International Metalworking News for Asia February 2024 Issue

In this edition of International Metalworking News for Asia, we feature a diverse range of articles that highlight groundbreaking developments in various sectors of the manufacturing and technology industries.

Starting on page 10 with "Enterprise Close-up," Jake Farragher, General Manager- Asia at ANCA CNC Machines, provides a deep dive into the innovative features of ANCA's MX7 ULTRA. This state-of-the-art machine stands out in the premium ULTRA range, pushing the boundaries of precision engineering for the production of cutting-edge tools.

Proceed to page 15 for a closer look at the evolving landscape of manufacturing in South East Asia. Wai Yip Lee, General Manager of Hurco (S.E Asia) Pte Ltd, shares insights into the strategic initiatives undertaken to empower CNC users and successfully navigate the challenges posed by this dynamic industry.

The "Dialogue" section on page 12 brings you Judy Chang, Global Sales Director Sales Division at Techman Robot Inc., as she discusses how TM Robot is revolutionising industrial automation in Thailand with the TM AI Cobot S Series. Under Judy Chang's leadership, Techman Robot is committed to showcasing this innovative solution as a game-changer in the field.

Flip to page 18, where Kevin Zhao, Vice General Manager of HGLASER, explores the future of manufacturing. Highlighting Wuhan HG Laser Engineering Co., Ltd. (HGLASER) as a trailblazer, Kevin discusses the company's leadership role in laser industrial applications in China, contributing to the continuous evolution of the manufacturing landscape.

The "Tooling & Workholding" feature on page 20 spotlights Kenturn Industrial Co., Ltd., a consistent standout in precision manufacturing. With expertise in spindle and tool development, design, manufacturing, and sales, Kenturn plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the industry.

Turning our attention to "Software & Control" on page 23, we examine the role of the energy industry as the driving force behind decarbonisation. With a focus on expanding the use of renewable energies, decarbonising heat generation, implementing smart grids, sector coupling, and mobility solutions, Energy 4.0 is steering the industrial transformation towards carbon neutrality.

Lastly, on page 26, Nikon IMBU unveils the cutting-edge VOXLS 30 series, revolutionising X-ray CT Systems for non-destructive inspection. This latest offering from Nikon IMBU underscores their commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology, providing advanced solutions for non-destructive testing in various industries.

We trust you will find this edition both informative and enlightening as we explore and celebrate the latest advancements and trends shaping the future of these dynamic and ever-evolving industries.

https://edms.industrysourcing.com/ezine/24/02/imna.html

 

The Application of Laser Blanking Line in Automotive Plate Processing will be discussed by Mr. Jianye Wang, Chairman of COORDY II LASER EQUIPMENT CO.,LTD, at the ASEAN High-Performance Machining Summit - Autoparts, Electronics, Assembly Automation - on March 12-13/ Pullman Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam. This event gathers Vietnam's leading industry players and industry associations in a two-day of information exchange and business networking.

For more information on registration, visit https://site.pheedloop.com/event/AHPM2024/home or email: events@ringiertrade.com

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Insights from a metal cutting specialist on the future of manufacturing in 2024

Manny Valenza, Sales Cluster Manager for South East Asia at Sandvik Coromant, a renowned metal cutting specialist, was approached by International Metalworking News for Asia (IMNA) to shed light on the influence of the market trends on the manufacturing sector and suggest strategies that manufacturers can embrace to flourish in 2024 and beyond.

 

IMNA: What are the main drivers and challenges for the metalworking industry in South East Asia?

Firstly, the shift from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles (EVs) is taking prominence in Southeast Asia. However, in 2022, Chinese automakers dominated Southeast Asia's fast-growing electric vehicle market by selling three out of every four EVs in the first quarter.

 

To ensure more prominence for local manufacturers, Thailand has offered incentives to consumers and subsidies to automakers to build more EVs locally. That has attracted a wave of investment by Chinese carmakers in local manufacturing, resulting in over $1 billion of investment in setting up production facilities in Thailand. To cope with this influx, metalworking companies will be vital in suppling parts for electric vehicle production, specifically in Thailand.

 

Additionally, focus remains on making parts out of lighter materials, not just for automotive, but also for aerospace. In the aerospace industry there is persistent drive to lower air travel’s carbon footprint, which leans on making planes lighter in order to save on fuel.

