operation data acquired by the Orbit platform with DOCOMO’s application on the “Toami” IoT cloud platform, users will be able to manage the data on their smartphones and tablets. This feature can serve as a predictive diagnostic tool to prevent failures and assist in preserving aging facilities. With the cloud platform, customers will be able to receive added value instantly without having to make any additional capital investments. GE’s Orbit platform employs robust housing for industrial equipment data communication, and includes advanced security technology and Class I Division 2 authenticationnotice(1). The platform is strongly resistant to environmental barriers, including elements such as location and terrain, to ensure communications are secure. GE selected DOCOMO communication module embedded for Orbit platform based on the variety of industrial machine-to-machine communication experiences and result of signal quality qualification. By cooperating further with GE, a top industrial equipment manufacturer and a world leader in the IoT field, DOCOMO will promote its +d (pronounced “plus d”) initiative to create new value by collaborating with various outside partners. By integrating the technologies of GE and DOCOMO and continually expanding to a wider range of fields, both companies will […]

Strong International Presence at MTA VIETNAM2015 Set to Boost Vietnam’s Manufacturing Scene

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, July 7, 2015 – Since August 2013, Vietnam’s benchmark purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for manufacturing has expanded every month. With its attractive location in Indochina, young population and low costs, the country has also drawn investment from renowned international brands such as Intel, LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics and Siemens[1]. This bodes well for foreign companies and investors keen to expand their business presence in Vietnam and the region, as well as for Vietnamese companies looking to extend their business networks internationally. MTA VIETNAM2015 – Strong support from international groups set to boost local manufacturing sector Launched in 2005, MTA VIETNAM2015 is to date the only manufacturing event in the country that attracts the most number of international group pavilions. This year, 346 exhibitors from 20 countries and regions, including 10 international group pavilions from Germany, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan are present. Featuring an increase of about nine per cent in exhibition space occupied from the previous year, this 13th edition of MTA VIETNAM has sold out its exhibition space many months before its opening. Spotlight on Japanese technology A stalwart group participant, the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) is once again back at MTA VIETNAM, this time with a contingent comprising 22 companies that specialise in metalcutting, metalforming, metrology, cutting tools and tooling systems. Group exhibitors such as Aizaki, Asada, Enomoto, Kira, Konno, Mishima, PMT, Segawa, Towa and Rex are showcasing machines and solutions that have been specially handpicked for the local Vietnam market, to increase manufacturing productivity and quality levels. Mr. Yasuzumi Hirotaka, Managing Director from the Ho Chi Minh Office of JETRO said, “Vietnam’s manufacturing industry is in the growth cycle and shows promise of further expansion. We see opportunities for collaboration between Japanese and Vietnamese companies in the sector and will […]

Li & Fung’s Dr William Fung discusses the future of product manufacturing

Dr William Fung’s company is a vital cog in almost every major supply chain. But how will soaring costs alter his sourcing strategy? “In the next five years, prices are only going in one direction.” If you were looking to crown the most influential, best-connected company most people have never heard of, you might start your search at one of the most conspicuous addresses in Hong Kong. Looming over the city’s bustling Sham Shui Po district is the headquarters of Li & Fung, the sourcing and logistics Company that provides the operational heft behind China’s dominance of consumer goods. Li & Fung does not shout about its achievements, but its value as a power broker in global supply chains inspires awe among its Western rivals. If it is Made in China, Li & Fung knows about it and probably helped it on the journey from factory to shelf. Founded in Guangzhou, China, in 1906, the company has become increasingly vertically integrated and now offers everything from product design and material sourcing to shipping services for retailers and manufacturers including Walmart, Toys “R” Us and Avon. It distributes in more than 40 countries and turned over US$15bn in 2010, with profits up 27% at US$551m. In July 2011, it announced the acquisition of five companies to boost its design and distribution arms. Change is in the air, however, for a company that set itself an ambitious (overambitious, say some analysts) target of doubling operating profit in the three years to 2013. Chairman Victor Fung will step down by 2012 to be replaced by his brother, Dr William Fung, currently Group Managing Director. Meanwhile, the landscape is shifting, according to a new report from KPMG International – Product Sourcing in Asia Pacific – which identifies rising manufacturing capabilities in Bangladesh, Vietnam and other […]

City of Sydney – fit for now and the future

The City of Sydney is supporting business and residents while cementing Sydney’s place as a regional powerhouse. A record budget of nearly $2 billion over the next decade will provide the infrastructure necessary to support economic and population growth while attracting trade, tourism and high-value jobs. This investment is on top of the round-the-clock services delivered every day to meet the needs of over one million people who visit the City each day. “The City of Sydney is ‘fit for the future’ and has the scale and capacity to ensure Sydney continues to deliver its potential as a thriving, business-friendly and liveable global city,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said. “The City has more than 400 infrastructure projects planned for the next 10 years. These will generate tens of millions of dollars in new contracts for businesses of all sizes and support around 2,000 new jobs a year. “This comes on top of the $3.9 billion worth of residential and commercial developments we have recently approved, including two new residential buildings in the heart of the city that will be over 230m tall.” “This enormous combination of public and private investment is a vote of confidence in the City of Sydney.” The Independent Pricing and regulatory Tribunal (IPAR) is currently assessing the City’s response to the NSW Government’s ‘Fit for the Future’ program. Members of the public are also able to tell IPART what they think of their councils between now and July 31. Through prudent financial management and forward planning, the City of Sydney has the scale and capacity to meet Sydney’s current and future needs. The NSW Treasury Corporation, TCorp, rates the City’s Financial Sustainability as ‘Strong’ with a positive outlook – the only one of 152 NSW Councils to receive this rating. The City is leading its own […]

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