Innodisk, a global leader in industrial-grade storage and embedded peripherals is proud to announce its solution to issues faced by Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) applications relating to, and caused by the shortcomings of consumer DRAM

With the recent launch of Innodisk AI, which provides a complete AI solution for industrial integrators, DDR5 series DRAM plays a key role for a variety of applications, including Automated Optical Inspection solutions. With the rise in demand for semiconductors, and the trend towards smaller and smaller processes, the need for automatic systems to detect semiconductor production defects has grown significantly. AOI systems are now used at every step of the semiconductor manufacturing process, and their stability is paramount to production efficiency.

Modern AOI systems face three core issues that Innodisk’s DDR5 RDIMM (registered memory) help to solve: memory bandwidth, accuracy, and high temperatures.

Memory Bandwidth
Due to the high memory bandwidth needed for training models, AOI systems often struggle when lower capacity modules are used. Innodisk’s DDR5 RDIMM solves this issue with large capacities, including 32GB and 64GB modules.

Accuracy
Due to semiconductor processes going down to the nanometer level, the resolution requirement and accuracy requirements for AOI systems has increased. Innodisk’s DDR5 RDIMM features a new dual 40-bit sub-channel architecture, and supports rigorous side-band ECC, which can handle AOI’s high-accuracy detection demands.

High Temperatures
The high-speed and high-precision inspection that AOI systems provide generates high amounts of heat at the DRAM level, and this can cause overall system temperatures to rise sharply. Innodisk’s DDR5 RDIMM solves these heat concerns via a two-pronged strategy, involving an integration of both hardware and software. Two thermal sensors on the modules detect ambient temperatures, and two software tools: iCAP (Innodisk Cloud Administration Platform), and iSMART monitor temperatures and send warning messages.

Although memory technology is constantly being updated, Innodisk’s observation of the industry's current situation shows that customers' demands for new technologies vary greatly. Therefore, Innodisk not only provides the most complete industrial-grade DDR5 and DDR4 products, but also legacy products such as DDR3, DDR2, DDR and SDRAM. These memory modules will continue to be supplied with stable pricing, original IC, and the same great longevity support as all Innodisk products.

Delta, a global leading provider of power and thermal management solutions, today announced it has been selected for the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) World Index for the 12th consecutive year, not only scoring the highest overall performance in the global electronic equipment industry for the 7th year and the fifth year in a row, but also with the 100th percentile for the environmental and social dimensions of the industry.

Moreover, the 2022 DJSI, an indicator of global corporate competitiveness, determined perfect scores for Delta in the four indicators of innovation management, environmental reporting, social reporting, and human capital development, while scoring 100th percentile in the eight indicators of supply chain management, information security / cybersecurity and system availability, product stewardship, climate strategy, biodiversity, talent attraction and retention, human rights, and privacy protection in the global electronic equipment industry. The industry-leading scores reflect Delta's commitment to innovation and R&D, enhancement in resource utilization efficiency, and product sustainability, as well as its strategic focus on supply chain management, talent cultivation, information security and privacy, as well as environmental, social, and economic development.

Jesse Chou, Delta’s Chief Sustainability Officer, said, “The industry-leading ESG performance scores given to Delta by DSJI further cement our status as a world-class corporate citizen with a long-term strategic focus on energy conservation and carbon reduction. We have achieved our science-based targets (SBT) ahead of schedule, and the renewable electricity we use in our operating sites around the world accounts for 55% of our total electricity consumption. Building further on this achievement, we have joined the global RE100 renewable electricity initiative and are committed to achieving 100% renewable electricity and carbon neutrality at all of our operations around the world by 2030. Through all of our collective efforts, our teams in each region have proactively moved toward the RE100 goal by in-house solar power generation and the purchase of renewable electricity directly from power plants, green electricity products, and unbundled energy attribute certificates (EACs). Delta also has a net-zero target aligned with the 1.5°C pathway, and has adopted an internal carbon pricing (ICP) mechanism as a management tool to pay an internal carbon fee of US$300 per metric ton in advance to support our plants’ energy resource management, RE100 projects, and purchases of renewable electricity. We are also motivating our divisions to invest in more advanced and innovative low-carbon technologies to explore more business opportunities.”

