Fastener Industry Holds the World Together October 20, 2008
Posted by champion in : Special Issues , add a commentFastener demands are subject to the boom-bust cycle of global economic climate. Generally speaking, more industrialized, more fasteners needed. The demands will rise with increases in construction activity and manufacturing output, particularly in production of motor vehicles, aircrafts, electrical /electronics, appliances, furniture/office equipments and other equipment in which fasteners are essential components. Industrial fasteners are generally classified as standards, specials, or proprietary designs, in members fundamentally of bolts, screws, socket screws, cap screws, studs, nuts, washers, blind rivets, pins, inserts, tapping screws, machine screws, set screws, SEMS, and rivets and special industrial fasteners. Non-threaded standard fasteners continue to outsell other types in fastener family spurred by growth in global construction expenditures and backed by stepped-up spending for aircraft and military equipment in many areas. Nevertheless, the sales of application-specific fasteners soar at a faster pace than the standardized products and more OEMs replace non-specialized items with application-specific designs.
Recent innovations and improvement on fastener design spotlight on new generations of self-locking and self-sealing fasteners. The newest generation of self-locking fasteners threaded highlights a promising future for manufacturers seeking for the fasteners with greater strength and reliability, achieved by reduced product weight, heightened joint strength, better resistance to vibration, temperature extremes, axial-torsion loading and less material fatigue. Lately, there is a new look in fastener family called flexible fastener. It looks like a normal bolts or screw, except the shank is composed of a flexible material such as nylon or steel cable, which allows the bolt to bend or flex laterally, yet not stretch axially. The fastener can be used to secure surfaces various types of surfaces either non-parallel or non-aligned where compliance is needed, owing to production or construction errors.
Market Snapshots
Fastener are big business. World fastener market scale is predicted to reach US$46 billion in 2006, up 4.8 % than the previous year, and to hit US$55 billion by 2010, boosted by forthcoming economic expansion within the developing nations of Asia Pacific Rim, Mideast, Latin American and Eastern European regions. Robust growth will also be seen in India, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, Turkey and Russia. The growths in the above-mentioned areas tend to outpace those in the US, Western Europe and Japan. The price war of fasteners continued for several years, which made many industrial players struggle to live out. Recently, the price competition is somewhat eased, not as fierce as in the previous years.
USA
U.S. Fastener industry operates nearly 350 manufacturing facilities with 40,000 employees. Every year, there are over 200 billion fasteners consumed mainly by the miscellaneous industries of automobile, aircraft, appliances, agricultural machinery and equipment, and the construction of commercial buildings and infrastructure. Among them, 26 billion pieces are used solely by the auto industry. In recent years, growth in fastener demand slow down as manufacturing output and construction spending moderate. However, U.S. is still the biggest buyer of fastener products. The country imports more than US$3 billions worth of fasteners from China, Taiwan and Japan annually.
CHINA
China consumes 9% of world demands and surpasses Japan as the second largest fastener market in the world behind the US. At present, there are nearly 8,000 fastener enterprises in China. In the first half of 2006, the export value of China fasteners totaled 1.229 billion US dollars, or 40% of the national fastener output. Invariably, price maintains a crucial factor in decision-making. Buyers from the EU, the US and Australia prefer to buy more affordable fasteners made in China. Local enterprises are working on transfer the low-end bolts and nuts under the property class of 8.8 to the higher-ends of property class from 6.8 to 10.9. Since fastener technology has been relatively mature in China, the significance of differentiation has been constantly discussed. Recently, China government promotes local enterprises with “Made by China” program, namely by resorting to brand strategy, international standards such as GB, DIN, JIS and IFI, etc. and well-known certifications to overall upgrade the industry from labor-intensive low-ends to tech-based, value-added high-ends. ISO 9001 or ISO/TS 16949 is essential certification required to improve the quality, service and logistics.
TAIWAN
Taiwan exports more than 90% of the Fastener it produces every year. Nowadays, Taiwan has shifted from mass production mode to customized service provider. Proprietary design fasteners are made to the patented designs, licensed to several manufacturers, for threads, drive types, head types, locking devices, points, etc. For industrial upgrading, the quality-uplifting financing program of US$875,000 was officially approved by the government, aiming to boost its exports of automotive fasteners to 40% of its total export from current 20% in two years. Meanwhile, the program hopes to increase retail price from about US$1.9 per kilogram on average, barely of 40% of the average price of Japan-made products to US$2.2 per kilogram in 2009 and US$2.87 in 2014.
Article from TTnet.net
A Quick Look on Fastener and Bearing Industries October 7, 2008
Posted by champion in : Special Issues , add a commentINDUSTRIAL FASTNERS are generally classified as standards, specials, or proprietary designs, in members fundamentally of metal bolts, nuts, screws, rivets, washers, formed and threaded wire goods and special industrial fasteners. Standard fasteners are mass-produced, and typically cold-headed threaded parts.
China is the fastest-growing supplying nation in this field thanks to the advantages of cheaper labors and raw materials, along with land acquisition. Special fasteners are usually based on standard designs, yet sometimes incorporate non-standard tolerances, pitch and diameter combinations, drives, lengths, etc. or made in assigned requirements on alloys or separate secondary operations including drilling and punching.
