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Empire delivers creative, extremely durable, and superior quality graphic solutions

Empire Screen Printing, a leading manufacturer of screen printed products, highlights its graphics solutions for the food and beverage industry. For more than three decades, the most trusted consumer food and beverage brands and the equipment manufacturers that support them have relied on Empire Screen Printing for creative, durable, and superior quality graphic solutions that enhance and protect their brand image.

2021 08 09 093107Empire closely collaborates with customers to design and engineer unique and beautiful graphics. For example, the Monarch Public House, Wisconsin’s oldest operating tavern, turned to Empire to design labels with the distinct vintage look of the Fountain City Brewing Company that operated on Monarch’s site from 1856 to 1965. The artists at Empire used a combination of hand-drawing and scanning to replicate century-old images into print-ready digital artwork incorporating required revisions to meet government regulations and incorporate barcodes. The finished products are faithful reproductions of the original look and feel, updated for use with modern printing, brewing, promotion, and advertising processes.

Food and beverage equipment manufacturers also turn to Empire for graphical solutions that visually stand out and reliably stand up to the harsh conditions of everyday use. Materials and printing processes are selected to withstand the high temperatures and harsh cleaning solutions in food service applications, and for outdoor applications, crystal-line doming provides protection from UV light and from dents and abrasions.

Empire has an assortment of in-house stock materials and adhesives that can be combined to meet most customers’ requirements. When presented with a new material combination, Empire's R&D process performs vigorous testing to ensure durability, ink adhesion, and product performance meet the customer's desired needs. In addition, Empire’s large library of custom color builds are stored using their QColor Color Management System providing consistent spot color reproduction from run to run and from part to part. 

For more information on Empire Screen Printing’s technology for the food and beverage industry, visit www.empirescreen.com.

About Empire Screen Printing

Empire is a family-owned, award-winning business that prides itself on using environmentally-friendly print methods. A full-service company in OEM and POP markets, Empire produces overlays, vinyl decals, crystal-line domes, nameplates, magnets, and roll labels, using UV LED and UV screening, digital, and flexographic printing.

For more information, visit www.empirescreen.com

Colombia needs to pursue a much more aggressive oil exploration strategy in order to avoid highly contested fracking activities or an increase in gas prices as a result of importing, according to GlobalData. The leading data and analytics company notes that the country has seen no large discoveries in the last five years, and its crude oil and natural gas output is projected to decline by more than 282,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) in the next five years. This amount is enough to provide electricity for more than 130,000 homes during a whole year.

2017 04 20 114457Svetlana Doh, Upstream Oil & Gas Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Colombia is about to see a major deficit in oil that will make the sore topic of fracking more pressing. The country’s shale resources have huge potential, likely exceeding conventional reserves by far. If no discoveries are found soon, people will face the very real decision between a rise in oil prices and protecting the environment.”

There is currently only one announced project in Colombia, which is expected to come online by 2024.

Doh continues: “The Aruchara project is ongoing but its peak production rate is less than 2,000 barrels per day (bd), which is just 0.7% of the production required to keep Colombia’s overall oil and gas supply constant. There are also 90 discoveries that haven’t yet been moved to full development, but the size of the discovered accumulations is not significant and none of them have proved commerciality. Significant and urgent investment in exploration is needed to revive the industry.”

Colombia is estimated to possess significant unconventional resources. At full development, these could help to mitigate the steep decline of mature fields. Indeed, by some estimates, prospective unconventional reserves are two to five times higher than the country’s conventional reserves. However, horizontal drilling and fracking has been an arguable topic in Colombia, and many activist organizations speak strongly against it due to its risk in harming environment and health consequences. In 2018, the Colombian State Council (CdE) introduced a moratorium on any commercial development of shale resources in the country. Currently, only investigative pilot projects (PPIIs) are allowed, and just for the purpose of collecting information on project feasibility and potential damage to environment. In other words, no real development is yet occurring for recovering this resource.

