Why KOREA PACK- Korea Int’l Packaging Exhibition? KOREA PACK's scale is 30% increased than last edition by unifying Seoul Pack which is packaging machinery trade show organized by KPMA (Korea Packaging Machinery Association). With 1,500 companies from 25 countries and 3,700 booths, KOREA PACK 2016 is the largest scale packaging exhibition in Asia. Especially, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy selected KOREA PACK as one of the "Global Top Exhibition" as it has the possibility of becoming one of the globally renowned exhibition with competitiveness.At this exhibition, visitors can realize that the packaging industry is the unsung helper of global manufacturers. EXHIBITS Packaging Machinery> Weighing / Counting Equipment for Packaging,Filling Machines,Canning Machines,Bottling Machines,Pre-made Bag / Continuous Type Bag Form-Fill-Seal Machines,Paper Container Form-Fill-Seal Machines,Blister Packaging Machines,Sealing Machines,Labeling Machines,Shrink Packaging Machines,Overwrapping Machines,Vacuum Packaging Machines,Cartoning Machines,Other Individual / Internal Packaging Machines,Case Loading Machines,Strapping Machines,Tying Machines,Banding Machines,Taping Machines,Case Gluing Machines,Boxing Machines,Box Forming Machines,Other Outer Packing Machines Packaging Materials> Wrapping Paper / Bag Base Paper,Paper Bags,Corrugated Cardboard Boxes,Paper Containers,Other Cardboard Products,Film / Sheets,Molded Containers,Laminate Film / Sheets,Biodegradable Plastics,Polystyrene Foam Products,Strapping Bands,Strings,Steel Cans,Aluminum Cans,Foil,Glass Bottles,Wooden Products,Cellophane,Tapes,Seals / Labels,Pallets Packaging Material Converting Equipment> Bag Manufacturing Equipment, Slitters, Rewinders,Plastic Processing Equipment,Paper Converting Machines,Cushioning Material Manufacturing Equipment,Other Packaging Material Converting Equipment Pharmaceutical- and Cosmetic-related Equipment> Mixers, Granulators, Coating Machines, Tableting Machines,Powder Packaging Machines,Agitators,Kneading Machines,Packaging Insert Folding Machines,Aerosol Can Filling Machines,Diaper / Tissue Processing Machines,Poultice Coating Machines,Napkin Manufacturing and Processing Machines,Ample / Vial / Syringe System Equipment,BLISTER PACKAGING MACHINE,Micro Amount Powder Handling Machines,Liquid / Viscous Body Handling Machines,Other Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Related Machines Inspecting and Testing Equipment> Pin Hole Inspecting Equipment,X-ray Inspecting Equipment,Metal Detectors,Foreign Substance Detectors,Print Inspecting Equipment,Weight Sorting Equipment,Color Sorting Equipment,Shape Sorting / Inspecting Equipment,Other Inspecting / Testing Equipment Various Processing / Packaging-related Equipment> Printers,Arranging Machines,Feeders,Buffer Equipment,Bag Feeders,Packaging Insert Folding Machines,Adhesive Applicators, Barcode Readers, Container Washers,Static Elimination Equipment,Hot Melt Applicators Components> Pneumatic / Hydraulic Equipment, Industrial Knives, Screws, Tools,Heaters, Gears, Torque Limiters, Reducers, Motors, Bearings, Inverters, Air Shafts, Edge Controllers, Switches, Sensors, Temperature Controllers, Disconnection Alarms, Timers, Programmable Controllers, Touch Panels Packaging Robots> Multi-joint Robots,Parallel-link Type Robots,Packaging Robot Line Systems,Robot Palletizers Environment Preservation Equipment and Services> Air Compressors,Grinders,Recycling Systems,Other Environmental Equipment and Services Plant Engineering Systems> Packaging Plant Systems,Plant Construction / Control Systems,Clean Rooms,HACCP-Compliant Systems,GMP-Compliant Systems,Information Control Systems,Other Engineering Systems Relevant Organizations and Governments & Media Last ShowNo. of Exhibitors : 1,130 Exhibitors, 2,980 Booths No. of Visitors : 50,621 Visitors (Domestic : 48,039 / Overseas : 2,582) Overseas Visitors Save the date & Join us!
PERIOD 26 (Tue.) – 29(Fri.) April. 2016 10:00-17:00 (Last day : by 16:00) VENUE KINTEX (Korea International Exhibition Center), Korea
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Manufacturing activity across much of Asia shrank in February while factory growth waned throughout Europe, dealing a further blow to policymakers who are struggling to stimulate their economies and spur inflation.