Taiwan has shifted from mass production mode to customized special fastener supplier. Proprietary design fasteners are made to the patented designs, licensed to several manufacturers, for threads, drive types, head types, locking devices, points and more.
fasteners are big business. For instance, every year, U.S., the biggest buyer, consumes over 200 billion fasteners. And automobile industry alone uses 26 billion pieces in 2005. The booms of fasteners industry in the Asian Pacific Rim, mainly Taiwan, Japan and China enable these countries to expand exporting territories to U.S., Mexico, Canada, Europe, and South America. In 2004, the consumption of fasteners in U.S. reached $9,878 billion. Total imported value of $3,065 billion worth of fasteners was primarily from Taiwan (US$1,715 billion), Japan (US$501 billion), and from China (US$421 billion). Oncoming global consolidation and acquisitions make large companies even bigger. This enables them to devote to the development of highly engineered, technologically advanced fasteners and offering value-added customer services such as “just in time” (JIT) delivery and customer-designed or specialized design/engineering services.
BEARINGS are basically used to ease friction between moving parts or to carry load in certain industries such as those that handle materials. They can be broadly categorized into two segments, bimetals and anti-friction bearings. There are four main types of bearings, including ball bearings, cylindrical roller bearings, taper roller bearings and needle roller bearings.
Bearings are generally regarded as a barometer of the country’s technical advancement since they function as the backbone of the national industrial future.
Bearings are largely used in automobile industry, followed by general engineering, electrical industries, heavy industry and railways industry. The materials used to manufacture bearings vary from conventional steel to ceramics, brass and plastics. The most common material used to produce bearing rings, balls and rollers is alloy steel conforming to specifications SAE 52100. Still, this standard material is also distinguished by if it can render prolonged life span and improved quality on purity and oxygen content.
In response to ever-changing market demands, industrial players focus on developing bearings with reinforced compactness, reduced weight and noise, greater speed capability, higher accuracy, longer life, and better performance such as on extremely low and high temperatures and vacuums. In addition, bearing suppliers are also ready to provide technical supports to customers from development to mass production in meet their specific needs throughout all stages.
Article from TTnet.net
A Random Walk down Machine Tool Market July 31, 2008
Posted by champion in : Uncategorized , 1 comment so farTech Trend Watch
To cope with changing business environment, technical modernization is a sustaining challenge in all sectors of industry. As we saw in EMO Hannover 2005, process integration and reconfigurability make automation practicable and liable for large-scale users. Here, the concepts are elaborated on integrated system, for instance, machines equipped with robots, image processing systems and sophisticated materials handling capabilities, namely combining as many processing steps as possible in single gear to enable fast changeovers, thus allow numerous different products to be dealt with. Multifunctional gears not only provide optimized user-friendliness but also reduce machining times and the associated logistics, meanwhile with greater precision, enhanced productivity and space-saving advantage. The new robot application for bending tubes simplifies the programming of such automated installations by offering the same controller interface for all elements in the production line from the robot to the machine, meaning that the robot no longer required to be instructed.
Spurred by the up-and-coming nanotechnologynanotechnology, micro machining makes high-precision machining possible on larger workpieces from the tool and mould construction sectors. Surface qualities of fifty nanometres are now utilizable and workpieces no longer need to be polished in some cases. The minimum tools applied in micro machining have a diameter of 30 ?gm for drills and 100 ?gm for milling cutters. Still, machining with such tools is workable merely with modern and adapted machine concepts delivering a corresponding temperature control and superior damping properties. The greater precision makes miniaturization and microproduction possible with considerable future potentials. At the same time, it also largely raises process reliability.
Rapid prototyping and rapid tooling are significant in shortening the time to market of new products. Advanced and integrated coating techniques involve the sensor -based monitoring of machine components, the automatic correction of tool wear as well as remote information and diagnosis functions via mobile phone, the Internet and other communication media.
Global Market Watch
Japan is the world’s largest maker and second exporter of machine tools. According to Japan Machine Tool Builders Association (JMTBA), the orders in 2004 at $11.4 billion soared 45% from the year before, hitting the third largest level after the bubble economy years of 1990 and 1989. Exports surged by 38% thanks to the recovery of machine tool demand in the United States and Europe, besides the expansion in China and the emerging markets including East Europe. JMTBA predicts that overseas orders in 2005 and 2006 at $10.64 billion and $11.11 billion, respectively.
Germany is known as a major technology leader in the arena, also the world’s largest exporter and second producer with a 20% share of the market. In 2004, German machine tool makers sell 60% (or US$5.6 billion worth) of their machines outside the country. Exports grew by 10% in 2004 while domestic sales rising by 4%. In spite of the strength of the euro, overseas orders climbed by 25% during 2004, while domestic customers merely placed 11% more orders. China contributes to the biggest buyer of German-made machine tool, accounting for 17% of foreign demand and 13% of all exports. And the USA, the second biggest customer has been undergoing structural market changes. It was not until 2004 that exports began to increase again. An average 65,000 employees were employed in 2004, about 3% or approximately 1,900 employees less than the previous year. According to German Machine Tool Builders’ Association (VDW), a 4% growth in production is expected for 2005.
