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International Metalworking News for Asia December 2020 issue

 

Industrial manufacturing industry has changed significantly over the years and it continues to do so at a rapid pace. Developers of metalworking solutions are looking towards the future by ensuring greater collaboration between man and machine. In turn, this will enable manufacturers to be more responsive, more productive, and ultimately to enjoy greater profitability.

Despite the pandemic, Asia’s manufacturing industry was a key benefactor of the effect of business and consumer demand for everything digital and virtual, and while the pandemic has been a big issue for 2020, the long term strategic outlook is promising for many.

The experience over this year has shown it is certainly different, but I take that as a positive learning point. Things will never go back a 100% to what it was before the pandemic. We have learned how to achieve the same results or be more productive. It’s a change which we will learn from.

Every edition of International Metalworking News for Asia features in-depth interviews with a range of CEOs and high-level executives from the industry’s most innovative and influential companies. We aim to share the new products and technologies of machine tools and solution builders to help you with your own manufacturing processes. But most especially we strive to tell you stories of successful businesses in a way that highlights the achievements of their companies and draw insights from the challenges they’ve faced during their years.

2020 has been particularly challenging season. It has forced us to look at everything differently. Some industries have been turned upside down and might be forever changed. Industrial manufacturing industry will continue to grow, even though the pandemic may have altered the paths to that expansion. Looking ahead, expect to see more sophisticated virtual reality, and artificial intelligence in every machine tools design.

Conversation with Helen Blomqvist new President at Sandvik Coromant

 Article By: Kathryn Gerardino-Elagio, International Metalworking News for Asia

 

Sandvik Coromant has announced Helen Blomqvist as its new President, succeeding Nadine Crauwels. As president, Helen will be responsible for enhancing Sandvik Coromant's leading position in manufacturing tools and machining solutions and sharing the knowledge that drives the manufacturing industry forward. Helen will report to the newly appointed President of Sandvik Machining Solutions, Nadine Crauwels, and will be a member of the Sandvik Machining Solutions Management Team. She starts her new position on 1 December 2020.

To get some insights, International Metalworking News for Asia(IMNA) asked Helen Blomqvist about her focus, objectives, opportunities for growth in Asia, and developments in manufacturing.

 

IMNA: As the new President of Sandvik Coromant, what areas do you see as requiring more focus, and what are you bringing to the company that will ensure you meet these objectives?

 

Sandvik Coromant has successfully served customers all over the world with premium tools and solutions for over 77 years. As our customers are facing a more digital environment and production moves towards autonomous factories, integrating big data and software applications to optimize machining is essential. One of our priorities is keeping our customers ahead of the competition and ready for what lies ahead. This means continuous researching, testing and implementing of cutting-edge technology and solutions. We will expand our offering by digitizing machining knowledge into machining solutions with sensor embedded tools, machining utilization optimisation and process monitoring. While focusing on digital solutions, we will also continue to invest in developing high quality tooling and production methods for maximizing productivity.

 

I have over 17 years’ experience working at Sandvik Coromant mainly within Product Management & R&D and sales. With my strong background within our company and a deep customer focus.  I aim to lead Sandvik Coromant to continue helping our customers, from the world’s industrial giants to family-owned machine shops, achieving new levels of progress and productivity.

 

IMNA: In your new position, how can you help the company evolve and be in a stronger position in today's fluid economy? Where do you see the greatest opportunities for growth in Asia?

I have a strong passion and commitment to Sandvik Coromant and I am very honoured to get the opportunity to lead this great company. Having worked in different parts of our company, I believe in the importance of cross-functional working. With over 7,600 employees all over the world, it is only when we are combining our skills and leveraging on our combined knowledge that we can provide the ultimate customer experience.

 

Our presence in Asia is very important to us. We have sales, production, R&D and distribution centres in Asia and value the good customer collaborations we have. I see potential in growing our presence in all of Asia and we are constantly investing and developing our presence to better serve our Asian customers and partners.

 

IMNA: What developments in manufacturing do you expect in the machining solutions industry?

To stay competitive, manufacturers need to rely more on digitized processes and less manual interaction. To meet the new requirements, we need to continue to drive the development and digitalization of the manufacturing industry. For example, we have a unique venture with Microsoft, combining Sandvik Coromant's expertise in machining with Microsoft’s technical solutions. The collaboration will seek to link up parts of the production chain to create solutions for the next generation of manufacturing.

