Changes on North American Low-Voltage Market
ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, and Thomas & Betts Corporation, a North American leader in low voltage products, announced that both companies’ boards of directors have agreed to a transaction in which ABB will acquire Thomas & Betts for $72 per share in cash or approximately $3.9 billion. The transaction is subject to approval by Thomas & Betts shareholders as well as to customary regulatory approvals, and is expected to close by the middle of 2012. Read more
Intent to Acquire Emptoris
In a move that extends IBM’s Smarter Commerce solution portfolio, IBM has announced the intent to acquire Emptoris, Inc. – a leading provider of strategic supply, category spend and contract management solutions. Read more
Introduction of New Tagging Procedure at ZOW
Trade fair organiser Clarion Survey and the Loehne-based company Abaco Informationssysteme are going to set the stage for RFID for the furniture industry at ZOW 2012 in Bad Salzuflen. From 6-9 February, the future-oriented wireless technology will be displayed in hall 23.2, allowing the identification of supplier products across the entire supply chain. The brand-new feature will be a tagging procedure with which RFID chips no longer have to be glued, but can be integrated into the products. Read more
Optimized Production of Rolled Copper Products
Aurubis AG, copperproducer and international copper recycler, has initiated a
process to optimize and consolidate its production capacity for flat
rolled copper products. Aurubis plans to transfer production volumes from its Finspång
(Sweden) plant to other production sites in Europe and the United
States. The process is expected to be completed over a period of up to
two years. Read more
Ifo World Economic Climate Deteriorates Further
The Ifo World Economic Climate has worsened in the fourth quarter. The index is now significantly below its long-term average. The deterioration was due to less favourable assessments of the current situation and even more so to the expectations for the next six months. The results confirm the difficult situation of the world economy. Read more
IBX Spend Capture Cloud Launched
Capgemini, a provider of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, has announced the launch of its IBX Spend Capture Cloud solution to help customers enhance their procurement processes.
From implementing contracts, monitoring procurement KPIs and offering procurement choices to track all costs across products and services, the new IBX Capture Spend Cloud streamlines the procurement process and allows organizations to capture the benefit of on-line spending, which is often wasted due to lack of compliance with procurement standards. This solution, that combines a consumer-like experience with scalability for global roll-outs, integrates with all major eProcurement systems and links contracts to operational processes to provide improved contract compliance. It will be available across all key markets including the United States, the UK, France, Germany, Netherlands and the Nordic countries.
Allheat Pumps with Uncooled Mechanical Seal
Colfax Corporation, a global leader in fluid-handling solutions for critical applications, announces through its business platform Colfax Fluid Handling the introduction of its new Allweiler Allheat series of heat transfer pumps. Allheat pumps are capable of pumping synthetic oils at temperatures up to 400°C and design pressures up to 40 bar (PN 40), yet the design requires no mechanical seal cooling. Read more
LPR’s Daytime Operations Now on SAP
LPR GmbH, a specialized provider of a complete range of logistics services, is now using the best4log-x SAP logistics software solution, which already handles its nighttime express spare parts logistics, to operate its more complex daytime express business processes. LPR once again called on arvato Systems to provide integrated services in implementing the system. Located in Neuss, Germany, the logistics service provider has been using the SAP-based solution since 2009. Read more
Kuka: 500 Industrial Robots to Ford Europe
International carmakers continue to invest heavily in new models and manufacturing systems. Thanks to these initiatives, Kuka was able to win another major order in August 2011 for the supply of industrial robots to Ford Europe. Read more
High feed Rates for Tool and Mould Makers
The Tetra HF high feed rate milling cutter is a new addition to the milling cutter range of the French toolmaker Safety. It will be unveiled to the trade and public for the first time at this year’s EMO. Read more
Compact Plastic Diaphragm Valves
GEMÜ specializes in the construction of compact plastic diaphragm valves. Four completed Compact Plastic Valves product ranges offer plant engineers, designers, engineers and decision makers scope for compact and economical solutions, whether single valves or complete valve blocks. Read more
August NMI Indicating Growth in the U.S.
In August, the Non-Manufacturing Index (NMI) registered 53.3 percent, indicating continued growth in the U.S. non-manufacturing sector for the 21st consecutive month. Read more
New Round Connector
Multi-Contact presents a new connector in the 3 Powerline. The single pole, insulated Ø 21mm round connector complements the well established 10BV and 16BV systems, adding to the program a particularly powerful solution with current carrying capacity up to 800A. Read more
Agility Launches New China Freight Service
Agility, a leading global logistics provider, has introduced a scheduled freighter service that will directly connect key origins in China via Shanghai to Kaunas, Lithuania. With few freight options that cover this routing, the new service delivers stable and faster access, helping customers move goods from China into the rapidly growing markets of Northern Europe, the Nordics, Russia and the Baltics. Read more
Cost-Optimisation through Cleanliness
The quality and reliability of components during actual use after the production process depend just as decisively on workpiece cleanliness as the results of downstream processes do. parts2clean informs visitors about various methods of efficiently controlling the cleanliness of cleaned parts and surfaces, as well as the performance of cleaning baths, in a requirements oriented manner. The leading international trade fair for industrial parts and surface cleaning will take place at the Stuttgart Exhibition Centre from the 25th through the 27th of October, 2011. Read more
Schaeffler Bundling Electric Mobility Activities
Schaeffler is bundling its numerous activities relating to electric mobility in an eMobility Systems Division. With the creation of the new eMobility Systems Division, Schaeffler is pursuing a holistic approach that integrates the expertise of both the Automotive and Industrial divisions. Read more
Fujitsu Infrastructure for SAP HANA
Fujitsu announced the global availability of Fujitsu infrastructure certified by SAP AG and optimized for running SAP HANA appliance software, backed by a new Global Demo Center in support of SAP HANA. At the same time, Fujitsu has also completed a major implementation of SAP HANA for customer Mitsui & Co., Ltd. Read more
Gartner Announces Supply Chain Top 25
Gartner, Inc. has released the findings from its seventh annual Supply Chain Top 25. The goal of the Supply Chain Top 25 research initiative is to raise awareness of the supply chain discipline and how it impacts the business. Apple maintains the top position for the fourth year in a row. Read more
Cadenas Partnership with Siemens PLM Software
Cadenas GmbH, a leading software manufacturer in strategic parts management and electronic product catalogs, today announces becoming a Foundation Partner in the Siemens Solution Partner Program. Cadenas will work with Siemens PLM Software, a business unit of the Siemens Industry Automation Division and a leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services, to help customers optimize their business processes for engineers and purchasers while eliminating cost-intensive redundancies across the enterprise. Read more
Series Production for Lead-free Piezo Material
PI Ceramic (PIC), a worldwide player in the field of actuator and sensoric piezo products, now offers a lead-free piezo material for lead-free ultrasonic transducers.
The PIC 700 material is based on bismuth sodium titanat and is produced as a block by pressing technology. The piezoelectric characteristics are promising: PIC 700 has a high coupling factor for the flexural vibration and is thus suitable as an ultrasonic transducer in the MHz range and also for sonar and hydrophone applications. The maximum operating temperature is 200°C. PI Ceramic is currently investigating technologies to reliably manufacture lead-free ceramic components in series production.
Figure: PIC 700 Material, photo PI Ceramic (PIC)