Italy remains the third producer and exporter and the fifth consumer in the world machine tool market with export up 17% to US$2.29 billion and imports up 4% to US$0.97 billion. In 2004, Italian machine tool builders experienced an increase of around 13% in their index of aggregate orders, yet mostly from foreign buyers. In the first quarter of 2005, the overseas orders placed to Italian builders of metal working machine tools have marked a 4.6% increase compared to the same period in 2004. However, the domestic market is still stagnant with extremely low value of the index, 30% lower in comparison with that of the base year.
China is the world’s biggest buyer of machine tools, followed by the USA, importing US$5.78 billion, hitting a 39% increase in 2004. Famous as so-called “world factory”, China has been in great demand for machinery products in recent years. In 2004, the consumption of metal -working machine tools reached US$9.46 billion. The country consumed 70,000 units of CNC metal-cutting machine tools, including 47,000 units of domestic-made CNC metal-cutting machine tools. At present, there are more than 2,055 machine-tool-specific enterprises. The domestic builders manufactured a total of 389,284 units of metal-cutting machine tools, a rise of 35.9% over the previous year; 51,861 units of CNC machine tools (+49.8%); 4,354 units of high precision machine tools (+75.3%); and 7,151 units of large-type machine tools (+72.0%).
Taiwan machine tool builders exported $2.29 billion worth gears, marked as world’s No.4 supplier. In 2004, 36.3% of exports were for Mainland China market while 17.9% were for the US market. In fact, the machine tool industry is one of the island’s largest industrial sectors. Among major products, there were 9911 units (+153%) of NC lathes manufactured; 26,636 units (+122%) of non-NC lathes; 1,147 units (+199%) of NC drilling machines; 33,104 units (+138%) of non-NC drilling machines; 1,951 units (+105%) of NC milling machines; 27,673 units (+117%) of non-NC milling machines; 86,751 units (+101%) of bench grinders and 191,007 units (+122%) of sawing machines.
South Korea exceeds US$2.0 billion, recording a brisk performance for the past three years, spurred by investment in production facilities by the major manufacturing industries such as automobile, ship building, telecommunications, and electronics. The current size of the Korean market of imported machine tools is valued at US$1 billion, accounting for 40-50% of total market share. Korea’s metal working sector explains 25% of the total machine tools market share, followed by the automobile industry at 24%, the general machinery sector at 22%, the electronics industry at 11%, and the ship building industry at 5%.
Articles from ttnet.net
Trends Watch on 2008 Auto Parts Industry April 15, 2008
Posted by wenbi in : Auto Parts , add a commentFor recent years, carmakers have been fighting for price reductions from customers and surging gasoline price, material costs, along with shadowing global inflation. The mounting cost pressure forces them to gain components from offshore manufacturers, which has been reshaping the global landscape of auto parts sourcing. US automotive downturn is mainly triggered by diminished consumer purchasing power and the burst of the “mortgage bubble”. US sales of new cars and light trucks are predicted to drop below 16 million units in 2008. Light trucks, such as SUVs, CUVs, pickups, minivan and vans, made up 53% of the sales mix in 2007, could shrink to a 10-year low of 15.8 million units. The slowdown is spreading to other markets, particularly in Western European countries. But Eastern Europe will continue to expand at a rapid pace, with 4.3% compound annual growth by 2011. Russia will become the largest automotive sales market for new cars in Europe by 2010 as the larger European markets remain stagnant. Growths in the burgeoning markets, especially China, Brazil, and India, keep on and are still likely to lead global growth. In 2007, there were 8.7915 million vehicles sold in China, grew by 1.576 million or up by 21.84% compared to 2006 and will reach to 10 million vehicles by the end of 2008.
The auto parts industry is mainly for the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) market and the replacement parts market, or aftermarket. The global aftermarket industry approximates $300 billion while the light truck aftermarket accounts for $190 billion values. In US, the sales of light-truck performance parts and accessories have doubled over the past decade years, hit $13 billion in 2007, supporting 232 million vehicles on the road. Vehicles are becoming more and more durable across all vehicle types as those over 10 years old continue to comprise the lion¡¦s share of dollars spent, reaching more than $80 billion.
Tuning, Do-it-yourself on the Rise
There are more vehicles on the roads, more cars look similar, and, therefore, the more and more motorists tend to individualize their own cars. Gen-Y drivers are most enthusiastic to personalize their vehicles with audio-system upgrades, aftermarket exhaust systems, tires and wheels and exterior styling accessories as the top alternatives. Apart from aesthetics, safety is certainly a major concern. Here, we’re also seeing a booming DIY market. By a survey, over 53% of motorists, male and female alike, are interested in repair works and feel they are personally capable of doing light maintenance involved in installing parts such as brake shoes, pads, headlamps, batteries, wiper blades and alternators to save repair expenses. Among them, 13% motorists feel they are capable of performing medium maintenance and repair works, which is require the higher knowledge and level of expertise such as replacing fuel injectors and head gaskets.
In-vehicle Consumer Electronics
According to a survey by the Consumer Electronics Association, the sales of in-vehicle consumer electronics are expected to increase at a rate of 13% in 2008 to exceed $12.8 billion. The most popular items are remote vehicle starters, in-dash navigation systems and car alarms, required for flexibility and multi-location use. Motorists also prefer to outfit their vehicles with the latest in-vehicle information and entertainment technology like satellite radio, HD radio and DVD players to make their driving on the road safer and more enjoyable.
