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AmeraMex International Receives Orders Totaling $845,000
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AmeraMex International Receives Orders Totaling $1.1 Million
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AmeraMex International Receives Orders Totaling $547,000
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AmeraMex International Receives Orders Totaling $770,000
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 $770,000 which brings year-to-date sales up to $10.1million. The orders consisted of one Taylor XLC975 Loaded Container Handler shipping to a port in the Northwest and an ASV RT-120 with mulching head. The ASV is shipping to a West Coast customer. 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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.”
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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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Metal Additive Manufacturing Rebounds to Hit $18 Billion by 2032, Reports IDTechEx
Many wondered how the metal additive manufacturing industry would fare after the upheaval brought by COVID-19. The pandemic has significantly impacted a key target market for metal additive manufacturing - aviation. Additionally, global supply chain disruptions have led companies to re-evaluate their operations. Within this environment, how has metal additive manufacturing fared? In IDTechEx’s new report, "Metal Additive Manufacturing 2022-2032: Technology and Market Outlook", the metal 3D printing industry’s current state has been comprehensively analyzed. IDTechEx finds that after the short-term loss caused by COVID-19, the metal additive manufacturing market has recovered to hit $18.5 billion by 2032. With a CAGR of 18.8%, metal 3D printing is clearly a dynamic field. Finding the value-add use cases, from reducing the inventory of replacement parts to making complex production parts, is enabling wider adoption of metal AM across many key industries. Within this landscape, IDTechEx has identified several key trends influencing the metal AM market. Caption: Metal Additive Manufacturing Infographic. Source: IDTechEx Research: "Metal Additive Manufacturing 2022-2032: Technology and Market Outlook" - Lower-cost printers Printers for established technologies like laser powder bed fusion or electron beam melting often cost $300K-$500K, with many exceeding $1 million. The high investment needed to engage in metal 3D printing creates high barriers to entry for SMEs. To lower this barrier to adoption, several companies like Xact Metal and One Click Metal have focused on making printers more affordable with price tags less than $100K. - Expanding materials portfolio One factor limiting metal AM’s penetration is the limited size of available metals for AM. Not only are relatively few high-performance metals available for demanding applications, but the cost of metal powders often exceeds hundreds per kilo. To address this, materials start-ups are exploring high-performance metals like aluminum and alternative feedstock forms like pellets and slurries. - New entrants into binder jetting Two major players, ExOne and voxeljet, have dominated the binder jetting space since its commercialization. However, the promise that metal binder jetting offers for high volume metal part production is leading more companies to launch their own binder jetting printers. Notably, this includes established companies like GE, HP, and Desktop Metal. IDTechEx expects to see the binder jetting landscape become more competitive in the medium-term. - The global supply chain and localized manufacturing Skyrocketing shipping costs and worker shortages have contributed to disturbances in the global supply chain. This has renewed interest in localized manufacturing to mitigate risks when relying on global manufacturing. Within this environment, metal AM has received attention for facilitating localized manufacturing. - Continued innovation in printing processes Established printing technologies like DED or EBM have well-known limitations, like slow build speeds or poor resolution, which limit their adoption in certain applications. These limitations have inspired start-ups to create their own variations on established technologies or to commercialize alternative technologies. The IDTechEx report examines the metal AM technology landscape with benchmarking studies that identify the limitations and opportunities for technology development in metal AM. - Contract manufacturers founded on proprietary printing technologies The classic business model for 3D printing companies has been to manufacture and sell printers to customers. Several companies, mindful of issues with this strategy, have opted to use their proprietary printing technology exclusively for in-house part production. These contract manufacturers might bring new end-users to metal additive manufacturing by eliminating normal barriers for adoption, like high capital expenditure and the need for labor skilled in AM. - Market forecasts for Metal Additive Manufacturing The new IDTechEx report "Metal Additive Manufacturing 2022-2032: Technology and Market Outlook" 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 analyzes 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, 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
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AmeraMex International Announces Sales of Heavy Equipment Totaling Approximately $ 870,000
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 $870,000. This brings Y-T-D sales totaling $5.6million. The equipment is expected to ship before the end of the first quarter. The first order consists of one Taylor THDC-955 Loaded Container Handler. The Container Handler was on a three-month, lease-to-purchase program and the customer purchased out the lease. The second and third orders were also for Taylor THDC-955 Loaded Container Handlers. The Handlers just came off lease from a customer in Alaska. One of the Handlers is shipping to a customer in Washington State and the other to a customer in California. 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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AmeraMex International Reports Sales of Heavy Equipment Totaling Approximately $ 900,000
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 $901,000. This brings Y-T-D sales totaling $4.8 million. The equipment is expected to ship before the end of the first quarter. The first order consists of two Taylor TEC950 Loaded Container Handlers. The Container Handlers are shipping to a California-based dry port. The second order is for a Taylor TX550 Forklift with 55,000 pound capacity. The forklift is shipping to a manufacturing company in Utah. The third order is for a Hyster H210 that has been converted to a hay squeeze. The equipment is shipping to a California-based commercial farmer. The fourth order is for an ASV RT-135 Max F Series Forestry Compact Loader Walkaround. The final order is for a Taylor TEC-950L Loaded Container Handler shipping to Southern California. 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.
