Asia Manufacturing News by Doug Green

ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

SUCCESS THROUGH INNOVATION www.asiamanufacturingnews.com

December 2012 • $8 per copy • $40.00 digital per annum

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ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

Editorial DECEMBER 2012

Superpowers compete for Asia business

t’s been a busy month. Barack Obama has been re-elected President of the United States and Xi Jinping has been named head of China’s new Communist Party leadership.

I believe that these two appointments are significant as to the direction they will take their countries over the next four years. President Obama has done well in his first term with a dedicated approach to righting the struggling US economy. What he inherited in the way of debt from the Bush administration I wouldn’t wish on anyone. His focus on his administration re-building the manufacturing sectors is admirable; however his immediate issues before that bridge is crossed in January is huge. Firstly he has to find a new defence boss, a new secretary of state and a replacement for Timothy Geithner. Xi Jinping, fresh out of the blocks as leader, has the challenge of a modernising China which needs to appeal to the growing middle class population on the back of realising that the young people of China are ambitious and look forward to making their own decisions – that times have changed. Compelling is the subject of the two above super powers manoeuvring for prime status in the Asia Pacific region. America is very good at moving the pieces on the chess board and planning ahead in their overseas quests. Afghanistan is finishing in a year for them and they are currently negotiating their military bases on a larger scale in Australia and on their Pacific bases. China is investing heavily all over the world and I don’t see this approach being reduced under a new leader. The ‘push’ for ‘prime position’ will be viewed with interest. Soon Obama will be in Burma and Cambodia on official visits. China can only watch as these meetings take place. The future is a road ahead for these superpowers to positively support internal growth and manufacture with their people in mind. www.asiamanufacturingnews.com

BIOTHANE SECURES UASB PROJECT

NEWS❒❒❒❒❒❒ 6 TEN EASY TIPS FOR PLM SUCCESS 8 KRISHNA ENJOYS SAVINGS WITH PLASMA SYSTEMS

10 WHEN IT’S LOGICAL TO USE FULLY AUTOMATED EQUIPMENT

11 AIRBUS’ ‘FLY YOUR IDEAS’

CHALLENGE BRINGS INNOVATION TO CAMPUS

12 TNA EGYPTIAN APPOINTMENT 12 HYPERTHERM INAUGURATES

CUTTING TECHNOLOGY CENTRE

13 FIELD SERVICE MANAGEMENT ASIA 2012, SINGAPORE, 5-6 DECEMBER 2012

13 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2012 ISIF ASIA AWARD WINNERS!

14 INTEGRATED ELECTRONICS 15 DELCAM HOLDS SUMMIT IN INDONESIA

ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

23 SUCCESSFUL HIGHWORKING MORE EFFICIENTLY

o you ever have to wait for someone else to finish a task before you can get on with your own work? Do you have a large inventory of unsold stock? Do you have more workstations that you need? Or do you order materials months in advance of when they are needed?

ALTITUDE TESTING FOR VOLCANIC ASH-DETECTION TECHNOLOGY

ith the threat of volcanic eruption to commercial airspace as real as ever, the industry has been testing new methods to stay safe and avoid disruption for business and passengers.

NEWS❒❒❒❒❒❒

16 NEW TECHNOLOGY STREAMLINES

30 HYPERTHERM SHOWCASES

20 BOOKS:

31 NATURAL GAS LEADER POISED FOR

TRADITION

• THE DRAGON IN THE ROOM • ASIA ROLLING HEADLONG TO DISASTER

21 MORGAN CERAMICS PROMOTES EFFICIENCIES

24 PIONEERING POWER SLIDING DOOR TECHNOLOGY

25 NEW BOEING 747-8 FREIGHTER JOINS NETWORK

25 FORGOTTEN PIECES OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

26 NEW ECONOMIC ELECTRIC WATER

COOLING PUMP FOR AUTOMOBILES

28 DELCAM ADDS 40,000TH

CUSTOMER – LIFETIME PRODUCTS INC

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES GROWTH

Asia Manufacturing News is published bi-monthly and offers the reader business information and news. Asia Manufacturing News welcomes editorial contributions and encourages readers to share their reflections and views with us. Asia Manufacturing News uses information provided in good faith. We give no guarantee of accuracy of the information. No liability is accepted for the result of any actions taken or not taken on the basis of this information. Those acting on the information and recommendations do so entirely at their own risk. Managing Editor: Doug Green phone: +64 6 870 9029 Advertising: phone: +64 6 870 9029 Web Master: Dan Browne. SUBSCRIPTION: NZ $80 per year for the printed version. NZ $40 per year digital. Subscription payment or general contact can be made to: Words, PO Box 1109, Hastings, New Zealand. words@xtra.co.nz Please email or fax us your credit card details. Fax: +64 6 878 8150 Or by posting a cheque to the above address. Digital Subscription payment available at: words@xtra.co.nz Single copies NZ $8.00

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ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

developments

Biothane secures UASB project with global food & beverage manufacturer

SINGAPORE:

iothane, a global leader in anaerobic technologies and part of Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies (Veolia), announced that it was awarded a contract to provide a food and beverage (F&B) manufacturer with a holistic wastewater treatment plant in Indonesia. The F&B company produces and markets numerous international snack brands, and is a joint venture with a multinational F&B brand. Veolia’s solution, which encompasses the Biothane UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket), was selected readily for the project as it stood out amongst other conventional technologies.

This wastewater treatment solution is designed to treat highly concentrated effluents, a common occurrence within the F&B industry. With Biothane’s innovation, the client will be able to process 1,032 m3/d of wastewater with a daily load of 7,000 kg COD (chemical oxygen demand). In addition, the upgrade from the current aerobic wastewater treatment process will allow the client to enjoy cost savings because the new system consumes significantly less energy. Biothane’s small-footprint solution also gives the client room for the next expansion phase of its production facility. Under the agreement, Biothane will provide the client with a complete wastewater treatment system, which includes a prewww.asiamanufacturingnews.com

treatment process. During pre-treatment, suspended solids, together with fats, oils and greases (FOG) will be efficiently be removed from the wastewater through screening and purification. In the next step the wastewater is biologically treated in the Biothane UASB reactor. In this project, activated sludge aerobic treatment is used after the Biothane UASB technology, to obtain an effluent that meets regulatory standards for discharge. The removed and produced surplus sludge is dewatered in a centrifuge. William Solary, General Manager, Biothane Asia Pacific, said: “This partnership is our 11th Biothane project with this particular international F&B brand worldwide. The widespread

endorsement of Veolia’s innovations by a single company is a boost to our reputation. We hope to showcase our capabilities for the F&B industry to even more Asian businesses over the next few years.”

About Biothane Biothane is a global leader in the anaerobic biological treatment of industrial wastewater and has constructed more than 530 installations in over 40 countries around the globe. Biothane is constantly improving its products and develops and introduces new and innovative anaerobic solutions in close cooperation with its clients and partners. www. biothane.com Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies, subsidiary of Veolia Water, is a leading design & build company and a specialized provider of technological solutions in water treatment. With 10,767 employees, Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies recorded revenue of €2.315 billion in 2011. www. veoliawaterst.com Veolia Water, the water division of Veolia Environnement, is the world leader in water and wastewater services. Specialized in outsourcing services for municipal authorities, as well as industrial and service companies, it is also one of the world’s major designers of technological solutions and constructor of facilities needed in water and wastewater services. With 96,651 employees in 69 countries, Veolia Water provides water service to 103 million people and wastewater service to 73 million. Its 2011 revenue amounted to €12.617 billion. http://www. veoliawater.com u

ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

enquiry@iqpc.com.sg

www.fsmasia.com

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ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

product lifecycle management

Ten Easy Tips fo

n today’s increasingly competitive global market, many manufacturers are continuously challenged to improve quality, reduce cost and remain adaptable to an ever-changing business landscape.

A powerful process that can help manufacturers address this complexity is product lifecycle management (PLM), which is used to streamline manufacturing processes and manage the entire lifecycle of a product from its design and conception, through to manufacture, use and service and finally, disposal. The potential benefits of PLM are well documented. Successfully implemented, PLM can help to reduce prototyping cost, waste, and time to market, while improving integration of engineering workflows and overall product quality. Yet, many managers delay adoption of PLM despite its potential benefits for the simple reason that traditional PLM solutions have gained a reputation for being costly, complex, and difficult to integrate with existing processes. Why do these solutions, which should be making things easier, often do just the opposite? The reasons are numerous — but they can be overcome. Here are 10 tips to help you avoid some common pitfalls and increase your chances of PLM success. Tip #1: Invest adequate time, infrastructure, and funds. Any successful technology implementation requires an investment in three equally important areas: people, process, and technology. Companies that want to ensure PLM success must pay attention to the people involved while analyzing and updating processes so that both the people and the processes can collectively take full www.asiamanufacturingnews.com

advantage of the new technology. If you don’t properly address all three factors, the implementation will have a lesser chance of success. Tip #2: Invest in the expertise of service providers or software vendors to assist with implementation. Ever try to tackle a home-improvement project on your own to save a few dollars, before conceding defeat and deciding to bring in a professional to redo what you started? The project ends up taking twice as long and costing more than if you had called an expert in the first place. PLM is no different. You need very specific expertise for these deployments, and many companies — out of a desire to save money and reduce the initial investment — think they can manage it internally with their IT team. Without the right level of knowledge on hand, however, deployments can take a lot longer and have diminished chances of success. Tip #3: Devote executive support to ongoing management. A multimillion-dollar PLM solution is typically sold from the top down; it is up to C-level executives to sell their vision to the rest of the organization. Often, PLM implementations encounter resistance from various levels of the organization, particularly from users who interact with the solution daily. Without a continual drumbeat of executive support, user adoption can lag, raising the likelihood of failure. Tip #4: Budget appropriately. The gap is widening between

available budget and the investment required to achieve PLM goals. PLM is an engagement where requirements can change, unforeseen circumstances can arise, and total cost can balloon. Although these types of risks aren’t specific to product lifecycle management, they are particularly frequent among PLM deployments, and many implementations are viewed skeptically before they’re even complete. Tip #5: Adapt the PLM solution to your existing manufacturing structure and processes — not the other way around. Certainly, companies have to be willing to adjust existing processes to best take advantage of available technology. But in some cases, organizations already have processes that are ideal for their needs. There’s nothing worse than having to fit a square peg into a round hole, so make sure that the PLM solution is able to accommodate existing processes effectively. Tip #6: Ensure technology compatibility. With complex enterprise deployments, a company must manage a multitude of components in the technology stack: servers, firewalls, operating systems, databases, middleware, and various PLM software modules. Additionally, external partners might have technology standards or requirements that prevent them from connecting with your PLM system. Not considering technology incompatibilities and complexities can easily mar a PLM implementation. Tip #7: Give all necessary departments access to the PLM solution. Some believe that product data management (PDM) and PLM are essentially the

ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

product lifecycyle management

or PLM Success same thing and the engineering department should be owner and guardian of the PLM system. That is a misguided approach. Simply put, spending an enterprise-sized amount of money on a PLM solution but not using it enterprise wide, will never allow you to tap its full potential. Tip #8: Don’t allow security concerns to impede proper PLM functionality. Much of the benefit of PLM comes from extending it across the organization to different divisions, and even outside of the organization to partners, suppliers, and contractors. This facilitates collaboration and data repurposing, creating a continuous digital workflow. Unfortunately, securing a traditional PLM environment is easier said than done. Rather than tackle these security complexities, some companies simply deny access to outside parties — thereby breaking the digital chain and defeating much of the purpose of having a PLM system in the first place.

Tip #10: Plan for the long term. For all of the effort and planning that go into implementing a PLM solution, surprisingly few companies put any thought into long-term use. The “Now what?” question hangs in the air once the technology has been implemented. As a result, PLM deployment sometimes becomes like the bright, shiny new car that nobody drives: You spent a lot of money on it, but now it just gathers dust in the garage. PLM implementations are often fraught with potential pitfalls. However, with the new generation of cloud-based solutions like Autodesk PLM360 hitting the Asian market soon, the technology is now easier and more

By: VR Srivatsan, Managing Director, ASEAN, Autodesk affordable to implement. A solid understanding of the potential obstacles and how to avoid them, and commitment to finding a solution that is affordable, easy to use, and easy to deploy means that more manufacturers can reap the benefits of PLM – all of which are too important to lose to any uncertainty you might have about risks, costs, and hurdles of traditional PLM deployments. With enterprise technology solutions becoming more accessible with cloud-based offerings, the future where PLM is an industry standard, rather than an exception to the norm is now. u

Tip #9: Audit existing manufacturing and supply-chain practices to identify opportunities for collaborative software improvement. One key objective of PLM should be “trimming the fat”, by taking a close look at processes and identifying ways to streamline and improve them. Installing new technology without looking at the underlying processes and how they can be improved will not take you far in addressing the root of the problem and unlocking true efficiencies.

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ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

manufacturing technology

Krishna enjoys savings

n this day where business competition is rife, constant upgrading is crucial in order for companies to outshine rival firms. On the other hand, lowering operating costs also remains a key concern for business owners. Krishna Profile Industries found a way to achieve both of these goals well when it purchased a new plasma cutting solution, which markedly improved the company’s economic and production efficiencies. Since 1991, Krishna Profile has provided the Indian market with quality profile cutting services for mild and stainless steel. Materials are cut according to specifications set out by customers from various industries, including engineering and welding.

Upgrading for Business Expansion For almost two decades, operators at Krishna Profile utilized conventional gas cutting on jobs assigned to them. But as business grew, the company realized the need to improve its efficiency in order to keep up with all the orders. So although employees were accustomed to gas cutting, Krishna Profile knew it had to adopt a better cutting technology in order to boost its productivity. Ashok Agarwal, Chief Executive Officer, shared, “Conventional gas cutting produced poor cut quality and rough cut edges, so secondary operations were necessary. Also, material wastage was high because the technology required a large machining margin. These factors, in addition to poor efficiency, led us to explore other viable alternatives.” Through his interactions with a customer, Agarwal become acquainted with plasma cutting and introduced the technology into Krishna Profile’s manufacturing process. Although the operators did see some benefits of switching to plasma, the company was not fully satisfied with the performance of that first set of plasma systems. www.asiamanufacturingnews.com

Benefits derived from using HSD130 were evident right from the start.

Krishna Profile then sought the expertise of Proarc Welding and Cutting Systems Pvt. Ltd., a specialist in cutting tables and cutting systems. Proarc recommended a different brand from Krishna Profile’s initial purchase. The new product was Hypertherm’s HSD130 plasma cutting power supply. This time, benefits were evident from the get-go. Krishna Profile was confident in the oxygen plasma system’s capability to increase the company’s productivity, and decisively purchased the new equipment.

Satisfaction All Round Krishna Profile operators were quick to embrace the Hypertherm plasma system, which was designed with several easyto-use features. Customers also took to the new cutting equipment because it was easier to communicate their cutting requirements. All that was needed was for them to provide auto CAD files to Krishna Profile. “Switching to the new equipment was a smooth transition,” explained Agarwal. “We did not have to make any major change to

ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

manufacturing technology

s with plasma systems our processes in order to integrate the new equipment, and our employees at the factory learned how to use the Hypertherm system quite easily. Clients are also very pleased with the workmanship of the HSD130 – some even specifically request for us to use the new system to complete their orders.”

Greater Savings, Increased Turnover Employee and customer satisfaction was but one of the many benefits that Krishna Profile derived from switching to Hypertherm. The company has been able to achieve substantial cost savings with the new Hypertherm equipment. The system is designed with LongLife technology, which significantly improves consumable life, so operators need not replace consumables as often as they had to in the past. Also, the company no longer has to purchase gases for cutting metals, unlike when it used conventional gas cutting. In addition, the new system allows items of equal thicknesses from various jobs to be nested on the same plate, leading to lower material wastage and costs. Krishna Profile has been able to save on transportation and manpower as well. All in all,

savings derived from these areas have led to a significant 50% reduction in operating costs. Things moved more quickly than ever at Krishna Profile, and inventory turnover almost doubled after the company adopted HSD130. With the Hypertherm equipment, productivity at the company has increased by over 100%. Jobs that used to take operators seven hours to complete are now easily performed in just two hours. This heightened efficiency has expanded Krishna Profile’s capacity, and the company has been able to receive a much higher volume of assignments. In addition, Krishna Profile now easily produces high quality parts with the HSD130, which cuts cleanly without the need for time-consuming secondary operations. Improved product quality has allowed the company to gain entry into new industries, including the automobile sector. Positive benefits, coupled with good technical support from Proarc, have made the company’s experience with Hypertherm a pleasant one. Krishna Profile hopes to further improve its productivity, and plans to procure another Hypertherm plasma system, the HPR400XD.

plasma equipment on the market, and will allow the company to cut thicker materials as well as fine-feature parts with superior quality and consistency. And with a second Hypertherm system, Krishna Profile will likely see a further enhancement of its productivity, together with decreased operating cost. “Switching to Hypertherm has enhanced our production process and product quality,” remarked Agarwal. “And when we ran into problems, which was very seldom, Proarc was always prompt in assisting us. These two factors led us to look at purchasing yet another Hypertherm system. We look forward to a continued partnership with Proarc, and to realizing even more benefits with Hypertherm products.” u

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ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

analysis

When it’s logical to use fully automated equipment

utomated test and control equipment pioneered, developed and refined to world-leading standards by a range of United Kingdom specialists is playing an increasingly central role in the development of key industries worldwide - and making major safety advances and cost savings into the bargain.

This is the programmable logic controller, a new breed of fully automated equipment that is increasingly solving fiercely complex technical problems associated with the safe and integrated working of crucial industrial control systems - and doing so at relatively low cost. In the harsh technical environment of Europe’s North Sea, for example, BP’s Forties Alpha oil platform has become a haven of safe and efficient operation by switching to a new computerbased set-up that integrates what used to be two entirely separate operational elements - its process control and its safety shutdown systems. Before programmable logic controllers - PLCs - went on board, these elements involved separate technologies and suppliers, creating contractual problems and difficulties with technical interfaces while potentially - contributing to the cause of accidents. Today, previously separate subsystems handling process control, fire and gas, shutdown and mechanical packages are linked by the use of a single integrated PLC system handled by one contractor. www.asiamanufacturingnews.com

Capelrig of Aberdeen in Scotland says its newly installed PLC system on board the oil production platform will extend platform production life by reducing unplanned shutdowns and by improving its maintainability through smarter automated information gathering. Crucially, Capelrig’s expertise will also cut operating costs by improving the platformís productivity and reducing the workload of platform technicians. Improved control of the plant has given the operator more confidence in the platformís performance. When shutdowns do occur the information supplied by the new system ensures speedy recovery. Unplanned shutdowns are now running at well below 10 per cent of the pre-upgrade level. A mere 14 days’ shutdown was required for completion and commissioning of the new system, avoiding the major production losses that could have been expected in this scale of thorough upgrade. UK expertise in safety-critical control systems is winning new business around the worldís cities as well as its seas. Automotive, chemical, rail, commercial air transport and nuclear industries all rely increasingly on UK-developed control technologies. The huge investments that many countries are making in rail systems, for example, are providing enormous scope for UK specialists. One of many is

CSE International of Scunthorpe, Humberside, north-east England, and that is working with rail operators globally to help them hit their safety and their commercial targets by managing the risks of high-integrity systems. CSE provides the management, engineering and experience to identify and reduce business and safety risks, managing the crucial procurement of softwareintensive safety systems that large rail projects require for their enormously diverse functions. The firmís record in reducing safety-related and business-related risks in clearly demonstrable ways is winning it new business worldwide. Global investors in major industrial projects and initiatives look for well-established UK specialists to handle safety, control and automation in sectors such as oil and gas, chemical, petrochemical, rail and process industries.