Chinese producers suffered a seventh straight month of decline in February, a Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) survey showed just a day after the People's Bank of China resumed a policy easing cycle in a fresh effort to drive growth. Sister surveys showed factories in the euro zone raised production at the weakest pace for a year as deep discounting failed to put a floor under slowing orders growth. Their British counterparts had their worst month in nearly three years. A survey of manufacturing output from the United States due later on Tuesday is likely to show a fifth straight month of contraction there. None of the 88 economists polled by Reuters expected growth. "If you were looking for evidence of manufacturing growth stabilising then this isn't it. There were a couple of low spots that are quite surprising," said Philip Shaw at Investec. "(But) to get a fuller picture of what is going on we will have to see evidence from the service sector." Monthly service industry PMI surveys are due later this week. Tuesday's downbeat data may sharpen the focus of officials from the world's leading economies who declared at a weekend G20 meeting they needed to look beyond ultra-low rates and printing money to reanimate growth. On Monday, the PBOC announced it was cutting the amount of cash banks must hold as reserves for the fifth time since February 2015 yet analysts expect it will have to do more, including cutting interest rates this year. "Following the latest move, we add another 50 basis point RRR cut, and continue to look for two rate cuts in the first half of 2016," analysts at Barclays Capital wrote to clients. "Risks to our 6.0% baseline GDP growth forecast in 2016 remain tilted to the downside." The euro zone has been facing similar travails and although the overall expansion was slightly better than previously thought, Markit's manufacturing PMI will make gloomy reading for the European Central Bank ahead of next week's policy meeting. The survey showed factories cut prices at the steepest rate since mid-2013. The ECB wants inflation near 2% but prices across the bloc fell 0.2% last month, short of already depressed expectations and virtually ensuring another round of policy easing. An additional cut to the ECB's deposit rate is almost certain on March 10 and there is an even chance the central bank will increase the size of its 60 billion euros a month bond buying programme, a Reuters poll found last month. Australia's central bank governor, Glenn Stevens, observed on Tuesday that conditions have become more difficult for a number of emerging market economies and noted "China's growth rate has continued to moderate". Stevens, who attended the Shanghai G20 meeting, made those comments after the central bank left interest rates at a record low 2.0%. Down tools Survey after survey served to remind how challenging the current environment is. Markit's manufacturing PMI for the euro zone dropped to 51.2 from January's 52.3. That was slightly better than an earlier flash estimate of 51.0 and above the 50 mark that separates growth from contraction. German manufacturing plunged to a 15-month low of 50.5 from January's 52.3, while activity in Britain, outside the euro zone, tumbled to 50.8, below all the forecasts in a Reuters poll of economists, from 52.9. Manufacturers from China to Indonesia showed no signs of reversing a weakening trend, forcing factories in the trade-reliant region to shed yet more jobs and cut prices, a move that could worsen a global disinflationary trend. Japan's factories saw their weakest growth in eight months, while Indonesia and Malaysia contracted for the 17th and 11th month respectively, according to Markit. Taiwan went into reverse gear for the first time in three months as orders wilted. India was perhaps the only standout, and for merely maintaining modest growth driven by cutting prices to attract demand. By contrast, China's official PMI stood at 49.0 in February, down from 49.4. A private survey, the Caixin/Markit China PMI, which focuses on small and mid-sized companies, fared no better, falling to 48.0, from 48.4, and undershooting market expectations of 48.3. Analysts said some of the weakness in China's PMIs was probably due to the long Lunar New Year holidays, but pointed to a worrying fall in the index's employment gauge which dropped to its lowest since January 2009. "The big question is do we see a pick up in the second quarter once China does pass through the seasonal disruption, but at the moment there is little hope for that to happen in any significant way," said Angus Nicholson at brokerage IG. Underscoring how a slowdown in China is putting trade-reliant economies on the skids, South Korean exports in February tumbled in their 14th consecutive month of declines. Source: Business Standard
While the US economy seems to be gaining momentum mainly due to the developments in the services sector, China keep on falling down mainly due to the ongoing decline in industrial production. I mentioned the reasons why investors should be cautious about Asia in my previous article, and the Shanghai Composite Index is about 3% down since then. But in this article, I would like to point out some interesting developments which have taken place in Europe in February of 2016. Particularly, manufacturing PMIs for the "Big 5" economies, which are Germany EWG, France EWQ, the UK EWU, Italy EWI and Spain EWP, have got much closer to the contraction area as seen in the chart below. And the main questions now are: Will Europe pursue Asia? Or it is going to follow the US? The most curious thing here is that a few record lows have been recorded last month. As per Markit, UK Manufacturing PMI came in at 50.8 in February, which is the lowest mark since April of 2013. The main reasons mentioned in the survey are output slowdown in consumer and investment goods sectors as well as input cost deflationary pressure, which remains strong.