 

I would also like to highlight the area of sustainability. It is an area that is very important to Sandvik Coromant and to many of our customers. We can see that sustainability is driving the development of new materials and the importance it has when attracting new talents to join our company. A younger generation have higher demands on the manufacturing industry and as a company, we must show our efforts within this area and lead the path of sustainable development. We have set clear targets for 2030, such as being more than 90 per cent circular and halving our carbon dioxide (CO2) impact.

 

IMNA: What threats, if any, do you see in 2021 and beyond?

It is important to monitor how COVID-19 is affecting us now and in the future. Even if we have seen gradual recovery in several markets, there is still uncertainty about what the long-term effects will be until we have put the pandemic firmly behind us.

Part of global industrial engineering group Sandvik, Sandvik Coromant is at the forefront of manufacturing tools, machining solutions and knowledge that drive industry standards and innovations demanded by the metalworking industry now and into the next industrial era. Educational support, extensive R&D investment and strong customer partnerships ensure the development of machining technologies that change, lead and drive the future of manufacturing. Sandvik Coromant owns over 3100 patents worldwide, employs over 7,600 staff, and is represented in 150 countries.

Read the E-zine: http://edms.industrysourcing.com/ezine/20/12/imna.html?pagenum=28#/

Economical CNC lathe from Jarng Yeong

The newly developed HC-30N economical CNC lathe from Jarng Yeong can adopt different feeding methods depending on workpieces.

1.    The box way configuration is suitable for medium/heavy cutting. The base of the fuselage is cast and formed. It is relatively strong and strong.

2.    With X/Z axis large travel design, wide of span, more robust and stable processing, easy to tool arrangement.

3.    Can be used with the bar feeder for automatic processing without interruption, and can also be customized for single-piece automatic feeding.

Jarng Yeong Enterprise Co., Ltd.

No. 1-9, Ching Chien Rd., Ching Chien Village, Sa lu District, Taichung City, Taiwan

Tel: +886-4-2615-2157

Fax: +886-4-2615-2161

E-mail: greenway@cnc-lathe.com

LIND ID: @greenway_cnc

Thailand sets its sights on local OEMs

 By Kathryn Gerardino-Elagio

Thailand is more than a favorite tourist destination. It has developed from an assembler of auto components into a top automotive manufacturing and export hub for over 50 years. Currently, Thailand is offering great opportunities for investments and incentives to local companies that make it worth taking a closer look.

In a panel interview during Ringier Trade Media’s recent ASEAN Smart Factory Summit 2020-Auto Parts Manufacturing Industry, Ms. Sonklin Ploymee, Executive Director, Industrial Linkage Development Division, Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), explained what the government is doing to support Thai OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers).

Ms. Sonklin Ploymee

Sonklin said that Thailand's automotive industry produces various vehicles, as well as supporting industries making the country the top ten global vehicle production with majority of export.

“On a regional level, Thailand is a potential hub of Asia, the largest car manufacturer and possesses the strongest automotive cluster in South East Asia,” she added.

Challenges faced by automotive OEMs in Thailand

The last few years have been good to the automotive industry. But following the current technology disruption, the global order for energy and environment, the world economic turmoil, the trade war between US and China, the Covid-19 pandemic, the competition from new automotive entrants in the region, such as Indonesia and Vietnam, as well as the halt of car imports from Thailand by some countries, the Thai automotive industry is witnessing an enormous decrease in sales.

According to Sonklin, Thailand could lose its automotive core competency unless policymakers adapt to industry upgrades to sustain its competitiveness and meet global demand.

One of Thailand BOI’s strategy is the promotion of electric vehicles (EVs). However, it is still in the initial stage and has a long way to go. “The EV trend is a game-changer, and with this Thai part makers will have to continue their sustainability in a year to come. Thus, Thailand's automotive industry may weaken because of the widespread trends in the EV industry,” she stressed.

Government measures to support Thai automotive OEMs

The automotive industry is shrinking all over the world during this pandemic. Sonklin justified, “Nobody goes out, and people stopped moving from one place to another. Also, there is the shutdown of production; and when there is production shutdown, the supply chain is also experiencing problems. All of these problems caused by COVID-19 are being experienced by countries globally, not just Thailand. Hence, the government is implementing three different measures to help OEMs in Thailand.”

She stated, “The first measure is financial support. The government particularly supports local small and medium enterprises (SMEs). They are supported thru low interest rates, extensions of payment and so on. With this financial benefit, the government is helping many Thai OEMs lessen their debt burdens and to move forward.”