Industries are focusing more closely on one particular area of UK expertise that is helping to shape the operational future of potentially risky, safety-critical industries such as rail transport and energy production.

ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

manufacturing technology

Airbus’ ‘Fly Your Ideas’ challenge brings innovation to campus

irbus’ Fly Your Ideas – a UNESCO-backed biennial competition – is challenging students worldwide to develop new ideas for a more sustainable aviation industry. This year, victory will mean not only a €30,000 cash prize; the successful team will also welcome experts from Airbus’ Innovation Cell onto their campus for a week of learning on what it takes to become a true aviation innovator.

Innovation is at the core of Airbus’ vision for the future of aviation. This competition enables Airbus to interact with universities across the globe and students of all disciplines, sharing insight on how the industry leader is developing new technologies for the more sustainable aviation that future travellers are looking for. “We are looking to engage and interact with the next wave of talents who share our vision for a more sustainable future aviation industry,” said Charles Champion, Executive Vice President Engineering Airbus and Fly Your Ideas patron. “We hope to stimulate ideas and international exchange within the global student and academic community to inspire the next generation of innovators.”

This year all rights to designs and creations from the teams will belong to their developers, giving them the opportunity to decide Control aspects such as datalogging, emergency shutdown, fire and gas detection and trackto-train communications are becoming increasingly integrated, thanks to latest developments in equipment such programmable logic controllers.This high degree of integration, UK experts agree, is the key to safer, more reliable and ultimately more cost-effective automated control of costly plant and equipment. UK specialists are also increasingly in demand for training operational personnel to exploit the full potential of

what to do should they want to progress their ideas further. Global enthusiasm for Fly Your Ideas continues to grow, with 111 teams from 55 countries already registered to participate in the 2013 edition – and over two months still to go until the deadline closes for entries. Teams hoping to make the selection for the next stage must submit their idea through the competition website by 7 December 2012. PLC systems. One leader in this sector, Mechatronics International of Lichfield in Staffordshire, has developed training systems that can be used with both electropneumatic and electro-hydraulic controls, helping plant personnel worldwide to learn how best to exploit the remarkably high efficiency and reliability of the best modern control systems. The PLCs used for training are easy to operate with quick plugin connections, and a choice of programming methods, ensuring low capital cost while eliminating the need for tools. It all adds up to

Fly Your Ideas is part of the aircraft manufacturer’s pioneering initiative ‘Future by Airbus’, a vision of sustainable air travel for 2050 and beyond. This year the topics for the competition are: “Energy”; “Efficiency”; “Affordable Growth”; “Traffic Growth”; “Passenger Experience” and “Community Friendliness.” These have been identified by Airbus as the six key challenges of the 21st century for a sustainable aviation industry. u improved quality of training. With high-tech industries globally increasingly focusing on cutting costs while raising safety levels, the UKís depth and breadth of automated control and test equipment expertise is in higher demand than ever before. And that means we can all, quite literally, sleep more safely in our beds at night. For further information contact: Capelrig. Tel: +44 1224 702211 Fax: +44 1224 702219 Web: www.capelrig. com u www.asiamanufacturingnews.com

ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

business news

tna Egyptian appointment

ncreasing its focus on the potential of the Middle East, leading packaging solutions supplier tna has announced its first on the ground representative in Egypt with Mohamed Hussein appointed Regional Sales Manager, tna Middle East.

From his base in Cairo, Mohamed will be responsible for strengthening and maintaining relationships with tna’s existing customers to ensure continued satisfaction. Plus, with a strong background in process, mechanical and electrical engineering, Mohamed will further bolster tna’s on the ground market presence and capitalise on emerging business opportunities in Egypt and its surrounding territories. Commenting on his appointment, Mohamed Hussein said: “I am thrilled to be granted the task of building on tna’s previous successes in the region. As one

of the most important emerging regions for food manufacturing growth, food processing, manufacturing and packaging companies in the Middle East face a challenge to keep with both the regional and global competition. The advanced technological and operational capabilities of our machines, combined with our superior project management expertise and wider service offerings are precisely what is required to help Middle Eastern businesses stay ahead of the game.” Nadia Taylor, Egyptian born cofounder of tna, adds: “Mohamed’s appointment is a significant

milestone in the history of our business – both organisationally, and for me personally. tna’s international roots are reflected in our global outlook, as well as in our whole ethos and approach to business. This is particularly true as we continue to reach out to new and developing markets such as Egypt and the Middle East.” u

Hypertherm inaugurates cutting technology centre NEW DELHI:

ypertherm, a leading manufacturer of advanced metal cutting systems, has officially opened the doors to its first cutting technology center (CTC) in India. Located in New Delhi, the center is the first and only Hypertherm CTC in India, and one of just 3 Hypertherm CTCs in Asia.

The facility will serve as a gathering point where channel partner employees can train up their technical skills and sales expertise to enhance their capabilities when introducing Hypertherm products to end-users. www.asiamanufacturingnews.com

Soo Kam Tatt, Director, Hypertherm Asia, said, “At Hypertherm, we recognize the significance of our OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), system integrators and distributors. They are our key sales channels in India and are our end-users’ main point of contact. That is why we believe in investing effort and resources in training all channel partners, and we have reinforced this commitment with the new CTC.” In September, employees from three channel partners gathered at the CTC to acquire technical know-how and sales techniques related to the Powermax range of manual plasma systems, and the

MAX200 oxygen cutting system. These instructional sessions will be extended to Hypertherm’s entire network of 40 channel partners over the coming months. The CTC is co-located with Hypertherm’s new office, which has been operationally ready since August 2012. This larger premise houses an increased number of associates who work to meet the needs of the company’s everexpanding local customer base. “Business in India has been growing since we first entered the country in 1999,” shared Soo. “With the new office and CTC, and with the addition of more local associates, we are confident that Hypertherm India will be able to better cater to the demands of our customers, both current and potential.” u

business news

ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

Field Service Management Asia 2012

Singapore, 5-6 December 2012

rganisations across Asia have begun to acknowledge the significance of customer service, in order to increase productivity and streamline work processes. However organisations are facing the demanding task of boosting their workforce efficiency while reducing the overall cost of operations. Technology IQ is proud to announce the inaugural Field Service Management Asia 2012 summit which will provide strategies for achieving this by addressing: – Strategic service planning by moving your business services from reactive into proactive in order to maintain top field staff and streamline workflow.

– Developing strategies to nurture customer relationships and extend the customer life cycle. – Continually improving your business processes postimplementation in order to witness ROI. Delivering a unique, fresh programme that is end-user led, the speaker panel includes experts

from: * Singtel * Dell * Microsoft * DHL Global * Phillips * Unilever * Kimberly Clarke * AB Sciex * Soitec * more… With a host of experience Field Service Management professionals available for exclusive networking and sharing ideas, this summit is dedicated to taking in-depth and integrated look at FSM. nextSTEP If you require further information about the summit, drop a line to enquiry@iqpc.com.sg or visit www.fsmasia.com u

Congratulations to the 2012 ISIF Asia Award winners! T he Information Society Innovation Fund (ISIF Asia) is a grants and awards program that aims to stimulate creative solutions to ICT needs in the Asia Pacific region.

The 2012 ISIF Asia Awards recognise projects that have already been implemented, or are in the final stages of implementation, and have been successful in addressing their communities’ needs. The 2012 winning projects were chosen as outstanding in their categories:

enterprises with ECHO (Malaysia)

– Rights Climate Radio - Climate Voice (Bangladesh)

– Innovation on learning and localisation Ligtas Buntis: Safe Motherhood Project using SMS Technologies (Philippines)

In addition to these four winners chosen by the ISIF Selection Committee, this year the first Community Choice Award was given to the following project, which received the highest number of votes during the ISIF Asia Awards social media campaign: – HajjLocator / Mobile Interactive Monitoring and Tracking System for Hajj Pilgrims (Malaysia)

– Code for the common good Empowering Non-Profit Organizations and Micro-

Information about all award candidates, including the winning projects, is available online:http://

– Innovation on access provision Nepal Wireless Networking Project (Nepal)

www.isif.asia/projects

Each winning project team will receive up to AUD 3,000 to support the continuation of the project. The award package also includes a travel grant for the teams to attend the Internet Governance Forum (IGF 2012) in Baku, Azerbaijan to showcase their project, make new professional contacts, and participate in discussions about the future of the Internet. u

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ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

the interview

Integrated electronics

orking at the forefront of research developments across five fields of electronics, dealing with dozens of research questions on a daily basis would be an achievement and a challenge for any researcher. However, Prof. Oh-kyong Kwon, Hanyang University’s Academic Provost and Senior Vice-President, manages to combine his research activities with a host of administrative duties which take up his daytimes. Unsurprisingly then his research activities continue into the early hours each morning!