To satisfy our operating sites’ needs for renewable electricity, Delta has taken the lead in the industry in Taiwan to sign long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with wind, solar, and hydro power companies, all of which began to transmit and distribute power officially in October. As a result, the purchase rate of renewable electricity has reached as high as 80% of Delta’ operating sites in Taiwan. Among these, Delta has signed a green power wheeling agreement with Bo Yao Power Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Taya Group, that recently began to transmit and distribute renewable power to Delta with 25MW solar power facilities. It is estimated that 36 million kWh of power will be generated, enabling Delta to achieve our RE100 goal by 2030.

Delta is committed to providing innovative, clean, and energy-saving solutions and has established R&D centers around the world. In 2021, the Company invested 8.6% of its total revenue in innovation and R&D. The total number of patents granted globally has also accumulated to nearly 12,000. Delta was listed in the Top 100 Global Innovators published by Clarivate for the first time in 2022. Its momentum in innovation not only facilitates the development of low-carbon business opportunities but also contributes to energy conservation and carbon reduction. Between 2010 and 2021, Delta's plants around the world implemented a total of 2,517 energy-saving projects, saving a total of 314 million kWh of electricity, which is equivalent to reducing carbon emissions by 245,000 tons. The products shipped have helped its clients save 35.9 billion kWh of electricity, which is equivalent to reducing roughly 19.01 million tons of carbon emissions. The energy-saving data of 11 products, including server power supplies, solar power converters, and DC chargers for electric vehicles, which Delta has shipped since 2015, have passed the ISAE 3000 Assurance Standard successively, attesting to Delta’s achievements in helping its clients reduce carbon emissions.

Delta's board of directors recently adopted relevant policies to formally incorporate biodiversity into the company's ESG strategy to respond to the UN SDGs with practical actions and its core competency. The first phase of a coral restoration project launched in 2021, in which coral reefs were transplanted into the Bay Resource Conservation Area, was completed, and it is estimated to restore 1,000 corals ahead of schedule by the end of this year. To arouse public awareness of marine protection issues, Delta commissioned a Japanese professional team to travel to shoot 8K environmental documentaries, "Life in the Coral Reefs" and "Swimming with Humpback Whales", in the Pacific Islands; both films won the Gold Remi Awards at the 55th WorldFest - Houston International Film Festival in 2022. Delta goes all out to cultivate talents and participate in social initiatives. Its total global investment in social participation during 2021 amounted to nearly US$12 million, of which the costs of talent cultivation accounted for more than 70%. Moreover, it has engaged in a variety of industry-academia collaboration programs with about 130 schools around the world, with an annual investment of more than US$3.6 million. The DeltaMOOCx online learning platform launched by the Delta Electronics Foundation (DEF) in 2014 has accumulated more than 17 million views, from which countless students have benefited enormously.

Delta has worked to closely link sustainable development with business performance. It has included the RE100 achievement rate in the Chairman and regional top-level managers’ performance indicators since 2021. The Chairman’s performance indicators also include DJSI, CDP, and MSCI ESG, and the results are regularly reviewed. While Delta is working to achieve RE100 globally, it is committed to leading its supply chains to meet international standards, motivating them to conserve energy, and guiding them to conduct carbon inventories. In 2021, eight leading technology companies in Taiwan, including Delta, jointly launched the Taiwan Climate Partnership, and Delta's Chairman Yancey Hai was elected as its first chair at this year’s representative assembly. By working with like-minded partners in the industry on this platform, Delta aims to engage with international initiatives and organizations on a broader scale and facilitate the low-carbon transformation of supply chains to enhance their competitiveness.

Note: Please refer to the 2021 Delta Electronics ESG Report.

About Delta
Delta, founded in 1971, is a global leader in switching power supplies and thermal management products with a thriving portfolio of smart energy-saving systems and solutions in the fields of industrial automation, building automation, telecom power, data center infrastructure, EV charging, renewable energy, energy storage and display, to nurture the development of smart manufacturing and sustainable cities. As a world-class corporate citizen guided by its mission statement, “To provide innovative, clean and energy-efficient solutions for a better tomorrow,” Delta leverages its core competence in high-efficiency power electronics and its CSR-embedded business model to address key environmental issues, such as climate change. Delta serves customers through its sales offices, R&D centers and manufacturing facilities spread over close to 200 locations across 5 continents.