Further, there are currently two lawsuits filed against commercial horizontal drilling and fracking, with another lawsuit filed in July 2020 and specifically targeting PPII guidelines. The government still needs to figure out how to address this opposition and move forward with unconventional drilling.

Doh adds: “All these events are more relevant when considering that Colombia is facing a steeply declining production from natural gas fields, which is forecasted to drop by more than 53% from 1,170 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) in 2020 to less than 540mmcfd in 2025. Natural gas is the second largest energy source in Colombia. In case no new gas sources are found, the country will have to boost its gas import, which could subsequently raise end user gas prices by more than 50%. Indeed, for Colombia to maintain its energy security in future, a more aggressive exploration program is needed in the frontier areas, like offshore fields and unconventional drilling.”

About GlobalData

4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors.

Friday, 06 August 2021 15:30

Smart panels, smart energy

~ Electrical panel connectivity for renewable generation ~

According to industry experts, Spain will hit 68 per cent renewable power generation by 2030. Here, Juan Montecelo, sales director of WEG Autrial, explains why electric panel connectivity in renewable power plants will play an important role in achieving this. Through a medley of software, sensors and controllers, bespoke panel design will ensure Spain has the correct technological foundation to reach its environmental goals.

The experts, namely Acciona, a Spanish conglomerate group dedicated to the development of renewable energy infrastructure, acknowledges the impending challenges of clean energy.  In the Flexibility Solutions for High-Renewable Energy Systems report, José Manuel Entrecenales, chairman and CEO of Acciona, stated, “the question is no longer whether clean technologies are going to be the cornerstone of the future energy system, but rather which flexibility options will back them, and how to address the operational and market challenges that will arise.”

Running alongside Spain’s sustainability mission is the nation’s aim to become industrial leaders in Europe. Connected Industry 4.0 (CI 4.0) was announced in 2014, an initiative to digitise and enhance Spain’s industrial sector. Since the announcement, the European Commission (EC) has allocated significant resources — with €97.5 million allocated to connected industry projects, €68 million set aside for IT companies and €10 million for innovative start-ups.

For the energy sector, technology investment is equally valuable. Increased connectivity in renewable power plants is proving vital to success, as evidenced by the more complex and connected panel design found in solar, wind and hydroelectric power plants. While cost has been, and will continue to be, a huge consideration, the increasing intricacy of the panels being manufactured for renewable generation over the last five years demonstrates there is more to the decision-making processes than cost alone.

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The additional requirements come down to the volatile and unpredictable nature of renewable energy resources. The industry has seen a shift from isolated, static panel design for fossil fuels, to connected panels that communicate with the rest of the installations in the facility, using software such as Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and sensors.

Where renewables are concerned, increased insight is not a luxury. Due to the volatile nature of renewables, constant monitoring of power generation is essential. Without it, operators risk overloading the grid and causing power outages.

Consider a wind farm as an example. Intelligent software could use historical data to estimate how often the farm will generate power consistently. While making completely accurate predictions is almost impossible — improved panel connectivity is enabling operators to monitor generation in real-time, allowing them to respond when energy output drops and keep power outages to a minimum.

This real-time connectivity will prove even more crucial as more of Spain’s consumption switches to renewable energy. If forecasts are correct and Spain reaches 68 per cent renewable generation by 2030, it will be a plant’s ability to respond to renewable volatility in real-time, that will be imperative to its success.

With smarter energy operations, Spain has an opportunity to implement dynamic panel design and reap the connectivity benefits of a smart grid. As renewable energy continues to increase, the call for increased flexibility in panel design will too.

Autrial offers this dynamism, with its complete offering of panel installation materials, such as pipe, fittings and junction boxes, alongside electronic parts including circuit breakers, digital controls and programmable controllers. To discuss your requirements for bespoke panel design, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

About WEG: Founded in 1961, WEG is a global manufacturer of electrical and mechanical equipment for industrial sectors across all continents. With manufacturing units in 12 countries and present in more than 135 countries, the company has more than 33,000 employees worldwide with net revenue of over R$17.47 billion in 2020.
Offering energy efficient solutions across all sectors including water, steel, pulp and paper, oil and gas, mining, among many others, WEG is constantly developing solutions to meet the major trends in energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainability and electric mobility.  For more information, visit www.weg.net

A new scientific article outlines how to undertake the much needed expansion and modernization of Africa’s electricity sector. The article highlights the crucial role that international partnerships such as the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative have to play in achieving this goal.

