ACROFAN

Can Electronics Manufacturing Join the Digital Age, Asks IDTechEx

Silver Weibull selects WiTTRA to optimize power consumption and reduce costs

Graphisoft's Archicad Collaborate makes leading BIM technology more accessible through new subscription offering

OPEN MIND Offer for DMG MORI Customers

OPEN MIND Presents hyperMILL MEDICAL Solutions

Digital Energy’s ODIN Safety Is Now Powered by iTwin

hyperMILL : The CAM System for Networked Production Processes

Massive New Chinese Wastewater Treatment Plant Employs Toray Membrane Modules

Avalue Debuts BMX-T550, an Industrial Control Barebone System Designed for Automation

AmeraMex International Receives Orders Totaling $845,000

PCMC delivers ION digital printing technology to IGT

Paper Converting Machine Company (PCMC), part of Barry-Wehmiller, has partnered with International Game Technology (IGT), a global leader in gaming, to enhance its complex lottery instant ticket game printing process with PCMC's ION digital printing technology. “IGT’s patented Infinity Instants™ lottery games that are printed using PCMC’s ION technology are revolutionizing traditional instant ticket printing,” said Keith Cash, IGT’s Vice President and General Manager of Instant Products and Services. “With this innovation, instant ticket players will enjoy a new level of entertainment, including a full-color play experience that brings the games to life like never before. Plus, the customization possibilities that come with digital printing allow tickets to be tailored for any player segment or retailer type. IGT chose to brand this product category as Infinity Instants because the possibilities provided by the technology are unlimited.” In just seven months, PCMC’s digital print team—Eric Short, Fabio Girolami, George Safrany and Peter Kuschnitzky, along with Ben Klinter, who provided in-person start-up and operator training—delivered a complex high-speed ION inkjet system powered by Memjet’s DuraLink® technology, with a Navigator front end from Xitron. “PCMC’s ION inkjet print engine is built using DuraLink components,” said Kuschnitzky, PCMC’s Digital Print Applications Specialist. “We designed a multiple-wide duplex print engine, which prints at full speed, in full color. Because IGT is printing in variable data printing mode, no ticket is exactly the same.” PCMC’s ION digital printing solution can turn traditional analog presses into digital hybrid printing platforms. To meet specific customer challenges, PCMC is able to custom configure the components and modules. “Our experience with IGT has opened the door for us to expand PCMC’s line of inline hybrid printing presses,” said Rodney Pennings, PCMC’s Director of Sales—Printing, Coating and Laminating. “A 36-inch press will be available in the fall of 2022.”

Metal 3D Printing Technology Landscape – The Trends and the Whitespaces

Perfectly imperfect – that is the technology landscape in metal 3D printing boiled down. On one hand, the diversity in metal additive manufacturing technologies enables complex geometries and opens unique applications that no other manufacturing technique can reach. But these technologies are by no means infallible, and metal AM is ripe for improvement. Through an extensive benchmarking study, IDTechEx has asked the question: where are metal additive manufacturing technologies going, and where are the whitespaces for advancement in the metal AM landscape? In IDTechEx’s report “Metal Additive Manufacturing 2022-2032: Technology and Market Outlook”, fourteen different metal 3D printing technologies were comprehensively analyzed and benchmarked against each other to assess their strengths and shortcomings. Not only does this analysis include established technologies like direct metal laser sintering, blown powder-directed energy deposition, and metal binder jetting, but it also highlights emerging technologies like electrochemical deposition, metal-polymer filament extrusion, and paste extrusion. This article will provide some broader takeaways regarding developments in metal additive manufacturing technologies, but for the full market analysis including technology benchmarking studies and granular market forecasts, see the IDTechEx report. The Trends Introducing technologies capable of processing cheaper feedstocks: Metal feedstock for 3D printing, specifically uniform metal powder, is a difficult barrier to adoption for metal 3D printing; it is difficult for SMEs to find the budget to purchase kilos of metal powder priced in the hundreds. However, several emerging technologies make a point of utilizing cheaper metal feedstock to reduce the price per part for metal 3D printing. These include two extrusion technologies – metal paste (or metal slurry) and metal pellet extrusion. Paste and pellet extrusion are not the first metal additive technologies on the market to process inexpensive feedstock. That would be wire-directed energy deposition and sand binder jetting. However, where these extrusion technologies succeed while wire DED and sand binder jetting falter is their inexpensive printer price. The combination of inexpensive printers with inexpensive feedstock is a compelling one that lowers 3D printing costs. Pushing the build envelope in both directions: large and small The fifteen technologies assessed by IDTechEx had build envelopes covering a very wide range from 0.0004 m³ to 20.75 m³. Where traditional technologies like laser powder bed fusion and electron beam melting had a relatively constrained range of build volumes that limited part sizes, technologies like cold spray and electrochemical deposition enable a far wider range of part sizes. Metal can now be additive manufactured to be as tall as a double-decker bus or as small as a fingertip. With that increased range of possible component sizes comes a greater range of possible applications for metal additive manufacturing to penetrate. The Whitespaces Finding the intersection between build volume and price: In metal additive manufacturing, the relationship between build volume and printer price is crystal clear with an increased build volume comes increased printer costs. In fact, the biggest printers on the market exceed $2-3 million in price. Through large-format complex 3D-printed parts might be compelling in some applications, like construction, the expensive machinery needed makes these applications difficult to pursue. Any new printer that can combine large-format build volume with a price tag under half a million while maintaining key properties like tensile strength and surface finish would find itself unmatched in that whitespace. Balancing build rate with resolution: Build rate (sometimes known as material throughput) and resolution seem like inherently opposed qualities. How can it be possible to build fast when one also needs to print fine details or achieve a smooth surface finish? Current metal printing technologies demonstrate the inverse relationship between throughput and resolution quite clearly. However, finding the balance between high build rate and high resolution might not be as impossible as it seems. For comparison, consider that continuous resin printing techniques such as Carbon’s CLIP (continuous light interface production) and EnvisionTEC’s cDLM (continuous digital light manufacturing) in polymer 3D printing innovated to bring fast printing with high surface quality. With the right technical innovations, this gap might be bridgeable. And if that balance is found, metal additive manufacturing can move closer towards high volume, end-use part production. The Metal Additive Manufacturing Technology Landscape In assessing hundreds of printers segmented into fourteen technology categories, it became evident that the individual technologies in metal AM cover many different strengths, from high resolution to low printer to high materials throughput. When considered as an aggregate, metal AM has enough processes to cover opportunities for value-add in numerous industries like oil/gas, renewable energy, and automotive. As new technologies and innovations continue to expand this landscape and address technical weaknesses, IDTechEx expects to see the possible applications for metal additive manufacturing to continue to expand into an uncharted but high-value territory. Market forecasts for Metal Additive Manufacturing IDTechEx's report includes extensive technology analysis and benchmarking studies comparing 14 different emerging and established technologies. The report also forecasts future revenue, install base, and materials demand for the metal AM market while carefully segmenting the metal AM technology and materials market by 10 process categories and 9 metal material categories. Additionally, IDTechEx provides detailed discussion on the metal AM materials market. For further information on this market including interview-based profiles of the main players, technology benchmarking studies, application case-studies, and the most granular 10-year market forecasts available, see the market report “Metal Additive Manufacturing 2022-2032: Technology and Market Outlook”. For more information on this report, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/MetalAM or for the full portfolio of 3D Printing research available from IDTechEx please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Research/3D