“Going Green” Concern
Motorists are more aware of worsening global warming and other environmentally-conscious issues. The carbon dioxide concentrations have soared record-high levels in the atmosphere after increasing at an accelerated pace in the past years. In response to this, automakers are urged to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles and fossil fuel reliance. They are developing innovative emission and idling reduction technologies to elevate fuel economy, launching plug-in hybrids and providing a broad technology portfolio of series solutions to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Automakers claim that such a goal will be realized through the use of alternative fuel autos (AFAs). Now, there are sixty models of AFAs available and more are in development, including hybrid-electric, clean diesel, ethanol capable and others. Advanced vehicles need advanced fuels, including ultra low sulfur diesel, E85 ethanol, bio-diesel, hydrogen and electricity. However, the more bio-fuels such as ethanol and bio-diesel, are used, the more corns, more soy bean and more sugarcane are consumed not as foods, which continues to fuel the price hikes of grains and meats.
Fighting for Spiraling Gas Price
Recently, global demand for oil and gas keeps increasing at an unprecedented rate. Skyrocketing gas price over a record $4 a gallon signals a possible hike over the next few months. To combat spiraling gasoline price, more and more new-vehicle shoppers are looking for more fuel-efficient vehicles and car drivers are managing to control their monthly energy bills by employing energy-efficiency measures or resort to the state-of-the-art fuel-economy technologies. Fuel efficiency becomes dominant factor on influencing their vehicle maintenance decisions, surpassing dependability and safety. Motorists are seeking fuel efficiency through vehicle maintenance. In fact, by properly maintained, vehicles are not only more fuel efficient, but also safer and more environmentally friendly. That also enables a tremendous marketing opportunity for aftermarket service and parts businesses.
Better Fuel Economy Solutions
Most attempts to enhance fuel efficiency spotlight on ancillary technologies like refinements in the fuel injection, ignition or valve timing. Some technologies such as the gasoline-electric hybrid and “clean diesel” are being applied for better fuel economy. In 2007, new hybrid vehicle sales reached over 350,000 units in 2007, even though the fuel efficiency capabilities of hybrid vehicles seem to be somewhat overestimated. For better fuel economy, there is an improvement on engine efficiency with associated reduction in heat lost from the combustion process. Since longer idling time wastes fuel, spoils engines and produces unnecessary extra emissions into the air, here comes a new technology to generate heat so quickly as to delete these unwanted situations. For less power consumption and longer longevity, LEDs now are used with xenon headlamps, even with double light output but only a third less energy than halogen bulbs. By the uses of LEDs for full-functions forward lighting on vehicles, it is feasible to reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.
Crash Avoidance Technology
By a statistics in the US, total collision repair industry sales grow 5.8% to about $40 billion per year. By this, motorists are looking for the latest blind spot detection technology to avoid collision. Blind spot detection is a system that can identify vehicles or objects within a vehicle’s blind spots and provide an audible, visual warning or vibrate the vehicle’s steering wheel or seat as a lane change is doing. Lane departure warning system functions when a car is wandering out of its lane, without a turn signal being activated, and gives a warning to the driver.
World Plastic Sector Briefing March 19, 2008
Posted by wenbi in : Plastic and Rubber , add a commentAnnual global production of plastics is estimated at 273.3 billions pounds. The plastics processing industry is prominent in every aspect of modern life. As new polymers and composite materials
are introduced by the chemical industry , so the industry is constantly refining and adding products to those that have been made over many decades. In its early years, the plastics industry greatly benefited from the substitution of plastic for other materials including various metals , wood , paper, glass, cardboard and natural fibres, etc. However, as a mature industry, the possibilities for substitution are limited, leading to greater dependence on economic growth and the expansion of demand in plastic’s existing markets. The industry is also vulnerable to volatility in the global price of oil and gas feedstocks, used by the chemical industry to produce its raw and semi-finished materials.
Plastics Largely Demanded from Vehicles
Plastics are widely used in automobiles today. According to statistics, automobiles contain some 100 plastic parts of different size and materials, weighing 10-15% by weight with a clear tendency to grow. In past two decades, the use of plastics in cars has jumped by 114 percent. It is surveyed that without plastics today’s cars would be at least 200 kg heavier. Plastics are loved mainly due to their lightweight property, which enable the automobile industry to save weight and thus, build energy-efficient automobiles. By statistics, 100 kg of plastics parts in cars reduces oil consumption by about 12 million tones each year in Europe, reducing CO2 emissions by 30 million tones a year.
In China, it is predicted that there is a 400 percent increase in vehicle production between 2004 and 2020, and those vehicles will need a lot of plastic parts. Thanks to exploding demand for plastic materials in recent years, China has become the world’s top market for plastics production machinery, accounting for 16.4% of the worlds’ total consumption. As demand for plastic products has increased, the plastic processing industrial sector has grown in response. The demand for high-tech, high precision plastic production machinery has risen. Local products cannot meet the rapidly growing demand in terms of quality and technology. China needs to import a great deal of equipment annually, accounting for around 56% of the total market. China’s importation of plastics production machinery has remained high in recent years.