What major research projects are you working on at the moment and why? I am involved in developing display electronics, in particular the development of micro-displays, such as the ones that might be used in wearable computing gadgets, for example Google’s Project Glass unveiled earlier this year. We’re making sure that the microdisplays can function without a backlight, are thin, lightweight and have low power consumption while ensuring they retain a fast response time. At the same time we are also looking at creating flexible displays, screens that can be rolled up like a sheet of paper and don’t break when dropped. We are also working in the field of power electronics. Modern electronic devices have multiple internal voltages (e.g. 5V, 3.3V, 1.8V etc.) and various sources of power to charge their batteries (e.g. USB, pulse, time based, trickle charger, solar etc). We’re working on creating a single, small efficient inductor which can be used across all appliances and applications, so decreasing manufacturing costs and increasing energy efficiency and usability. This links into our work on high speed interface electronics. Wired connectivity is crucial in our modern world and we’re trying to improve the speed of data transmission by building high speed transmitters. I am also involved in the development of sensor readout technology such as the light and touch sensors that you find in mobile phone technology. The www.asiamanufacturingnews.com

goal is to improve the speed and efficiency of these applications to order to improve the consumer experience. What research are you most excited about? At the moment our bio-medical electronics work really looks to make a positive impact. For example, we have developed more sensitive X-ray technology which ensures the same high quality image needed for medical analysis, but with radiation levels which are up to four times lower. In addition, we are improving the standards for 3D ultrasound images with our ‘ultrasound transceiver IC’. Ultrasound is a technique in which sound waves are used to visualise objects. In medicine it is typically used to visualise soft tissues, abdominal organs, blood vessels, heart, or foetus in the womb (a sonogram). Conventional ultrasound is however 2D which means multiple scans are needed from different directions thereby increasing diagnostic time and pressure on medical professionals. However, in 3D imaging rather than sound waves being sent straight down and reflected back, they are sent at different angles. The returning echoes are processed by a sophisticated computer program resulting in a reconstructed three dimensional volume image of the foetus. In terms of your duties as Provost and Vice President, what are your aims for Hanyang University? We want Hanyang University to be in the list of the top 50 engineering

An interview with Prof. Kwon of Hanyang University who leads research developments in five major electronics fields. schools by 2039 (centennial anniversary for Hanyang University) and I spend my time promoting collaborations and funding to ensure that happens. We have to ask, how do you manage to combine such an active research program with your professional duties? Where do you find the time? A limit of two to three hours of sleep, a very patient wife and 30 minute meetings with students every morning and evening so I stay up to date on the latest developments in the lab. Following your PhD at Stanford University, you first spent many years working in industry. What was your experience? A: After my PhD, I worked for Texas Instruments for about 6 years. I always tell my students to go and work for a company as it offers a better environment for fundamental electronics research. I learned a lot during my time in industry, the philosophy, the way of thinking and they do more applied research than you will see in academia. I thought my research career would be over when I came to Hanyang University! However, at the time many Korean companies came to me seeking advice and I built on those relationships to secure a 10 million USD funding and from there built up my current research programme. u

developments

ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

Delcam holds Summit in Indonesia

elcam held its Asian Technical Summit in Indonesia for the first time last month, presenting its latest technical and financial news to customers, academicians and the technical media from the region. This year’s meeting, which was again sponsored by HP, was the twelfth in the annual series. Over 120 delegates attended, many from Indonesia but with representatives also at the event from 12 other countries. The Summit featured presentations on the latest versions of Delcam’s range of CAM systems that had been demonstrated at the IMTS exhibition in Chicago during the preceding week. Updates were also included on the other software in the Delcam portfolio, including the company’s design

More than 120 delegates attended Delcam’s Asian Technical Summit in Indonesia.

and inspection programs, plus the dedicated software for the footwear, orthotics and dental industries. Guest speakers alongside the Delcam presentations included Debbie Clark, UKTI Director of Trade & Investment for Indonesia, Seiji Niwa, Manager, HP Workstations – Asia Pacific and Japan, Andrew Collins, from

autosport engine manufacturer Noonan Race Engineering, and Jordan Thomson, from Oscarwinning special effects company Weta Workshop. The decision to hold the Summit in Indonesia followed record sales by the Delcam Indonesia subsidiary in the country last year, with a 40% increase in business over the Continues page 23 2010 figures.

enquiry@iqpc.com.sg

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ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

case study

New technology streamlines tradition

With Hypertherm’s fibre laser system, Leader Evaporator was able to increase the capacity of its business.

The problem Leader Evaporator was faced with quite a bit of system downtime. The company estimates its old system was down 15 to 20 percent of the time, so in a typical five-day work week, one full day could be wasted. All that downtime, plus a cutting method that wasn’t as fast as it could be, really impacted Leader Evaporator’s production causing orders to pile up. In some cases, Leader Evaporator found itself having to turn away work.

The solution Leader Evaporator turned to Fibre Laser for a number of reasons. First, they liked the fact fibre laser could cut a wide range of different materials including the polished stainless steel, mild steel, and aluminium it uses to build www.asiamanufacturingnews.com

its evaporators. The ability to cut polished steel was a real selling point for the company since traditional CO2 laser is unable to cut highly reflective materials. In addition, the company was impressed with the speed and cut quality delivered by the fibre laser system. “The combination of our Hypertherm system on an AKS AccuCut table produces very precise cuts for clean welds when assembling our evaporators,” said Alan Ball the project engineer at Leader Evaporator. Another thing, Leader Evaporator liked about fibre laser was its price. Fibre lasers offer the speed and cut quality of more traditional CO2 lasers, but cost significantly less to purchase, operate, and maintain which is exactly what Leader Evaporator was looking for.

The benefits Another benefit of the solid state fibre laser technology is that they require little to no maintenance since they have few moving parts and don’t rely on mirrors for beam delivery. This is in contrast to traditional gas lasers which require regular maintenance. Mirrors need to be maintained and calibrated, resonators and turbines that move the gas need to be replaced, and the lasing gas needs to be cleaned out regularly because of its tendency to collect impurities. All of this maintenance adds up. One CO2 system can cost $40,000 per year just to maintain. That’s all changed now. Today, Leader Evaporator is enjoying record business. It posted its best year ever in 2011 and expects to meet or beat that record in 2012. Although fibre laser is responsible for much of the increased capacity since the system experiences virtually no downtime and the cutting method is so fast, Leader Evaporator’s usage of what is called an “integrated cutting solution” is also helping. By using other Hypertherm components alongside its fibre laser system – in this case a computer numerical controller (CNC) that controls the x-y motion of the cutting torch, a torch height control (THC), and advanced nesting software – Leader Evaporator was able to be up and running quicker thereby realizing the laser system benefits sooner. “The critical components (fibre laser, CNC, THC, and software) have been engineered to work as a single system making it easier to integrate, operate and get consistently high quality results operator to operator, shift to shift or week to week,” explains Hypertherm’s Shuda As a result, Leader Evaporator is able to take on more work since

eader Evaporator Company, a 125-year-old company located in Northern Vermont, is the largest manufacturer of equipment used to produce maple syrup in the United States. And although Leader Evaporator makes equipment for an industry hundreds of years old, the equipment it uses couldn’t be more modern. In fact, up until three or four years ago, the technology the company now uses didn’t even exist.

developments

ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

Faro launches new CAM2 Gage 2.2 Software F aro Technologies a trusted source for 3D measurement technology; has released CAM2 Gage 2.2 Software. It is the latest software update for the company’s leading lines of portable measurement solutions, the FaroArm and Faro Gage.

New features like enhanced QuickTools, barcode functionality and temperature compensation dramatically expedite and improve the accuracy of measurement routines. These and over 30 more new features make CAM2 Gage 2.2 one of Faro’s most complete solutions for fast, high-accuracy contact measurement.

As part of the newest update to CAM2 Gage, Faro’s temperature probe provides feedback on part temperature during measurement routines. This is important since variations in temperature can adversely affect the accuracy of measurements. By closely monitoring and automatically compensating for these changes, CAM2 Gage helps ensure it is now able to cut more parts – in some cases up to twice as many parts as what was otherwise possible. Another benefit is that the company can now cut perfect holes that are ready to accept bolts in seconds. “We are doing so much more today, than we’ve even done before. The ability to make precise cuts on thin stainless steel, galvanised steel, and aluminium, perform fine feature cutting, and cut perfect holes is enormous,” continues Mr. Ball, the project manager at Leader Evaporator. “On top of that, we are saving so much time because the cuts are so good, we don’t have to spend time cleaning or doing weld prep with any of the fibre laser cut parts.”

users receive consistent and accurate results despite changing measurement conditions.

permits users to import and use QuickTools programs generated in CAM2 Measure 10.

The QuickTools functionality

Barcodes can now be created directly in the CAM2 Gage software and saved together with the inspection plan data. One click with the new Faro barcode reader and the inspection plan is instantly loaded in the CAM2 Gage software. The result is exceptional speed for frequently-repeated, everyday measurements.

Mr. Ball was also impressed by how easy it was to get his new system up and running. “It was much quicker and easier than I anticipated since all of the components (that defined the cutting system) used were from Hypertherm and designed to work together.” For Leader Evaporator though, the switch to fibre laser and an integrated cutting solution means much more than better quality cuts, increased capacity, and lower operating cost. It means that instead of juggling orders and outsourcing jobs, the company is able to once again concentrate on the job it feels is most important: making the best evaporators in the business. u

“CAM2 Gage 2.2 software presents new features that accelerate and simplify measurement activities. Faro is fully committed to continuously improving our measurement software packages,” said Markus Grau, Faro’s Product & Business Development Manager for the FARO Gage. “With this latest release, we have reached a new milestone in offering the easiest and most intuitive measurement software available.”u www.asiamanufacturingnews.com

ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

lean manufacturing

Working More Effi

How about flexibility? If consumers want a modification to your product, can you quickly change your processes to meet their needs? Waste costs you and your customers’ money. And if your customers have to pay more because of it, they might go elsewhere. Being competitive also requires a lot of flexibility. You must be able to meet the changing demands of your customers quickly and effectively, and adapt to a rapidly changing business environment. So, how can you reduce waste and do things more efficiently? And how can you keep up with the changing demands of consumers?