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AmeraMex International Announces Equipment Sales of Approximately $ 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 $1,139,000. This brings Y-T-D sales totaling $3.9 million. The refurbished equipment is expected to ship before the end of the first quarter. 1) The first order consists of three Taylor Forklifts, a TX250, TX300 and TX330. All three forklifts are shipping to a California-based sawmill company. 2) There were two different orders for two Taylor XEC207/8 Empty Container Handlers. One is shipping to Washington State and the other to California. 3) The fourth order is for a Hoist Side Pic shipping to a California-based customer. 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. 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. 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.
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Aquarius Spectrum Announces AQSense-Edge
Aquarius Spectrum, a leading provider of acoustic water leak detection solutions in municipal water distribution networks, has announced the launch of its new AQSense-Edge series of Cat-M/NB-IoT correlating sensors. AQSense-Edge represents the next generation in the company’s AQSense Fixed Sensors, a product range designed for continuous pipe monitoring. For over 12 years, Aquarius Spectrum has spearheaded development of innovative systems for the water industry, enabling water utilities to proactively monitor their water distribution network and pinpoint background leaks at an early stage before they surface. Consequently, Aquarius’ worldwide customers report significant reductions in NRW (Non-Revenue Water) and savings in their operational and maintenance costs. The new AQSense-Edge sensor is being heralded by the company as a true a game changer in the water leak detection market, thanks to its compact dimensions, ultra-long 10-year battery life, and superior accuracy powered by an improved correlating algorithm. The AQSense-Edge series supports all water supply pipe materials and diameters, distribution and transmission, and boasts the additional advantage of offering extensive coverage with fewer sensors – typically up to 3 sensors per 1 km of piping. Water leak detection by AQSense-Edge: Aquarius Spectrum's acoustic Cat-M/NB-IoT correlating sensors; Installations can be both aboveground and underground; Leak alerts are classified and presented on a unique dashboard Water leak detection by AQSense-Edge: Aquarius Spectrum's acoustic Cat-M/NB-IoT correlating sensors; Installations can be both aboveground and underground; Leak alerts are classified and presented on a unique dashboard Aquarius Spectrum’s new Cat-M/NB-IoT series includes 3 types of products suitable for different types of installations: AQSense-Edge (AG) - an accelerometer designed for aboveground installation on fire hydrants and other access points on metal and AC pipes up to 24”; AQSense-Edge (BG) - an accelerometer designed for belowground installation on fire hydrants or on valves inside a pit on metal or AC pipes up to 24”; and AQSense-Edge (Hyd) - a hydrophone sensor designed for PVC, PE and transmission (trunk main) lines, and installation on air release valves. Aquarius Spectrum’s innovative acoustic leak detection technology, protected by 21 patents, is distinguished by its combination of automatic correlation between each pair of sensors, and its sophisticated analysis engine that verifies the existence of the leak and pinpoints its exact location. Thanks to its latest AI and UI improvements, the system is now able to locate and present multiple leaks occurring between each pair of sensors and can provide operators with an estimation of their size and intensity. One of the largest water utilities in the US has already purchased and successfully implemented 150 AQSense-Edge units in a major city. 11 leaks were located and remedied in the first month of operation. In another US-based project, where the customer recently upgraded to the new AQSense-Edge sensors, more than 20 leaks were found and fixed, of which several leaks were simultaneously detected on the same section of pipe by only two sensors. According to Naama Zeldis, CEO of Aquarius Spectrum: “Aquarius is extremely proud to be at the forefront of technological innovation in the water industry for over 12 years, and today we are excited to be cooperating with leading water utilities in all five continents, driving forward our vision of digital water transformation. We bring superior solutions that address all types of water infrastructure. With a deployment of more than 10,000 acoustic sensors, we can declare with confidence that our solutions provide the most efficient and accurate results. We are delighted with the continued trust placed in us by our existing and new customers, both in the company and its cutting-edge line of acoustic water leak detection products, and we will continue to develop innovative solutions that provides customers with excellent ROI and customer experience."