 

For instance, titanium is 30% stronger than steel and almost 50% lighter. However, machining titanium poses its own set of challenges due to its high hardness and low thermal conductivity. To overcome these machining challenges and contribute towards making planes lighter, manufacturers must make the most of the latest developments in precision cutting tools.

 

IMNA: What are the best practices and strategies for metalworking companies to cope with the energy crisis, the global competition, and the changing customer demands?

Market demands change and the ability to adapt your production to current and future demands in a flexible way is crucial for surviving in today’s economy. The most recent cases of 2023 include the energy crisis, global competition and changing customer demands to meet developing trends.

 

Machine tool and cutting tool development is rapidly progressing and staying competitive can involve considerable investments in time, capital and somewhat secure predictions for future demands. If the market and business forecasts are unsure, major investments might not be an option.

 

In the instance where the primary goal is to reduce costs and to handle a temporary market downturn, the first strategy manufacturers should consider is investigating the current workshop set up.

 

For example, machine utilisation is measured in the percentage of time that the machine is actually producing components. Increasing active machining time by only a few percent makes a big difference. To complement this, quick change tooling solutions reduce time spent on measuring, set-up and tool change, allowing for drastically improved machine utilisation and lower overhead costs. This also supports energy and sustainability goals as manufacturers require less new machinery and tools, preventing scrap products from being disposed and consequentially, reducing their footprint.

 

Lastly, where budget allows, investments are a must. Increasing machine utilisation with existing machine tool set-up is a good strategy to optimise processes without making large investments in an unsure market situation. But investing in new machines and cutting-edge technology can be the most favourable approach to gain an edge over competition, as well as improve the efficiency of processes. With potential order increases, strategic investment will ensure a successful outcome in today’s increasingly competitive global environment, while future proofing the workshop for what’s yet to come.

 

IMNA: How will generative AI and other emerging technologies impact the metalworking industry in terms of innovation, productivity, and quality?

With the implementation of generative AI, metalworking can revolutionise product design by generating multiple prototypes and selecting the most efficient and effective designs, resulting in reduced time and cost during the product development process. In addition, AI will also be key in optimising manufacturing processes by identifying areas where efficiency can be improved and automating repetitive tasks, ultimately increasing productivity and minimising human error.

 

The potential of AI in metalworking was demonstrated in April 2023, when Sandvik Coromant, partnered with Sandvik Group, launched the Impossible Statue. Our engineers were tasked with creating an AI-generated, stainless-steel structure combining some of the world’s most famous works of art. While their metal cutting expertise was put to the ultimate test, AI ensured this was achievable.

 

The statue, weighing 500 kilograms and 150 cm tall, was made using AI modelling and cutting-edge manufacturing solutions. Specifically, Sandvik used in depth estimators to build the 3D model, human pose-estimators to refine the body, videogame algorithms to generate realistic fabric and specialised AI to re-introduce fine details that were lost in previous steps.

ASEAN Advanced Automotive Manufacturing Summit 2023 - Flexible Production & EV Solutions!

Are you passionate about the latest trends and innovations in the automotive industry? Do you want to network with experts, professionals, and enthusiasts from Indonesia, Malaysia and China? If yes, then you don’t want to miss ASEAN Advanced Automotive Manufacturing Summit 2023 - Flexible Production & EV Solutions!

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Exploring digital transformation with Siemens software

After four years since Covid, International Metalworking News for Asia has finally attended an onsite Siemens event on June 12-13, in Las Vegas, Nevada for Siemens Realize LIVE 2023. The theme for this year’s Siemens Realize LIVE was “Join the Transformation. Be the Change.” The conference aimed to inspire and empower attendees to explore what transformation can look like with Siemens software and to join the change that is shaping the future of digital industries.

 

During the APAC media group interview session with Tony Hemmelgarn, President, and CEO of Siemens Digital Industries Software, we learned about the vision and progress of Siemens’ digital transformation journey. Tony talked about four key points: sustainability, digitalisation, innovation, and collaboration. He explained how Siemens and its partners are tackling sustainability challenges through digitalisation and automation. In addition, Siemens is fostering collaboration among its community of users, experts, and catalysts.