Major climate benefits when ships “fly” over the surface

Soon, electric passenger ferries skimming above the surface across the seas may become a reality. At Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, a research team has created a unique method for further developing hydrofoils that can significantly increase the range of electric vessels and reduce the fuel consumption of fossil-powered ships by 80 per cent. While the electrification of cars is well advanced, the world's passenger ferries are still powered almost exclusively by fossil fuels. The limiting factor is battery capacity, which is not enough to power ships and ferries across longer distances. But now researchers at Chalmers and the marine research facility SSPA have succeeded in developing a method that can make the shipping industry significantly greener in the future. The focus is on hydrofoils that, like wings, lift the boat’s hull above the surface of the water and allow the boat to travel with considerably less water resistance. A technology that in recent years has revolutionised sailing, by which hydrofoils make elite sailors' boats fly over the surface of the water at a very high speed. The researchers at Chalmers and SSPA now want to enable the sailboats' hydrofoil principle to be used on larger passenger ferries as well, resulting in major benefits for the climate. "The electrification of ferries cannot be done without drastically reducing their water resistance. This method will allow the development of new foil designs that can reduce resistance by up to 80 per cent, which in turn would significantly increase the range of a battery powered ship. In this way, we could also use electric ferries on longer distances in the future," says research leader Arash Eslamdoost, Associate Professor in Applied Hydrodynamics at Chalmers and author of the study Fluid-Structure Interaction of a Foiling Craft published in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering. Even for ships that today run on fossil fuels the climate benefit could be significant, as similar hydrofoil technology could reduce fuel consumption by no less than 80 per cent. - Unique measurement method arouses broad interest At the centre of the research project is a unique measurement technique that the researchers have put together in order to understand in detail how hydrofoils behave in the water when, for example, the load or speed increases or the positioning of the hydrofoil changes. Using the data collected from the experiments, the team has developed and validated a method to simulate and predict with great precision how the hydrofoil would behave under a variety of conditions. The method is unique of its kind and can now be used to develop the design of hydrofoils for electric powered hydrofoil ferries. The study was conducted in collaboration with the research facility SSPA – one of only a few of its kind in the world – where Laura Marimon Giovannetti works as a researcher and project manager. She is the lead author of the study and has herself competed at the elite level for both the British and Italian national sailing teams. Today she is a research and development adviser to Sweden's Olympic committee and the Swedish national team with her sights set on helping the team win more medals at the Olympics in 2024. Marimon Giovannetti sees many possibilities for the unique measurement method developed by the team: "At the Americas Cup in San Francisco Bay in 2013, it was the first time we saw a 72-foot sailing boat learning how to “fly” using hydrofoils during the competition. And since then, we've seen a huge increase in sailing boats with hydrofoils. With this new method and knowledge we are able to bring together a range of different branches of engineering – naval architecture, advanced materials and aeronautics as well as renewable energy." - Paving the way for hydrofoils on electric ferries Hydrofoil technology is not in itself a novelty, but was developed as early as the 60s and 70s. Back then the focus was on getting boats to travel at as fast as possible and the hydrofoils were made of steel, a heavy material with higher maintenance costs. Today's modern hydrofoils are made of carbon fibre, a much lighter and stiffer material that can maintain its rigidity even under high loads – and can be tailored to the expected loads. Part of the research project was therefore to fully understand how a carbon fibre structure behaves underwater during different operational conditions. The research team's method developed in association with modern technology is now paving the way for the use of carbon fibre hydrofoils on larger passenger ships that can travel in a safe, controlled and climate-friendly way even at low speeds. "You want the foil to be as efficient as possible, which means carrying as much weight as possible at as low a speed as possible with the least resistance. Our next goal is to use this method when designing more efficient hydrofoils for ferries in the future," says Eslamdoost. [More about the scientific article] (1) The study "Fluid-Structure Interaction of a Foiling Craft" has been published in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering. The authors are Laura Marimon Giovannetti, Ali Farousi, Fabian Ebbesson, Alois Thollot, Alex Shiri and Arash Eslamdoost. The researchers are active at SSPA (part of RISE Research Institutes of Sweden), Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden and INP-ENSEEITH in France. (2) Hugo Hammar’s funding from SSPA and Rolf Sörman’s funding from Chalmers University of Technology provided the financial support to run the experimental tests at SSPA. This study also received funding from the Chalmers University of Technology Foundation for the strategic research project Hydro- and Aerodynamics.

