Advantech Modularizes Manufacturing Process in China Factory

Industrial computing solution provider Advantech has modularized manufacturing process at its factory in Kunshan, eastern China, to cope with frequent changes in production for small-volume diverse-model orders with short lead time, according to the company.

The modularization of manufacturing process is through dividing production equipment units into modules and combining equipment modules into optimal production lines depending on products, Advantech said. Such production lines consisting of equipment modules are matched with modularized industrial computers for process control and can be easily changed, Advantech noted.

In line with modularization of manufacturing process, Advantech has developed an electronic SOP (standard operating procedures) solution to enable production line directors, via scanning product barcodes, to choose the corresponding e-SOP edition from SOP database, Advantech said.

Through process-control modularized industrial computers, the e-SOP edition corresponding to a product is automatically downloaded on a screen before every worker at all sections of the entire manufacturing process. The e-SOP edition displays operating instructions relevant to each section to minimize workers' errors due to unfamiliarity with work arising from changes in production line, Advantech indicated

Optoscribe Opens New Facility in Scotland

The Livingston-based site includes cleanroom facilities for laser processing, characterization and assembly of photonics component.

Optoscribe, a Scottish-based manufacture of low-cost, high-volume, glass-based integrated photonics, has opened a new facility to accommodate rapid growth and future expansion plans.

The new 7,400ft2 building includes a Class 1,000 (ISO Class 3) laser processing cleanroom and a Class 10,000 (ISO Class 4) assembly, characterization, test and assembly cleanroom. In addition, the new facility has ample expansion space to accommodate the company’s aggressive growth plans over the next few years.

According to Nick Psaila, CEO of Optoscribe the growing demand for bandwidth intensive data services together with the proliferation of data-hungry mobile devices and the advent of cloud computing has meant that optical communication networks are under increasing pressure to expand capacity whilst simultaneously reducing energy usage and cost.

This, together with the rapid advance of large data centers as the hub of both vast information storage and big-data computation has pushed forward the widespread adoption of optical interconnect technology to “stitch together” the data center communication fabric.

“Our new facility provides us with the growing room we need to scale up in line with the growing demand for optical interconnects.”

Formed as a spin-out in 2010 from the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences at Heriot Watt University, Optoscribe, received investment funding from Archangels, Par Equity and the Scottish Investment Bank in April 2016.

University of Michigan Energy Institute's Battery Lab

Cost: $550,000-600000

Size: 700 sq. ft.

Project team: Scientific Climate Systems, Munters, Innovative Air Systems

Developing a dry room for an advanced lithium-ion battery production lab is a precise task requiring ultra-low dew point levels. The task becomes monumental when that lab project also required renovating an existing space, isolating it from the rest of an occupied building and placing needed mechanical equipment two floors above.

Working together, the teams from Scientific Climate Systems, Munters and Innovative Air Systems provided the expertise needed to design and develop a world-class lab and ensure consistent and accurate conditions were met.

The setting for this complex assignment—the University of Michigan Energy Institute's Battery Lab in Ann Arbor, Mich. The facility offers university researchers, materials scientists and engineers, as well as suppliers and manufacturers, state-of-the-art equipment to develop less expensive and longer lasting energy-storage devices for grid storage, transportation and consumer products.

Houston-based Scientific Climate Systems, which specializes in designing and installing precise low humidity environmental conditions for dry rooms, with more than 200 installations worldwide, was selected to design and build the dry room. The work encompassed a complete integration, mechanical systems, controls for monitoring and adapting to ambient conditions and all the equipment needed to achieve design requirements.

Developing the 700 sq. ft. lab presented several unique challenges. For one, the project required converting an existing, second story space in a three-story building into a dry room. Second, the mechanical equipment had to be located on the roof and connected to the second floor of the building without disturbing occupants on the third floor. In addition, all of the equipment had to be specified to fit on the available roof space and designed to operate with minimal sound and visual impact.

The design of the lab took more than a year with several meetings to review design concepts and details to the installation schedule and coordination with a local contractor to arrange space on the roof and use of an industrial crane to lift the mechanical equipment in place.

Where there were other functional areas within the building, multiple small access hatches were required in the dry room to adjust utilities associated with these rooms and other labs. These had to be gasket sealed along with the room enclosure to maintain conditions.

With proper sealing in place, the dry room requires only 200 CFM of positive pressure to avoid moisture infiltration that would affect conditions inside. To achieve this level of control required a large amount of mechanical equipment, including an advanced dehumidification system, all strategically placed on the building’s rooftop.