Sonklin detailed the second as the market. “Now that COVID-19 has already been managed and controlled in Thailand, she said that production facilities are starting to operate. “So when production is back, you have to increase the demand. How do we help OEMs access the market? Right now, we have forego the overseas market and focus on the local market since we believe that this is more important. The government is doing various activities to link local markers with suppliers. We help them build a network and discuss about sourcing,” Sonklin shared.

Sonklin further shared the third measure as sourcing. “Besides the market, we also think of how to help OEMs to be ready for sourcing in the future. When COVID-19 impacted the production, we recognise that the supply chain is also experiencing problems. There was a halt and shutdown in the supply chain, and many makers believe that they should rely on the local supply chain. To be ready, Thai OEMs should be prepared for the new sourcing method. The government is helping OEMs improve their productivity by giving more incentives when purchasing new machinery and other assistance,” she revealed.

EV supply chain

There are about thirty companies applying for investment promotion in the EV industry in Thailand, however most of them are foreign players. Sonklin explained the extent Thai companies joining the EV supply chain.

“A lot of people are asking us why BOI is only helping foreign companies to invest in Thailand. What about local companies? BOI along with other government agencies are promoting the EV industry,” she disclosed.

Although many companies are applying to get the promotion and set up their production plants in the country, the Thai government is also assisting local companies.

“A number of local companies are doing research & design (R&D) with the government to produce EV buses. So I think this should be one of the potential opportunities for Thai companies to join the EV industry. Also, there is an EV association in Thailand, and many Thai enterprises are taking part of it,” Sonklin divulged.

She also mentioned that another field to consider is charging station. “There is a big Thai company who is playing an important role in this field,” Sonklin said.

Future cooperation in ASEAN to support automotive OEMs in the region

As the world grapples with the extent of the damage being caused by the ravaging pandemic storm, Thailand aims to have an exchange of auto parts between ASEAN countries.

“So let’s say Indonesia has the potential to produce electronic parts and Thailand car body parts, while Philippines is identified for its plastic parts, we can trade parts but with lower import duty. This can help lower production cost,” she reasoned.

Sonklin made clear that the exchange can create a center for sourcing auto parts in ASEAN countries, and become a global destination for sourcing too.

“With this we can also build our supporting database for ASEAN. Here in Thailand BOI, we used to cooperate to build the database of supporting in the automotive industry in ASEAN, and now it’s time to update that supporting industry database. So I think this is all that we should do to make ASEAN become a global sourcing destination for automotive parts,” she rationalised.

“ASEAN is one of the important regions in the world. Cooperation is the best and we can do it,” Sonklin beamed.

Finding the minimum interference: Holding Your Future!

Finding the minimum interference of tool holder is very important. Everyone wants to know how to choose the right one especially for mold and die machining! That is why we produced these tool holder!

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Hurco webinar session: Transforming your CNC Machine Shop

 

The Hurco Webinar Session, titled Transforming your CNC Machine Shop, will run on October 7, 2020 at 10:30am Singapore time. It will focus on how to combat competitive obsolescence and stay relevant in this new norm, as well as mitigate risk with the present on-going workforce disruptions. This webinar is open for CNC machine shop owners, factory managers, and senior machinists.

The event will provide an overview on:

1)  Power of 5-axis machining

Explore the benefits of incorporating 5-axis machining in your machine shop as a first step towards transformation.  Stay competitive by upgrading your machining capabilities with improved accuracy and productivity.

Presenter: Lee Wai Yip, General Manager, Hurco (S.E. Asia) Pte Ltd.

2)  Job Shop Automation….Made Simple

Relook at the relevance of automation as job shops restart their business with COVID19 control measures.  Explore how you can kick-start your automation journey and upskill your existing workforce.  

Presenter: Paul J. Gray, Ph.D Vice President R&D and Product Development, Hurco Companies, Inc. 

Lee Wai Yip, FCCA is the General Manager of Hurco (S.E. Asia) Pte. Ltd. based in Singapore. He is responsible for the overall sales and channel development of Hurco Machine Tools and Control technology in South East Asia, Korea, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand.  Mr. Lee, a Chartered Accountant, started his career with Hurco in 2007 as its Asia Pacific Financial Controller leading the establishment of Hurco China and Hurco India entities.  He assumed the role of General Manager in 2011 and have since focused on developing Hurco Sales Channel in SEA, Taiwan and Australia.  As an experienced Senior Manager with strong commercial knowledge and business acumen, he advocates modernizing machine shops and upskilling machinists through adoption of 5-axis machining and other advanced technologies.

