News » World News Singapore trains will be retrofitted with PM synchronous motors
The Singapore railway operator SMRT is refitting 66 commuter trains with permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) in a move that is expected to cut power consumption by 30%, reduce noise levels, and improve the operating efficiency of the trains.
Global sales of robots dipped slightly during 2012
Global sales of industrial robots during 2012 were the second-highest on record, according to the latest figures issued by the International federation of Robotics (IFR). More than 159,000 robots were sold worldwide – almost as high as the record figure of 165,000 achieved in 2011.
Industrial Internet ‘could be worth $1,700bn by 2020’
Expenditure on the Industrial Internet will soar from $20bn in 2012 to around $514bn by 2020, while the cumulative net value created by the Industrial Internet will amount to $1,700bn by 2020 – according to a pair of new reports from the Wikibon project, a global community dedicated to improving the adoption of technology through the sharing of free advisory knowledge.
Automation sales will surge by 6.2% in 2013 to hit $170bn
The global market for industrial automation equipment (IAE) will expand by 6.2% this year to reach around $170bn, helped in part by a manufacturing recovery in the first quarter, says a new report* from IMS Research, now part of IHS.
Melrose sells Marelli to the Carlyle Group for €212m
The UK-based engineering turnaround specialist Melrose Industries is selling its Italian motors and generators business, Marelli Motori, to the Carlyle Group for €212m in cash. The disposal is conditional on anti-trust approvals and is expected to complete in August 2013.
Ulrich Spiesshofer succeeds Joe Hogan as ABB’s CEO
ABB has announced that Ulrich Spiesshofer, currently head of its Discrete Automation and Motion (DM) division, will succeed Joe Hogan as chief executive officer on September 15, 2013. Hogan, who announced his resignation in May, will continue with ABB for some months as a senior advisor to the board.
Traction motor industry faces ‘a very nasty surprise’
A new market study has condemned manufacturers of electric traction motors as being “an industry structured for the past that is going to have a very nasty surprise when the future comes”.
Relays sales shrank in 2012, but will recover in 2013
After two years of double-digit growth, the global market for electromechanical and solid-state relays dropped by $125m (3.6%) last year to around $3.35bn, according to a new report from IMS Research, now part of IHS.
Vacon drives ‘saved a day of global electricity output in 2012’
The Finnish drives-maker Vacon estimates that its AC drives products saved their users about 50TWh last year – the equivalent of 20 hours of global electricity production, or the annual output from nine 700MW nuclear reactors, or the annual electricity consumption of about 11 million European homes.
Ethernet use in process automation will double in five years
The number of industrial Ethernet nodes used in the process sector could almost double between 2011 and 2016, as the technology challenges “traditional” fieldbuses in networking applications, says a new study from IMS Research, now part of IHS.
Siemens appoints new CEO for Motion Control business
Robert Neuhauser has been appointed CEO of Siemens’ Motion Control (MC) systems business, succeeding Uwe Frank, who is becoming CEO of Siemens’ Control Products & System business in its building technologies division in Switzerland.
Competition aims to find world’s most efficient motors
A global awards scheme aimed at the finding the world’s most efficient electric motors has been announced by Clean Energy Ministerial – a global forum that brings together many leading economies with the aim of sharing best practices and promoting policies and programmes that encourage the transition to cleaner energy technologies.
Europe’s machine-tool exports hit a record – but home sales shrink
Machine-tool production in Europe grew by 6% in 2012 to reach a total of €22.2bn and is expected to expand again slightly this year to reach €22.5bn, according to the latest figures from the sector’s trade body, Cecimo. Most of the 2012 growth came from exports with some manufacturers, especially in southern Europe, now relying entirely on exports.
World’s number 2 motor-maker slims down its brands
Regal, which claims to be the world’s second-largest motor-maker, is consolidating its global activities into four main brands – Marathon, Leeson, Fasco and Genteq.
Eastern Europe offers growth potential for packaging machinery
The European packaging machinery market was worth more than $12.62bn in 2012 and will reach $14.63bn by 2016, according a new report from the market analyst, Frost & Sullivan.