AmeraMex International Receives Orders Totaling $1.1 Million

AmeraMex International, Inc. (OTCQB: AMMX), a provider of heavy equipment for logistics companies, infrastructure construction and forestry conservation, announced that it has received equipment orders totaling $1.1 million which brings year-to-date sales up to $11.7 million. According to CEO Lee Hamre, the Company currently has over $2.6 million of equipment in the sales pipeline that is being refurbished and is expected to ship before the end of the second quarter. The orders consist of the following equipment: Liugong Forklift shipping to a high school welding shop in Chico; Hoist 220 Container Handler shipping to the Pacific Northwest; Taylor XLC975 Container Handler shipping to a customer in the West Coast; The Magni Telehandler also shipping to a customer on the West Coast. The Magni line of telehandlers are new products for AmeraMex. The fixed telehandlers combine craftsmanship with innovation and technology for high-end performance in each application. Magni models are perfect for applications in industry and construction as well as the mining sector. For more information and pricing of equipment for the logistics, construction, and forestry industries, or to book a demonstration of the Kovaco Electric’s 100 percent electric skid steer loaders, ASV Posti-Tract and Skid Steer Loaders, Menzi Muck Excavators or a Magni Telescopic Handler, contact the AmeraMex/Hamre Equipment sales team at 530.895.8955.

Pozyx advances industrial asset tracking and tackles operational problems supporting Industry 4.0 with unmatched real-time visibility

Pozyx, a leading provider of RTLS (real-time location system) and ART (advanced real-time tracking) solutions, today announced the launch of its new Pozyx software Platform, a future-proof asset tracking and identification solution for seamless indoor and outdoor tracking, based on the omlox hub and supporting multiple location technologies. The Pozyx Platform is designed for smart manufacturing providing supply chain solutions supporting Industry 4.0. It tracks and identifies any asset providing real-time data to relieve operational pain, improve operational efficiency, enhance productivity, and increase workflow performance. The use cases are defined to bring visibility and valuable insights on WIP, workforce efficiency, supply chain, and space utilization. It facilitates warehouse and inventory control, keeps track of returnable packaging and critical tools and slashes lost asset costs. Pozyx is contributing member and early adopter of omlox - the open and internationally recognized standard for Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) - to achieve the common goal of creating an integrated RTLS technology ecosystem that supports data from different location technologies and interoperability within the UWB based locating zone. The new Pozyx Platform is based on the omlox hub (*) where location data from UWB, 5G, RFID, WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS converge. Independent of technology and manufacturer, the data is made available to other applications via standardized APIs. Users and application builders only need to consider a single API and do not have to worry about the underlying technologies used. The platform offers a seamless indoor/outdoor transition with zoom-in from a worldwide map to a detailed indoor map, showing highly accurate locations, up to 10cm precise. It has an open architecture with flexible interfaces for smooth integration with ERP, MES, and WMS. A full set of industry-specific analytics and dashboards make the collected data actionable for operational purposes. Samuel Van de Velde, Founder & CEO of Pozyx stated, “The omlox multi-technology approach propagates the use of interoperable locating systems and enables easy integration of different location technologies and applications. Contributing our knowledge and expertise in Industry 4.0 solutions will help the vibrant omlox ecosystem to flourish in the future. As RTLS continues its record uptake in the industrial space, the new Pozyx Platform is fueling more diverse and innovative use cases, tackling real concerns in operations, manufacturing, and supply chain. We believe that participating in the omlox standard will push mass adoption and interoperability.” (*) omlox expects that it can commence omlox hub certifications in Q3 2022. More info on pozyx.io Visit Pozyx at Hannover Messe – Hall 8 – booth D08

Avalue Introduces Highly Customizable, Modular CNC Solution - OTC

Avalue Technology Inc. (TAIEX: 3479-TW), a global industrial PC solution provider and an associate member of the Intel® Internet of Things Solutions Alliance. The acceleration of digital transformation in manufacturing driven by IoT, data analytics, progress in communication technology and the COVID pandemic has fueled the maturity of Industry 4.0. Avalue Technology, the global leader in industrial solutions, is targeting smart manufacturing and actively expanding its presence in the field of industrial automation. Avalue’s innovative modular HMI system OTC is a highly customizable and integrable HMI control system designed for the manufacturing industry. Providing continuous upgrades for smart factories, improving stability and optimizing allocation and monitoring, OTC is ideal for applications such as digital central control system for CNC machines and HMI for production automation. The central control system is the core of factory automation. To maintain efficacy, precision and reliability, the manufacturing process must be monitored in real time with highly responsive allocation of resources. This will ensure safety during the production process, effectively reduces human error, energy consumption and raw material depletion, and improves equipment utilization and labor productivity. By integrating embedded touchscreen computer and highly customizable modular control panel, Avalue provides a HMI system solution that is high integrable with a simple and intuitive operating interface and highly expandable functions, creating a brand-new automated factory control system with flexible production structure. - Highly flexible modular HMI panel The HMI panel may be used according to the visual presentation of the main screen, viewed in landscape or portrait orientation depending on the user’s preference. To achieve space efficiency and effective layout, the interface is divided into five modular areas for flexible allocation according to usage scenario. Area A is the main touchscreen area, area B/D is the secondary screen (either LCD or E-ink) or control buttons, area C is the expansion ports, and area D is the physical buttons (emergency stop button, manual pulse generator and MPG handwheel). Click here to Watch OTC video The main system or display (including touchscreen) in area A main screen is available in three sizes, i.e. 15”/ 15.6”/ 21.5”. If there is a need for second display screen, an LCD or E-ink display may be added in area B or D. Control panel buttons may be added in area B and D. Buttons are available in a variety of materials, including color-printed membrane buttons, patented modular crystal acrylic buttons, laser-etched ABS buttons and newly released transparent buttons. Compatible with major brands of numerical control system, including FANUC, Siemens and Mitsubishi, basic CNC function buttons may be made for lathe machine, milling machine, grinding machine and multi-axis machine. By arranging panel buttons closely together, Avalue optimizes circuit integration, and in turn improves wiring and panel size. With customizable plate metal and film size, the HMI panel is also IP67 waterproof and dustproof, and CE and RoHS certified. Other requirements, such as adding a handle on one or both sides of the panel to facilitate movement of machine and adjustment of viewing angle, can also be customized. - Rugged industrial-grade ultra-thin touchscreen PC, compatible with RS2 remote monitoring, iFace-Designer® Avalue HMI system’s main touchscreen (area A) is compatible with high-performance PCs, i.e. rugged ARC series/ OFT series, and touch screens, i.e. rugged ARC touch screen/ industrial-grade OFM touch screen. The touchscreen panel is not only waterproof, dustproof and shockproof, it is also exceptionally customizable, e.g. coating technology, sunlight visibility, and specific touchscreen operation (switching between different touchscreen profiles, such as glove and water droplet) according to changes in environmental conditions. Avalue’s modular HMI system integrates hardware, software and firmware requirements to speed up the implementation of automated production. Object-oriented visualization HMI package software iFace-Designer® connects elements in the program with multiple devices, such as PLC, inverter, thermostat and motor driver, to monitor and control the manufacturing process. Furthermore, Avalue’s remote monitoring software Renity Sentinel 2 monitors system health at all times, ensuring that data is secure at any time and there is no disruption to system operation. Through customized expansion, it supports fieldbus communications systems such as EtherCAT, Profinet and Profibus, achieving high-speed and high-performance industrial automation applications, accelerating the development of modern factories in industrial IoT. Click here to watch OTC Video, or contact sales@avalue.com.tw to talk to our sales team.