Paul Gray, Ph.D. is the Vice President for Research and Development and Product Development for Hurco Companies, Inc., in Indianapolis, USA. Currently, his focus is on automation, product integration and interfaces, and the development of strategic international partnerships for the advancement of Hurco products. With 24 years of experience in CNC manufacturing and related technologies including 5-axis machining, mechanistic modelling, simulation and CAD/CAM, 5-axis machine kinematics control, user and programming interfaces, he holds eight patents. He graduated from University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, with a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering.

Registration details and information on the entire programme can be found HERE:

Hurco Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ: HURC) is an industrial technology company that designs and produces interactive computer controls, software and computerized machine tools for the worldwide metal cutting and metal forming industry. The end market for the Company's products consists primarily of independent job shops and short-run manufacturing operations within large corporations in industries such as aerospace, defence, medical equipment, energy, transportation and computer equipment. The Company is based in Indianapolis, Indiana, with manufacturing operations in Taiwan and China, and sells its products through direct and indirect sales forces throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. The company has sales, application engineering support and service subsidiaries in Canada, China, England, France, Germany, India, Italy, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, and the United States of America.

International Metalworking News for Asia August 2020 issue

As many countries slowly come out of lockdown, there is still going to be anxiety among many for a long time about going back to life as it was. Perhaps it won’t be the same as it existed, but one thing is sure: many people will want to feel assured when they go about their daily routines that they don’t face avoidable risks of picking up the virus and being part of the second wave. To address this, many technologies are now being fast-tracked to deployment.

We’re in a new world where anything goes. Many processes and the manufacturing of products are still based on the expert knowledge of individual employees. But what to do if they leave the company, are sick or on vacation?  Jürgen Kohler, Business Development Manager at Visual Knowledge, presented the topic: Digitisation of work instructions and checklists. He explained that manufacturing businesses must adopt digitised work instructions and checklists in order to speed up their recovery plans post COVID-19.  The primary role of work instructions and quality checklist help users to carry out their work quickly in a non-penalising time

With product quality issues impacting scrap rate, production ramp-up, production rate, and downtime, ultimately affect production costs and overall profitability. Therefore, manufacturers need to rely on innovative 3D measurement technologies, like the MetraSCAN 3D, in order to refine their product development and quality control processes. Patrice Parent, Creaform’s Asia Pacific Territory Manager said that the speed, accuracy, versatility and overall performance of MetraSCAN BLACK can help manufacturing companies in South East Asia to deploy local or internal processes. For example, setting up metrology capability instead of using third party suppliers for their inspection needs.

Tony Hemmelgarn, President and CEO of Siemens Digital Industries Software during his keynote speech at the recent virtual Siemens Media & Analyst Conference explained that the times of crisis have historically driven innovation.  He mentioned the Xcelerator portfolio, which helps create a digital mindset, it speeds the digital transformation cycle and unlocks a powerful industrial network effect. Tony believes employees in the future will not only be users of technology, they will be shapers and even developers of it as well.

Lastly, as face-to-face events cancelled or postponed to later dates, International Metalworking News for Asia is finding ways to communicate, connect and learn from industry experts in order to provide you with the latest and up-to-date news and technologies. We are all in this together! Keep safe everyone!

International Metalworking News for Asia August 2020 issue

Safeguarding your CNC future

Oliver Lodl,Chief Sales Officer 

Marketplace has taken on an unprecedented level of significance nowadays due to the coronavirus outbreak that rocked the world. As response planning and social distancing measures began in late February to mid-March in South East Asia, retailers were flooded with waves of panicked customers. The situation is further aggravated by reliance on precious and accurate on-time deliveries. This shows why online marketplaces are valuable for both consumers and site operators, it’s the first large-scale example of ecommerce as a salvation to a supply-panicked population.

ORDERFOX.com, a leading Marketplace for over 19,000 buyers and CNC manufacturers, is offering fast, simple and cost-effective solution to ward off the consequences of the coronavirus and other crises. 

Kathryn Gerardino-Elagio of International Metalworking News for Asia interviewed Chief Sales Officer Oliver Lodl of Orderfox AG on how the company can actively support customers in Asia and the entire CNC industry during this acute situation.

Orderfox in Asia

“Two years ago, we started working together on the CNC market in Asia. Our goal is to offer our customers the opportunity to find the right partner who can meet their requirements with little effort. But it is also a chance for purchasing organisations to find the right manufacturer on the global market in a simple way and with little effort,” Oliver explained.