To meet the development needs of a growing population, Africa’s electricity sector requires a major transformation.

Despite important changes over the past decade, efforts to expand and modernize the sector need to be redoubled. Indeed, current electrification rates, generation-capacity levels, and security-of-supply indicators underscore that much is yet to be accomplished.

2021 08 05 151415New research, published today in Science, identifies five sets of complementary actions to put Africa’s electricity sector on track to sharply increase electrification rates and secure long-term access to affordable and cleaner energy.

"Africa’s development needs are as diverse as the countries on the continent. Yet, none of those needs will be met unless a reliable supply of affordable electricity, generated through clean fuels, is available to all. In this article, we describe five no-regrets actions to transform Africa’s electricity sector," says lead author Daniel Puig, who works for the Technical University of Denmark (DTU)’s Department of Technology, Management and Economics. He is a senior advisor at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) DTU Partnership.

These are the five recommendations made in the article:

  • Introduction of a combination of supply-side incentives and demand-side subsidies, to help expand electricity markets.
  • Digitalization of energy sector planning and management tools to help deliver energy at the right time, in the right place, at the lowest cost.
  • Integration of local content requirements in renewable energy policies, to capture employment benefits, and ensure that state-of-the-art technologies are fully adopted by African countries.
  • Strengthening and expansion of regional power pools through African-led international partnerships to expand electricity access and reduce electricity bills.
  • Expansion of investments in off-grid and interconnected clean-energy mini-grids to account for the different socioeconomic realities across urban, peri-urban, and rural areas.

"All countries struggle to meet three goals: security of reliable and affordable energy supplies, universal access to modern forms of energy, and reduction of polluting emissions. Africa’s development challenges magnify the task of achieving these goals. What’s important to remember, for African and all other countries alike, is that these three goals cannot be achieved in isolation from one another," says Magda Moner-Girona of the European Commission Joint Research Centre.

An essential Sustainable Development Goal

Achieving universal access to clean and affordable energy, as outlined in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, is a pre-condition for reaching most of the other 16 SDGs. Access to energy positively effects everything from health, the fight against poverty, pollution, opportunities for education, and climate action.

"Investment in, and integration of, clean energy across Africa can enable the full suite of SDGs and make the energy future of the continent one that facilitates equity and climate justice. But there is a need for international support and partnerships to ensure funding and investment in the information systems required to make this happen," says Daniel M. Kammen, James and Katherine Lau Distinguished Professor of Sustainability, and Chair of the Energy and Resources Group at the University of California, Berkeley.

Even though rural electrification has seen significant progress, at least 250 million people in Africa still live without electricity. Because of the COVID-19 global pandemic, an additional 80 million people on the continent have fallen into extreme poverty.

"Africa's electricity sector has to undergo a profound transformation, with the twin objective of addressing electricity access and security of supply in ways that are compatible with a healthy climate. In this paper, we offer some concrete suggestions for policies that can get us there," says Yacob Mulugetta, professor of Energy and Development Policy at University College London.

An independent champion

The article notes the difficulties associated with achieving an endeavor of such magnitude. Power, agency, and politics play out in ways that are not necessarily conducive to meeting key societal goals related to environmental quality, employment, and equity. Specifically, the article lists incumbents in the energy sector resisting change, information asymmetries among different stakeholders invariably punishing prospective new entrants in the energy sector, and priorities and procedures on the part of bilateral and multilateral lenders that are unduly rigid.

The authors conclude that an independent entity is needed to champion a transformative expansion and modernization process for the African electricity sector – a process that is not captured by short-term agendas or the interests of any one stakeholder group.