 

When asked about digital transformation, Tony mentioned that Siemens is leading the digital transformation with its cloud-based Xcelerator portfolio and open ecosystem, enabling innovation across various industries and domains. He has a vision of Siemens’ digital transformation journey that is centered on creating industrial digital twins that combine the real and digital worlds. Tony believed that digital twins are the key to enabling human-centered innovation, sustainability, and resilience in industry and infrastructure.

 

He also perceived the role of artificial intelligence (AI) as essential to enhancing the value of digital twins and empowering customers to make better decisions faster. “I see a future where AI is integrated into every aspect of Siemens software, from generative design to computer vision to natural language processing to machine learning,” Tony highlighted.

 

Tony told the APAC media that Siemens is changing how it does business and how it builds and delivers the solutions, services, and capabilities fundamental to the leading manufacturers and innovators across the globe. He also updated how the transition to a cloud-focused, software-as-a-service, technology company, first begun in 2019, is gaining momentum and scale. He reported that Siemens’ cloud annual recurring revenue (ARR) was at 25%, with a growth rate of 14% for Q2 FY2023, outperforming expectation.

Siemens brings real-time supply chain intelligence to Siemens Xcelerator and the digital twin

Siemens Xcelerator

With further questions raised about Siemens Xcelerator, Tony emphasised the importance of building an open ecosystem of partners, a core part of the Siemens Xcelerator strategy. He showcased some examples of successful partnerships, such as with Microsoft, Boeing, and FREYR. He also introduced the Siemens Xcelerator open business platform that brings together Siemens’ expertise in industrial software with its knowledge and know-how as the number one industrial automation provider.

 

Siemens Xcelerator is an open digital business platform that enables customers to accelerate their digital transformation easier, faster and at scale. Siemens Xcelerator combines a curated portfolio of Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled hardware and software with a powerful partner ecosystem and a marketplace.

 

According to Tony, the Siemens Xcelerator is part of Siemens’ vision to create the industrial metaverse: a model of the real word – and of all its physical characteristics – that is always online. People can collaborate in real time to continuously optimise the virtual world and make the real world better, more efficient and more resource-efficient.

 

Some of the benefits of Siemens Xcelerator discussed during the event were:

·        It enables customers to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into their products and processes, such as using generative design, computer vision, natural language processing, and machine learning.

·        It helps customers to measure and reduce their carbon footprint across their value chain, such as using CO2 counting tools, electrification solutions, and circular economy principles.

·        It provides customers with on-demand high-performance computing (HPC) resources in the cloud, such as using Simcenter STAR-CCM+ Power on Demand or Mendix Cloud.

·        It offers customers flexible software-as-a-service (SaaS) options, such as using Teamcenter X, Opcenter EX, or Solid Edge 3652.

Conclusion

There is value in attending live events. This is where you make discoveries of new technologies or to learn how people solved the problems. For us, Siemens Realize LIVE is where we meet like-minded individuals who share interests, passions, and challenges, not to mention getting inspired and motivated by the energy, enthusiasm, and creativity of others.

 

Siemens Realize Live is a flagship event for the exchange of ideas, information and best practices that will enable you to work smarter, operate more efficiently and produce transformative outcomes. It is a place where you can connect with partners, peers and experts who will understand your every challenge and offer insights on how to accelerate your digital transformation.

 

Lastly, Tony is convinced that Siemens Digital Industries Software is taking market share. He says the dynamic has changed. “The battles we are having, it is not the same battles as in the past; it is changed. In fact, in many cases, our competition is not even talking about what we are doing because they do not have the electronics and everything we are discussing. And that is what our customers are talking to us about. It is changing the way they think about their problem.”

FPT Software solidifies Indonesian footprint with new Jakarta office

By: Kathryn Gerardino-Elagio

Indonesia’s digital transformation is a topic that has gained a lot of attention and interest in recent years. In fact, it is one of the fastest growing digital economies in South East Asia, with a large and young population, a vibrant start-up ecosystem, and a supportive government policy. The country’s growing economy and demand for transformation present great opportunities for a foreign company like FPT Software to assert our presence and contribute to the country's digital evolution. 

