News » World News IEC publishes standard defining IE4 motor efficiency level
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has published a new standard which, for the first time, officially defines IE4 Super Premium efficiency motors, as well as eight-pole motors with outputs from 0.12kW to 1MW for operation on 50Hz and 60Hz supplies.
Asia set to overtake Americas in machine-safety market
Asia will overtake the Americas this year to become the world’s second-largest regional market for machine-safety components, according to a new analysis by IHS.
Schneider Electric is in talks to sell its CST sensors business
Schneider Electric has confirmed it is in talks to sell a majority stake in its Custom Sensors and Technologies (CST) business, which includes the brands BEI, Crouzet, Crydom, Kavlico, Newall and System Donner Inertial.
ABB invests in ‘disruptive’ 3D motor technology
ABB’s venture capital arm, ABB Technology Ventures, has invested in a US company, Persimmon Technologies, which is developing a 3D deposition technology for producing motor components.
Statement clarifies EU motor efficiency Regs change
Beama – the trade body that represents the electrotechnical industry in the UK – has secured clarification on a recently published European Commission amendment to its Ecodesign regulations that lay down minimum efficiency levels for low-voltage electric motors sold in Europe.
US industry scores biggest gains for almost four years
During February, the US manufacturing sector achieved its biggest improvement in business conditions for 45 months, according to the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index. The February PMI was 57.1 – a significant improvement over the January figure of 53.7 – indicating that business has bounced back following a weather-related slowdown in January.
Eurozone manufacturing recovery slows slightly
Manufacturing in the Eurozone region experienced a slight slowdown in its rate of expansion during February, from January’s 32-month high, but continued to recover for the eighth successive month. The latest Markit PMI (Purchasing Managers’ Index) for manufacturing in the Eurozone, reports an expansion in six of the seven nations in which data is collected (the Greek PMI is released later).
Obama announces $460m for two manufacturing hubs
US President Barack Obama has announced two new public-private manufacturing innovation institutes – one, in Chicago, that will focus on digital manufacturing and design technologies; the other, in Detroit, that will focus on advanced lightweight metals – as well as a competition for the first of four more institutes aimed at boosting advanced manufacturing in the US. The two new institutes will together be supported by $140m of federal funding, combined with more than $140m from the private sector, universities and other organisations.
MCB and RCD market heads towards $10bn
The global market for miniature circuit-breakers (MCBs) and residual current devices (RCDs) will be worth nearly $10bn by 2018, according to a new report from IHS.
Global sales of industrial robots hit a new record in 2013
The global demand for industrial robots reached an all-time-high in 2013, with around 168,000 being sold, according to the latest statistics from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). The figure represents a 5% increase on 2012.
Telcos will help to drive M2M communications
Telecommunications companies (telcos) are going to play an increasingly important role in providing factory-floor communications and driving the growth of the Internet of Things in the manufacturing sector, predicts a new report from the analyst, Frost & Sullivan.
Siemens launches $100m fund to back start-ups
Siemens has set up a $100m venture capital fund will that will invest in young and dynamic companies that “have the potential to change the landscape of manufacturing and industrial automation”. The Industry of the Future Fund will complement the company’s existing venture capital funds which typically invest in more mature start-ups.
Motion control shipments 'fell by 5% in 2013'
Global shipments of motion control products fell by 5% during 2013, according to new statistics released by the industry trade group, the Motion Control Association (MCA).
€1.4bn deal adds Goodyear Engineered brand to ContiTech
The German automotive and power transmission giant Continental is buying Veyance Technologies – which sells products under the Goodyear Engineered Products brand – for around €1.4bn. The acquisition, from the US-based Carlyle Group, will join Continental’s ContiTech division, boosting its industrial presence. The combined business will have sales worth around €5.4bn, and will employ about 39,000 people worldwide.
EU machine-makers want end to deadlock on policing of imports
The EU machinery industry is warning that its competitiveness could suffer seriously as a result of the EU’s continued failure to introduce a better market surveillance system to prevent the entry and circulation of non-compliant products in the Union.