Throughout its history, Delta has received various global awards and recognition for its business achievements, innovative technologies and dedication to CSR. Since 2011, Delta has been listed on the DJSI World Index of the Dow Jones Sustainability™ Indices (DJSI) for 11 consecutive years. In 2021, Delta was also recognized by CDP with leadership level ratings for its substantial contribution to climate change and water security issues and named Supplier Engagement Leader for its continuous development of a sustainable value chain.

For further information about Delta, please visit: www.deltaww.com

Indy Autonomous Challenge racecars drive with central computer from dSPACE at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

At CES, dSPACE will showcase how electric and autonomous vehicles can get on the road faster with innovative simulation and validation solutions. As the exclusive on-vehicle computer technology sponsor of the Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC), dSPACE will also demonstrate how dSPACE solutions perform in highly demanding racing environments at the Autonomous Challenge @ CES 2023 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

7 different solutions will be presented at booth #4417 in the West Hall, here are a few highlights:

E-Mobility: Testing Battery Management Systems and Technologies for Intelligent Charging

Battery management systems are essential for the smooth operation of lithium-ion batteries and ensure efficient utilization of the available capacity and optimum temperature control, and avoid overcharging or deep discharging, thus ensuring safe operation and a long service life of the energy storage devices. dSPACE will be demonstrating a modular system concept for testing battery management systems (BMS) that enables testing of modern battery systems with a total voltage of up to 1500 volts in a safe test environment. The application spectrum in the areas of development and validation ranges from battery systems for electromobility to energy storage systems for modern power grids.

The Smart Charging Solution is a complete solution for the development and testing of smart charging technologies. The solution considers international standards, guarantees interoperability, and supports developers of onboard chargers, charging columns, and in the future also inductive charging systems with a comprehensive range of test options and dynamic models.

At the Autonomous Challenge @ CES 2023 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, January 7, nine university teams will compete with fully autonomous race cars with dSPACE’s AUTERA AutoBox serving as the central onboard computer.

Autonomous Driving: Moving Tests into the Virtual World

When developing functions for highly automated and autonomous driving, the requirements for functional quality and safety are increasing enormously. Virtual tests are being moved forward to ever earlier development phases and carried out by development teams distributed around the world. Against this background, dSPACE has developed solutions such as SIMPHERA and AURELION. SIMPHERA is dSPACE's web-based, highly scalable cloud solution for virtual validation and simulation. It quickly and easily enables the computationally intensive validation of functions for autonomous driving, supports collaboration between globally distributed development teams, and allows seamless integration of customer applications.

AURELION, the new sensor simulation from dSPACE, generates photorealistic images for camera simulation and, using ray tracing, an exact environment for radar and lidar simulation in real time. Developers use AURELION to validate algorithms for autonomous driving during virtual test drives, long before a prototype hits the road.

IAC: dSPACE Technology on the Racetrack and at the Booth

At the Autonomous Challenge @ CES 2023 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, January 7, nine university teams will compete with fully autonomous racecars with dSPACE’s AUTERA AutoBox serving as the central onboard computer managing all the sensor data and performing the complex path planning computations to keep the race cars on the track and safe. CES attendees are welcome to attend the competition at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and experience infield festivities with the IAC, including a WatchZone. dSPACE will also demonstrate the AUTERA systems and possible applications of the solution in data-driven development at the IAC booth (West Hall, #3601). 

About dSPACE

dSPACE is a leading provider of simulation and validation solutions worldwide for developing networked, autonomous, and electrically powered vehicles. The company's range of end-to-end solutions are used particularly by automotive manufacturers and their suppliers to test the software and hardware components in their new vehicles long before a new model is allowed on the road. Not only is dSPACE a sought-after partner in vehicle development, engineers also rely on our know-how at dSPACE when it comes to aerospace and industrial automation. Our portfolio ranges from end-to-end solutions for simulation and validation to engineering and consulting services as well as training and support. With approximately 2,100 employees worldwide, dSPACE is headquartered in Paderborn, Germany, has three project centers in Germany, and serves customers through regional dSPACE companies in the USA, the UK, France, Japan, China, Croatia, and South Korea.

Australian-based West African Resources has awarded Metso Outotec an order for state-of-the-art comminution equipment to be delivered to their greenfield Kiaka gold project in Burkina Faso. The order value is approximately EUR 30 million and it is booked in Minerals’ fourth-quarter orders received.