Yanmar Adds Connectivity to Selective Catalytic Reduction System for Marine Engines

Yanmar Power Technology Co., Ltd. (YPT) a group company of Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd. will start offering its proprietary selective catalytic reduction (SCR) exhaust gas purification system*1 with connected functionality and a dedicated management app from mid-May. Ships at sea generally do not have a well-developed IT environment, and reducing the time spent on onboard management can be a challenge. YPT is working to improve onboard efficiency by developing a system that provides connectivity using smartphones. The control panel of the SCR system developed by YPT has a USB port that can be used to connect it to a smartphone, allowing onboard information to be stored in the cloud through a dedicated application. The app also makes it possible to check performance diagnosis results and maintenance timing notifications even in shipboard environments without Internet access. Yanmar is promoting the implementation of this system to reduce the time crews need to spend on ship management through the use of ICT and by proposing appropriate maintenance based on the actual usage conditions, towards safe navigation of the seas. - Overview of Connected Functionality - USB port on the SCR system control panel In response to the demand for compliance with emission regulations, this SCR system control panel provides engine and SCR system management in one package to comply with NOx emission regulations. Furthermore, the SCR system control panel can store system operating data in the cloud by connecting a smartphone to the system via a USB port on the control panel, enabling centralized management of performance diagnosis data. - Centralized information management via smartphones When a smartphone with the dedicated "YANMAR SHIPSWEB SMART-LINK "*2 application installed is connected to the system, it will link to operating data, including engine data. Then, when the system is online, it will connect to the "YANMAR SHIPSWEB" cloud service provided by Yanmar Engineering Co. Even in an offline environment, the application can access stored performance diagnosis data and periodic maintenance notifications can be received, allowing parts and maintenance to be arranged in advance, supporting stable operation planning. - YANMAR SHIPSWEB https://ye-shipsweb.yanmar.com/ Download the dedicated application "YANMAR SHIPSWEB SMART-LINK" (Google Play) YANMAR SHIPSWEB SMART-LINK - Apps on Google Play ### *1 - SCR: Abbreviation for Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR). NOx emissions, which are regulated by the International Maritime Organization, are converted into harmless nitrogen and water by reaction with an ammonia catalyst. *2 - The dedicated application "YANMAR SHIPSWEB SMART-LINK" can be downloaded free of charge from "Google play".

AmeraMex International Receives Orders Totaling $547,000

AmeraMex International, Inc. (OTCQB: AMMX), a provider of heavy equipment for logistics companies, infrastructure construction and forestry conservation, announced that it has received equipment orders totaling $547,000 which brings year-to-date sales up to $10.6 million. The orders consist of the following equipment: One Taylor TS-9972 Reach Stacker shipping to a customer in Houston. One ASV RT-75 Posti-Tract Steer Loader shipping to a landscaping company on the West Coast. One Kovaco Electric MiniZ-400 Skid Steer Loader shipping to a customer in Utah. The Company also announced that it has filed an extension with the SEC to delay filing of the Company’s first quarter 10-Q. According to CFO Hope Stone, there is a new ASC842 rule for lease accounting issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ( FASB ). This new standard contains guidance on the accounting and financial reporting for agreements meeting the standard’s definition of a lease. The Company is in the process of adapting the new standard with its existing Accounting Software and expects to report first quarter financials by Friday, May 20, 2022. For more information and pricing of equipment for the logistics, construction, and forestry industries, or to book a demonstration of the Kovaco Electric’s 100 percent electric skid steer loaders, ASV Posti-Tract and Skid Steer Loaders, Menzi Muck Excavators or a Magni Telescopic Handler, contact the AmeraMex/Hamre Equipment sales team at 530.895.8955.

AmeraMex International Receives Orders Totaling $770,000

Toray Receives Reverse Osmosis Membrane Order in United Arab Emirates for The World’s Largest Seawater Desalination Plant

Toray Industries, Inc., announced today that it has received a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane order for the Taweelah desalination plant in the United Arab Emirates. Once the operation commissions in the second half of 2022-, this will be the world’s largest RO desalination facility, with a daily capacity of 909,200 cubic meters of water. Dammam-based Toray Membrane Middle East LLC (TMME) will provide technical services. Toray will accordingly help alleviate water shortages in the Middle East through TMME, which will ultimately lead to stable energy supply throughout the world. The district has been considering starting construction of the RO desalination facility for approximately 20 years. Key factors in Toray obtaining this order were that its RO membrane technology and robust record in the Middle East over the past 15 years have delivered lower capital investments and operating costs than conventional evaporation method. Gulf countries are investing extensively in infrastructure to cater to rising population, so the Taweelah facility will be vital to progress. Toray has also installed RO membranes for the Umm Al Quwain Desalination Plant in the United Arab Emirates, with a daily capacity of 681,000 cubic meters. The latest order will make the company an RO membrane supplier to the world’s major desalination facilities. Toray will continue to contribute to infrastructural development in the country by providing RO membranes and technical support for the planned RO plant. Over the years, Toray has expanded RO membrane sales, production, and technical support to help resolve global water issues. Applications extend from desalination and waste water reclamation to industrial usage. The aggregate water production capacity of Toray RO membranes is 105,000,000 cubic meters per day. That is enough to serve the water needs of 730 million people. Providing access to clean water is pivotal to The Toray Group Sustainability Vision, representing a roadmap to the World as Envisioned by Toray Group in 2050, and embodies Toray Vision 2030, through which the Group pursues sound, sustainable growth. Toray will continue to provide RO membranes and other advanced membrane technologies and strengthen technical services to cater to local demand. It will thereby help resolve water issues in the Middle East and other regions in which industrial and population expansions will likely boost water demand. [Order details] Taweelah desalination plant location : Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Production capacity : 909,200 cubic meters daily Projected operational start : Second half of 2022 Developer : EWEC and ACWA POWER Engineering, procurement and construction contractors : Abengoa Agua S.A. and SEPCOIII Electric Power Construction Co., Ltd.