First mentioned in James Womack’s 1990 book, “The Machine That Changed the World,” lean manufacturing is a theory that can help you to simplify and organise your working environment so that you can reduce waste, and keep your people, equipment, and workspace responsive to what’s needed right now. Henry Ford was one of the first people to develop the ideas behind lean manufacturing. He used the idea of “continuous flow” on the assembly line for his Model T automobile, where he kept production standards extremely tight, so each stage of the process fitted together with each other stage, perfectly. This

resulted in little waste. But Ford’s process wasn’t flexible. His assembly lines produced the same thing, again and again, and the process didn’t easily allow for any modifications or changes to the end product – a Model T assembly line produced only the Model T. It was also a “push” process, where Ford set the level of production, instead of a “pull” process led by consumer demand. This led to large inventories of unsold automobiles, ultimately resulting in lots of wasted money. Other manufacturers began to use Ford’s ideas, but many realised that the inflexibility of his system was a problem. Taiichi Ohno of Toyota then developed the Toyota Production System (TPS), which used Just In Time manufacturing methods to increase efficiency. As Womack reported in his book, Toyota used this process successfully and, as a result, eventually emerged as one the most profitable manufacturing companies in the world. Lean manufacturing is based on finding efficiencies and removing wasteful steps that don’t add value to the end product. There’s no need to reduce quality with lean manufacturing – the cuts are a result of finding better, more efficient ways of accomplishing the same tasks. To find the efficiencies, lean manufacturing adopts a customervalue focus, asking “What is the customer willing to pay for?” Customers want value, and they’ll pay only if you can meet their needs. They shouldn’t pay for defects, or for the extra cost of having large inventories. In other words, they shouldn’t pay for your waste. Waste is anything that doesn’t add value to the end product. In lean manufacturing, there are eight

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ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

lean manufacturing

fficiently

categories of waste that you should monitor: 1. Overproduction – Are you producing more than consumers demand? 2. Waiting – How much lag time is there between production steps? 3. Inventory (work in progress) – Are your supply levels and work in progress inventories too high? 4. Transportation – Do you move materials efficiently? 5. Over-processing – Do you work on the product too many times, or otherwise work inefficiently? 6. Motion – Do people and equipment move between tasks efficiently? 7. Defects – How much time do you spend finding and fixing production mistakes? 8. Workforce – Do you use workers efficiently? Lean manufacturing gives priority to simple, small, and continuous improvement such as changing the placement of a tool, or putting two workstations closer together. As these small improvements are added together, they can lead to a higher level of efficiency throughout the whole system. (Note that this emphasis on small improvements doesn’t mean that you cannot make larger improvements if they are required!) Although the aim of lean manufacturing is to remove as much waste as possible by continuously refining your processes, you probably won’t eliminate waste completely.

Lean Manufacturing Process The lean manufacturing process has three key stages: Stage 1 – Identify waste Stage 2 – Analyse the waste, and find the root cause Stage 3 – Solve the root cause, and repeat the cycle

Tools to Reduce Waste Once you have identified wastes using the three key stages above, you can then apply this next set of tools to help you reduce waste further: • Just in Time – This is the core idea of lean manufacturing and is based on the “pull” model. To minimize stock and resources, you only purchase materials, and produce and distribute products when required. You also produce small, continuous batches of products to help production run smoothly and efficiently. By reducing batch size, you can also monitor quality and correct any defects as you go. This reduces the likelihood of quality being poor in future batches. (In manufacturing, a key way of doing this is to use Kanban, below.) • Kanban – This is one of the key ways to involve people in the lean manufacturing process. Here, you support the Just In Time model by developing cues in the system to signal that you need to replace, order, or locate something. The focus is on reducing overproduction, so that you have what you need, only when you need it.

• Zero Defects – This system focuses on getting the product right the first time, rather than spending extra time and money fixing poor-quality products. By using the Zero Defects system, you’ll reinforce the notion that no defect is acceptable, and encourage people to do things right the first time that they do something. • Single Minute Exchange of Die (SMED) – This helps you build flexibility into your production. For example, in the automotive industry, it could take days to change a line to produce a different car model. With SMED, the assembly process and machinery are designed to support quick and efficient changeovers. (Here, a “die” is a tool used to shape an object or material.) • The 5S Philosophy – Lean manufacturing depends on standardization. You want your tools, processes, and workplace arrangements to be as simple and as standard as possible. This creates fewer places for things to go wrong, and reduces the inventory of replacement parts that you need to hold. To accomplish a good level of standardization, use the 5S System. u www.asiamanufacturingnews.com

ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

books The Dragon in the Room

China and the Future of Latin American Industrialisation

n the eyes of many, China’s unprecedented economic rise has brought nothing but good news to the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. Indeed, China’s growing appetite for primary products, and the ability of Latin America to supply that demand, has played a role in restoring growth in Latin America, both in the run-up to the global financial crisis and in its aftermath. The dragon in the room that few are talking about is the fact that China is simultaneously out-competing Latin American manufacturers in world markets— so much so that it may threaten the ability of the region to generate long-term economic growth. One of the authors’ key findings is that China is rapidly building the technological capabilities necessary for industrial development, whereas Latin American tech innovation and sophistication lags considerably. At a deeper level, the findings in this volume imply that China’s road to globalization, one that emphasizes gradualism and coordinated macro-economic and industrial policies, is far superior to the “Washington Consensus” route taken by most Latin American nations, particularly Mexico.

By Kevin P. Gallagher and Roberto Porzecanski Stanford University Press, 2010

Kevin P. Gallagher is a senior researcher at the Global Development and Environment Institute at associate professor of international relations at Boston University. He is the author of The Enclave Economy: Foreign Investment and Sustainable Development in Mexico’s Silicon Valley, and Free Trade and the Environment: Mexico, NAFTA, and Beyond. He writes regular columns for The Guardian and Financial Times. Roberto Porzecanski is a research fellow at the Global Development and Environment Institute and author of the book, Not On Board: Uruguay and the Prospects for a Free Trade Agreement with the United States. u

Asia rolling headlong to disaster Consumptionomics: I Asia’s Role in Reshaping Capitalism and Saving the Planet by Chandran Nair

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n the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, it has been easy to point out the many flaws of capitalism. The idea of homo economicus - the rational man upon which the most basic predicates of classical economics was built - was shown to be an incomplete capture of how we approach markets. From the ashes of this crisis, schools of thought have been given new life, not least of which has been behavioral economics, which has brought into focus the psychological dimensions to how we make purchasing decisions as opposed to the purely rational calculus classic economics assumed. In the United States, the events of 2008 have thrown into disarray both the role of the state in dealing with structural shocks to the national economy as well as the extent to which the state has the responsibility of managing certain programs that act as social stabilizers in moments of crisis and the aftermath which follows. But the biggest pushback has undoubtedly been the backlash against free-market fundamentalism, the idea that markets govern themselves purely through the selfinterests of the actors within the market. This idea has been shown to be woefully inadequate in the face of bankers who lent money they should not have to consumers who had little chance of repayment. The perverse system of incentives that drove bankers forward had its sights set on purely short term gain which, while ultimately realized, also nearly brought the entire system down. If this was not a manifest illustration of the shortcomings to the particular insight markets claim to offer - the preservation of self interests above all - then one shudders to think what would be. It is with this in mind - a desire to build upon and not see torn down - those insights capitalism brings the world, that Chandran Nair has written Consumptionomics: Asia’s Role in Reshaping Capitalism and Saving the Planet. Nair’s analysis is ostensibly written for an Asian audience, and yet its implications are undeniably global in scope. Unlike what some reactionaries may take away from Nair’s book, Consumptionomics does not desire to tear down capitalism; rather, it asks us to think of certain shared social resources as a type of capital stock, albeit one more precious than any shown on a company or central bank balance sheet. u

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ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

Morgan Ceramics promotes efficiencies

W SINGAPORE:

ith Asia’s growing affluence and modernisation, energy demand in the region is also rapidly developing. About 60% of the region’s electricity is fuelled by coal, compared to the worldwide average of 40%, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The agency forecasts that Asia, containing three of world’s most highly populated nations China, India and Indonesia, will account for 90% of coal demand over the next 20 years. The need for highly efficient fossil fuel power generation remains as alternative energy sources like wind, hydro and solar cannot meet the increased demand for power. Morgan Ceramics, a division of The Morgan Crucible Company plc, one of the world’s leading advanced materials companies, continues to strengthen working relationship with Asia’s power sector to maximise efficiencies in power generation and transmission in the region. Its thermal ceramics business supplies high performance, high temperature thermal insulation solutions for heat recovery steam generation (HRSG) plants including global and Asian customers. Its technical ceramics business delivers precisionengineering capabilities that are increasingly being used by designers and manufacturers to develop components and subassemblies for new products aimed at meeting green standards in power delivery. Modern HRSGs are using larger gas turbines and burners to meet demands for a greater power output. As a result, boilers are operating at higher temperatures and there is a growing need for insulation that works effectively and gives better thermal and

acoustic performance at reduced cost. Superwool Plus, a breakthrough fibre technology offers superior insulation in high temperature environments of up to 1200 degrees C, enabling energy savings of up to 20% compared to alternative products. Superwool Plus insulation is efficient at restricting energy losses while maintaining other key material properties such as low shrinkage and good mechanical durability. It delivers high performance with less mass and blanket thickness whilst maintaining the same insulation value, resulting in both weight and cost savings. In addition, Morgan Ceramics’ wide range of advanced ceramic materials offers superior physical, thermal and electrical properties, which make it suitable for generating and distributing power from both renewable and traditional sources. Its range of dielectric materials includes high quality capacitance solutions for high-voltage systems and its piezoelectric materials are key components in energy-harvesting applications. Morgan Ceramics also manufactures products that are used in the manufacture of thinfilm photovoltaic cells for the solar industry and cores for industrial gas turbine blades. Its ceramic live line indicators are used in high voltage DC power distribution applications around the world. Other applications in power generation include vacuum switch tubes, semiconductor switch housings, standoff insulators, cable insulators, fuses, radiation detector components, blades for gas turbines and smart meters, among others.

About Morgan Technical Ceramics Morgan Technical Ceramics manufactures components and

sub-assemblies using an extensive range of materials, including structural and piezoelectric ceramics, dielectrics, braze alloys, and specialist coatings. It works with manufacturers’ design and R&D teams at local, national and international level on projects from concept and feasibility studies through prototype development to full production. The business employs some 2,500 people and has 23 manufacturing sites worldwide across Europe, the US, Mexico, China and Australia.