He detailed, “Orderfox also offers the possibility to realise global projects with local sourcing due to the many partners. This enables many companies to concentrate on their core competencies and to produce sustainable and environmentally friendly products.”

Due to the current crisis, the existence of numerous CNC companies is at stake, said Oliver. “The COVID-19 outbreak has highlighted the vulnerability of complex global manufacturing supply chains. To make matters worse, the CNC industry heavily relies on on-time deliveries. Delivery delays of just one day can create gaps in the entire supply chain, which can lead to exploding costs, enormous sales losses or even a complete standstill,” he mentioned.

Business for many companies has been delayed or halted as a result of the pandemic, industrial trade fairs have been cancelled and tens of thousands of workers around the world are in quarantine at home.

Oliver stated, “The financial impact of the coronavirus crisis will undoubtedly be severe. Yet we are not completely powerless. It is now imperative that we limit the damage and contain the losses. The crisis may limit many production facilities, but the demand for components is still high.”

He is positive that changes in CNC supply chain management are now being called for COVID-19 was a wake-up call for many CNC companies. “Many of them have realised that they need to fundamentally rethink their supply chain management,” Oliver added.

Business strategies

He rationalised the great opportunity CNC manufacturers can get from digitalisation. “Many CNC manufacturers are small and medium-sized enterprises that rely on traditional procurement strategies that are time-consuming and quickly becoming obsolete,” he reasoned.

Oliver added, “In many cases, these producers are highly dependent (more than 65%) on their regular customers, while only around 30% of their turnover is generated from newly acquired customers (Source: Orderfox Customer Research). Customer acquisition is often difficult and time-consuming. And now that numerous industrial trade fairs have been cancelled, new acquisition channels are urgently needed.”

He mentioned that digitisation also will change the CNC procurement. “It is not easy for buyers in the CNC industry to fill the gaps that have arisen and find alternative business partners. Many manufacturers don't have their own website, and therefore can't be “googled”. Most industrial fairs, which have been a reliable source of business contacts for many years, are expected to be cancelled in 2020, he stressed.

Market scenarios

Oliver noted that digital platforms are a welcomed solution, as they open up new market opportunities while providing additional transparency.

“Among them, Orderfox is the only global platform that believes in the need for a direct relationship between buyer and manufacturer. While other platforms hide manufacturer information and supplier procurement takes place in a “black box”, Orderfox enables direct communication between the two parties,” he specified.

Oliver added, “This creates maximum transparency and mutual trust. At the same time, the price pressure on manufacturers is alleviated, as the latter can also differentiate themselves from their competitors by means of quality attributes.”

Digital marketplace for the CNC industry

“Orderfox is the world's leading digital marketplace for the CNC industry. We want to maximise the success of our business partners and revolutionise the way they work together. Companies in the CNC machining sector can rely on our global network for customised manufacturing by qualified workshops,” he remarked.

ORDERFOX.com was developed in response to the Internet of Things (IoT) or Industry 4.0 and the rapidly advancing digitalisation of all production processes. The interactive community links buyers and CNC manufacturers around the globe and thus opens up unlimited market opportunities for all users in the truest sense of the word.

Oliver commented, “There are countless small and highly professional companies that are extremely hard to find because they don't invest much in their market presence or marketing. This tedious research is carried out by Orderfox for you. Visitors to the platform can see at a single glance which components can be produced by which companies, in which tolerance classes they can do so, which machines they use and where their production is located.”

Viewpoints on coronavirus

The coronavirus shutdown is an extreme situation for the entire economy and is hitting the CNC industry hard, Oliver observed.

“Although there is huge uncertainty, we can be sure of one thing: falling into a state of shock is the most dangerous reaction to this acute situation and is therefore not an option. Instead, the best way to counteract the problem is with a mix of flexibility, optimism and solidarity. Because we will overcome this crisis together,” he revealed.

Oliver concluded, “Here at ORDERFOX.com, we want to play our part, which is why we are enabling CNC manufacturers and buyers to use our entire platform free of charge – for a dynamic and cooperative response to the shutdown.”

E-zine: http://edms.industrysourcing.com/ezine/20/06/imna.html?pagenum=26

Unlocking the power of 3D printing in time of crisis

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation continues to evolve, technology is playing a critical role in allowing for remote working. 3D printing can lead the way in helping manage current and future pandemics. 