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Verdant Robotics Delivers First Multi-Action Autonomous Farm Robot for Specialty Crops
To meet farmers’ demands for more sustainable and profitable growing practices, Verdant Robotics announced the expansion of its robot-as-a-service (RaaS) model to ensure access for more specialty crop farmers today. Founded in late 2018 by a leading roboticist, a software engineer, and a California farmer, Verdant has raised $21.5 million to develop the industry’s first multi-action, autonomous farm-robot capable of millimeter-accurate spraying, laser weeding, and AI-based digital crop modeling. Together with farming partners, Verdant uses these tools to deliver better outcomes: larger produce, greater yields and significant savings. Verdant has already contracted to service approximately 40% of the U.S. carrot market exclusively for the next five years and is currently scaling to meet the needs of the U.S. multi-billion-dollar fruit and vegetable industry. “Farmers told us not to give them more data, but to figure out what to do with the mountains of data they already have, or better yet just go do it,” said Gabe Sibley, PhD., co-founder and CEO, who brings more than 20 years of experience in geo-spatial computation and AI. “They want a complete solution that takes action in real-time and keeps farmers in control – all while improving profitability and automating dangerous, back-breaking field work.” - Sustainability, Profitability Driving Interest in Farm Robotics Investment into farm robotics as an enhancement to labor, profitability, and sustainability has been building for years. Agricultural robotic startups brought in $491 million in investment during the first half of 2021, a 40 percent increase over the same period in 2020, according to AgFunder, but to-date, actual on-farm robotics has mostly been on a trial basis. Following successful large-scale roll-out over the past 18 months, Verdant logged thousands of hours in 2021 and is already proven on multiple crops. “Today, Verdant machines are in the field all-day, every-day helping farmers achieve superhuman efficacy,” said Sibley. Combining multiple technologies, the company’s 6-row and 12-row commercial implements can treat up to 4.2 acres per hour, achieving a higher weed-removal rate per acre than other technology or human ability, and reducing chemical usage by up to 95 percent. Simultaneously, its autonomous software system collects data and uses machine learning capabilities to optimize yield and growing outcomes, ultimately unlocking new revenues to help farmers reach profitability and sustainability goals. “Verdant Robotics’ ability to digitize the farm enables precision technology at a level never before possible for specialty crops, removing the choice between environmental stewardship and profitability,” said Cannon Michael, a sixth-generation California farmer and CEO of Bowles Farming Company. “With the unique combination of automation and insight, farmers can collectively manage precious resources – like water – while maintaining or improving yields.” - RaaS Delivers AI, Robotics and Science to Farms of All Sizes, Faster Verdant’s computational robotic and autonomous software systems combine decades of advancements in scientific fields – including computer vision, artificial intelligence, robotics, GPS-denied navigation, chemistry, and soil and plant sciences – to achieve the next generation of crop production. “Verdant’s platform stands apart due to its integrated software and hardware that is applicable across a variety of high value crops,” said Steve Jurvetson, co-founder of Future Ventures and early investor into Verdant Robotics. “Drawing on expertise from Google X, NASA and several autonomous vehicle companies, the team has quickly delivered solid technology that ensures a growth path capable of addressing the global $8 trillion food and agriculture market and positions them well to meet the needs of farmers in adjacent markets and geographies.” “Together with their customers, Verdant is driving a shift in agriculture akin to the transformation we’ve seen in aerospace and automotive when computation is brought to bear,” Jurvetson added. Verdant leveraged investments from leading agriculture investors, including AgFunder, Autotech Ventures, Cavallo Ventures, DCVC Bio, and Future Ventures, among others. Building upon these investments, the company is expanding its platform with plans to commercialize a precision multi-action machine for orchards by 2023 – delivering another first for the specialty crop industry. Over the next several years, Verdant Robotics aims to deliver complete robotics solutions globally to help improve the quality, profitability and stewardship of important food crops and thereby feed growing populations more sustainably and nutritiously.
