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Corteva Agriscience opens Singapore office

SINGAPORE:Corteva Agriscience, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont, today officially opened its Asia Pacific head office in Singapore and announced a series of investments geared towards building expertise and technical capability to support farmers across the region, as governments seek to strengthen food security. These investments include the establishment of a global analytics center of excellence and a new research and development (R&D) lab, as well as a collaboration strategy designed to encourage the further development of the Asia Pacific Ag-Tech start-up ecosystem. Corteva Agriscience represents the combined strengths of DuPont Crop Protection, DuPont Pioneer and Dow AgroSciences, which will spin-off on June 1, 2019 to publicly list on the New York Stock Exchange, creating a market-shaping, standalone, pure-play agriculture company with leading positions in Seed Technologies, Crop Protection and Digital Agriculture. Peter Ford, President, Asia Pacific, Corteva Agriscience, said, “Corteva Agriscience brings together three businesses with deep connections and dedication to generations of farmers. “With a balanced portfolio of agriculture solutions, 200 years of combined agronomic expertise and an unparalleled innovation engine, we aim to catalyse action with all stakeholders in the food system to champion inclusive agriculture and to help ensure a secure supply of healthy and sustainable food for the region. “With key collaborators like Singapore’s Economic Development Board and the Singapore Food Agency, we share a commitment to using new innovative approaches to make agriculture value chains more productive and sustainable. We will nurture talent, leverage our R&D capabilities and robust product pipeline, as well as build digital capabilities to secure the future of food for Asia Pacific from our strategic location in Singapore.” Damian Chan, Executive Director (Chemicals & Materials), Singapore Economic Development Board, said, “We are delighted that Corteva Agriscience has chosen to locate its Asia Pacific head office, Global Analytics Centre of Excellence and Asia […]

Hitachi receives orders for Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Thailand

BANGKOK: Hitachi, Ltd. and Hitachi Building Systems Co., Ltd. have received an order through Hitachi Elevator (Thailand) Co., Ltd., which is in charge of sales and maintenance service of elevators and escalators in Thailand, for the delivery of 174 units of elevators, escalators and moving sidewalks for Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Thailand. Currently, expansion work is underway at Suvarnabhumi International Airport by Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT). The order was awarded by a consortium named PCS Joint Venture, which comprises Power Line Engineering Public Company Limited in Thailand and China State Construction Engineering (Thailand) Co., Ltd., and was commissioned construction by AOT. This is the largest order for Hitachi group’s elevators and escalators in Thailand. The market demand for the installation of new elevators and escalators in Thailand is approximately 6,000 units per year, which makes it the most promising market in Southeast Asia, and is expected to increase stably. In 1974, Hitachi concluded an agent contract with Siam Motors Co., Ltd. and entered the market. The two companies established a joint corporation named Siam-Hitachi Elevator Co., Ltd. in 1991 and constructed a factory in 1992. Hitachi has been leading the elevator and escalator industry in Thailand. Suvarnabhumi International Airport opened in 2006 and is located in Nong Ngu Hao, Samut Prakan Province, about 30 km east of Bangkok. It received approximately 63 million passengers in 2018 and is ranked ninth globally for the number of passengers on international flights. Currently, expansion work is underway to expand the passenger-handling capacity. A new four-story satellite concourse building is under construction and slated to commence operations in April 2020. The units will be manufactured in factories in Thailand and China, and installed by the end of 2020. Hitachi has supplied over 100 units of escalators and moving sidewalks for Suvarnabhumi […]