Metso Outotec’s delivery includes two Planet Positive Premier^TM  grinding mills with a total installed power of 27 MW, as well as Metso Outotec’s proprietary metal and rubber mill linings and spare parts.

“We are pleased to again team up with Metso Outotec for this project. West African is in an exciting growth phase, as we aim to be a multi-project, producing more than 400,000 oz/y of gold in 2025,” says Matt Scully, Project Director, West African.

“The Premier^TM semi-autogenous (SAG) mill to be delivered to the Kiaka project is one of the largest gear-driven grinding mills in the world with its 18 MW of installed power. The Premier^TM ball mill has been designed to pair smoothly with the SAG mill. Both mills are equipped with fail-safe Metso Outotec Polymer Hydrostatic Shoe Bearing (HSB) systems, significantly increasing reliability and reducing maintenance costs. We are delighted to work with West African Resources on this project,” says Oskar Gustavson, Technology Director, Grinding at Metso Outotec.

Read more about the Premier^TM grinding mill on our website.

Metso Outotec is a frontrunner in sustainable technologies, end-to-end solutions and services for the aggregates, minerals processing and metals refining industries globally. By improving our customers’ energy and water efficiency, increasing their productivity, and reducing environmental risks with our product and process expertise, we are the partner for positive change. Metso Outotec is committed to limiting global warming to 1.5°C with Science Based Targets.

Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Metso Outotec employs over 15,000 people in more than 50 countries and its sales for 2021 were about EUR 4.2 billion. The company is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki. mogroup.com

The UK’s fastest-growing tile retailer, Tile Mountain, has renewed its contract with Pall-Ex following a successful seven-year relationship. The logistics firm will continue to manage Tile Mountain Group’s local, national and International palletised freight distribution.

Established in 2013, Tile Mountain has grown exponentially, offering a range of tiles for the home, from flooring to wall tiles for the kitchen and bathroom, plus a range of options for outside. The business has maintained its reputation for great service and enjoys consistent exceptional trust pilot reviews. 

Pall-Ex will help support Tile Mountain Group’s growth through its ongoing deployment of customer service expertise and dedicated integrated IT infrastructure.  In addition to the Pall-Ex team meeting with Tile Mountain on a regular basis to identify any changes that can be implemented, they have rolled out a successful implant scheme. 

An onsite customer service advisor, employed by Pall-Ex is now based at one of Tile Mountain’s offices, to support and coordinate between the two businesses. This enables both sides of the partnership to have one line of communication for the day-to-day deliveries and collections, while also ensuring we maintain the excellent customer service standards of both companies.

With business in London representing 18% of Tile Mountains overall sales volume, Pall-Ex provides a guaranteed service level into the capital, using its shareholder member network, to enable Tile Mountain to maintain a high-quality service in this key market area. 

Commenting on the renewal, Jeremy Harris, Managing Director of Tile Mountain said: 

“As an online retailer, Tile Mountain Group's business strategy relies heavily on distribution, and as the company continues to grow, we seek to further forge relationships with suppliers who can consistently deliver outstanding standards of service. Pall-Ex's tracking technology has aided the Tile Mountain delivery process and we are already seeing the benefits from      advancements in their systems, such as ‘what3words’ for first-time delivery.”

Pall-Ex Group’s UK Commercial Director Michelle Naylor commented: “We are delighted that our strong relationship with Tile Mountain is set to continue. As its business grows and customers service expectations grow, we will be able to support any changes with our dedicated customer service advisor which will remain active and responsive to market demands. We look at service needs for all parts of the country that Tile Mountain serves and will maintain our focus on supporting its important London delivery requirements.”

The contract renewal will build on the partnerships principal objective of achieving excellence together and providing the best customer service to all Tile Mountains customers.

To find out more about Pall-Ex visit: https://www.pallex.co.uk/

For more information about the Tile Mountain Group please visit: https://www.tilemountain.co.uk/

Pall-Ex Group is an award-winning network of hauliers comprising two leading UK pallet networks (Fortec Distribution Network and Pall-Ex UK), four subsidiary UK logistics businesses, and ten European networks. A renowned name in logistics, Pall-Ex delivers an efficient and reliable palletised freight distribution service, backed by innovative technology and a first-class network of established shareholder SMEs. With its headquarters and central UK hub located in the heart of the Midlands, Pall-Ex is driving excellence in all areas, transporting more than 40,000 pallets across the globe every day.  