3D printers, software and materials that work together seamlessly. (source: Ultimaker)

Ultimaker, the global leader in desktop 3D printing, provides business enterprises with the support necessary when and where they’re needed.

To give an insight on how 3D printing can support businesses where traveling to tradeshows and one-on-one interactions are difficult, International Metalworking News for Asia connected with Mr Benjamin Tan, Vice President of Ultimaker Asia Pacific. He disclosed how the company is responding to COVID-19, and details the evolving future of manufacturing, engineering and design paradigm.

Benjamin Tan, Vice President, Ultimaker Asia Pacific

“Covid-19 has disrupted industries around the world. As a result, global supply chains have also taken a major hit. Fortunately, many of our customers have seen minimal disruptions to their value chains, thanks to the distribution model enabled by 3D printing,” Benjamin said.

He explained that instead of manufacturing an item and shipping it to a warehouse in another country, 3D printing allows for digital files to be produced on-site. This has empowered our clients to circumvent the problems of border lockdowns globally, enabling their supply chains to remain open and fluid.

On a day-to-day basis, Benjamin and his team engage companies to identify challenges and areas of improvements, through multiple meetings and physical site scans. An important aspect of the buying process as it enables them to equip customers with industrial 3D printing knowledge. With face-to-face interactions no longer possible, they have been conducting virtual site scans to support their clients.

“As part of our channel and distribution model, a large part of our sales activities were driven through participations in tradeshows and workshops. Now that these avenues have been cancelled, we have turned to webinars, e-conferences and e-trainings with partners and customers alike to ensure business continuity,” he mentioned.

Affected industries and business strategies

During these period, Benjamin noted that many plants and factories are either on partial or full lockdowns. “As a sales organisation, it has certainly impacted the way we interact with our customers. Internally, we are taking the time to re-calibrate our efforts through more realistic forecasts and alignment of strategies, he remarked.

Externally, all hands are on deck to engage customers through webinars and e-conferences, he rationalised. “We are also equipping our partners with frequent, more intensive training on 3D printing so that they can better support customers with troubleshooting. This multi-prong approach helps us stand ready to seize opportunities when the pandemic is over,” added Benjamin.

Making realistic changes

According to Benjamin, many of the conversations that took place pre-COVID may no longer stand. Customers may face greater budget constraints and decision making may take longer.

“We will have to look out for changes in customers’ behaviours and sentiments, and respond accordingly. There may be a need to re-evaluate policies and agreements to work around the issues. We anticipate that there will be operational impacts. With a reduction in global demand, factories will not be producing at the same volume as they used to. This means a direct hit at the supply side. All these macro changes will require deeper discussions with our customers, so we can see how to better support them and cater to their needs,” he detailed.

Benjamin commented, “We can’t control what’s happening around the world, but we can control how we react to the crisis. As leaders, our employees turn to us to guide them through the crisis. From a business point of view, it may no longer be business as usual. Companies will be forced to digitise or change their business model. At Ultimaker, we have always been a digital-first company. Hence, from a technological standpoint, there would not be a drastic shift or transition.”

Strategically, the fundamentals will not change, he added. “However, the way we engage our customers has to change. We now have to adjust to a virtual mindset, encouraging virtual visits and workshops. We are still focused on giving our customers the support they require, physically or virtually. Team members will need to take on a more nimble approach towards remote working, empowered by tools such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Hangouts. This will be the new norm of working post-COVID,” he declared.

Repositioning for stability and growth

Benjamin believes that companies will be responding to competitive pressures, looking to reduce overheads and improving profit margins. He is positive that 3D printing technology which is an essential part of progressive business solutions and processes, is poised to transform the way companies do business.

“There are immense opportunities for 3D printing to be successfully harnessed in multiple use cases in key industries. Many manufacturers have already embarked on their digital journey, utilising 3D printing as an essential part of their automated workflow, boost their supply chains, or simply to help humans work smarter and more efficiently,” Benjamin expressed.

He conveyed, “We will continue to support our customers through the identification of areas of improvement and help them discover new applications to enhance their workflows and processes. With the right 3D printing infrastructure in place, companies can remain commercially viable through increased productivity and greater savings, as well as faster time to market. “

Do more with Ultimaker S3

Conclusion

Benjamin set out to enunciate that every crisis brings about opportunities and this is no different. “The pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains. With manufacturing environment becoming more volatile, businesses will be looking to simplify their supply chains. 3D printing has proven that it can plug the gap in a centralised manufacturing model and augments the need for digital manufacturing,” he stated.