Your future co-workers could be a swarm of robots

In the future, swarms of robots could help us perform tasks from search and rescue to farming. Imagine there’s a flock of aerial robots searching for a lost hiker, for example. They have to cover a large area of remote bush and a central commander won’t work because they’re so spread out. So, instead, the robots work cooperatively to calculate the best way to cover and search this large area accurately and speedily. This scenario is less Black Mirror than it sounds, and more about focusing on practical solutions for jobs that are difficult for humans to do, says Airlie Chapman from the Melbourne School of Engineering. Describing the focus of her research in mechatronic engineering, Chapman says “it centres on multi-vehicle robotics, or many robots working together to achieve a common goal”. Mechatronic engineers explore developments in automation and manufacturing—blending multiple disciplines of engineering. And it can involve creating smart machines that are aware of their surroundings and can make autonomous decisions. Chapman works specifically in the field of multi-vehicle, or swarm, robotics. Using a combination of mechanical, electrical, and software engineering to build the robots, Chapman then programs the vehicles using algorithms to react and think autonomously. Many bots are better than one “There are benefits to using many smaller unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in place of one large one, particularly for jobs like cleaning up an oil spill, environmental monitoring, or searching for survivors of a mine collapse,” says Chapman. Not only is there the element of redundancy with smaller vehicles—losing one small UAV out of a group is less of a problem than losing a single large UAV—but there are also the implementation benefits. For one thing, there’s the improved coverage capability and reduced cost. “A swarm of cheap small robots, each with little capability, can […]

Australian Defence looks to quantum mechanics for new technologies

Researchers from the University of Adelaide in South Australia will develop three technologies after being named among 11 projects to share in A$6.6 million of funding from Australia’s Department of Defence. The projects include the development of underwater devices to detect submarines, research into whether quantum radars can be used to detect stealth aircraft and the development of an ultra accurate portable clock to improve GPS satellite technology. The funding consolidates the University of Adelaide’s Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS) as one of Australia’s leading centres for the development of quantum sensing and photonic technologies. IPAS director Professor Andre Luiten said the funding also reaffirmed Defence’s interest in developing quantum mechanic capabilities in South Australia. “Everyone believes that there’s going to be a revolution over the next 20 years where quantum technologies end up in everything,” he said. “The initial objective is to provide those technologies to defence but it’s also about training up Australian students so they have an understanding of quantum technologies. “Australia needs to build up its sovereign capability in this area and train students.” The Next Generation Technologies Fund aims to develop Australia’s quantum mechanic opportunities, which focus on the study of the motion and interaction between subatomic particles. One of the IPAS projects will utilise magnetometers in underwater geophysical discovery contexts to track submarine activity. Professor Andre Luiten said the technology, primarily employed to detect variations caused by the presence of ferrous (unoxidized) iron in the total magnetic field, will be applied for Defence to discover underwater vessels. “These magnetometers can detect very small magnetic fields,” he said. “The goal of this project is to build sensors that go on the seabed which detect the presence of submarines through their properties. “You’d essentially set up a trip wire around assets that are of importance to Australia.” The […]

NUM helps Taiwanese machine tool company automate production for robotics

* unique multi profile capability helps increase manufacturing productivity NUM is helping the Taiwanese machine tool company Chien Wei Precise Technology to develop innovative CNC grinding machines for manufacturing specialist gears used in robotics applications. Based entirely on NUM’s latest-generation Flexium+ 68 CNC platform, Chien Wei’s new machines are designed to speed the production of both involute and cycloidal profile precision gears. They are believed to be the first gear grinding machines on the market that are capable of handling both types of gear profile. There are two versions of the grinding machine, one for internal gears, the other for external gears. Founded in 1981, Chien Wei Precise Technology Co., Ltd is based in Fengshan District in southern Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The company initially specialised in precision machine tools such as vertical grinders, jig grinders and machining centres, together with co-ordinate measuring machines (CMMs). Over time, it also diversified into robotic automation systems. Robotic systems typically use either planetary gearboxes equipped with involute gears, or cycloid drives based on a combination of a reduced epitrochoid rotor and a cycloid stator. While planetary gearboxes have been around for a long time and enjoy extensive use, cycloid drives have far fewer moving parts and offer a more efficient means of achieving extremely high reduction rates. A speed reducer with a ratio of 200:1 would typically need a chain of three planetary gear boxes with twelve moving involute gears. The same reduction ratio could be achieved with a cycloid drive using one stator and one rotor. However, cycloid gears are notoriously difficult and expensive to manufacture. In 2015, Chien Wei decided to bring gear manufacturing in-house, by developing its own gear grinding machine. By producing its own gearboxes the company could control quality, shorten lead times and reduce costs. It would also enable it […]