Completion date: Aug. 1, 2015

Huber Doubles Production at Offenburg Site

For Peter Huber Kältemaschinenbau, one of the main pillars of its success is ongoing product innovation, claim the company. Energy management systems save resources; intelligent plug and play technology minimizes downtime; sophisticated safety functions guarantee safe operation; and modern communications protocols facilitate smooth data exchange with process control systems and Industry 4.0 environments.

Chair of the Board Daniel Huber said: “Our technical expertise is based on our core disciplines of thermodynamics and microelectronics. We conduct basic research in these areas and develop optimized and sustainable solutions for customers around the world.”

In 2016, the company achieved double-digit growth rates, was acclaimed best employer and a top 100 innovator, receiving the Grand Prix for Medium-Sized Companies, along with the Environmental Award of the State of Baden-Wurttemberg.

Huber’s market growth at is being supported by doubling the production capacity at the Offenburg production site. Construction work on new production facilities and an administration building have already started.

In addition, Huber's Supervisory Board adopted the suggestion of the Board to acquire the German company Van-der- Heijden Labortechnik, manufacturer of circulation coolers and system separators.

With this acquisition, the product range at Huber has been expanded once again. Van-der- Heijden Labortechnik GmbH has established itself particularly in the cooling of analytical instruments and systems and has a global client base.

The chemistry is right – the people and the corporate philosophies fit each other.

Along with an extensive range of high-grade standard products, Van-der- Heijden’s particular strength lies in the area of special designs. Customers are provided with comprehensive advice and individual configurations or customized solutions to master their temperature control tasks.

“Their product portfolio complements the portfolio of our group," said Huber. "In analytics and when it comes down to the cost-effective dissipation of process heat, Van-der- Heijden is already one of the best.”

“The operations buildings are functional, based on ecological principles and are in great condition. The chemistry is right – the people and the corporate philosophies fit each other.”

Linde Invests Millions in China

Linde Group through its electronics gases joint venture in China, Linde LienHwa, is expanding its commitment to China and the Asia Pacific region through investments of over €110 million. The capital is being allocated for new on-site gas production facilities in major electronics manufacturing clusters in the eastern and central provinces of China. These investments with new and established customers will support multiple long-term contracts to provide electronics gases to leading-edge foundry, memory and flat panel display fabs.

“These significant capital investments underscore Linde’s continued commitment to our business in Asia Pacific in general, and China, in particular, and build upon earlier investments and capabilities in the region, including the recent start-up of our state-of-the-art R&D center in Taichung, Taiwan. Asia will continue to be a growth driver for Linde and we will continue to invest in Asia,” says Sanjiv Lamba, Member of the Executive Board of Linde AG and COO for Asia Pacific.

“Linde’s over €110 million in new on-site plant investments demonstrates our commitment to the rapidly developing Chinese electronics manufacturing sector. The supply contracts that Linde has secured in China validate our customers’ confidence in the safety, quality and reliability of our gases supply and systems,” says Stan Tang, president and general manager of Linde LienHwa in China.

Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI), the global trade association that represents the electronics industry, estimates that more than 50% of new semiconductor fab investments in the next few years will be in China. China has made a large commitment to the electronics industry through the National IC Industry Investment Fund, more commonly known as The Big Fund, where it has pledged around €20 billion from 2014 through 2017 to build the semiconductor industry in China. An additional €82 billion is expected to be added from private equity funds and local governments.

Linde LienHwa, together with Linde’s Engineering Division, will design and construct these facilities. Linde Spectra-N nitrogen generators have the highest level of operational efficiency, enabling lowest cost of ownership and reducing environmental footprint. These projects include multiple gaseous nitrogen plants, with a combined capacity of over 110,000 Nm3/h, plus several other bulk gas supply systems. All the plants will be on stream by the end of 2017.

Linde and its joint venture partners in China currently deliver gases solutions and systems to more than a dozen electronic production facilities across the major segments of the electronics industry, including those in semiconductor, display, solar and LED. Linde is also committed to meeting the electronic special gas (ESG) needs of its growing Chinese customer base. For example, Linde produces bulk amounts of key ESGs like ammonia and nitrous oxide in China, South Korea and Taiwan to ensure local supply and regional supply chain security.

Linde Electronics, the global electronics business of The Linde Group, supplies the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturers in Taiwan, Korea and the U.S., and is securing a leading position in China with international and domestic manufacturers. Linde Electronics is committed to building an infrastructure of specialty gas capabilities and co-investment partnerships in China.

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