Finally, he highlighted the imperative need for companies to transform or shape their business model to accommodate greater use of 3D printing, enabling sustainable growth.

Benjamin places a lot of value on the practical applications of 3D printing, specifically how this can help businesses in Asia Pacific region. He works closely with its network of sales partners to determine the best applications of Ultimaker’s solutions.

E-zine: http://edms.industrysourcing.com/ezine/20/06/imna.html?pagenum=36

Website: http://www.industrysourcing.com/article/unlocking-power-3d-printing-time-crisis

Global problem needs futuristic solution

Scott Huang, Chief Operating Officer 

Collaborative robots were unthinkable twenty years ago. Today, it has entered just about every industry with companies around the globe increasing their use. With this COVID-19 pandemic spreading across South East Asia and the whole world-- the timing is right for these robots.  If properly utilised, collaborative robots (cobots) can give South East Asia a sustained advantage. 

The growing number of challenges enterprise leaders across South East Asia encounter every day has positioned Techman Robot in the right place and time. Established in 2016, the company is the only cobot manufacturer based in Taiwan.

In an interview with International Metalworking News for Asia, Chief Operating Officer Scott Huang explains how its cobots allow customers to adapt to a rapidly changing landscape and boost their productivity and efficiency.

Techman Robot product demonstration

Truths about competition

Techman Robot has become the world’s second largest vendor of collaborative robots by 2018, according to market research firm Interact Analysis. Its streamlined production process is based in Taiwan, covering product research, development, production and manufacturing.

“To remain competitive in this time of crisis, enterprises must aim to be different,” explains Scott. Techman Robot is the first collaborative robot equipped with a built-in vision system, which integrates into both the hardware and software perfectly, whereas traditional add-on vision solutions to robotics are complicated, time consuming and costly to implement,” he adds.

Scott is positive that Techman Robot provides the most intelligent cobots, as it features an integral visual recognition in the world. He remarks, “Our robots perfectly integrate the hands, eyes and brains into one system, which impressively improve the easiness of using industrial robots and remarkably reduce the cost and deployment time.”

Scott describes the features of its collaborative robots in three points: (1) Smart: With the company’s powerful built-in vision system, Techman Robot can see, think and work unitedly and smartly like human. (2) Simple: Users can use hand-guiding function to teach robot every pose and point in the task. All-graphic flow chart based HMI (human-machine-interface) allows people to use robots as simple as smart phones. (3) Safe: The TM5 collaborative robot complies with the ISO 10218 human-robot safety requirement.

Trends in the factory floor

While companies keep employees and their families’ safe, they must also ensure business continuity. Aside from Techman Robot’s existing collaborative robot, Scott introduces the TMmanager, an intelligent factory management system to help enterprises break away from the bottleneck of automation and narrow the gap with intelligent manufacturing.

According to Scott, the management system is an industrial graphic control software for the intelligent management of factory processes and equipment; with an automatic management system of real time system monitoring and data analysis. The exclusive robotic management system of TMmanager can be connected with Techman Robot to monitor the operation of the robotic arm and has various functional modules of the Shop Floor Control System (SFC System) to effectively manage the automatic machines at the factory.

He adds, “With its user-friendly, high-CP, and highly-flexible applications, TMmanager provides well-rounded intelligent manufacturing management solutions, becoming the best management system for intelligent factories in the era of Industry 4.0.”

High standard

When asked how the company maintains the high-standard of its cobots, Scott mentioned, “We have three major core values for customers: quality, innovation and service. (1) Quality: We strive for excellence as we endeavour to constantly improve ourselves, our products and solutions. (2) Innovation: We develop innovative products and solutions that deliver real solution for businesses and people's lives. (3) Service: We stand side-by-side with our partners and clients to help them achieve their goals.”

Scott affirms that Techman Robot is a leading collaborative robot and vision technologies company, dedicated to improving the world of work for businesses and their people through (robotic) technology applications.

“We believe that when robotic technology is deployed correctly it can make an extremely positive impact to performance, efficiency and productivity, even creating a lasting positive impact on whole industries. We think that every business should have access to beneficial technology to advance their position. We are determined to use our experience, knowledge and skills to break boundaries, solve challenges, meet new industry requirements and continue to bring smart, simple and safe solutions to the international market.  At Techman Robot, we close the gap for every business,” he adds.

