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German engineering companies losing massive market share due to subtle trade barriers

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German engineering companies are losing massive market share due to trade barriers around the world, according to a new report.

Globally its most successful sector, and represented by industry association VDMA, Germany’s engineering companies say they have lost between 70 and 100 percent of export markets in some countries.

The VDMA blames “egoism” and a climate of protectionism, according to Die Welt, which notes that subtle instruments such as localization initiatives and regulations, as well as the traditional blunt ones such as tariffs and subsidies, are being used to obligate companies to avoid buying from overseas machine builders. [Read more…] about German engineering companies losing massive market share due to subtle trade barriers

US demands Hong Kong-made goods be relabelled ‘Made in China’

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The United States government is calling for goods made or exported to the US from Hong Kong to be relabelled “Made in China”, according to a report on the South China Morning Post. 

The measure, to be introduced by US President Donald Trump, does not appear to need Congressional approval or any kind of vote.

It will mean that Hong Kong companies exporting to the US will be required to pay the same kind of punitive tariffs currently placed on goods arriving in America from mainland China. [Read more…] about US demands Hong Kong-made goods be relabelled ‘Made in China’

Russia and China ‘ditch’ dollar and increase use of euro

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Russia and China are building a “financial alliance” and look set to “ditch” the dollar, according to a report on the Nikkei Asian Review website. 

The financial news website reports that the US dollar’s share of trade between Russia and China “fell below 50 percent for the first time on record” in the first quarter of 2020.

The source of the statistic is Russia’s Central Bank and Federal Customs Service, which published figures showing that a relatively low 46 percent of trade transactions between China and Russia were conducted or completed in US dollars. [Read more…] about Russia and China ‘ditch’ dollar and increase use of euro

igus unveils virtual trade show booth

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igus, a supplier of components, has unveiled a “virtual trade show booth” to provide some assistance to industry people who are “still bummed out about trade shows being cancelled”. 

The virtual stand is interactive, as you might expect, and features a range of components for many industries, including robotics, material handling, agriculture and many more.

igus says the aim of the stand was to showcase its “new, innovative plastic products for low-cost automation”. [Read more…] about igus unveils virtual trade show booth

Swiss micro-technology trade show EPHJ to go ahead despite coronavirus

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The EPHJ Trade Show – for the watchmaking, jewellery, and micro- and medical technologies sectors – says it is “stepping up to the plate” for the relaunch of the economy, confirming that its 2020 edition will take place from 15 to 18 September this year.

Having been obliged to postpone its 2020 edition to September due to Covid-19, the largest annual trade fair in Switzerland will in fact take place this year in Geneva to contribute to the recovery of all the high-precision sectors.

Alexandre Catton, director of EPHJ, says: “We have held widespread discussions over the past few weeks with numerous exhibitors to obtain as accurate picture as possible of the situation on the ground. [Read more…] about Swiss micro-technology trade show EPHJ to go ahead despite coronavirus

The Future for Contactless Delivery

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By D. A. Rupprecht

The future for contactless product delivery is already here, and a pandemic seems to already be moving this trend forward.

It just needs companies to implement and customers to accept the new delivery and tracking methods, along with other innovations, that will make this so.

When this happens, we may one day look back and quietly thank the lowly coronavirus for catapulting us into a brighter future. [Read more…] about The Future for Contactless Delivery

American Manufacturers ‘ready to help’ cope with disruption caused by coronavirus

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American Manufacturers say they are “ready to help” cope with the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

CEOs of companies facing global supply chain challenges can find local solutions with US suppliers, declared five American manufacturing trade associations in an open letter to CEOs.

US trade associations representing more than 3,500 companies in industries that employ more than 475,000 Americans have made the pledge to support the industry. [Read more…] about American Manufacturers ‘ready to help’ cope with disruption caused by coronavirus

Automaticon organisers expect visitors from more countries than ever

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Organisers of the upcoming Automaticon event are expecting more visitors from more countries than ever before. 

The Polish trade show takes place on 17-19 of March in Warsaw. The “International Fair for Industrial Automation Automaticon”, to give the event its full name, is the main fair for automation, control, measurements and robotics in Poland.

The Automaticon exhibition occupies three pavilions with the total indoor area of the fair 9,500 square meters. [Read more…] about Automaticon organisers expect visitors from more countries than ever

CloudMinds opens cloud robotics support centre in Chile

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CloudMinds Technology, a provider of cloud artificial intelligence architecture for robots, has opened a new support centre in Santiago, Chile.

The company says the office will expand support for customers across Mexico and South America. The new operation will report to the company’s global co-headquarters in Santa Clara, California.

said Robert Zhang, company co-founder and president of international business development, says: “Our new operation in Latin America is a reflection of the continued global momentum CloudMinds has been building, driven by our proprietary cloud artificial intelligence architecture and cloud robot solutions that are already helping to transform various industry verticals around the world. [Read more…] about CloudMinds opens cloud robotics support centre in Chile

Global industry ‘in midst of major change’ because of ‘megatrends’

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Hannover Messe 2020 will coincide with a period of rapid technological change and political and economic uncertainty, according to its organisers.

Sporting its 2020-season lead theme of “Industrial Transformation” and featuring some 6,000 exhibitors, the world’s top trade show for industrial technology will shine a light on the opportunities arising from new technologies, changing buyer behavior and a growing awareness of climate protection.

Experts at Deutsche Messe, one of the world’s largest industrial trade show companies and the owner of Hannover Messe, the global industrial sector is “in the midst of a period of major change”, driven primarily by the “megatrends” of digitization, individualization and climate protection.

At the same time, it is grappling with some very challenging economic and political fundamentals.

Dr Jochen Köckler, chairman of Deutsche Messe, says: “The world is embarking on a period of change, the likes of which we haven’t seen for a long time. [Read more…] about Global industry ‘in midst of major change’ because of ‘megatrends’