Robots Help Reaching United Nations Goals Of Sustainable Development

The use of robots plays an important role in reaching the sustainable development goals set out by the United Nations (17 SDGs). The International Federation of Robotics identified 13 SDGs, where robots help to create a better planet. “The use of robots responds to the UN´s call for action,” says Milton Guerry, President of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). “The IFR supports the United Nations´ sustainable development goals. There are fantastic new ways in which robots save resources and produce green technologies of the future.” “The transformation on the way to a sustainable use of resources is proving robotics and automation to be key technologies,” says Dr Susanne Bieller, General Secretary of the International Federation of Robotics. “Intelligent automation reduces production costs: This helps battery technology achieve a breakthrough in e-mobility for example or fuel cells production for hydrogen-power as an alternative to fossil energy. At the same time, highly efficient production technology reduces CO2-emissions.” Clean energy, industrial innovation and sustainable agriculture are just three examples which show how the use of robots contribute to achieve these UN sustainable development goals: Energies of the future - electricity and solar heat – Clean Energy (UN´s SDG 7) Pivoting away from fossil fuel makes solar heat and electricity energies of the future: Solar panels are predicted to provide roughly a third of the world's total electricity demand by 2050 – says the International Energy Agency. Heat usage makes up for half of the world’s energy usage. Keeping pace with this booming customer demand for solar panels and reflectors mean being able to produce units in greater quantities. Industrial robots are now used as part of an automated factory production line in Sweden. Solar energy company Absolicon has developed what it sees as a gamechanger for the widespread adoption of solar heat as an energy source: A parabolic reflector focuses the solar irradiation on a receiver and turns it into steam with a temperature of up to 160 degrees for the use in industrial production. Almost all industries require heat for production processes. The solar collector´s emission-saving potential: every square meter of a solar thermal collector can produce the equivalent energy of 100 liters of oil. The automation at Absolicon´s factory in Härnösand using two ABB robots has increased production drastically. Where the company previously produced three solar collectors per day with manual production methods, the newly installed robotic production line now has the capacity to produce a finished collector every six minutes. Prepare-to-repair - Industrial Innovation (UN´s SDG 9) Prepare-to-repair is a successful strategy for robot manufacturers and their customers to save costs and resources. This takes into account that a robot has an average service life of up to thirty years. Using less parts translating into lower risk of future failure is the first step of this approach. To offer long-term repair to customers, storage of parts is a challenge. In order to keep the large number of spare parts in stock, Japanese robot manufacturer Fanuc e.g. runs a central warehouse for Europe. It is located in Luxembourg and has the size of a football pitch with 600,000 spare parts on stock. Since every hour of machine downtime costs the customer money, it is oftentimes more resource-efficient to transport the spare parts to the customer and repair the machine on site – rather than to manufacture and ship new machines. Manufacturers like ABB, Fanuc, KUKA or Yaskawa all run dedicated repair centers where thousands of industrial robots are refurbished and upgraded for a second life. Robots eliminate chemical agents - Smart Agriculture (UN´s SDG 2) In agriculture, new field robots eliminate the use of chemical agents. These agricultural robots travel slowly up and down the rows of crops. Equipped with cameras and artificial intelligence software, they are able to locate weeds and burn them selectively with a laser shot. The new technology does not only completely eliminate the use of herbicides. Organic farmers now have an alternative to a related process called “flaming” using propane torches to kill weeds. Flaming could only operate before crops were planted - otherwise it would also have killed the crops. The Fraunhofer EZRT research centre and partners equipped a farming robot with navigation technology for mechanical weed control in sugar beets. The BlueBob 2.0 also does the job autonomously, so that farmers can devote their time to tasks with higher added value than manual or chemical weeding. Since manual weeding is a very tedious task for humans, the new technology also helps to improve conditions of farm work. Taking over dirty, dull and dangerous tasks is something robots excel at.