Robots future development

In 2019, the overall robot market revenues experienced negative growth for the first time in many years affected by the global manufacturing downturn and reduced demand in major end industries, such as automotive and electronics. However, the collaborative robot market still maintains a high growth rate of more than 30% (32.1% in revenue term and 31.3% in shipment term).

Scott comments, “With the further development of new application scenarios and breakthroughs in technology bottlenecks, the cobot market is projected to reach US$ 5.6 billion in 2027. We are really looking forward the development of collaborative robot.”

South East Asia

Since its establishment, Techman Robot has quickly become one of the largest industrial cooperative robot brands. “We have distributors in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines to provide instant service in the local area. In the future, we plan to put more focus on the automotive and electronics industries,” says Scott.

Although collaborative robot is still a small fraction in South East Asia’s manufacturing industry, by making a move, you can create a change in your manufacturing environment. Every change is always stressful for a business, processes and people involved. 

Robots aren't meant to replace workers but to make work easier. With this global pandemic, workers are an uncertain bet in a world where every human might have to stay home for a few months to avoid transmitting an infectious disease. Whether we like it or not, robots are geared up to take up the slack.


Techman Robot introducing the TM Palletizing Operator

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Moving forward in a world of unknowns

Chong Chee Ter, Managing Director, TRUMPF Asia Pacific

COVID-19 has just begun to bring massive disruption to many businesses, cities and municipal governments across South East Asia. Manufacturing-industry businesses of all sizes are seeing their revenue fall to virtually zero due to nations self-isolating.

Kathryn Gerardino-Elagio of International Metalworking News for Asia interviewed Mr. Chong Chee Ter, Managing Director of TRUMPF Asia Pacific to see how the company is acting to protect their employees and customers, and prepare for the world beyond coronavirus.

Mr. Chong said that businesses are forced to re-think and adapt strategic decisions in these challenging times. Businesses are implementing staggered working hours, splitting the employees into different teams for minimal contact measure, and to even adopt working from home. “All of which would entail some extend of inconveniences to our customers, an unfortunate albeit necessary measure,” he added.

How technology bridges the gap

He explained, “Technology has always been proven to be a pivotal role not only in our industry, but to the society as a whole as well. Manufacturers have always used technology not only to further enhance the production process, but to also use it as a bridge to be closer to the customers. For instance the usage of Social Media to reach out to our customers as well as complimentary trainings via webinars that allow us to be closer to the market.”

Given the current situation, Mr. Chong described technology has undoubtedly proven itself once again. “With several countries across South East Asia implementing lockdowns, curfews etc. Courtesy visits or sending an engineer to our customer premises is not possible at the moment, that’s where technology comes into play again. Our “Remote Support” function plays a critical role in these challenging times where social distancing and minimal human to human contact is the new norm,” he declared.

Mr. Chong shared, “The existing “remote support or TeleService” function in our machines enable the customer to get in touch with our service experts should they experience any technical issues with the machine. The customer just would have to initiate the connection from their user interface, and a virtual PC is generated for the session. Once it’s done and our service expert has been given the permission to access the user interface, we can begin the troubleshooting. Our customers thus still can benefit from a quick fault diagnosis and solution remotely within the transmission, all data is completely secured with a firewall and confidentiality of data is ensured at each point in time.”

At the same time, he also shared about MyTRUMPF, a customer portal, which remains open to users 24/7. “Our customers have access to their orders and their delivery status, can file and follow up on service cases via the ServiceApp on their mobile phones, download software and tool data as well as access all information about their TRUMPF machines such as warranty periods, service contracts, etc.,” Mr. Chong said.

In-house exhibition

It is also exactly during these difficult times where companies are being tested on their flexibility to adapt to the situation and the willingness to adopt new technologies, Mr. Chong remarked.

“For instance, our annual in-house exhibition “INTECH” has traditionally been a physical trade show, but has since developed into a virtual event where participants can visit the exhibition at the comfort and more importantly, the safety of their own home,” he specified.

Undoubtedly these are challenging times, and it’s not possible to tell when the situation would improve at the moment, Mr. Chong stated. “What we are doing internally now is to continuously serve our customers via digital means, enriching their knowledge on technologies, software and current developments in view of digitalisation and smart lean manufacturing, etc. All of which would definitely be helpful when the situation improves and come out of this crisis stronger and well prepared for future challenges awaiting the manufacturing industry, especially in terms of digital solutions,” he concluded.

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http://www.industrysourcing.com/article/moving-forward-world-unknowns