Universal Robots Eyes Industry4WRD Potential

Robotic automation key to transforming Malaysia’s manufacturing sector Industry4WRD: Promote higher adoption of Industry 4.0 related technologies Low industrial robot adoption: 45 units per 10,000 employees in 2017 Cobot benefits: productivity, quality and workers’ well-being Universal Robots (“UR”), Denmark-based collaborative robots (cobots) market leader has identified Malaysia as a key growth market in line with the country’s increased focus on automation and robotics, as outlined in its National Policy on Industry 4.0 (Industry4WRD), to transform its manufacturing sector. The manufacturing sector, comprising 98.5 percent of Malaysian SMEs[1], serves as a major contributor to the country’s economy. In 2018, the sector contributed 22.4 percent of GDP, roughly RM 325 billion[2]. Sakari Kuikka, General Manager, Southeast Asia and Oceania at UR said: “Malaysia deployed just 45 units of industrial robots per 10,000 employees in 2017, almost 50 percent below the global average of 85 units.[3] In a 2017 FMM-MIER survey, only 7.4 percent of Malaysian respondents used autonomous robots – 23.3 percent of which were SMEs.[4] We see huge potential to boost the adoption of robotic automation as the country focuses on strengthening its manufacturing sector and gearing towards becoming a developed nation,” he added. Since its entry into the Malaysian market in 2013, UR has actively expanded its distribution base. Its cobots are distributed by Bizit Systems, EPCO Precision, Multitrade Asiapac, Servo Dynamics, T.E.M. Engineering and TMS Collaboration Automation. “Malaysia ranks high in the region in terms of Industry 4.0 readiness according to global surveys[5]. However, this is not the sentiment shared by SMEs who are slow to adopt these technologies. Among the challenges they face included lack of understanding of automation benefits and low awareness on government funding to assist with tech adoption. Last year, about RM5bil was set aside by the government to help businesses embrace smart technology including automation […]

Screw compressors with integrated i.HOC rotary dryer

The FSG series of dry running rotary screw compressors feature the integrated i.HOC rotary dryer. These new models provide an oil free compressed air solution for sensitive applications that require flow rates up to 50.20 m3/min as well as outstandingly efficient compressed air drying. The Kaeser i.HOC is the epitome of efficiency and reliability. The integrated rotary dryer for screw compressors provides a reliable, steady supply of oil-free compressed air, with pressure dew points of up to minus 30 °C, even under unfavourable conditions. It even saves energy for good measure. With its patented i.HOC (integrated heat of compression dryer), Kaeser has succeeded in launching a desiccant dryer that utilises 100% of the available hot compressed air from the second compression stage to directly regenerate its desiccant. The advantages of this full-flow regeneration make the i.HOC particularly efficient and streets ahead of the competition. This guarantees stable pressure dew points, even in harsh conditions, such as low final discharge pressure, high ambient temperatures or reduced utilisation. The integrated Sigma Control 2 controller also adjusts the i.HOC to any change in operating conditions, for example variations in compressed air flow, working pressure or ambient temperature. Dew point regulation ensures stable pressure dew points For particularly sensitive compressed air applications, Kaeser offers optional pressure dew point regulation for all FSG series, oil-free rotary screw compressors with an integrated i.HOC. Should the cooling conditions deteriorate, perhaps due to rising ambient temperatures, the dew point regulation registers the resulting pressure dew point increase and boosts the dryer’s regeneration potential accordingly. This ensures that the pressure dew point is optimised. Thus, the dew point regulation is ideal for air cooled compressors. It offsets the daily and seasonal fluctuations in the cooling air temperature, thereby achieving constant pressure dew points. Three in one – compressor, compressed […]

