Around the Industry

Finding ways to halt our dependence on fossil fuels and plastics is proving extremely difficult. One possible solution is to shift away from petrochemicals towards a biobased feedstock to make plastics, but how realistic is this proposal? IDTechEx uncovers the factors influencing adoption of biobased polymers in their report, ‘Biobased Polymers 2018-2023: A Technology and Market Perspective’.

Nano Dimension has announced that the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) has become the first R&D facility in the UK to purchase Nano Dimension’s DragonFly LDM precision additive manufacturing system for electronics. MTC will use the Lights-Out Digital Manufacturing System to additively build electronic components.

Semiconductor test equipment supplier Advantest has received a Bosch Group Global Supplier Award for 2019, earning a global ranking among Bosch’s best providers of technology and services. Advantest received the award in recognition of its timely delivery of semiconductor test solutions used to qualify Bosch’s product portfolio of MEMs and automotive consumer devices.

Total Lubrifiants has announced the acquisition from Houghton International of its aluminium hot rolling oil (AHRO), steel cold rolling oil (SCRO) and tinplate rolling oil (TPRO) activities in the North American and European Economic Area markets. The transaction includes the associated technical support services in both regions. 

According to the latest results of a study carried out by Staufen and BDLI, which were also presented at this year's Paris Air Show, the German aerospace industry defends its advantage well in international competition. However, in order to remain competitive in the future, certain production processes must be continuously optimised.

Following the successful acquisition of Dancap Electronics (long term distributor of Hakko branded equipment), in February 2019, HK Wentworth Group are now actively distributing Hakko soldering equipment and parts and are delighted to unveil a brand new website. Prior to the acquisition, HK Wentworth already held authorised distributor status for Hakko products in Australia and New Zealand, territories in which the brand has experienced tremendous growth. 

Commercial efforts around electronic textiles have been prominent for at least 25 years, starting with early patents and then early products throughout the 1990s. IDTechEx's latest research report in the area ‘E-Textiles 2019-2029: Technologies, Markets and Players’, looks at how e-textile products have changed over time, both in terms of the hardware and the more general business model.

Cambridge-based GOEPEL electronics has strengthened its sales and service presence in the UK and Ireland by adding a Technical Sales Engineer. Mark Daglish is now responsible for the company’s product ranges of Embedded JTAG Solutions equipment as well as Inspection Solutions (Automated Optical Inspection (AOI), Automated X-ray Inspection (AXI) and Solder Paste Inspection (SPI) systems).

The official opening of 3D Systems’ new Advanced Additive Manufacturing Centre in Pinerolo, Italy, has been announced. Over the past fifteen months, the company undertook a multimillion dollar expansion to more than double the manufacturing capacity and increase breadth of capabilities to meet increasing customer demand.

Semiconductor test equipment supplier Advantest has joined the Global Compact (UNGC), a global initiative of the United Nations, and the Global Compact Network Japan, a local network based in Japan. The UNGC is a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General which encourages companies and organisations to exert responsible and creative social leadership and to participate in creating a global framework for sustainable growth.