SMC and BSL in strategic partnership
Sami
Matsu Corporation (SMC) has formed a new strategic partnership with
BSL, the UK’s number one distributor of industrial engineering products,
appointing the company as national distributor for the UK.
This
means that BSL will carry SMC’s complete range of valves, cylinders,
filters, lubricators, fittings, instrumentation, process and vacuum
products, and these will be available through the BSL network of sales
branches. Same and next day delivery will be available from BSL’s state-of-the-art
distribution centre in Wolverhampton, and a nationwide network of over
100 sales branches. In addition, BSL has a technical support centre,
which includes in-house pneumatic system design with full computer-aided
design facilities, supported by on-site technical support from Regional
Specialists, and SMC’s own support team.
Underwater
robotic gliders to be a boon for marine science
Researchers
are perfecting innovative gliders that can swoop and soar on journeys
covering hundreds of miles and lasting for weeks – all deep beneath
the ocean waves. These next-generation gliders are being developed to
fly just as gracefully as their airborne counterparts, diving and climbing
on broad wings that slice not air but water.
The
submarine robots pump ballast water in and out to subtly change their
buoyancy. That enables them to alternately rise and fall through the
ocean as they glide forward. The battery-powered gliders have quickly
lured the interest of marine scientists who have fitted early models
with instruments that measure ocean currents, salinity and temperature.
Scientists hope that eventually the gliders could be used to monitor
pollution levels, keep tabs on plankton blooms and, quite literally,
swim with the fishes.
Hydraulic
fluid goes a healthy green, thanks to Shell
Shell
Oils UK has launched a new range of biodegradable, synthetic hydraulic
fluids, to help construction and quarrying companies reduce the risk
of contaminating forests and waterways.
The
new Shell Naturelle range has been formulated using synthetic esters
and a specially tailored system of additives, to ensure complete environmental
compatibility. Shell Naturelle will be of particular benefit to hydraulic
operations in the construction sector as the environment agencies clamour
for the use biodegradable hydraulic fluids in construction projects.
The Shell Naturelle range includes hydraulic fluids, greases, gear oils,
transmission oils and cleaners.
One-year
hydraulics course to to develop new workforce
International
hydraulics company Goldquest is on track to offer its first one-year
hydraulics training course next year. The course, which includes theory
and practical, is seen as a way to tackle the skills shortage in the
South African hydraulics industry.
“The
local hydraulics industry is experiencing a number of challenges in
skills training, due to the fact that there is no tertiary education
qualification offered in the field,” said David Leach, MD, Goldquest.
He adds the one-year course will train participants on the hardware,
as well as new electronic hydraulic equipment, preparing them to enter
the industry.
Tool
companies on Atlas Copco’s acquisitions radar
Sweden-based
Atlas Copco AB is actively looking for acquisitions for its Industrial
Technique business area that comprises its power, electric and pneumatic
tools operations. The company is looking for prospects
primarily
in tool accessories, an increasingly important driver for profitable
growth for the Industrial Technique business area. However, although
the company is looking for acquisitions within accessories, they are
not very interested in acquisitions within tools since it takes too
long to get synergies there, according Goeran Gezelius, head of the
company’s industrial techniques business area. The return on capital
employed of the business area is 30 per cent excluding goodwill, in
the current quarter.
Electrolux
identifies India as a components sourcing base
Swedish
white goods company AB Electrolux has said it has identified India as
a sourcing base for auto components used in its outdoor division which
makes garden and forestry equipment like chain saws, lawn mowers and
lawn tractors.
The
company currently sources $9 billion worth of parts, of which 30 per
cent will now be sourced from the Asia-Pacific, including India, it
said in a statement. A 20-member team from the company’s operations
in northern Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific will be in India
for the national vendor selection and sourcing meet. Over the last few
months, the company has already ordered a million dollar worth of goods
from Indian company Abilities (India) Pistons and Rings while many more
components are being actively considered for outsourcing from India
by the company, AB Electrolux.
PSU
oil companies to expand, invest heavily in exploration
Public
sector oil companies will invest Rs 25,000 crore per annum through the
Tenth Five Year Plan period (2002-07) in oil and gas exploration, refinery
capacity expansion and building pipelines, according to the Petroleum
Secretary, BK Chaturvedi. “In the Ninth Five Year Plan, Rs 50,000 crore
investment was made and in the next 5 years more than Rs 1,20,000 crore
will be invested,” Mr Chaturvedi said at a conference organised by the
Confederation of Indian Industry.
In
the refining segment, Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation
and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation are expanding their Panipat, Mumbai
and Visakhapatnam refineries respectively. In the exploration business,
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation is getting into deep sea oil and gas
exploration in a big way.
Industrial
production logs 6.5% growth in September
Industry
continues to exhibit buoyant growth performance, with the Index of Industrial
Production registering a year-on-year increase of 6.5 per cent during
September. Quick estimates of the index, released by the Central Statistical
Organisation show that the 6.5 per cent overall growth (6.2 per cent
for September 2002) has been powered by manufacturing, which has grown
by 6.8 per cent.
For
the April-September 2003 period, industry has notched up an overall
growth of 5.8 per cent (5.4 per cent for September 2002), with the corresponding
first-half growth rates for manufacturing, mining and electricity at
6.3 per cent (5.5 per cent for 2002), 4.2 per cent (6.5 per cent for
2002) and 2.9 per cent (3.4 per cent for 2002) respectively.
L&T
bags contracts for pipeline and water projects
Larsen
& Toubro (L&T) and Nagarjuna Construction Company have bagged
two different contracts for bringing Godavari waters from the Kanithi
reservoir to Narava filtration plant through a pipeline. Amid high drama,
the Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation general council rejected the
two financial conditions set by the lowest tenderer, Indian Hume Pipe
Company in both the contracts.
L&T
also bagged the main Rs 582 crore Visakhapatnam industrial water project
to divert the Godavari waters from East Godavari to Kanithi reservoir
through a pipeline.
SBI
asks SIEMA to submit proposal to procure pumps
State
Bank of India (SBI) has asked the Southern India Engineering Manufacturers’
Association (SIEMA) to submit a detailed proposal on procurement of
pumps. SBI has been mandated by the Centre to lead a consortium of bankers
to negotiate bulk purchase of farm implements with their manufacturers.
G
Rajendran, President, SIEMA, said that he expected around 50,000 to
1 lakh pumpsets to be procured under the consortium approach in a year
from the introduction of the scheme, if SIEMA’s initiative bears fruit.
He said while the association would act as a nodal agency for facilitating
the purchase, it would be left to the bankers’ consortium and individual
manufacturer’s to reach a mutually agreeable settlement on the quantum
of pumps to be procured from each of them, the price and the models.
Only branded pumpsets having the ISI quality stamp were considered by
the association.
....CONTD