Tile Mountain Ltd has become the UK’s fastest-growing tile retailer. Operating from its headquarters in Stoke on Trent, the Company has made a significant investment in capacity and infrastructure with three purpose-built warehouses, nine showrooms, and an office complex. Since 2018 the Group has expanded further with the launch of Bathroom Mountain and the acquisition of Walls and Floors Ltd. 

Metso Outotec has been awarded a shutdown service contract for a flash smelting furnace at a copper processing facility in South America. Approximately 50% of the order value, which exceeds EUR 10 million, is booked in Metals’ fourth-quarter orders received and the rest in Minerals’ orders received.

Metso Outotec’s scope of delivery includes a complete reconstruction of the furnace. This consists of demolition of the furnace, mechanical reconstruction of the walls and floor, uninstalling and installing the cooling elements, piping, and installing new refractory materials.

“Planned smelting furnace shutdowns are important to avoid refractory failure as well as to ensure furnace performance in the following production period. Refractory lining wear can also result in damage to equipment components, causing energy waste, reduced performance and stoppage. Starting with a comprehensive shutdown plan, our shutdown management team ensure that the shutdown is conducted on time and on budget without any safety incidents, allowing the customer to return to full production with an asset that delivers according to plan,” says Risto Valakari, Head of Service Sales, Metals BA, at Metso Outotec.

Metso Outotec has been performing furnace demolition and rebuild work all over the world for the past 35 years, with references from over a thousand projects. The shutdown packages range from shutdown reviews, which can be conducted remotely, to shutdown planning and support, to total shutdown solutions that are customizable to suit specific needs.

Read more about Metso Outotec Shutdown Services on our website.

Metso Outotec is a frontrunner in sustainable technologies, end-to-end solutions and services for the aggregates, minerals processing and metals refining industries globally. By improving our customers’ energy and water efficiency, increasing their productivity, and reducing environmental risks with our product and process expertise, we are the partner for positive change. Metso Outotec is committed to limiting global warming to 1.5°C with Science Based Targets.

Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Metso Outotec employs over 15,000 people in more than 50 countries and its sales for 2021 were about EUR 4.2 billion. The company is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki. mogroup.com

Process filter maker Amazon Filters has added more capacity to its housing component manufacturing with two semi-automated CNC mills going live.

Their purchase and implementation are the latest stages in a £1 million investment programme at the Surrey-based firm, which supplies all industries worldwide that rely on process filtration.

Capital expenditure on new machinery supports Amazon Filters’ policy of ‘vertical integration’ in which manufacturing is increasingly done in-house with less reliance on third parties or sub-contractors.

The aim is to support ‘quick and able’ manufacturing, the fast, accurate capacity to turn round customer orders, including complex and bespoke projects, whatever their size and wherever they originate in the world.

Amazon Filters colleagues Troy Procter, right, Housings Production Support Technician, and Josh Booth, Housing Component Manufacturing Operator, in the firm’s dedicated production hub.

The new CNC equipment complements a doubling of staff numbers in housing component manufacture from six operatives three years ago to 12 now and with a further appointment due in 2023. 

Team members work in a dedicated production hub at the 37-year-old firm’s Camberley factory processing raw, hardcore metal bars, blocks, sheets and tubes into parts ready for welding and final housing assembly.  

Tube lengths tend to be three or six metres, weighing up to 130kg and with diameters of 12 or 16 inches.

Stored on huge racks, the raw material parts are moved into position for cutting, folding, drilling, marking and other processes using lifting aids including a motorised platform.

Most metal is stainless steel but, for some applications, the nickel alloy Hastelloy is the base material. 

At any given time, hundreds of flat discs or plates are in the process of being turned into lids, top ends or end caps and with different-sized holes drilled to suit.

At work on processing a metal tube as the first stage in housing component manufacture at Amazon Filters’ dedicated production hub. The team operate five distinct cells: sheet metal; de-burring and degreasing (the removal of very fine coats of oil); press; fabrication; and machining, the most recent cell.   

Adrian Price, Lead Fabricator for Housing Component Manufacturing, said: “It’s big-scale work and we represent the start of the process for making housings.