 

Global IT firm FPT Software recently opened an office in Jakarta, Indonesia, strengthening the company’s footprint globally. Located at the heart of Jakarta's Central Business District, the new office allows FPT Software to work closely with existing customers and cater to local demand for digital solutions across all vertical industries.

 

International Metalworking News for Asia (IMNA) spoke to FPT Software Indonesia CEO, Nguyen Hoang Tung. With his leadership, the company aims to boost business growth by multiple times, increase the number of employees to thousands, strengthen its presence in the market and contribute greatly to the development targets of FPT Software. In this interview, we delve into FPT Software journey, the innovative solutions offered, and Tung’s insights on the future of technology in Indonesia.

 

IMNA: FPT Software recently opened a new office in Jakarta, is this the first in the country? Can you provide an overview of this milestone achievement and its significance for FPT in realising its endeavours?

 

Nguyen Hoang Tung: While this is not our first office in Indonesia, it is indeed a significant milestone for us. It will serve as a strategic hub for FPT Software to tap into the vibrant tech ecosystem in Jakarta and leverage the pool of talented professionals in Indonesia and the Southeast Asia region.

 

Having been in Indonesia for over a decade now, we have earned the trust of numerous companies, becoming their reliable partner. The establishment of our new office in Jakarta signifies a commitment to our existing and future partners and a promise to continue fostering strong relationships. As we expand our presence here, we can forge new partnerships and undertake innovative projects to meet the evolving needs of our clients.

 

Additionally, the new office of FPT Software serves as the representative for all FPT's subsidiaries in Indonesia. This means the Jakarta office plays a crucial role in facilitating seamless operations and collaboration between different branches of the FPT Corporation.

 

IMNA: What led FPT Software to prioritize Jakarta? How does this align with the company’s goals?

 

Nguyen Hoang Tung: Firstly, Jakarta's status as the capital city of Indonesia and its position as the country's economic and political centre made it an attractive choice for expanding operations. The city boasts a dynamic and thriving technology sector, offering a conducive business environment for FPT Software's growth and development. Establishing a presence in Jakarta also enables FPT Software to provide a convenient co-working space for its global partners when they visit the city. This fosters better collaboration and strengthens relationships with partners, ultimately supporting the company's international outreach and network expansion efforts.

 

Secondly, Indonesia's digital market is large and rapidly growing, driven by a young and tech-savvy population. FPT Software recognized the strong demand in Indonesia for cutting-edge technology solutions, including Hyperautomation, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Payment, Digital Customer Journey, and more. Leveraging our technical prowess in these areas, we aim to cater to this demand and penetrate the Indonesian market effectively.

 

The decision to open a new office in Jakarta also aligns with the broader strategy of FPT Corporation, the parent company of FPT Software. As part of the Digital Conglomerate 5.0 strategy, FPT Corporation is committed to investing in innovative digital solutions and cultivating a future-ready workforce. By supporting developing and newly industrialized countries like Indonesia, the company seeks to contribute to creating a happier future for people and prosperity for nations.

 

IMNA: Can you share how the Jakarta office is now operating and apart from Jakarta, does FPT Software have plans to expand to other cities in Indonesia?

Nguyen Hoang Tung: Currently, the Jakarta office of FPT Software is operating with the best-shore delivery model. This approach combines onsite teams that work directly with customers, nearshore teams in nearby locations, and offshore teams in Vietnam. By implementing this model, FPT Software ensures round-the-clock support for its clients, enabling them to scale up their workforce swiftly when required.

 

As part of the expansion plans in Indonesia, FPT Software is actively hiring for various roles to bolster its team. These roles include Solution Architects, Infrastructure Architects, Senior Presales Representatives, Project Managers, Business Analysts, Network Engineers, Interpreters, and more. By diversifying and growing its team, FPT Software aims to enhance its ability to support clients across various industries in Indonesia and meet their digital transformation needs, besides our traditional IT services.

 

While specific details about future initiatives are subject to internal planning and market conditions, FPT Software is actively exploring opportunities to further expand its presence in the local market. The company has ambitious goals and envisions growing its team to include 10,000 skilled IT engineers by 2035. This growth trajectory aligns with its commitment to serve as a leading player in catering to Indonesia's digital transformation requirements.