"The time is right. Earlier this year, the African Single Electricity Market was launched. We need to capitalize on the opportunities it offers to leapfrog to an electricity sector for the future. Africa has the energy endowment to do so, and the technologies are there. Therefore, as we write in the article, leadership has to be up to the mark,” says Yohannes Hailu, a United Nations Economic Commission for Africa’s Energy Policy Expert and Economic Affairs Officer, and one of the co-authors of the manuscript.

The stakes are high, because electricity has spillover effects to the entire economy – from a macro-economic point of view, but also, and especially, from the point of view of the livelihoods of the poorest communities in the continent.

"Energy, and especially electricity, is central to human development. The tragic COVID-19 global health pandemic, which is pushing many in Africa into extreme poverty, is magnifying the impact that electricity access has on livelihoods. The paper puts forward an urgent action agenda for Africa’s electricity sector to accelerate access to electricity using cleaner fuels," says IIASA Emeritus Scholar Nebojša Nakićenović.  Nakićenović is a former IIASA Deputy Director General, and a former professor of energy economics at the Technical University of Vienna. He is currently Director of the “The World in 2050” initiative.

Contacts:

Researcher contact

Nebojša Nakićenović
Emeritus Research Scholar
Transformative Institutional and Social Solutions Research Group
Integrated Assessment and Climate Change Research Group

Energy, Climate, and Environment Program

Tel: +43 2236 807 411

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About IIASA:

The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) is an international scientific institute that conducts research into the critical issues of global environmental, economic, technological, and social change that we face in the twenty-first century. Our findings provide valuable options to policymakers to shape the future of our changing world. IIASA is independent and funded by prestigious research funding agencies in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. www.iiasa.ac.at

Brammer Buck & Hickman, a Rubix company and the UK’s leading supplier of industrial maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) products and services, has announced the opening of a new East Midlands Hub, formed from the merger of its Nottingham and Leicester branches in to a larger, single, more accessible location.

The new East Midlands Hub, adjacent to East Midlands Airport, is considerably larger than either of the previous branches, enabling a wider range of stock to be held on site for instant customer access and choice.  The location of the new premises - Unit 440 Air Cargo Centre, Argosy Road, East Midlands Airport, DE74 25A - is also beneficial, with easy access straight on to the M1, M42, A6 and A42 for maximum customer convenience.

One thing that won’t be changing though, is the staff!  All the staff – including all the sales teams and delivery and vending drivers - from both the Nottingham and Leicester branches will continue to serve customers in the same helpful, efficient and friendly manner as before.

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Customers can continue to use all the same contact details as before, although a new telephone number, 01332 300825, is in operation, along with a new email address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  Existing numbers and emails will be redirected and will continue to work.

“We are delighted to be able to better serve customers across the East Midlands, including the busy Nottingham and Leicester branches, with this new hub” comments Geoff Cox, Area Director, Rubix UK.  “It enables us to provide our customers across the East Midlands region with an improved single source service.  I’d like to thank all our colleagues who have worked so hard to make this move happen.  We are open for business now and, when it’s safe to do so, we will be celebrating with an open day for customers to get a tour of the new site and facilities. We are very much looking forward to seeing them.”

Brammer Buck & Hickman is a Rubix company, Europe’s largest supplier of industrial MRO products and services. For information on Rubix in the UK visit https://uk.rubix.com/

About Brammer Buck & Hickman 

Brammer Buck & Hickman is the UK’s leading technical specialist distributor of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) products, as well as supplying multiple value-added services.  Branches across the breadth of the UK provide customers with quick and easy access to more than 5 million products, from bearings, power transmission and fluid power through to tools and health & safety products.  This extensive product portfolio is underpinned by specialist engineering services as well as condition monitoring.  At the heart of Brammer Buck & Hickman’s service is a commitment to providing customers with cost savings through: 

• reducing total acquisition costs 

• improving production efficiency  

• reducing working capital.  

Brammer Buck & Hickman is part of the Rubix group, Europe’s largest supplier of industrial MRO products and services. 