“In line with the company’s expansion, we moved to our separate and bigger hub from under a mezzanine floor in the main production centre in 2019.

“The extra space and capacity have enabled us to do far more in-house rather than rely on subcontractors or third-party suppliers.

“We have more control over what we do, and how, why and when we do it.

“We have done a great deal of in-house training with everyone upgrading to be able to do all the jobs within the department including the use of the new CNC mills.

“Working in conjunction with colleagues in the sales and operations departments, we have made massive in-roads on productivity through dynamic scheduling and greater    control over workflows and delivery times.

“From the production point of view, we have more flexibility and can ship a job more easily.

“Say we have a water company requiring urgent filtration equipment to cope with a cryptosporidium outbreak, we have cut lead times, created more scope to customise and improved our ability to turn round the order quickly. 

“As the worldwide market expands, the ability to do things in-house becomes more important so we have taken the opportunity to grasp the nettle and improve our processes.

“Our work is very diverse and we relish the challenge of the one-off, for example if you have an oil and gas customer saying they need specific equipment to go that bit deeper in the oceans, it’s great to be able to say we can do it.” 

Amazon Filters’ capital investment programme also includes the relocation of storage space and the opening of a new production hall for the manufacture of pleated filter cartridges, a flagship product for the firm.

The capital spend complements recent team appointments on the sales side, including territory managers for the Americas and Asian-Pacific regions.

BMG announces the Mantis Robotic Trim Press Handler from NAS Nalle Automation Systems, the industry’s first robotic automated system that reliably handles the flow of parts ejected from any trim press. This compact, intuitive, and configurable system enables full automation of the entire thermoforming process — from resin to palletized product — for medium to high-volume production lines using either non-servo continuous flow or servo-driven long eject trim presses.

Previously, parts ejected from non-servo trim presses needed to be manually separated and counted, a labour-intensive, error-prone, and inconsistent process that limits the automation of downstream packaging functions. NAS solved this problem with the patent-pending Trim Press Receiver (TPR) which uses a unique separating mechanism to count and contain stacks of product, followed by a raking mechanism to take the product into the receiver for transfer by the robot. 

“Consistent and reliable separation of product on a continuously flowing, non-servo eject trim press was the key to the development of Mantis”, according to Kurt Huelsman, President of NAS. “The design of the receiver coupled with NAS’s robotic automation capabilities brings a safe, productive and cost-effective solution to a historically very manual process.”

The TPR presents the parts to a six-axis robot equipped with product matching End of Arm Tooling that in turn automatically transfers the product to a Shuttle Station, which integrates with downstream packaging functions that may include wrapping, boxing, case packing, sealing, and palletizing. Incorporating the robot allows the Mantis system to be very compact and configurable, making installation possible where the available floor space is limited or obstructed.

The Mantis Robotic Trim Press Handler is compatible with all trim presses, including BMG brands Brown and Lyle. The fully automated system can reduce labor requirements by up to 75% and the modular robotic design allows for tool changeovers in under an hour. 

Visit www.bmg-solutions.com/machine/nas-mantis-robotic-trim-press-handler/ for more information. 

About BMG

BMG in Beaverton, MI, is a global leader in thermoforming, tooling and automation solutions with best-in-class quality and innovative product lines. It designs and manufactures a complete line of continuous thermoforming equipment, tooling, material handling and packaging automation, robotics, and related services including system upgrades, prototyping, process optimization, and technical support. Its equipment has been “Made in North America” for nearly 70 years, with systems operating in over 80 countries serving customers worldwide. Visit www.BMG-Solutions.com for more information.

A new treatment plant with a cost-effective biological treatment process has won the coveted State Excellence Award from Alabama’s Water Environment Association (AWEA).

The Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) from Lakeside Equipment Corporation was specified by the plant’s designers, CDG, Inc for its robustness, ease of operation and scalability for future needs.

The Award-winning treatment plant at Southside Alabama

The Southside, AL plant, for which the SBR was supplied by The Eshelman Company Inc., consists of a headworks, mechanical screen system, and lift station pumps to get raw sewage into alternating tanks for aeration and settling. UV disinfection and an automatic effluent pumping system deliver treated water to the receiving stream.