US Plastic Container Sales Expected to Exceed 165 Billion Units in 2008
Plastics features lightweight, resistance to breakage and affordability, which makes them superior to glass, paperboard and metal as containers. Thanks to the property in packaging application superior to paperboard, metal and glass, plastic container demand in US is predicted to surpass 165 billion units in 2008, namely requiring more than 14 billion pounds of resin. By 2008, the demand for plastic bottles will approximate 110 billion units, universally boosted by the fast penetration of plastic bottles into smaller container sizes because of advances in barrier properties and consumer preferences for convenient and portable containers.
Besides, cans, squeeze tubes and trays also have promising prospects. Plastic cans are favored from wider applications like coffee, snack food and paint packaging, with a trend to take the place of metal ones. Plastic cups, bowls and tubs, mainly in polypropylene are increasingly demanded basically in single serving forms, such as fresh fruit, gelatin, pudding, dry snack foods, cereal, baby food and soups.
Among resins, HDPE, mostly-applied plastic container resin, continues to decline while PET and polypropylene celebrate robust growth due to speedy expansion in beverage applications. Polypropylene, with cost and weight reduction advantages over HDPE in dairy product containers and even cheaper than PET, is becoming more and more popular as the fastest-growing resin, widely applied in tubs, cups and bowls, trays, bottles and cans. The advantages of polypropylene bottles also include good clarity, natural translucency, moisture and impact resistance, chemical inertness, lightweight, durability and excellent dimensional stability. The demand of polypropylene resin for container production is predicted to climb 6.3% per year to 965 million pounds in 2008.
Global Plastic Pipe Output to Hit 6.3 Billion Meters by 2007
The building and construction (B/C) industries are major pipe users. Due to its low cost, durability, strength and easier for extrusion, Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) lasts to govern plastic pipe market as the most-frequently used resin, enjoying over two-thirds of plastic pipe demand. High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipes celebrate robust demand all over the world, favored by increasing uses of small-diameter pipe in natural gas transmission, as conduit for electrical and telecommunications applications, and as corrugated pipe for drains and sewers.
Global demand for plastic pipe is predicted to grow more than 4 percent per year through 2007, topping 6.3 billion meters. Although battling with other materials such as concrete, metals and vitrified clay thanks to its durability, ease to install and low cost, plastic pipes will continue to outpace growth for overall pipe demand, accounting for 47 percent of the total. General speaking, the growing momentum comes from some developing regions such as Latin America, Africa/Mid-east and the Asia/Pacific region due to ongoing infrastructure development. U.S. is the biggest consuming nation, with demand expected to increase 2.5 percent per year through 2007 to 15.5 billion feet, spurred by improved fixed investment activities, continued highway and street construction, and the rehabilitation of aging or obsolete sewer, drainage and municipal drinking water systems. In EU, the spending on construction will bode well thanks to improved economic conditions. Farewell to zero economic growth, Japanese plastic pipe demand will pick up, reversing years-long declines. China has become the world’s pipe manufacturing center, and is a major exporter of products to the U.S., as are other Asian producers.
In recent years, consolidation, restructuring and retrenchment in manufacturing and other industries also have adversely affected the pipe industries.
Electrical - Electrical Industry in Mixed Moods March 5, 2008
Posted by wenbi in : Electrical , add a commentWhile the electrical market lasts to mature, original equipment manufacturers (OEM), original design manufacturer (ODM) and moulders confront mounting pressure to reduce costs as struggling to achieve the optimal balance of functionality, appearance, productivity and cost reduction. However, dangers sometimes come with chances. Up-and-coming global outsourcing tide brings hopes to contract manufacturers. In facing the changeover, they react with mingled mood, half caution and half relief.
Motors Sizzling with Growing Replacement Demands
Although motors fix to their traditional design architecture, the innovation of miniature DC drive systems never ceases as industrial players continue to combat in achieving the next level of miniaturization, power to volume, and precision. Manufacturers work hard to customize to clients’ needs by providing a wide spectrum of custom and semi-standard options, including special bearing systems and lubrication, special commutation and brush systems, special coil voltages, extended temperature range versions, custom lead wires connectors, and cabling, modified shaft configurations, thru-shafts, and hollow shafts and modified motor geometry. Large IEC frame motors, which consist of frame sizes IEC80 to IEC500, account for the biggest share of market revenue and over the next few years is predicted to remain the major revenue contributor. Motor continues to be a sizzling market. According to the latest statistics from IMS Research, the low voltage segment of this market in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) is expected to reach $1.7 billion. A crucial factor that contributes to this market’s overall robustness is the high proportion of motors that are made each year for replacement.
Battery Powered up 6.6% through 2008
It is predicted that world demand for primary and secondary batteries will climb 6.6% percent per year through 2008 to $65 billion. The growth momentum mainly comes from some developing regions such as Africa and the Mid-East, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia/Pacific, boosted by regional robust economic growth. Especially, China, Argentina, India, Iran, South Korea and the Ukraine will play the crucial roles too grab the best gains. The markets in industrialized countries like U.S. EU and Japan will also benefited from higher income levels, which result in mounting sales and use of many battery-powered products.