The speed at which new rigs are put to new developments is considerably less than in previous price cycles. Most US shale producers are being conservative in their production and capital guidance, as priorities remain around protecting balance sheets and generating free cash flow. For many operators, this has led to a drawdown of drilled but uncompleted (DUC) inventory wells in the past six months, to reduce capital expenditure while maintaining production levels, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Steven Ho, Upstream Oil & Gas Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Uncertainty around the pace of economic recovery in some regions due to the Delta variant, and OPEC+’s decision to gradually increase output throughout 2021, is expected to restrict oil price. However, at least a third of US unconventional production is protected against a drop in price due to producers hedging strategies that are in place for the remainder of 2021. At the same time, this means that some operators are not able to benefit whenever there is a higher-than-expected spot price, as their hedging effectively puts a cap on the maximum price they can fetch.”

US domestic production is currently averaging around 11,000 mbd, accounting for at least 74% of the input into refineries. Net import volume remains relatively stable, averaging at 2,900 mbd in 2021 compared to 2,800 mbd in 2020, but remain lower than the pre-pandemic level of 3,850 mbd in 2019. This is mainly due to a build-up of petroleum products stock inventory that has been used to meet some of the increase in demand.

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Ho continues: “All in all, the demand for crude oil has been steadily growing during 2021, signalling the recovery of the US economy. The vaccination efforts have definitely translated into a higher traveling activity in the US, as gasoline has been the main driver in oil demand. Over the past six months, supply for gasoline is a little over 8,700 mbd, representing a growth of 7% over the average of 8,100 mbd in 2020. Nonetheless, there is still uncertainty on the pace of the oil demand recovery and on the stability of oil price.”

Throughout the pandemic, US shale producers have behaved rather conservatively with respect to production levels and, more importantly, they have not reacted too quickly to the increase in oil price. Operators are utilizing their DUCs inventory to maintain production level, as well as protecting capital spending as their preferred strategy. As a result, the number of rigs in operation has not reacted as strongly to the price rally, as in other past instances of a price recovery. Shale producers also recognize the volatility in the oil and gas market and are encouraged by investors to hedge their production. This will protect them against a downside risk, while also capping the maximum price at which they sell their production.

Ho adds: “US shale appears to be finding a way to remain resilient and prepared for whenever oil demand requires more crude oil from unconventional developments. Operators will now need to assume a lower price scenario and favor operating in a cost-efficient manner. They also must address concerns around sustaining the generation of free cash flow, keep implementing optimal hedging strategies, reduce debt levels, as well as meeting their carbon reduction targets. Moreover, there is an expectation for increased consolidation across the shale sector where bigger companies can acquire smaller operators, which now are generally healthier in their balance sheet, and can increase the competitiveness of larger companies.”

About GlobalData

4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors.

IDTechEx have recently launched “Electrically Conductive Adhesives (ECAs) 2022-2032”, a market research report detailing the technology of ECAs, a form of conductive joining technology. Electrically conductive adhesives (ECAs) are a growing competitor to lead-free solders and silver sintering technologies, and currently see use in several electronics applications, such as automotive electronics, consumer electronics, and display applications.

Electrically conductive adhesives “ECAs”, as covered in the new IDTechEx report, are formed from a conductive filler material and a structural resin material. The conductive filler, typically a metal powder, creates a conductive bridge across a join. Meanwhile, the structural polymer resin holds the join together, and the filler particles in place. This new report identifies common filler materials choices, including silver, nickel, and gold, and discusses the merits of each for use in ECAs. Additionally, common polymer resin materials, including epoxy, silicone, and acrylics, are also highlighted in this report.

In addition to these traditional ECAs, IDTechEx has identified several critical developments in ECA production, new products and technologies which may grow to transform the market.

An example of one of the key benefits of ECAs is the low processing temperature; much lower than alternative choices, such as solders. This allows ECAs to be used with a wider range of substrate materials, including temperate-sensitive polymer substrates. This makes ECAs a good choice of conductive joining technology for flexible elections applications. However, ECAs are not without their drawbacks. A key disadvantage is the high cost of raw materials required. This has impeded their widespread adoption in several applications - when other joining techniques can be used with the same effect, ECAs benefits may not outweigh the cost.