About Morgan Thermal Ceramics Morgan Thermal Ceramics is a world leader in the design and manufacture of advanced heat insulation products which are used to help reduce energy consumption in a range of industrial processes, from iron and steel production to power generation, and specialized structural fire protection. Key products include Superwool the leading low bio-persistent insulating fibre, insulating firebricks (IFBs) and a range of monolithic materials. The business employs some 3,000 people in more than 50 locations worldwide, with manufacturing sites in 25 countries. Morgan Technical and Thermal Ceramics are businesses within the Morgan Ceramics Division of The Morgan Crucible Company plc, one of the world’s leading advanced materials companies. The company specialises in the design, manufacture and marketing of ceramic and carbon products which are used in a wide range of applications, from transport and telecommunications to fire protection and medical instruments. Morgan Crucible is listed on the London Stock Exchange in the engineering sector. u www.asiamanufacturingnews.com

ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

developments

Successful high-altitude testing for

ith the threat of volcanic eruption to commercial airspace as real as ever, the industry has been testing new methods to stay safe and avoid disruption for business and passengers.

easyJet and Nicarnica Aviation have entered a partnership with the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus to test the Avoid (Airborne Volcanic Object Imaging Detector) ash-detection equipment on their A340-300 test aircraft at the speed and altitude of commercial aircraft. The first phase of testing took place in July and initial test flights at altitudes of up to 40,000 feet (about 12,200 metres) were successful. The tests included mounting equipment externally on the aircraft fuselage, with recording equipment and realtime monitors placed inside the cabin allowing viewing of the sky ahead. Test flights have been performed near the Airbus home base at Toulouse, France, to first assess the sensor’s physical behaviour when mounted on the aircraft and exposed to flight environment and then the performance of the detection system without the presence of volcanic ash. Plans also included tests in any volcanic activity at Stromboli or Etna with aircraft flown to Italy to test the equipment at commercial jet flight altitudes and speeds. Test aircraft were also flying over the Atlantic Ocean west of Morocco to prove the equipment can detect the fine particles of sand at altitudes of up to 20,000 feet and a distance of up to 50km, using the Saharan air layer as a proxy for volcanic ash. In the event of a volcanic eruption, Avoid gives vital, realtime information on the amounts of ash in the atmosphere. For UK airspace, when incorporated into the safe fly protocols now agreed www.asiamanufacturingnews.com

by the industry and overseen by the Civil Aviation Authority and other ash-measurement data and prediction models operated by the Meteorological Office, this could enable aircraft to fly safely to and from London and the rest of the UK. One of the programme’s priorities after the disruption caused by Icelandic volcanoes in previous years was to provide assurance for flights for the 2012 London Olympic & Paralympic Games. Ian Davies, easyJet’s engineering director, said after the initial tests: “Now that the first phase of testing is well under way, easyJet and Airbus foresee being able to provide Avoid ash-detection support this summer.” The inventor of the Avoid system, Dr Fred Prata of Nicarnica Aviation, said: “The idea of an onboard volcanic ash detection for commercial aircraft first came to me about 20 years ago, so it is with great satisfaction and excitement that easyJet and Airbus have now tested the system on an A340 aircraft.” Axel Krein, senior vice-president of research and technology at Airbus, said: “We are all working towards reducing the impact of volcanic ash clouds and, under these conditions, the infrared technology being developed in Avoid could prove to become valuable in terms of safely managing air transport in the European Union, and also optimising flight paths. “This is why Airbus supports development of such technologies helping to allow the airlines to take necessary decisions for a safe flight under the full knowledge of

the overall situation,” he added. Padhraic Kelleher, head of airworthiness at the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) , said: “We now have a range of tools available to reduce the impact of volcanic ash, such as improved forecasting. However, this does not guarantee that disruption will be minimised as much as it safely could be. “The CAA therefore welcomes the easyJet, Nicarnica Aviation and Airbus work. If Avoid can deliver the capability promised, then the amount of airspace [that] airlines need to avoid would be reduced.” In recognition for their work on Avoid, Ian Davies and Dr Prata have been named Flightglobal’s Aviators of the Year. The award is given each year to the individual or team who has done most to advance the cause of safety and operational best practice in the field of aviation. The Avoid system created by Dr Prata of the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU) consists of infrared technology - developed by the US military - fitted to aircraft to supply images to pilots and an airline’s operations control centre. The concept is very similar to weather radar systems that are standard on commercial airliners today. On the ground, information from aircraft with Avoid technology would be used to build an accurate image of the volcanic ash cloud using real-time data. This could open up large areas of airspace that would otherwise be closed during a volcanic eruption, and would benefit passengers by minimising disruption. Ian Davies is the technical director and head of engineering at easyJet where he is responsible for the airworthiness of the airline’s 204 Airbus A320 family

ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS â&#x20AC;˘ DECEMBER 2012

developments

r volcanic ash-detection technology

of aircraft. He runs the team of about 250 support managers and engineering staff that ensures easyJet aircraft are always kept in a safe and highly maintained condition. Davies discovered the work of Dr Prata while the first Icelandic eruption was taking place. He convinced him to collaborate with easyJet to develop the technology for use on easyJet aircraft and in the wider commercial airline industry. Since the start of his involvement he has become recognised as an industry expert on the subject of volcanic ash and its effects on aircraft, and participated with a European team of expert scientific research agencies as a full partner with the aim of testing the effects of volcanic ash on turbine engine components. This should provide viable evidence of turbine engine tolerance limit to ash and further

increase our knowledge of how to operate safely in contaminated airspace. Davies is a licensed aircraft engineer with over 35 years of experience in civil aviation and has worked for easyJet for almost four years. Prior to his appointment at easyJet, he was director of engineering at BMI

British Midland for seven years. Dr Prata is a director of Nicarnica Aviation (a spin-off company of NILU), that was set up to develop and commercialise technology for the detection of volcanic ash and other hazards to the aviation industry. Dr Prata holds a doctorate from Oxford University in stratospheric dynamics. u

From page 15

Delcam holds Summit in Indonesia

With this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sales on track for another record, plans are under way for an increase in staff numbers and, possibly, the opening of a third office to provide even better support to the growing number of customers.

Stanley, Mattel Indonesia and Pou Chen Indonesia, major Indonesian manufacturers like Astra Otoparts, which hosted a visit by the international delegates, and many smaller toolmakers and subcontractors.

Delcam Indonesia now has more than 200 customers, with over 500 seats of software. These customers include the local subsidiaries of international companies, such as Indonesia

The company also works closely with the educational sector, including Atma Jaya Yogyakarta University which gave a presentation on its engineering courses based on Delcam software.u www.asiamanufacturingnews.com

ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

developments

Pioneering power sliding door technology A isin Seki Co., Ltd, Japan has developed the first power sliding door system that houses all the major components in the door side. The new approach allows the doors to be compatible with a wider range of vehicles than previous power sliding door systems and leaves more space inside the vehicle.

One in four passenger cars are now minivans and the convenient power sliding door mechanism comprises one of the attractive attributes of these vehicles. The new power sliding door system from Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd uses a system inspired by the rope drills of fire fighters. The power supply unit has a low-profile circular ‘snail type’ design, where the cable moving the door is taken up in a whorl that resembles a snail. The system is compact, neat and allows a smooth sliding motion. Vehicles with the Aisin system built into their sliding doors continue to increase year on year. Toyota Motors plans to spread the use of the system to all models, and Nissan Motors, Suzuki Motors, Daihatsu Motor Company, and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. have also adopted the technology. The sliding door system with indoor built in drive unit represents pioneering technology in the field. Aisin Seki Co., Ltd holds 70% of the market share in sliding doors.

Background Today one in every four passenger cars is a minivan. Their sustained popularity is attributed to their ability to accommodate large family groups as well as other attractive features, in particular the power sliding door. Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd released a sliding power door technology in the 1990s but in that previous system the drive unit was built into the vehicle side rather than the www.asiamanufacturingnews.com

Power sliding door of a Toyota Spade.

passenger door, which impinged on the space inside the vehicle and led to restrictions in the passenger vehicles that it could be fitted onto. In the late 1990s the company began development of the industry’s first power sliding door with the drive unit built into the door itself.

Technology 1. Achieving the system’s power and volume requirements The drive unit needed to be compact, low in profile and lightweight. In addition a higher output power was needed in the drive unit due to the increased weight due to incorporating major components in the door. Through trial and error modifications to the position of the elements in the motor, the magnetic flux circuit and the frictional values of the materials, Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd developed the smallest high-power output drive unit the industry had ever seen. The design resulted in over 30 patents. The rope system for driving the sliding door mechanism was inspired by observations of fire fighters during drills where they ascend walls with a rope that wraps around the body. It has a low-profile, circular design, with the cable taken up as a whorl in a shape that resembles a snail – the ‘snail type’ power supply unit.

2. Compatibility with different vehicle models During prototype production substantial further modifications were made so that the drive unit would versatile enough to be used in a range of vehicles. This included vehicles with limited space inside the door under the window where the unit was originally designed to be installed. 3. Eliminating pulsation Theoretical analyses were undertaken to understand what measures could prevent the ‘pulsation’ that occurs as the doors slide open and closed. Electrical engineering research as well as new control logic led to a new trapping detector that operated via a touch sensor to prevent pulsation. 4. Power back door system The components for the powered sliding door system and the power back door system were standardised as much as possible. This proved significantly economical as the same ultracompact drive unit could then be used in both with only minor modifications.

Results Production of powered back door systems using the same components was launched for the Toyota Alphard in Japan 2002 and the Toyota Sienna in North Continues page 29

supply chain

ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

New Boeing 747-8 Freighter joins network

olar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc., is pleased to announce that a new Boeing 747-8 Freighter began operations in its fleet on October 3. Another new aircraft is due to join service later in the fourth quarter of 2012.

These aircraft will be the first of their type to be flown in Polar’s fleet and will operate in Asian and transpacific markets. They will replace two Boeing 747400 Freighters currently in service. Atlas Air Worldwide is the parent company of Atlas Air, Inc. (Atlas) and Titan Aviation Leasing (Titan), and is the majority shareholder of Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc. (Polar). Atlas Air Worldwide also maintains a 49% interest in Global Supply Systems Limited (GSS). Through Atlas and Polar, Atlas Air Worldwide operates the

world’s largest fleet of Boeing 747 freighter aircraft. Atlas, Titan and Polar offer a range of outsourced aircraft and aviation operating services that include ACMI service – in which customers receive an aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance

on a long-term basis; CMI service, for customers that provide their own aircraft; express network and scheduled air cargo service; military cargo and passenger charters; commercial cargo and passenger charters; and dry leasing of aircraft and engines. u

Forgotten pieces of supply chain management

ames Lucier of Workspend/USTS Group, a Master Services Provider (MSP) at the upcoming marcus evans Chief Procurement Officer Summit 2012, on the areas of the talent supply chain management function that deserve more attention.