IDTechEx Discusses Metal Additive Manufacturing: Don’t Tell Me, Show Me

Since 3D Systems commercialized stereolithography thirty years ago, 3D printer manufacturers who invented their own proprietary technology predominantly followed the same business strategy: selling their printers to customers. Until recently, it was the norm for established and rising 3D printing players, both in metal and polymer additive manufacturing, to follow the same path. However, companies with proprietary technology are now seeing an alternative. Instead of telling customers how disruptive their machines can be, just be the disruptor. Decades of an industry following the same business strategy has exposed the inherent difficulties in selling printers, especially metal printers, to end-users. First, customers will need to find the budget for a printer costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, alongside consumable printing materials that cost hundreds per kilogram. Then, the customers will need to train employees to operate these printers and how to prepare and finish any 3D-printed parts; if the customer doesn’t have the internal resources for this, they will need to hire skilled labor. Lastly, to make the most of any 3D printer, customers need to understand how to identify applications where 3D printing offers the most value-add and how to design for these opportunities. Overall, these factors make convincing customers to invest in 3D printing, especially metal additive manufacturing, a difficult decision to make. That is not to say the metal printer install base is not growing, but that this increasingly popular business model fits into a growing industry that IDTechEx forecast will reach $18.5 billion by 2032 in their latest report, “Metal Additive Manufacturing 2022-2032: Technology and Market Outlook”. - A New Strategy : In-House Production New entrants have recognized the obstacles posed by the traditional business model of selling metal printers to customers for them to print parts. Rather than selling the printers using their proprietary technology like traditional 3D printer manufacturers, they have chosen a different business strategy where they keep their proprietary printing technology in-house. Here, the 3D printer is not the main product being sold; rather, finished 3D-printed parts are the main product. This circumvents many of the classic barriers to 3D printing adoption, like high capital expenses and the need for specialized AM knowledge. Rather than having to convince customers that the customer can print great components if they buy a 3D printer, in-house production companies can simply demonstrate that their proprietary printers can indeed manufacture complex, custom parts. In this way, in-house production companies using their own proprietary technology are like vertically integrated OEMs. Not only will these companies develop their own printing technology and equipment, but they also often develop their own materials for their proprietary printers. As parts manufacturers delivering finished components to customers, they also complete any post-processing that is needed (i.e. depowdering, debinding, sintering, milling, finishing, etc.). Some also use their own in-house software for design and simulation. Vertical integration makes it possible to provide a full suite of services to end-users – part manufacturing, consulting, design, etc. - The Production Players To Keep An Eye On In the metal additive manufacturing industry, most are familiar with the classic 3D printer manufacturers selling their printers for part-production, like EOS, SLM Solutions, ExOne, and more. Many of these do have in-house part production, but this is not the main focus and typically runs at a small scale. New entrants with a proprietary process exclusively for in-house production are appearing on the metal AM landscape – who are some players to look out for? 1. 3DEO is the American start-up behind Selective Inhibition Sintering, a novel metal binder jetting process that is similar in principle to Multi-Jet Fusion and High Speed Sintering. Here, an anti-fusing agent is applied alongside the binder to create high quality consolidated metal parts. 3DEO kept Selective Inhibition Sintering in-house to focus on high-volume production services, which is difficult for customers purchasing 3D printers to accomplish. In 2021, 3DEO announced that they had printed their millionth part. 2. Having raised $79 million as of Q1 2022 to commercialize their proprietary Area Printing technology, Seurat Technologies is another American start-up making waves in the metal AM industry. Area Printing innovates on laser powder bed fusion, a process often plagued with speed issues, to improve on build volume and part throughput. Seurat is currently running a customer adoption program to help customers identify key applications for their technology. 3. The oldest company on this list, Norsk Titanium uses its Rapid Plasma Deposition technology not only exclusively for in-house production but exclusively for in-house titanium part production for industrial applications. Though Norsk has the narrowest business focus of the companies listed, this specificity allows them to focus on high-value verticals with qualification and validation needs like aerospace. In fact, one of Norsk’s notable customers is Boeing. 4. Relativity Space is an American aerospace company with over 700 employees and $1.34 billion in funding that has created their own metal additive manufacturing technology for rocket manufacturing. Called Stargate, it is the world’s largest metal 3D printer according to Relativity, capable of printing a single metal piece up to 32 feet tall. Stargate is utilized by Relativity to manufacture parts for their own rockets. 5. A spin-out of Autodesk, Holo has developed a technology platform called PureFormTM. PureForm uses a proprietary vat photopolymerization printer designed for high volume production to cure photopolymer resin loaded with metal powder and create a green part. That part is debound and sintered to remove the photopolymer and densify the final metal part. This technology is notable for being well-suited for pure copper 3D printing, which is tricky to accomplish with powder bed fusion. Metal AM is not the only 3D printing specialty seeing this strategy being implemented, considering the emergence of companies like Arevo and Arris Composites in composite 3D printing and OPT Industries and Spectroplast in polymer 3D printing. With startups now considering alternate business strategies from their founding, IDTechEx expects to see more AM companies pursuing this interesting approach to increasing 3D printing adoption. It should be noted that this type of business will not displace traditional service bureaus. Service bureaus have the benefit of being technology agnostic with the ability to collate printers from different processes and companies in a single company. With service bureaus like Materialise and Protolabs generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue each year, the contract manufacturing sector of the 3D printing industry will continue to grow strongly. - Market forecasts for Metal Additive Manufacturing IDTechEx's report on metal additive manufacturing forecasts future revenue, install base, and materials demand for the metal AM market while carefully segmenting the metal AM technology and materials market by 10 process categories and 9 metal material categories. Additionally, IDTechEx analyses each metal printing technology and provides detailed discussion on the metal AM materials market. For further information on this market including interview-based profiles of the main players, technology benchmarking studies, granular 10-year market forecasts, and application case-studies, see the IDTechEx market report “Metal Additive Manufacturing 2022-2032: Technology and Market Outlook”. For more information on this report, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/MetalAM or for the full portfolio of 3D Printing research available from IDTechEx please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Research/3D

Digital twins: bringing the future to water management, stated IDRICA, international technology company