The building of the new facility has proved crucial in enabling Southside to continue to grow its economy after its old sewage lagoon system, despite decades of excellent management, had finally reached its capacity. Now, with its increased capability, Southside has been able to welcome the prospect of building new homes and seeing investment from new businesses with open arms.

Described by David Fry, Assistant Superintendent for Southside Water Works and Sewer Board, as ‘a great environment to work in’, the project saw CDG, Inc appoint Schmidt Environmental Construction, Inc as part of the award-winning team. The $4.3M project won praise from the AWEA judges as a first-class example of a long-lasting investment for the wastewater industry.

CertainTeed Roofing in Oxford, North Carolina, broke ground in November on the construction of a new state-of-the-art glass mat plant. The facility will be used for the highly efficient production of glass mat, a key component in the manufacture of roofing shingles. With a total investment of $167 million, this is CertainTeed Roofing's largest investment to date in a U.S. site. The company has contracted Voith to supply the production machine as well as automation and digitalization solutions from Voith´s Papermaking 4.0 portfolio. The plant is scheduled to go into operation in 2024.

• As the leading full-line supplier for glass mat plants, Voith supplies the stock preparation, approach flow system, HydroFormer, binder section and the FiberDry drying concept
• Automation and digitalization solutions from the Papermaking 4.0 portfolio are installed in the plant to increase machine availability, production efficiency and sustainability
• CertainTeed Roofing uses the line to produce glass mat for the manufacture of asphalt roofing shingles

"Building this plant in Oxford is an important step in continuing to provide industry-leading service to our customers," says Carmen Bodden, Vice President of CertainTeed Roofing. "Our goal with this plant is to set new industry standards – utilizing state-of-the-art energy and water conservation technologies and innovative automation technology."  

"We are very pleased to take this important corporate step together with Voith," emphasizes Pedro Romero, General Manager Glass Mat at CertainTeed Roofing. "Voith's long-standing expertise and experience in glass mat machines will be the foundation for achieving our corporate goals with the new glass mat plant in North Carolina. Voith offers the most comprehensive full-line portfolio on the market with highly efficient cutting edge technologies and records excellent references in both the paper and nonwovens industries."

As the leading full-line supplier, Voith supplies not only the stock preparation, but also the approach flow system and HydroFormer, as well as the binder section including binder preparation. The FiberDry from Voith is used for drying and curing the glass mat web impregnated in resin. To reduce primary energy demand, Voith implements a heat recovery system that enables energy savings of up to 10 percent. For the most efficient production possible, CertainTeed Roofing will also rely on the automation and digitalization solutions of Voith's Papermaking 4.0 portfolio. The Voith IIoT platform dataPARC cloud serves as the basis. The quality control system (QCS) OnQuality provides complete control over production processes and product quality by giving operators full transparency. In addition, the condition monitoring system OnCare.Health continuously analyzes machine data to reduce planned and unplanned downtime.

New Voith Paper Nonwovens business unit
Voith Paper is further expanding its activities in the nonwovens sector with a new business unit established in April. The business unit combines product management, sales, project management and design for the nonwovens business. "In the business unit, we are bundling our competencies in the area of wetlaid nonwovens to be an even stronger partner for our nonwovens customers in the future," explains Dr. Linus Friedrich, Head of Business Unit Nonwovens. He continues: "Our customer CertainTeed Roofing will benefit from a state-of-the-art solution and Voith Paper's many years of experience in the area of glass mat machines."

About CertainTeed  
Through the responsible development of innovative and sustainable building products, CertainTeed, headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, has helped shape the building products industry for more than 115 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Manufacturing Company, the firm’s slogan “Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed,” inspired the name CertainTeed. Today, CertainTeed is a leading North American brand of exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, solar, fence, railing, trim, insulation, drywall and ceilings. www.certainteed.com. 

About the Voith Group
The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, the company today has around 20,000 employees, sales of € 4.3 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the larger family-owned companies in Europe.

The Group Division Voith Paper is part of the Voith Group. As the full-line supplier to the paper industry, it provides the largest range of technologies, services and products on the market and offers paper manufacturers holistic solutions from one source. The company’s continuous stream of innovations facilitates resource-conserving production and helps customers minimize their carbon footprint. With its leading automation products and digitalization solutions from the Papermaking 4.0 portfolio, Voith offers its customers state-of-the-art digital technologies to improve plant availability and efficiency for all sections of the production process.