Key application areas for ECAs are divided into current technologies, which provide very large markets for this technology, and emerging technologies, which have smaller markets, but a lot more potential for growth. Examples of existing application sectors are in automotive and consumer electronics, as well as RFID and display applications. Examples of more emerging technologies which present great opportunities for ECAs are flexible, printed, and wearable electronics. Currently, ECAs may find use in products anywhere in our daily lives, from computer screens to phone circuit boards, and in the future, this may grow to encompass solar cells and even our clothes through wearable technologies.

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IDTechEx has forecast the Global ECA market value, divided by application, between 2022 and 2032. The figure above shows a section of this forecast. Source: IDTechEx “Electrically Conductive Adhesives (ECAs) 2022-2032

The report also breaks down the implementation process for ECAs into its key stages and discusses the main considerations for each stage, such as different application techniques, and the importance of thermally curing an adhesive.

Electrically Conductive Adhesives (ECAs) 2022-2032” contains key insights and commercial outlooks for ECAs, built upon primary interviews and product analysis. The report considers both isotropically conductive adhesives (ICAs) and anisotropically conductive adhesives (ACAs), analyzing them from both a technical and commercial point of view. The potential application areas for each type of adhesive are considered independently, as well as the difference in growth potentials, and future projections for these technologies.

This new IDTechEx report provides a comprehensive overview of the electrically conductive adhesive industry, including insight obtained from primary interviews with industry players, and analysis of commercially available ECA products. 10-year, granular, market forecasts are given for each application area, broken down both by application, and by the type of adhesives used.

With the potential to impact a wide range of emerging industries, ECAs could become a critical technology in the future, and preparation for their more widespread adoption may be key.

To find about more about ECAs, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/ECA, or for the full portfolio of research available from IDTechEx please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Research.

About IDTechEx

IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Subscription and Consultancy products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.IDTechEx.com.

Inspec Solutions, the innovative control and software systems integrator based in Sheffield, has implemented a cutting edge Industry 4.0 digital production and plant level data gathering and analytic system for leading global rail fastening manufacturer Pandrol.

Pandrol’s forward thinking and ambitious brief to Inspec Solutions was for an integrated Management Information System, utilising Inspec’s AMV I4.0 engine to visualise production line performance to support operational improvements at its manufacturing sites in 11 countries across the world, encompassing up to 80 production lines and real time data gathering from multiple discrete assets.

The centralised, site wide IoT data gateways capture information from the production cells, providing an analytical view of the performance of all sites and lines via a clear and concise web based portal.

The system is now live for sites in the UK, France, the US and Australia, with the rollout imminent to China, Brazil & India, on the way to a full global deployment.

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The secure web platform provides engineers and management Teams real time monitoring of the production performance whilst allowing the ability to drill down into each sites production lines and manufacturing cells, providing detailed efficiency and production reports, alarms and downtime analysis. 

From factory-floor to boardroom, Pandrol engineers and management have real time access to all data for the key production lines through dashboards, on wall displays, on mobile or desktop devices, providing analytical access to a range of key indicators including escalation of stoppage notifications, stop code maintenance logs and production performance. Aggregated data displays on a global level, with an overview of all connected sites support data comparison, allowing maintenance teams to share knowledge and learnings, increasing throughput, and reducing costly downtime locally and across all manufacturing sites. As the rollout continues across all assets globally the view into the company’s operations and its power for transformation will increase.

Mike Smart, Principal Software Engineer at Inspec Solutions, said “Our AMV solution for Pandrol provides major production efficiencies, as downtime and stoppages can be tracked against key performance indicators.  It provides a complete insight into how specific lines within a plant are operating, across any facility wherever it is located, enabling knowledge transfer and improving global efficiency.”

Mike added: “Improved functionality means the Pandrol management team can identify any weaknesses that could contribute to plant downtime and pro-actively address the issues.  Data can be accessed anywhere in the world, providing essential information from the shop floor to the boardroom.”