In the past decade years, there were several new batteries launched such as nickel-metal hydride, secondary lithium, zinc-air designs, rechargeable alkaline and lithium-ion, widely applied in portable computers and portable cordless hand tools. First developed in the 1960s and commercialized in 1970s, lithium batteries now have six lithium battery types, approximately 30 commercialized electrode couples, and over thousand specific designs. The new generation of lithium batteries has large scale of sizes available from king-size cells used for powering vehicles or storing significant amounts of utility power to queen-size cells capable of powering micro-electromechanical gears. The lithium battery technology takes the place of once-popular alkaline batteries and NiCad batteries and some tentative uses of NiMH batteries because of its inherent higher energy density, compact and longer operational time to meet the demands of next-generation portable electronics.
The sales of consumer-orient battery will outpace other market segments, spurred by soaring demand for products used to power high-drain portable electronic devices. The demands of non-lead-acid secondary batteries tend to outpace that for primary and lead-acid secondary types through 2008, fueled by the popularity of multifunction handheld devices with reduced recharging time. Lead-acid batteries keep gaining market in terms of value thanks to stronger growth in automotive output as the uses rise from the population of some applications like backup power supplies and industrial motive power.
Relays & Switches Get Minimized
Relays and switches continue to get minimized as jog switches and joy sticks are shrinking in size in offering more sophisticated user interface with cell phones, PDA’s, and other consumer electronics. The trend toward smaller loads, voltage, and amperage signal a more significant design challenge to switch and relay manufacturers than minimizing their physical size. Two of the prime drivers heading to smaller loads are portable, rechargeable devices and the nearly ubiquitous. Switch sales improved 17% in the first half of 2004 and soared largely in Q2 2004 as compared to the same period of last year, yet the market has declined in Q3 and predicted to further slow down in 2005. Still the switch market should still outperform the overall economy in 2005.
OEM & ODM Booming with Globalization Outsourcing
It’s difficult to find any company that completely manufactures its own products as most manufacturers in Europe and the United States make use of outsourcing to lower overall product cost. In response to changing global economic climate, world major players focus on giving the OEM greater flexibility, improved cost effectiveness, reduced cycle time, reduced time to market, and sustained or higher quality. In this case, outsourcing must be a valuable component of manufacturing strategies. Especially when demand is stable, inventory-holding costs low and labor a high proportion of total costs–overseas production in low-wage countries is a very attractive idea. In addition, when in changing economic situation, outsourcing can minimize the risk of dramatic change on business circle. Industry players could free themselves to spotlight on their core competencies and tighten R&D capability.
The original design manufacturers (ODMs) market grows stronger than OEMs (original equipment manufacturer) thanks to they will diversify their product offerings to their OEMs customers. ODMs also tends to outpace the electronics manufacturing services (EMS) market by about 11.5% annually and climb from about $40 billion in 2003 to $101 billion in 2008 while ODMs expand globally by adding product offerings and strengthening their design capabilities. Nevertheless, the EMS market will keep growing while its sales increase from about $92 billion in 2003 to more than $160 billion in 2008.
Hardware Industry in Global Economic View January 31, 2008
Posted by wenbi in : Hardware , add a commentIn the recent months, people are watchful to what happens to the U.S. housing market, which is hammered by a downturn in sales and prices owing to the meltdown of sub-prime mortgages. Soaring energy prices, declining home values that make American people feel less wealthy, and a gloomy outlook for the US labor market all figure into more caution on the part of consumers. Economists are warning that the oncoming US economic slowdown will possibly bring a domino effect on the export growing momentum from China, Europe and Japan and other developing countries, hold back years of robust growth in these countries and also terminate the boom in commodity prices that benefited them over the past years. By this, it is expected that the troubled U.S. economy will finally deepen fears of a global recession in 2008.
Locking Systems
Security system is crucial to home safety. According to a survey conducted by Practical World Cologne, the top-2 items for effective burglary prevention are key cylinder in their home’s front and back doors, lockable windows and balcony doors. It is also important to the use of a security service and the installation of steel doors. Innovative lock cylinders make break-ins tougher than ever, by higher tamper-proof resistance with profile cylinder series incorporating an internal key stop. A brand-new electronic door-lock system is designed to reduce the risk of the “electro picking” which burglars use to open mechanical profile cylinders. The system also makes locking up easier and more convenient from inside and outside by the use of the rotary grip.
Pipes & Fittings
Strong growth in utilities construction will fuel pipe and valve demands. Global demand for plastic pipes is predicted to grow more than 4% annually, topping 6.3 billion meters. Pipes are the heart of household plumbing system. Steel pipe is used basically for carrying water, steam or gas in both black and galvanized finish. Galvanized pipes are usually used for water systems as black pipes for natural gas. Plastic pipes are popular among do-it-yourselfers since they are easy to work with, lightweight and durable. One of the major benefits of plastic pipes is that it will not rot or corrode. Couplings are used to connect all standard sizes of pipes. Bushings are inserted inside a coupling to reduce the size of the pipe. Elbow is used to change direction of pipe.