The current scenario of uncertainty has accelerated the adoption of digital twins in the water sector. Their application in drinking water distribution, sanitation and sewerage systems is picking up speed across the globe. In 2022, and over the next few years, digital twins are set to be one of the most widely used tools to tackle new challenges. Yet, digital twins are no longer just a good idea for the future. In fact, many of the most innovative international utilities have already included the implementation of digital twins in their strategic plans and have put down specific actions on paper, thus tying in with their commitment to digital transformation. “Once processes have been digitally transformed and infrastructures have been equipped with sensors, the next logical step is to extract value from all this data. Digital twins are one of the best tools to do this, as they deliver a holistic, cross-cutting vision of all the data they compile”, stated Pilar Conejos, Digital Twin Manager at Idrica. According to the expert, their commissioning must include the following components: a platform integrating all the information collected from assets and infrastructure, hydraulic models and advanced analytics, and a powerful, user-friendly dashboard system. However, digital twins go way beyond simply simulating scenarios, with one of their main features being the development of use cases, understood as the ability to solve problems and optimize day-to-day operations. Their successful deployment “will require utilities to overcome a number of challenges in the coming years, which may act as a barrier to market uptake”, highlighted Pilar Conejos. These challenges include insufficient data quality and its location in isolated systems that are difficult to connect, and the intrinsic complexity of running a simulation model that must be kept permanently up-to-date and must operate in real time”. In addition, “investments must go hand in hand with an innovative organization and culture if they are to be successful. If there is something implicit in digital twins, it is a new way of working”, concluded Idrica’s expert. - Digital twins: transforming the real world through the virtual The most widely accepted definition of digital twins is perhaps that they are a virtual copy of the water supply system, simulating how it behaves. As a proxy for real behavior, digital twins help us to make better decisions thanks to the holistic view they provide of the system and their ability to simulate real and fictitious scenarios. They anticipate the response of the network to any circumstance affecting operations, whether it has occurred before or not, helping utilities to assess different scenarios. To do this, both the physical and dynamic aspects of the system must be represented, i.e., the virtual representation of physical assets must be combined with the simulation of their behavior in the digital environment. According to Idrica’s experts, digital twins need large amounts of data and information from the physical system to function. In other words, the development of use cases and practical applications depends on sensors and the information provided by the digital systems employed, such as SCADAs, GIS and CMMS. Today, many companies have this information, so the next challenge for them is to concentrate, combine and standardize it into a single platform, which serves to feed the digital twin with real-world data. - Four benefits for the water sector, according to Idrica Resilience. Digital twins improve the ability to adapt quickly and safely to any circumstance, whether it has happened before or not. This includes emergencies, health alerts and climate change-related events. Testing new ideas and changes virtually, before making a decision in the real system, reduces risks, time and costs. Digital twins anticipate problems and identify the measures needed to prevent emergencies and minimize their consequences. In short, they ensure that, even in critical situations and complex distribution systems, the water supply will remain available 24/7. Efficiency. Digital twins can help to optimize systems now and in the future from an operational and planning standpoint. Thanks to the holistic view they provide, decisions are made by considering their impact on the different processes occurring in the system. For example, energy costs can be reduced by establishing the best pumping schedules taking into account the hourly price of energy, whilst also keeping the system's hydraulic parameters under control. Energy consumption can also be lowered through more efficient asset operation and system planning, taking into account energy use associated with the design of new infrastructure. Customer-centric management. Twenty-first-century citizens are demanding more information and better service, and they are also an essential part of the management of water distribution systems. Accordingly, digital twins need to engage citizens in order to provide them with information and to adapt water system management to cater for their needs. Thus, they can receive information on service disruptions in advance, whether due to planned interventions in the network or to an emergency. In addition, the operation of the system can be adapted depending on the needs of critical users, such as hospitals, to ensure supply in any possible scenario. Yet that is not all. The challenges we are currently facing, such as increased demand due to urban growth and the scarcity of water, require water utilities and citizens as end users to work together. For example, providing customers with access to detailed information about their consumption will lead to better actions and awareness of responsible water use policies. Sustainability. There is strong support for the new concept of sustainable cities. The objective is to adapt to climate change through planning, optimal infrastructure management and citizen participation. The technology used in urban water systems means that they can be operated safely and efficiently, with the aim of reducing water and energy consumption. They also promote two-way communication between utilities and citizens, who can now address new challenges and receive information on how their actions improve resource management.

RTI Turns it Up to 11 Elevating Control System Performance and Programming Ease With Integration Designer 11

Leading control and automation manufacturer RTI today announced a major new update to its award-winning Integration Designer control application software. The new Integration Designer 11 enables technology integrators to achieve faster, more efficient installations with all the advanced customization for which RTI is renowned. It adds time-saving performance tools and features an all-new user interface template, new icons and background libraries, custom sliders, and more to personalize residential and commercial projects. "Integration Design 11 will elevate the performance for all our integrators, whether new to RTI or seasoned pros," said RTI CEO Joe Roberts. "With its intuitive new template, Integration Designer 11 delivers a fast and efficient start to any project while enabling powerful features and always a beautiful finish. And because we are RTI, of course Integration Designer 11 delivers the advanced customization that lets integrators create user experiences that stand out from the competition." The most visible feature in Integration Designer 11 is the all-new "Coral" template with swappable backgrounds, customizable sliders and scrolling viewports across touchscreens and mobile devices, and new graphics and fonts — all with auto-programming that adds efficiency to every project. Behind the scenes is the integrated System Manager — with adaptive auto-programming intelligence — adding feedback for scenes, rooms, and automations while auto-generating new macros based on what's already been programmed in the system. Another major new addition is the built-in Driver Store, enabling integrators to find all drivers without leaving the software and searching on a separate driver site, saving time on every project. And more than ever before, RTI programming is easily reusable, again making integrators more efficient across all projects. "Whether it's a residential or a commercial job, time is money," continued Roberts. "RTI integrators can save their programming for reuse on future projects. This 'rinse and repeat' convenience helps them start faster on the next job." But it's not just about efficiency; Version 11 of the CEDIA Product Hall of Fame award-winning Integration Designer enables the integrator to personalize and customize solutions that meet every home or business owner's unique needs. "Integration Designer 11 delivers a beautiful result every time," concluded Roberts. "But the customized automation behind the scenes is just as important, and on this, Integration Designer stands second to none." More information about RTI is available https://rticontrol.com/integration-designer

3D printed heat exchanger could be more efficient is more compact and efficient than its conventional counterparts