Organisations have been slow in implementing supply chain management principles to the procurement of contingent labour, thus they may be exposing themselves to risks, limiting their access to talent and paying more for their contingent workforce than they need to, uncovers James Lucier, VP Workforce Solutions, Workspend(TM)/USTS Group. Chief Procurement Officers (CPOs) must align talent strategy with business strategy and apply the principles of supply chain management to the talent supply chain, he adds. Ahead of the marcus evans

Chief Procurement Officer Summit 2012, in Weston, Florida, December 2-3, where Workspend(TM)/USTS Group will be present, Lucier turns the focus to how CPOs could drive their organizations forward by better managing the procurement of contingent labour. From your perspective, what issues are CPOs struggling with today? At the most basic level, CPOs are trying to make their procurement dollars go further by getting the best value for their money. But the cost of acquiring and retaining contingent labour, the critical flexible workforce every

organisation needs, is a significant expense that is getting increasingly complex and difficult to manage. How could they reduce their labour spend? Effectively managing contingent labour spend may be more about controlling spend than reducing it, though many organizations we work with often achieve 15 per cent or greater cost reduction. Most organisations aim to grow, which requires more talent and resources. So, first and foremost, managing contingent labour spend requires complete visibility into the spend, as well as the supply of talent and resources. Contingent labour spend includes both direct and indirect costs. Direct costs are the costs of labour; indirect costs are Continues page 27

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ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

manufacturing technology

New economic electric water c

he low cost, high efficiency electric pump offers an environmentally friendly alternative to mechanical counterparts. Aisin Seki Co., Ltd has now successfully developed a smaller, cheaper electric cooling pump through some effective efficiency optimisations.

design also incorporates an aluminium enclosure, which acts as a heat sink, further easing the heat resistance requirements. Notably, the cost of the electric pump was reduced by using an inexpensive and heat resistant printed circuit board. Customer satisfaction and concern for the environment are important aspects of the company’s ‘quality first’ corporate principle. The new engine pump will allow significant fuel economies, reducing fossil fuel consumption, and the expense of running the engine. It has been designed so that it can be installed in the same position as mechanical pumps, thereby simplifying the move to electric powered pumps.

Aisin Seki electric water cooling pump installed in engine (red circle) © Aisin Seiki Cars traditionally use mechanical water cooling pumps, which have a flow rate dependent on the engine speed. Electric cooling pumps offer greater control over the water flow allowing significant fuel economies, particularly important in view of rising environmental concerns. However electric pumps are traditionally much larger than their mechanical www.asiamanufacturingnews.com

counterparts. Among other adaptations the Aisin electric pump uses a newly shaped impeller to improve performance. In addition, the design positions the components so that both the motor efficiency and the centrifugal pump mutually benefit. The pump also uses fewer components, allowing it to occupy less space. With the efficiency improvements less heat is generated. The pump

Fuel reduction is a primary concern for automobiles running on diesel, as well as hybrid engines that use other power sources in addition to diesel. The main motivation is the effect of fuel consumption on environmental factors, although economizing on fuel also has financial rewards. Controlling the water flow in engine cooling systems has been identified as an effective approach to fuel reduction. Following work to develop electric pumps

ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

manufacturing technology

cooling pump for automobiles for cooling inverters, Aisin Seki has now focused on automobile cooling systems. Electric pumps run independently of the engine speed, which allows greater control over the water flow and consequently reductions in fuel consumption.

The technology To substitute mechanical pumps with electric ones they should operate in the same part of the engine. The main issue in attempting to substitute

mechanical pumps with electric ones is size. Electric pumps tend to be much larger in order to achieve the same discharge flow rate. Aisin Seki has tackled a number of factors that impinge on the efficiency of electric pumps. These efficiency enhancements mean that the size of their pumps can be decreased. Three elements affect the overall efficiency of the electric pump: the driver, the motor and the pump itself, which generally has a low efficiency.

From page 25

Forgotten pieces of supply chain management

administrative costs and shared or soft costs. There is also an opportunity cost to positions being left unfilled and needs unmet. CPOs should have clear visibility into all the costs associated with their contingent labour program, and keen insight into talent acquisition, management, retention and optimisation within their organization. In our experience, many organisations have the opportunity to reduce contingent labour costs by 15 per cent or more, expand their access to talent, improve compliance and enhance risk mitigation. What risks should they pay more attention to? The underlying risk in any contingent labour program is not having access to the talent an

organisation needs on-demand - when, where and how it is needed. The overarching risk is compliance with labour laws and other statutory, industry and organisational requirements. Between those risks lies the financial risk. Talent comes first and compliance is aboveall, but what about cost? Is the organisation spending too much for the talent it needs? Is it wasting money through inefficiencies in the talent supply chain? Are direct costs too high, and do indirect costs secretly siphon money from budgets? All of these risks can be managed and costs can be controlled, even reduced, as CPOs apply principles of supply chain management to the talent supply chain. u

1. Improving pump efficiency Optimisations to the shape of the impeller enabled more effective pumping operation. In addition, an operation point that mutually benefits the efficiency of pump and motor was identified. The pump is centrifugal. The operation point that allows maximum efficiency for the motor and pump differs, but a compromise was found. 2. Economising on component parts Mechanical pumps harness the engine’s power through a pump pulley connected to the engine crank. The rotation of the crank then drives the pump, which is connected to the pulley by a shaft. Mechanical seals on the shaft prevent leaking of the cooling water. On the contrary, the electric pump which is driven directly by its motor so these seals could be eliminated. Resin protects the electric motor parts from rust. 3. Cutting costs The opportunity to economize on costs was exploited with the use of a cheaper print board. Although the heat resistance may be lower for the cheaper print board, the optimized efficiency of the electric pump reduces the heat generated. An aluminum enclosure was also incorporated, which acts as a heat sink, further reducing the level of heat resistance needed in the print board. u

Community Planning, Sustainable Business and Waste Minimisation Strategies www.envision-nz.com

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ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

developments

Delcam adds 40,000th custo

elcam is pleased to announce that the company recently added its 40,000th customer – Lifetime Products Inc. “Lifetime Products is a world-leading manufacturer, with products sold in more than 70 countries. We are honoured to be able to add such a prestigious company to our list of customers. They are a true US success story,” said Delcam North America President, Glenn McMinn, who announced the landmark sale during the IMTS exhibition in Chicago.

While the average American may not know who Lifetime Products is, the chances are they own one of its products. The company manufactures a number of outdoor products from swing sets and basketball hoops, to lawn furniture and storage sheds, to kayaks and tent trailers, all designed and manufactured largely in the United States. Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Clearfield, Utah, Lifetime Products has applied innovation and cuttingedge technology in plastics and metals to develop innovative products with superior strength and durability.

created to concentrate specifically on manufacturing the patented adjustable-basketball systems.

It all began in 1972, with the founder of Lifetime Products, Barry Mower, wanting a sturdier basketball pole for his backyard. This grew into a business that was named American PlayWorld. Several years later, in March of 1986, Lifetime Products was

The Lifetime Products machine shop, staffed by 21 experienced machinists is an integral part of the company’s success. The machine shop purchased its first Mazak more than 20 years ago, which was just recently sold to make room for a new and bigger Mazak.

Today, Lifetime Products employs over 1,300 staff in 2.6 million square feet spread over twentyone separate buildings. Lifetime Product’s commitment as a global manufacturer is to produce high quality, innovative products that are strong, durable and environmentally friendly. To meet its goals and to keep costs down, Lifetime Products continually looks for solutions to speed up time to market, to increase value to its customers and to decrease waste.

Part of the kayak mould that was the first project undertaken at Lifetime Products with Delcam’s PowerMILL CAM software www.asiamanufacturingnews.com

Today, the company owns four Mazak vertical machining centres, including two Nexus VNC-510Cs, a Nexus VCS-410A, a VTC-300C and a Mazak QuickTurn Nexus 300 turning centre. Lifetime Products also has four HAAS VF-9 machines for milling its moulds. The company is expanding this department further, installing a new HAAS VS-3 in early October to meet the growing demand for moulds. “We have largely maintained our US production and it is growing,” says Dennis Norman, Mold Design Engineer at Lifetime Products. “We produced 30 moulds in Utah last year and are working to complete 36 this year. All of our big products for the US market are made here and we will continue to keep it that way.” When asked about expanding further, Mr. Norman added, “Lifetime Products will continue to add more state-of-the-art machines and technology to our US production facility because it is our main point of operation. Our US manufacturing is growing and we will continue to grow as the market demands.” Just recently, Lifetime Products expanded its offerings to include kayaks in its line of outdoor products. The company uses PTC’s Pro-E for the design but wanted a state-of-the-art CAM product to go alongside it. Since the company’s designs can be quite complex, the machine shop had to find something that would take the large files without difficulty, something that could compliment its current processes but extend its CAM capabilities. After reviewing a number of CADCAM companies, Lifetime Products decided on Delcam. “What attracted us to Delcam first was the PowerMILL CAM package, especially the speed with which it can calculate toolpaths,” said Mr Norman. “It is not uncommon for software companies to say they have fast toolpath calculation but

developments

ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

omer – Lifetime Products Inc PowerMILL backs this up with multi-threading and background processing. It automatically performs complex calculations in the background while we can continue to work on other toolpaths.” This functionality is unique to PowerMILL – both foreground and background processes that use fully multithreaded functionality so NC programs get to the machines in the shortest possible time. In addition, PowerMILL has a comprehensive range of patented high-speed machining strategies that increase the speed of production. “With our previous manufacturing CAM software we were cutting way too much air,” Mr. Norman continued. “By using PowerMILL’s stock models for rest machining, we can be confident that we are constantly cutting metal and minimising wasteful air moves.” PowerMILL’s streamlined and welldesigned user interface allowed Lifetime to take on machining of the kayak mould quite quickly. “Once the project was done, we were very impressed,” said Charles Monsen, Lead Programmer. “We had never had a mould come off the machine that looked that good. It was quite a project to take on for our first time but working with PowerMILL made it easy. The toolpaths looked impressive and the finished product was very smooth.” Lifetime Products has been so impressed working with Delcam that the company has also purchased the FeatureCAM feature-based CAM system for its shop floor operators. Kelly Martinez, the Machine Shop Manager, said, “We were impressed with the diversity the company could offer us and how

attentive the people there are to our needs.” Most of the jobshop parts machined by Lifetime Products had been programmed using the Mazatrol off-line programming system for Mazak CNC machines.

only program with Mazatrol. Now that they have picked up FeatureCAM so quickly, they can easily take a program and put it on another machine if necessary or program a part themselves, even parts with complex surfacing.”