“The management team at Pandrol had the vision of creating an Industry 4.0 platform capable of remotely tracking production. With AMV, we were able to help them realise the vision. It will allow them to make a step change in efficiency and safety.”

Martin Somerset, Engineering Manager at Pandrol said: “The system from Inspec Solutions has advanced functionality and is contributing to our operational efficiency, whilst reducing maintenance costs and increasing throughput.  As an Industry 4.0 global operations system, it is an invaluable tool to people at all levels in our business and is future-proofed against our wider scope of needs.”

During the last 20 years, Inspec Solutions has been developing complex technology, control and safety systems for industries including energy, upstream & downstream oil & gas, metals, national infrastructure, manufacturing and food & beverage.

To find out more about Industry 4.0 systems and Control & Safety System capabilities from Inspec Solutions, visit: www.inspecsolutions.co.uk or call: +44 (0)114 299 8808.

Despite being a net exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), Southeast Asia is set to increasingly rely on imported LNG through 2030 to meet the growing demand and support the waning domestic supplies, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.   

Southeast Asia represents a key growth region for natural gas over the next decade as populations and economies continue to grow and several countries look to gas for meeting the ever-growing power demand. Despite the region being a net exporter of gas supported mainly by major gas producers Malaysia and Indonesia, strong demand growth could outpace the regional supply by the end of the decade. 

Daniel Rogers, Senior Oil and Gas Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “In the gas and LNG outlook for the region, both Thailand and the Philippines’ gas supply-demand gaps are expected to widen as steady demand growth is met by the declining domestic supply. Both countries will look to the LNG market to fill the gap where domestic production or pipeline imports are unable to, through additional LNG regasification capacity. There is over 3 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of regasification capacity in the pipeline, approximately 2 tcf of planned and 1 tcf of announced capacity across these two countries that could be online by 2030, this compares to just 0.5 tcf of capacity currently active.”  

In 2020, Thailand and Singapore imported record LNG volumes, and Myanmar imported its first ever LNG cargo despite the pandemic. In Thailand, LNG imports are likely to become increasingly important for the country as both domestic supply and imports from Myanmar face natural decline while the demand growth from these two countries continues to rise. Even till 2030, Singapore is expected to remain heavily dependent upon gas as it represents almost all the country’s power generation. Singapore’s LNG imports jumped 20% last year and with the piped gas supply contracts expiring over the near term, LNG imports will be vital for supporting a gas hungry power mix. 

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Mr Rogers concludes: “On the supply side, Malaysia and Indonesia have a project pipeline that will help boost production over the near term and just under 4 mtpa of increased LNG liquefaction capacity in Indonesia will increasingly be used to supply its domestic market. However, Brunei, Vietnam and Myanmar risk facing domestic supply declines over the forecast period unless they can progress their currently challenged, undeveloped gas projects. Progress of such projects will be pivotal for their supply outlooks.  

“LNG exporters will be watching South East Asia closely as new entrants to the LNG import market emerge and a build out of regasification capacity will provide opportunity in the form of new buyers and more volumes directed to the region.”  

  • Quotes provided by Daniel Rogers, Senior Oil and Gas Analyst at GlobalData
  • This press release was written using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research, and in-house analysis conducted by GlobalData’s team of industry experts

About GlobalData

4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors. 

Thursday, 05 August 2021 10:35

The next step to carbon neutrality

~ How automation software is crucial in driving down carbon emissions ~

According to a new Carbon Brief analysis, the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 were 51 per cent below 1990 levels, largely down to the country’s COVID slowdown. The figures mean the UK is now halfway to meeting its target of net-zero emissions by 2050. However, emissions are likely to rebound as the economy recovers. Here, Garry Forfar, Energy & Infrastructure Sales Manager at automation software supplier COPA-DATA UK, explains the role industrial software can play in achieving the net-zero target.