A new type of lightweight, 3D printed heat exchanger with a maze-like design is more compact and efficient than its conventional counterparts, its developers say. A team led by engineers from the University of Glasgow have developed the system, which exploits the unique properties of microscale surfaces to create a high-performance heat exchanger. Heat exchangers, devices which transfer heat between fluids without mixing them, have a wide range of practical applications. Heat exchangers which transfer thermal energy between fluids are used in systems including refrigeration, fuel cells and the types of internal combustion engines used in cars and aircrafts. In a new paper published in Applied Thermal Engineering, the researchers describe how they developed and built the prototype system, which they estimate to be 50% more effective than a market-leading conventional heat exchanger despite being one-tenth of its size. The system owes its effectiveness to the design of architected surfaces over which liquids flow through the exchanger. The cube-shaped exchanger draws water through a core studded with tiny holes arranged in a gyroid configuration. Gyroids are part of a group of cellular designs that are constructed using triply periodic minimal surface geometries having non-self-intersecting and highly symmetrical periodic surfaces. The team chose to use a repeating gyroid architecture for their heat exchanger because the effectiveness of heat exchange is linked to its surface area – the larger the surface area, the more opportunity the fluids have to pass their thermal energy from one to the other. This means that objects with large surface areas can cool or heat fluids faster than those with more limited surface areas. Their microscale gyroid design, which they manufactured from a simple photopolymer using a sophisticated 3D printer, engineers a large surface area into a compact cube measuring 32.2mm on each side and weighing just eight grams. By drawing water through this dense maze, the researchers were able to demonstrate temperature changes of between 10 and 20ºC when water flowed through their heat exchanger at a rate of between 100 and 270 millimetres per minute. The team measured the heat transfer coefficient of their new exchanger– the measure of its effectiveness in transferring heat between the fluid and its surfaces – so they could determine how it performed against a series of differently-sized conventional heat exchangers made from materials including polymers and metals. They found that the effectiveness of their new heat exchanger was 50% more than a thermodynamically-equivalent, most-efficient, counter-flow heat exchanger even though their newly-developed prototype was only 10% of its size. The research was led by Dr Shanmugam Kumar from the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering, alongside colleagues from Swansea University and Khalifa University of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi. Dr Kumar said: “We’ve been working to find new applications for this type of microarchitected, 3D printed lattices for several years now. We have already demonstrated how they can be used for purposes including recyclable high-performance batteries and the development of future ‘smart’ medical devices like prosthetics and back braces. “This latest paper shows that we can use these gyroid lattice architectures to create a material with a remarkably large surface area to volume ratio which lends itself very well to heat exchange. “Being able to develop smaller, lighter, more efficient heat exchangers could help us develop refrigeration systems which require less power, for example, or high-performance engines which can be cooled more effectively. We’re keen to develop this technology further with future research.” The team’s paper, titled ‘High performance, microarchitected, compact heat exchanger enabled by 3D printing’, is published in Applied Thermal Engineering. The research was supported by funding from the to Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.

Laiye eliminates Intelligent Automation risks with first-of-its-kind business results guarantee

Global Intelligent Automation leader Laiye, serving 70% of the Top 10 global Fortune 500 companies, today announced a first-of-its-kind offer to ensure businesses make the leap to Intelligent Automation by committing to refunding 100% of the license cost if its solutions do not achieve the company’s business goals. In a first for the Intelligent Automation industry, Laiye has announced it will refund 100% of the value of its software license fees if business metrics are not achieved within an agreed time frame. Laiye will work with customers to determine the pre-agreed business metrics, which may include employee productivity, cost reduction, increased revenue, reduced error rates, improved customer Net Promoter Score (NPS), or better compliance and auditability. Laiye is the first Intelligent Automation and RPA provider to materially back its trust in the success of its products. No other automation company offers such a risk-free incentive to businesses looking to update their digital capabilities. “We have absolute confidence in our solution to not only tick off project milestones, but to also achieve the concrete business objectives our customers care most about,” said Ronen Lamdan, CEO of Laiye International. “This is not simply a question of ‘Did the implementation happen correctly?’ Rather, it is a question we have asked ourselves since the inception of Laiye: `Are we helping our customers achieve what they set out to do?’ Customer success is our guiding light, and we do not shy away from committing to the outcomes customers want.” In a leap forward from the status quo, Laiye has the confidence to go further by virtue of its 600,000- strong developer community and 600 partners, and from the fact that, while competitors struggle with integrating AI as an afterthought in their offerings, Laiye solutions include it natively from the start. Olivier Gomez, Co-Founder and CEO at Laiye’s implementation partner IAC, has said, “We don’t often see companies committing to actual business results like Laiye is doing. It’s refreshing to work with Laiye who truly values the impact of implementation on helping businesses transform and achieve the full potential of Intelligent Automation in a way that delivers the most impact to them.” Laiye is rolling out this initiative to two industries to start: e-commerce, including retail and CPG, and healthcare, industries in which it has strong history and expertise. Laiye has achieved sterling results for customers like AstraZeneca. The company is now radically expanding its offering with a roster of new capabilities coming in Spring 2022. Yanxia Lu, Associate Research Director at IDC said, “In a space as rapidly evolving as Intelligent Automation, risk is a given. Companies feel that they are likely to go through the same pains as with legacy RPA deployments. They need that extra assurance that their provider will help them achieve the ultimate business results they seek. Laiye is a gamechanger and their business guarantee is certain to make waves in the market.”

AmeraMex International Receives Orders Totaling $1.2 Million

AmeraMex International, Inc. (OTCQB: AMMX), a provider of heavy equipment for logistics companies, infrastructure construction and forestry conservation, announced that it has received equipment orders totaling $1.2 million. Year-to-date sales stand at $6.8 million. The first order consists of one refurbished Taylor THDC-955 Loaded Container Handler shipping to a customer in California. The second order is for a new Taylor XH360L, 36,000-pound capacity Forklift shipping to a lumber mill in Northern California. The third order is for a new Taylor XH650L 65,000-pound capacity Forklift shipping to a steel company in Northern California. The fourth and fifth orders are for two 48-foot trailers and five shipping containers shipping to two different construction companies. For more information and pricing of equipment for the logistics, construction, and forestry industries, or to book a demonstration of the Kovaco Electric’s 100 percent electric skid steer loaders, ASV Posti-Tract and Skid Steer Loaders or a Magni Telescopic Handler, contact the AmeraMex/Hamre Equipment sales team at 530.895.8955. AmeraMex CEO is hosting the Company’s year-ended December 31, 2021, conference call on March 31, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. Pacific. The conference call dial-in number for both U.S. and international callers is 1.201.689.8560. Please dial into the conference center five minutes before the call begins and ask the operator for the AmeraMex conference call. An audio replay of the call will be available from March 31, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time until April 14, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The replay is accessible by dialing 1.412.317.6671 and entering pin number 13727852.

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