Industrial Valves
Demand for industrial valves is forecasted to rise 3.2% annually through 2011 to $16.3 billion. Steel and steel alloys will keep dominating as major valve construction materials due to their good performance in high temperature and high stress applications. Gate valves have a sliding wedge that is moved across the waterway, usually by a threaded spindle or stem. Globe and angle valves are used while a valve must be opened and closed frequently under high water pressure. Globe valves are used to control volume of flow. Similar to a globe valve, an angle valve has its ports at right angles and is installed at a turn in piping to reduce the necessity of an elbow. Check valves allow flow in one direction only and are used to prevent water pumped to an overhead tank from flowing back when the pump stops.
Bearings
Bearings are primarily applied to ease friction between moving parts or to carry load in certain industries such as those that handle materials. They are largely used in automobile industry, followed by general engineering, electrical industries, heavy industry and railways industry. The average bearing lifespan has largely prolonged thanks to the use of improved product designs, superior quality materials such as cleaner, stronger steels and better lubricants. Ball, roller and plain bearing demands are expected to grow 3.2% per year through 2011 to $11.0 billion. An upturn in nonresidential investment expenditures will help boost demand for bearings used in both original equipment manufacturing (OEM) and maintenance/repair/operations (MRO) applications.
Industrial Fasteners
Industrial fasteners are primarily used in automobile, aerospace, electric appliance, electrical and electronics industries. In the U.S., auto industry consumes about 42% of the industrial fasteners. The consumption of industrial fasteners is also related to the construction of commercial buildings and infrastructure. Spurred by healthy growth in nonresidential construction and aerospace equipment, US demand for industrial fasteners is expected to reach $12.9 billion in 2011. The demand for application-specific standard fasteners will continue to grow at a quicker pace than other standard fastener types, as more original equipment manufacturers replace commodity items with specialized designs. China demand for industrial fasteners is projected increase 9.4% annually through 2010 to RMB 40.2 billion, outpacing growth in most other regions of the world, driven by fast growth in industrial machinery, automobiles and electrical and electronic products.
To fastener manufacturers, raw material cost accounts for a large proportion of overall manufacturing costs. In the recent years, we’re witnessing a sustaining upswing on the carbon steel, alloy steel, along with alloying elements including aluminum, titanium, nickel, copper and the cost of most forms of energy used in the manufacturing process. This will impose a heavy pressure on most of industrial players.
The 12th International Automobile & Manufacturing Technology Exhibition October 31, 2007
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As LEDs Meet Lighting… October 18, 2007
Posted by wenbi in : Lighting , add a commentttnet.net - [2006/04/07]
Booming building and manufacturing activities and a revolutionary transition to energy-efficient products pave a bright road for lighting fixtures. The global market for light sources of all types (incandescent, fluorescent, etc.) reaches $12-15 billion, growing by 2-3% per year, while the lighting fixture industry is forecasted to increase by 6.2% annually through 2008 to $85 billion. Although the lighting industry has a long way to go before it is in a position to accept LEDs as light sources for general use, industry experts predict that energy-efficient LEDs will sooner or later sweep away all other forms of lighting, up to and including household lights. High-brightness light-emitting diodes (HB-LEDs) mainly aim at illuminating application. HB-LEDs offer lower power consumption, longer operating life and environmental advantages yet use up only one-tenth the energy incandescent lights consume. The demand of HB-LEDs lights is driven by their increasing penetration in market segments such as mobile appliances, LCD backlights, automotive lighting and signage. In 2004, the market for HB-LEDs in all applications reached $3.6 billion. By 2008, the overall HB LED market will be nearly $6 billion, of which 12% will be used for lighting.
The very high performance white LEDs are now widely available thanks to the hybrid of high brightness blue emitters and high efficiency phosphors. Conventional LED lights, which focus LED application on illumination field, are also making inroads into the market of traditional incandescent and fluorescent lights. In spite of facing competition from better-performing lamps, including halogen types and compact fluorescents, certain fluorescent lamps tend to show persistent growth, including compact fluorescent lamps, which will benefit from increasing penetration in the large residential lamp market.
The U.S.
U.S. demand for lamps is forecasted to inch up by 3.1% per year through 2009 to $5.2 billion. The gains will be stimulated by robust nonresidential and non-building construction spending, along with a healthy outlook for the production of lamp-containing manufactured goods like motor vehicles, transportation equipment and electronic products. Moreover, the demands for lamps will be spurred by continued consumer and government focus on energy efficiency, which supports sales of more efficient, and more costly, fluorescent and high intensity discharge (HID) lamps. Filament lamps such as incandescent and halogen types tend to keep to account for slightly more of value demand through 2009. Even under the strong challenge of better-performing lamps, including halogen types and compact fluorescents, Incandescent lamps will maintain the single most commonly used type of lamp as a result of widespread use in residential applications. Halogens will last to erode incandescent lamp market share in both building and automotive applications, marking strong growth through 2009.
Nevertheless, the growing momentum will remain somewhat limited by the highly mature nature of the market while confronting rising competition from alternative lighting technologies such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) and fiber optic lighting systems. In concerning about energy efficiency and longer lifespan, the US government schedules to equip LED at all traffic lights by the end of 2006 so as to save 750 dollars a year each.