The driving force behind these efforts to reduce emissions are often corporate and social responsibility, rather than government mandated targets. More companies are making the switch to renewable energy and subsequently promoting their green initiatives at a corporate level, influencing others to act in the same way. For example, Brewdog has become the first carbon neutral brewery and has inspired other breweries to look for ways to reduce their carbon footprint.

Corporate initiatives or government mandate aside, businesses have a key role to play in the green transition.

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Energy data management systems (EDMS)
Most companies have already taken small steps to reduce energy usage. Many have changed assets such as light bulbs to LEDs and soft starters to variable speed drives (VSDs), which is now considered as fixing the basics. Most sites even have power meters measuring power consumption throughout their facility, although these are rarely connected and are often overlooked.

The next step is to install software to connect to these existing energy meters. This brings all energy consumption data into one place, allowing for accurate monitoring and reporting of a company’s energy usage.

For example, COPA-DATA’s zenon automation software allows for the implementation of an EDMS, ensuring companies fully understand energy usage to reduce their carbon footprint. Companies can then actively update energy usage practices to improve efficiency, by digitalising data and providing practical evidence of energy usage, from environmental impacts to money spent.

Energy independence to reduce footprint
Microgeneration is becoming an increasingly common method for manufacturers to independently manage energy usage and costs.
A microgrid, or a small-scale energy generation site, can include solar panels, small scale wind turbines and combined heat and power installations to generate heat and electricity. Unlike large renewable plants, a microgrid can consist of just one wind turbine or a small number of solar panels. Typically, these are designed to produce just enough energy to power the business in question, or a group of businesses in proximity.

These hold huge potential to lower electricity prices for businesses. In fact, microgrids are estimated to save between 21 and 30 per cent on total energy costs, with onshore wind being the cheapest form of electricity generation.

In addition, they also offer the opportunity to deploy more zero-emission electricity sources, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Using an advanced EDMS, like zenon, is essential for companies. It can help to balance generation from non-controllable renewable power sources — such as solar — with distributed, controllable generation like natural gas-fuelled combustion turbines.
For instance, zenon can help with load shedding ― the distribution of demand for electrical power across multiple power sources ― when needed to keep demand in line with targets. Alternatively, the software can help bring in power from non-renewable sources if load shedding is not an option.

After all, not monitoring every kilowatt hour (kWh) used, and not turning off supplies when no longer required, makes it impossible to take full advantage of a microgrid. And although microgrids are a heavy investment into energy technology, there are straightforward routes manufacturers can take to help reduce their carbon emissions.

One way is for manufacturers to use software, like zenon, ensuring the monitoring of energy usage is achieved affordably. This easier and more cost-effective route can help to reduce carbon footprint, assisting the UK to reach its net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050 ― or even sooner.

About COPA-DATA
COPA-DATA is the manufacturer of the zenon® software platform, used in the manufacturing and energy industries for the automated control, monitoring, and optimization of machines, equipment, and power supplies. Founded by Thomas Punzenberger in 1987 and headquartered in Salzburg, Austria, the independent, family-owned company employs approximately 285 workers around the globe. The distribution of software on an international scale is made possible through the company’s eleven subsidiaries and numerous distributors. In addition, more than 270 certified partner companies ensure efficient software implementation for end users in the food & beverage, energy & infrastructure, automotive, and pharmaceutical industries. In 2019, COPA-DATA generated turnover of EUR 51 million.

About zenon
zenon is a software platform from COPA-DATA for manufacturing and the energy industry. Machines and equipment are controlled, monitored and optimized. zenon’s particular strength is open and reliable communication in heterogeneous production facilities. Open interfaces and over 300 native drivers and communication protocols support the horizontal and vertical integration. This allows for continuous implementation of the Industrial IoT and the Smart Factory. Projects with zenon are highly scalable.

zenon is ergonomic, both for the engineer and for the end user. The engineering environment is flexible and can be used for a wide range of applications. The principle of “setting parameters instead of programming” helps engineers to configure projects quickly and without errors. Complex functions for comprehensive projects are supplied out-of-the-box to create intuitive and robust applications. Users can thereby contribute to increased flexibility and efficiency with zenon.