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Top 5 Robot Trends 2022 - International Federation of Robotice reports
The operational stock of industrial robots hit a new record of about 3 million units worldwide – increasing by 13% on average each year (2015-2020). The International Federation of Robotics analyzes the top 5 trends shaping robotics and automation around the globe. “Transformation for robotic automation is picking up speed across traditional and new industries,” says Milton Guerry, President of the International Federation of Robotics. “More and more companies are realizing the numerous advantages robotics provides for their businesses.” 1. Robots adopted by new industries: Segments that are relatively new to automation are rapidly adopting robots. Consumer behavior is driving companies to address demand for personalization of both products and delivery. The e-commerce revolution was driven by the pandemic and will continue to accelerate in 2022. There are thousands of robots installed worldwide today that did not exist in this segment just five years ago. In an effort to address labor shortages, companies that have not previously considered automation will reconsider. Businesses that rely on service workers, such as retail and restaurants, are unable to fill job openings, and as a result, we can expect to see them invest in automation to meet patrons’ needs. Relatively new robotics customer industries like delivery and logistics, construction, agriculture and many more benefit from technologies advancing by the day. 2. Robots easier to use: Implementing robots can be a complex task, but new generations of robots are easier to use. There is a clear trend towards user interfaces that allow simple icon-driven programming and the manual guidance of robots. Robot companies and some 3rd party suppliers are bundling hardware packages together with software to ease implementation. This trend may seem simple, but offerings that focus on complete ecosystems are adding tremendous value by reducing the effort and the time to operation. The trend for low-cost robotics also comes with easy setup and installation, with specific applications pre-configured in some instances. Suppliers offer standard programs combined with grippers, sensors, and controllers. App stores provide program routines for various applications and support lower-cost robot deployment. 3. Robots and Humans up-skilling: More and more governments, industry associations, and companies are seeing the need for basic robot and automation education at an early stage for the next generation. The journey of data-driven production lines will focus on education and training. In addition to the training of workers in-house, external education routes can enhance staff learning programs. Robot manufacturers like ABB, FANUC, KUKA, and YASKAWA all register between 10,000 and 30,000 participants in their robot classes across more than 30 countries every year. Robotics is changing job profiles of factory workers for the better. As the recent “Great Resignation” shows, people want to work in a modern environment where they can build a career. New training opportunities with robotics are a win-win strategy for companies and employees alike: Dull, dirty, and dangerous tasks get automated while people learn key skills for the industrial workplace of the future and increase their earning potential throughout their careers. 4. Robots secure production: Trade tensions and COVID-19 are driving manufacturing back closer to the customer. Supply-chain issues lead companies to consider nearshoring with automation as a solution. One particularly revealing statistic from the US shows how automation is helping businesses get back to business: According to the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), robot orders in the United States in the third quarter of 2021 were up 35% over the same period in 2020. More than half of the orders are from non-automotive sectors. And this record growth isn’t just robotics either—machine vision, motion control, and motors are also seeing big increases. “The pandemic and the resulting disruptions to supply chains and labor availability appear to have been the push that many needed to justify the investment,” says Dr. Susanne Bieller, General Secretary of the IFR. “The companies most likely to invest in automation are those that have been considering it for a while but just hadn’t taken the final step.” 5. Robots support digital automation: In 2022 and beyond, we see an emphasis on data as key enablers of future manufacturing. Data collected from intelligently automated processes will be analyzed by producers to make more informed decisions. With a robot’s ability to share tasks and learn through AI, companies can also adopt intelligent automation more easily in new environments, from construction to food and beverage packaging facilities to healthcare labs. AI for robotics is maturing and learning robots are becoming mainstream. The industry is past the pilot phase, and we can expect to see a larger deployment of these technologies in 2022.
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AmeraMex International Inks Orders Totaling Approximately $ 1.0 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 $1,065,000. The new orders consisted of the following equipment: • One Taylor TX330 Forklift • One Taylor TX330 Forklift • One Taylor TX250 Forklift • Three Taylor THDC955 Loaded Container Handlers The equipment, which expected to ship before the end of the first quarter, was purchased by five customers in California. For more information and pricing of logistics, construction, and forestry equipment or to receive information and arrange for a demonstration of the Kovaco Electric’s 100 percent electric skid steer loaders, the line of ASV Posti-Tract and Skid Steer Loaders or a Magni Telescopic Handler, contact the AmeraMex/Hamre Equipment sales team at 530.895.8955