TAIWAN
Taiwan sees its LED industry grow rapidly over just the last few years to become the second-largest supplier behind Japan, which is forecast to be responsible for almost half of world production at 47%. In fact, Taiwan dominates the global production of InGaAlP HB-LEDs, with more than 80% share, followed by Japan and Mainland China. The overall value of LEDs manufactured in Taiwan is to exceed $1 billion in 2005, accounting for 25% of the global LED market as the second-largest supplier after Japan, according to the Industrial Technology Intelligence Services (ITIS). The output of high-brightness LEDs is nearly $1.6 billion and is predicted to grow to $2.64 billion in 2008. Ultra-brightness LEDs are to make up 22% of the world market by 2008. The LEDs for general illumination will approximate $844 million by 2008, while automobile signage and backlighting occupying more than 60% of the market throughout the forecast period. Forecasts also see the LED market almost doubling from USD 3.2 billion in 2004 to USD 5.6 billion in 2008.
CHINA
China’s rapid economic growth results in an urgent need for energy, which push the government to aggressively adopt the solid-state lighting as an ultimate energy-efficient solution as 12% of electricity currently goes to lighting. Over the next few years, LEDs will account for 30% of domestic lighting market, aiming to save 58 billion kilowatt-hours per year. So far, the government has invested $725 million in solid-state lighting industry, in part to prepare for the Olympics in Beijing in 2008. In 2004, outdoors decorative lighting makes up for nearly a quarter of the Chinese LED market, in total value of $1.4 billion. China is to produce 65 billion units of HB-LEDs by 2007. The production bases concentrate on mainly in Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, Shanghai and Fujian.
Sizzling Trends of Houseware
Posted by wenbi in : Houseware , add a commentttnet.net - [2006/01/24]
More is More
The cocooning trend, which dominated the home furnishings and housewares market for the past 20 years, is waning as luxury consumers turn their energy beyond the home to reconnect with the outside world. Instead, we see a new maxim- more is more, which is elaborated in colors, materials and decorations. This newborn strength, not merely a concept, encourages indulging in luxury and opulence, in quenching our thirst for romanticism, security and warmth. No more sobriety, coolness and purism. Here we see a lot in Tendence Lifestyle 2005. For example, rich décors grace porcelain, glass, textiles and furniture with mystical mauve and somber black and red combinations serving to focus on opulent grandeur. Crystal chandeliers, glass, colored light and reflections cast glamour to the home. Baroque and Art Deco elements are vivid in both form and ornamentation, with up-and-coming materials and trendy colors to bring a purely new look. Black is a must when it comes to luxurious ambiance, enabling an element of drama.
Natural and Outdoor
The desire for returning to nature is reflected on the latest topical shapes and materials such as tree branch candlesticks, dishes, in tree-trunk look, laminated coconut shells and jellyfish shaped bags and lamps. Organic designs are still fashionable for china and glass. Natural colors also jump to the appearance of Houseware. According to a survey, product color evokes a strong emotional response from consumers and is a major factor in more than 60% of purchases. Diversified shades of brown, warm red, amber and honey decorate styling houseware with seasonal hues and scenes for autumn and winter. Summertime green and floral decorations are seen on dishes, cushions and oversized vases, which refresh people and add new life into the house. The most popular color combinations are apple to meadow green with white with shades of yellow and orange being used to set accents. Leaves and blossoms are painted on porcelain and glass products to bring people’s imagination outside the house by blurring the boundaries between indoors and outdoors. Bowls and vases serve as herb beds with simple solutions available with automatic watering.
Retro & Nostalgia
This resurgence of nostalgic elements is consistence with times of economic uncertainty. Retro and nostalgia trend also echoes with people’s getting tire of mass-produced stuffs as a return to luxury. The good old time reminds us of memorable bygone life, inspiriting things that will be fashionable tomorrow in the modern world. Nostalgia theme keeps digging deeper into the past in search of quality, class, and harmony. Accessories from our grandmother’s era, including decorated biscuit dishes and ornately printed tablecloths, are making a comeback. Although stainless steel grows popular, a cookware old-timer is making new waves. The most common metal for pots and pans in the Western world was iron until the 20th century but as new materials occupied the kitchen, this long-standing cooking material started to retract. Nevertheless, with improved technology and education on its proper uses, this old favorite is finding its way back into favor. Now, old-fashioned cast iron frying pans come back and sell well just like in the days when our grandma used to be. The old-fashioned black cast-iron pans hold heat well and it doesn’t cool down when putting the meat in it, it simply sears, and meat caramelizes beautifully. It also ensures evenly cooked cakes and breads.
Healthy Eating
The desire to eat healthier is still a focus. According to an American survey, 27% of people say they are conscious of calories in their meals, the highest level since 1999. Obviously, overweight is a global issue. People are aware that frequent eating-outs may result in overweight. For eating healthier, they turn to eat at home more, which drives more interests in learning how to cook healthier at home. That sounds good news for cookware and tableware industries. To avoid mindless munching, experts even suggest people make a conscious choice to sit down and savor every bite. Placing a portion of chips on delicate china, dishes or with silverware help transfer the attention on tableware rather than eating the whole. Top quality hand-crafted products are clearly distinguishable as such and special value is placed on a quality feel. Anything that provides a more flexible attitude towards eating will continue to be popular.
