Hyundai’s global production to top 5 million units
South
Korea’s largest auto manufacturer has increased the number of its overseas
plants in key markets, including the US, China, Europe and India, as
part of the company’s efforts to boost exports and strengthen its regional
management systems to quickly respond to changes in varying markets
around the world. In the US, Hyundai Motor is building a $1 billion
worth automotive assembly and manufacturing plant in Alabama. It is
also preparing strategic positions for European customers. The company
set up its new European headquarters in Germany in September, 2003,
stepping up its drive to strengthen sales and marketing in the reigon.
Hyundai Motor India acts as a global export hub for the Hyundai Motor
Company. The cars are shipped to Europe, Algeria, Morocco, Nepal, Sri
Lanka and Indonesia, not to mention the local Indian market. Hyundai
is also eyeing the Chinese market. According to company officials, Hyundai
Motor would nurture the Chinese subsidiary carefully in order to achieve
its target of becoming one of the world’s top five auto giants with
an annual production capacity of 5 million units by 2010.
Singapore’s
manufacturing sector stays upbeat
Singapore’s manufacturing sector, a vital engine of its export-oriented
economy, grew for the sixth straight month in November 2003 although
the pace was slightly slower than in October. The Purchasing Managers’
Index, a key indicator of future manufacturing activity, stood at 53.2
points in November, lower than the October reading of 53.9 but still
above the key 50-point level, said the Singapore Institute of Purchasing
and Materials Management. A reading above 50 indicates the sector is
expanding. The lower reading for November was partially due to a decline
in new orders and new export orders, said the institute. Crucially for
the city-state, the electronics sector expanded for the fifth consecutive
month with a reading of 54.3 points. Electronics is a major contributor
to the manufacturing output of Singapore and forms the bulk of the island’s
exports to its biggest markets, including the US and Europe. The manufacturing
sector accounts for almost a quarter of the island’s $90- billion annual
output.
Australian
manufacturing ends year on a high note
Australia’s manufacturing sector has ended the year on a high note but
businesses are suffering from the effects of the rising local dollar,
a new survey has found. The Australian Industry Group – PricewaterhouseCoopers
quarterly survey of the Australian manufacturing sector indicated a
strong growth in the December quarter, improving on a somewhat flat
performance in the previous quarter. The net balance of companies reporting
production increases rose to 23 per cent in the December quarter, seasonally
adjusted, from 11 per cent in the September quarter, with almost one
in three reporting a jump in demand. Underpinning the performance was
solid domestic demand, with car sales and construction activity pushing
up new orders, sales and production.
Chartered
joins hands with ZTE for integrated circuits
Chartered
Semiconductor Manufacturing, one of the world’s major semiconductor
foundries, and ZTE Corporation, a telecommunication equipment manufacturer
and network solutions provider in China, recently announced their collaboration
to produce integrated circuits (IC), targeting switches and routers.
Several IC products based on various technology nodes have completed
process qualification, and production is planned for the first quarter
of 2004. These products utilise Chartered’s proven BiCMOS and analog
processes. As part of their ongoing collaboration, the companies continue
to engage in various qualification and prototyping activities involving
multiple products and technology nodes. Recognising the needs of the
semiconductor market in China, Chartered’s goal is to provide complete
yet localised solutions that will enable fast-growing semiconductor
companies, to commercialise their products both within China and globally,
said Bo Cheng, Vice President and General Manager, Asia Pacific at Chartered.
BMW
to build $17 million worth research centre
BMW
says it intends to build a development and testing centre worth $17
million on property adjacent to its Spartanburg County auto plant in
the US. A BMW spokesperson said the new centre would electronically
link the production facilities with BMW’s North American suppliers.
BMW announced in September 2002 that it would invest $400 million more
and create 400 additional jobs in South Carolina. The proposed development
centre is part of that investment. The South Carolina Department of
Commerce says it will ask the South Carolina Joint Bond Review Committee
to approve a $103.5 million incentive package for BMW.
Veterans
debate future of European manufacturing
Stakeholders from across Europe gathered in Milan, Italy, for the Manufacture
2003 conference, held from December 1-2, 2003. The aim was to reach
a consensus on the direction that the manufacturing industry should
take and the research priorities that would guide its future development.
A broad vision for such an evolution was outlined in a working document
prior to the event. The concept of the conference was transforming the
manufacturing sector from being resource-based to knowledge-based. The
key success factors in this process were identified as increased and
better-integrated research activities, targeted international cooperation,
and an improved policy framework. The EU Commissioner for Research,
Philippe Busquin, endorsed each of these aims in his concluding address
to the conference. According to him, the most obvious approach for achieving
this was through the establishment of an European technology platform
for manufacturing. Mr Busquin announced that he would be launching a
three-month process of consultation based on the final working document
produced during the course of the conference. This would ensure the
broadest communication possible with the various interested parties,
he said. He further committed the Commission to producing an action
plan for manufacturing technologies, following the approach that has
already been applied to environmental technologies.
Metrologic
Instruments opens shop in China
US based Metrologic Instruments has announced that it is expanding its
manufacturing and research facility in Suzhou, China, and has opened
a second sales and support office in Guangzhou (Canton) China. The company
engaged in optical image capture and processing solutions that design,
manufacture and market sophisticated imaging and scanning solutions
for a variety of point-of-sale, commercial and industrial applications
using a broad array of laser, holographic and vision-based technologies.
The company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Metro Technologies is located
in Suzhou, China, near Shanghai and currently employs over 300 people.
Joseph Sawitsky, Vice President, Manufacturing, Metrologic Instruments,
commented that new product introductions, new markets, and increasing
market share are fuelling the company’s need for additional production
in both their facilities in New Jersey and China. The expansion of the
Suzhou facility will considerably increase the manufacturing floor space
in order to take further advantage of lower cost production.
Thailand’s
capacity utilisation to reach 70% in 2004
Thailand’s
gross manufacturing product will grow by 16.8 per cent next year, up
from 12.4 per cent this year, the highest since 1993, according to Santi
Vilassakdanont, Vice Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries.
Average capacity utilisation for the industrial sector will be 70-75
per cent next year mainly due to rising domestic and overseas demand
for consumer goods. As of October this year, capacity utilisation was
46 per cent. Outstanding performance is being seen in automobiles and
parts with demand growing significantly as a result of higher purchasing
power, lower interest rates and aggressive marketing competition, while
exports of the goods are also expanding due to the shift of production
facilities of many automakers. The Government’s continuing effort to
promote Thailand as the Detroit of Asia has also spurred growth of parts
manufacturing such as tyres and batteries. The outlook for electrical
and electronic goods remains healthy, especially for electrical appliances,
which will grow in line with the economic recovery and rising exports.