When choosing a technology security solution…

Although some industries may be targeted more often than others for cyberattacks, every organisation across every major industry, from utilities and manufacturing to the public sector, must take necessary security precautions and make cybersecurity a top priority and investment, according to Forescout. Steve Hunter, senior director for Asia Pacific and Japan, Forescout, said, “Making the best investment with a potentially limited security budget can be a daunting task for security and risk management (SRM) leaders. Some of the reasons for this include the fact that no two organisations are identical, which means that security mindset is also different. Cyberthreats are also evolving at a remarkable pace, making it difficult to ensure protection against the latest threats.” In addition to evolving threats, the cyber landscape is also changing rapidly. Traditional IT networks and infrastructure are becoming increasingly intertwined and connected to operational technology (OT) networks and infrastructure. Consequently, devices typically limited to the IT environment, if unsecure, can put entire OT networks at risk. Each device expands the attack surface, giving bad actors more opportunities to access the network. To help businesses and organisations simplify the decision-making process and also minimise the time to deployment, and ultimately a more secured network environment, Forescout has assembled a list of seven key questions, based on key research, that every SRM leader should ask before deciding which security product is the best one for their organisation. 1. Is the solution vendor-agnostic? Too often, organisations identify what they think will be a security silver bullet, only to discover after purchase and implementation that the product is not compatible with other products or applications on their network. More than a poor investment, those organisations also suffer the headache of frustrated end users and wasted resources, and, their organisation is ultimately no more secure than before the […]

Mini-Computer fully protects your anonymity

Mini computer, Aegis One, contains a modern ARM Cortex 1.4Ghz processor, a full-featured 2.8-inch colour display with a resolution of 320 * 240 pixels, an all-metal aluminium case and an internal memory in the range from 16 to 256Gb. For more than two years, Aegis Security has been developing software to reliably protect the confidentiality of its clients, which were later integrated into Aegis One. The result of the work was software systems: Aegis VPN – a private virtual network with its own server architecture with communication channels up to 1 gbit, fully secured connection and no logs; Aegis Crypt is a modern data encryption system according to the AES-XTS-PLAIN64 standard, a password is required to enter the system during the boot process; Aegis Firewall is a professionally configured firewall that blocks and filters all incoming and outgoing data. The system is built on the Debian distribution (a kind of Linux systems), it is distinguished by a high level of reliability, a friendly interface and extensive personalisation options. The system allows you to install the necessary programs for work and entertainment applications, the repository today consists of more than 1000 different programs. An important feature is the ability to use Aegis One as a hardware wallet for storing cryptocurrency. The installed software allows you to create an account in more than 85 popular coins in minutes, while the security and encryption system will reliably protect your funds.

Innovative transition to new age of computing

Leading technology experts came together on the first day of the HKTDC International ICT Expo in April to discuss how advances in computing technologies have helped to make airports, businesses and governments smarter, more efficient and more cost-effective. The expo was organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and ran concurrently with the 16th HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition). Smart airport transforms passenger experience Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is taking biometrics and robotics to new levels in its digital transformation, aiming to provide passengers with a more efficient and enjoyable airport and travel experience, and to improve operational efficiency. Andy Bien, Chief Information Officer at Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA), explained the five key enabling technologies for realising the AA’s Smart Airport Vision: big-data intelligence, advanced biometrics, mobile technology, robotics, and the “digital twin” reality modelling system. Advanced biometric applications are helping the AA provide a seamless travel experience by combining all passenger airport interactions – self-bag drop, e-security gate, immigration, transfer security gates and self-boarding gates – into a single token. “When the system is complete, the passenger will be able to walk into the restricted area in about 10 seconds,” said Mr Bien. The AA is also developing long-range iris, palm-vein and finger-vein scanning, and deeper functions such as emotion recognition via smart CCTV for enhanced security, he said. The analysis of each detected face provides a confidence score for seven different kinds of emotions: anger, disgust, fear, sadness, happiness, surprise or neutral. Robotics is another area the AA is focusing on to supplement its huge labour force (currently 75,000 people and forecast to increase to 130,000 when the third runway opens). Mr Bien emphasised the fact that robotics integration was intended to supplement, not replace, airport workers. Driverless tractors will soon be […]

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