“We spoke with our Delcam account manager, Blaine Duke, about our machine programming limitations – he said why not try FeatureCAM?,” remembered Mr. Martinez. “We had a few guys try it out and I was really impressed with how quickly they picked it up.”

Due to the ease of use of FeatureCAM, Lifetime Products has really increased productivity on its shop floor. “Previously the shop floor operators would have to get one of the programmers, who are very busy programming complex moulds, to do work on smaller surfacing projects. Now, with the help of FeatureCAM, we can do a lot more programming right on the shop floor,” explained Mr. Martinez.

Operators at Lifetime Products are now doing all of their own programming with FeatureCAM. “Before we added FeatureCAM, our shop floor operators could From page 24

Pioneering power sliding door technology America 2003. The power sliding door system has now also been built into the front door on the passenger seat side of the Toyota Porte, highlighting the versatility of the system. The development of the industry’s first sliding door system with an indoor built-in drive unit heralded a shift in the company’s position from focusing on individual components to a systems manufacturer.

About Aisin Seki Co. Ltd Aisin Seki produces and sells automobile parts as well as living, energy and welfare related products. The company is committed to its corporate principles that focus on putting ‘quality first’. Aisin Seki has 2 offices and 11 plants across Japan with over 90,000 employees and subsidiaries that include 69 companies in Japan and 101

overseas. As of 31 March 2012, the company’s capital was 45 billion JPY. For more information, visit http://www.aisin.com/

About Aisin Seki Co. Ltd Automotive Parts and Systems Business As the automotive industry constantly evolves with increasing emphasis on functionality and performance, Aisin Seki continues to respond with fast innovations exploiting its world class resources and expertise in automobile technology. In line with its corporate principle of placing ‘quality first’, the company prioritises environmental commitments throughout its development of advanced systems and modules. nextSTEP Visit http://www.aisin.com/profile/ u business/

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ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

developments

Hypertherm showcases technological advances

ypertherm designs and manufactures the world’s most advanced plasma cutting systems for use in a variety of industries such as shipbuilding, manufacturing, and automotive repair. With a strong international presence, the company has been serving the Korea market since 2006, and has been expanding its local capabilities to meet domestic demand.

Here are some of the cutting edge technologies that will be demonstrated by local Hypertherm staff at Welding Busan Korea. Powermax Plasma System Each Powermax system is carefully designed for high performance usage and can meet any and all cutting and gouging needs. The latest product of this range, Powermax105®, has impressive capabilities, with its fast cut speeds, ease-of-use, reliability, and relatively low operating cost. The system can be used for automated applications, and has a remarkable ability to cut metals of up to 38mm thick, and sever 50mm thick metals. In addition to Powermax 105, Powermax30®, Powermax45®, Powermax65® and Powermax85® will be on display at Welding Busan Korea. Each of these systems may be small in form, but can handle robust cutting jobs with notable severance capabilities. The systems are productive and cost-efficient, and produce excellent cut quality with very little dross output. Most Powermax systems have at least

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four different torch options for unparalleled cutting and gouging versatility. MAX200® MAX200® is an oxygen cutting system with a maximum cutting capacity of 50mm on mild steel. The system has proven to meet the needs of companies that have constantly evolving cutting requirements and production schedules. HyPerformance Plasma Besides manual plasma systems, Hypertherm will also showcase its mechanized HPR260XD® and HPR400XD® systems. These HyPerformance units consistently deliver virtually dross-free cuts, and offer fast cut speeds and long consumable life. The systems also come with patent-pending PowerPierce™ technology for industry leading production piercing capability. Several product enhancements are available for customers in the robotic, structural steel, and bevel markets as well. When used together with a Hypertherm CAM solution and computer numeric control (CNC) to form an Integrated Plasma Cutting Solution, users will be able to reap the benefits of True Hole™ technology. This proprietary technology easily and consistently produces significantly better hole quality than what was previously possible with plasma. It virtually eliminates tapers and dings so a bolt can pass through easily. In addition, all these

benefits can be easily achieved without operator intervention. Automated Controls Besides the power supplies, Hypertherm will also present other crucial components for automated plasma cutting systems. EDGE Pro® is a ‘plug and play’ CNC that is compatible with almost any mechanized system. The CNC can support oxyfuel and conventional plasma cutting, and was carefully designed to withstand thousands of hours of reliability testing in adverse conditions. As a result, EDGE Pro is able to survive harsh cutting table environments, regardless of application. Visitors can also look forward to experiencing the ArcGlide® torch height control (THC). ArcGlide optimizes consumable life and cut quality by continuously sampling and automatically adjusting arc voltage for proper torch height. All this is done intuitively without

To strengthen its relationship with users and partners in the country, Hypertherm will exhibit at the Welding Busan Korea 2012. During the four-day event, visitors will be presented with opportunities to learn more about the thermal cutting solutions provided by Hypertherm, and the benefits that these innovations offer.

energy

ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS • DECEMBER 2012

Natural gas leader poised for growth

HONG KONG:

mid global economic uncertainties, China is reexamining its energy security policy and diversification initiatives. International Energy Agency’s June 2012 report specifically advices China to raise the share of natural gas in its energy mix. Indeed, the Chinese government has set an ambitious goal of increasing the share of natural gas in the energy mix from its current 4 percent to 10 percent by 2020. Outside the traditional sphere of dominance by China’s large SOEs with their more spread-out business structure, new generation of specialized industry leaders are quick to tackle the opportunities.

In the past September, for instance, New Times Energy Corporation Limited (166.HK) (http://www.166hk.com/eng/ global/home.html), an integrated natural resources company engaged in the acquisition, development and operation of oil & gas projects in Argentina, the USA and China, launched a strategic partnership deal with China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau (“CPP”) for the supply of liquefied natural gas to vehicles and ships, operator intervention. And when used in tandem with other components of the Integrated Plasma Cutting Solution, ArcGlide produces Rapid Part Technology. With this, users achieve greater productivity of up to 100% with dramatically reduced cut-to-cut cycle time. Torches & Consumables Durability and lifespan are equally important features to consider when purchasing torches and consumables. For many years, Hypertherm purposed to develop torches that withstand high heat and great impact, and to produce consumables that have a longer lifespan. These torches and consumables

the supply of gas for civilian use, the supply of gas for industrial use and the storage and logistic distribution of LNG. In particular, New Times Energy would further negotiate with CPP on the establishment of a joint venture being engaged in the operation of LNG stations and the manufacturing of whole-set equipment. The success of the commercial gas development hinges on a smooth pipeline delivery, and a full-scale cooperation with CPP will enable the Group to establish a national gas supply network. These new steps are in rhythm with New Times Energy’s consistent strategies at home and abroad. New Times Energy earlier also announced an acquisition of 30 well bores and 2,300-acre tradable tribal land around Uinta Basin, one of the most promising oil and natural gas production basins in the United States. According to the Oil, Gas & Mining Division of Utah Department of Natural Resources, the oil production volume of the Duchense and Uinta Sections increased from 15.20 million barrels in 2008 to 19.00 million barrels in 2011. have enabled users around the world to achieve significant cost savings. At Welding Expo Busan, a range torches and consumables, including those suitable for HPR systems, HT4400 and MAX200, will be on display at the Hypertherm booth. Visitors will also get the chance to have a closer look at Duramax torches, which were designed with durability in mind. For a better understanding of Hypertherm’s proprietary technologies and its local expertise, visit the company at Welding Busan Korea 2012. The trade show will be held at BEXCO Busan, Korea u from 14 to 17 November 2.

In the past year, the two exploratory drilling areas New Times Energy acquired in the rich basin in northeastern Argentina across an area 15 times as large as Hong Kong commenced mass production. Acquisition of three other land parcels of the area is in progress. Transfer of several gas assets in Texas and Louisiana brought more than 1.5 times of profits and enabled New Times to obtain mature technology and experience in upstream operation. Thanks to new output contribution from numerous drilling wells in the resource-abundant basin of northeastern Argentina earlier on, New Times achieved remarkable 2012 interim results. The total revenue of the Group soared to approximately HK$127.17 million, an YOY increase of 801.07%. The gross profit increased by 227.83% to HK$1.508 million. The CPP partnership will allow New Times Energy to forge ahead with its carefully-crafted and multi-layered China strategy. In the short-term, it is focused on rural gas supply projects which enjoy quick and high returns at a relatively low cost. The medium-term strategy begins with building and operating LNG fueling stations for heavyduty trucks, inter-city and urban buses, which have relatively high profit margins. Its mediumto-long business will be gas supply projects for industrial zones, which aim at expanding sales at more competitive rates of profit. As these strategies dovetail well with China’s new development thesis focused on higher living standards and quality energy supplies for an ever more demanding population, New Times Energy and its fellow specialized natural gas developers might be a good group to watch in u China’s New Energy Deal. www.asiamanufacturingnews.com

ASIA MANUFACTURING NEWS â&#x20AC;˘ DECEMBER 2012

Better Business Throughout Asia www.asiamanufacturingnews.com u