A few other interesting notes follow below: The breadth of the slowdown is especially worrisome. The domestic market is showing signs of weakening while export business continued to fall. A lot of this is driven by the ongoing weakness of global commodity prices. However, there are also signs that weaker growth is driving up competition between manufacturers to secure new business and among their suppliers too. The trend in staffing levels also registered a downward trajectory, with some job losses thrown in, and only the intermediate goods sub-sector showing signs of employing more staff. It appears the global slowdown is continuing to challenge markets and thought it may be too soon to envisage another financial downturn, the possibility will have crossed the minds of key-decision makers. Read more at Seeking Alpha Whether you’re an inventor looking to create a first prototype or a company doing a short production run, choosing the right process for your needs is no mean feat. At the most general level, computer numerical control (CNC) machining, injection molding and 3D printing can all be used for short runs, but those technologies each encompass multiple processes. For example, stereolithography, selective laser sintering and direct metal laser sintering are all types of 3D printing, but each use different types of materials. Similarly, injection molding can be used for plastics, silicone rubber or metal. Factors to Consider for Prototyping and Short Runs When presented with so many options, it can be difficult to decide between them. Fortunately, there are several considerations that can help narrow down the choice. “Some people know what they want, and others come to us saying they need a part without knowing what material they need, let alone the process,” said Tony Holtz, technical specialist at Proto Labs. “We try to start with how many parts they need,” Holtz continued. “After quantity, I might ask what type of materials or material properties are needed for prototyping or testing. From there, it may go all the way to the cosmetics. Finally, it comes down to cost.” Taking these factors—quantity, material properties and cosmetics and cost—into account can greatly simplify the decision between 3D printing, CNC machining and injection molding. ![]() Quantity The number of parts you need is likely to be the biggest factor when deciding between these three technologies. Obviously, injection molding is the best bet if you’re planning on making several thousands of parts, but it is less cost-effective for smaller quantities. “If you only need twenty parts per year, we would suggest CNC machining or 3D printing if the material properties and cosmetics all play well with your part,” said Holtz. Ordering injection-molded parts typically involves a setup and production fees for the mold, so even if your parts only cost three dollars per piece to produce, total cost, including the mold itself, could be reason enough to choose a different process if you only need ten parts at a time. The point is, if you’re really set on injection molding but only planning on ordering 20 parts, you might as well order 200. As a reference, Holtz offered the following rule of thumb: “3D printing is typically a cost-effective option for up to about 50 parts and CNC machining is economical for up to about 200, but our typical single-cavity molds can typically produce up to 10,000 parts.” ![]() It’s worth talking to an expert if you’re uncertain of the best process for your project, especially if scalability is a concern. “For injection molding, we highlight areas where draft is needed or where wall thickness is needed. If it’s too thick, we can apply a mold flow analysis of select materials to show where possible knit lines will be. If there’s any concerns for ejection or gating, we’ll highlight them. If you can’t have ejector pins on your part, we might go back to the design and revise it.” Someone who’s inexperienced with injection molding may not take gates or ejector pins into account during the design process. That’s why it’s worth contacting an expert as early in your design process as possible. ![]() Material Properties and Cosmetics Historically, prototyping often involved using different materials compared to the final product to perform fit checks and similar tasks. Currently, that same strategy is available thanks to 3D printing technologies, which are ideal for testing fit and form of parts. “Using stereolithography, with secondary processes you can get a part that looks like it’s been injection molded,” said Holtz. “You can use selective laser sintering to get better material properties than stereolithography, but then you’re limited to nylon materials.” As always, there are trade-offs between different production processes in terms of achievable material properties and cosmetics. However, secondary processes can go a long way toward improving the cosmetics of a part. “For molding, we apply the surface finish to the mold,” said Holtz. “We have seven that we offer, from an unfinished part to an SPI-A2, so you get the nice clear finishes or even matte finishes, like a light and a medium bead blast.” “For 3D printing with direct metal laser sintering or stereolithography, you have a support structure built underneath the part,” Holtz continued. “After curing or heat treating, we hand remove those with cutters or saws or with wire EDM for metals.” You might think that certain designs, such as the living hinge, would be restricted to a particular process. However, that’s not the case for Proto Labs, according to Holtz. “We can accommodate that in all three services,” Holtz said. “In injection molding, we’re running ABS and polypropylene as well as high-temp materials like PEEK and Ultem. We have all production-grade resins available in thermoplastics.” ![]() Holtz continued, “With CNC machining we can mill very small spaces. As long as it’s horizontal in the machining plane, we can get down to 0.010” – 0.015” wall thickness, so you can test your living hinge in polypropylene.” “Even with 3D printing, we have thermoplastic materials like our nylon that will work as a living hinge,” Holtz concluded. All this goes to show that the material and cosmetic requirements for your prototype are just as important as your application when deciding between 3D printing, CNC machining and injection molding. ![]() Cost Although it shouldn’t necessarily be the deciding factor, it’s always worth considering your upfront budget. An entrepreneur with limited funding for prototypes will most likely find 3D printing or—if it’s possible with the part geometry—machining to be the best option in terms of cost. In contrast, a company with a more substantial budget might find injection molding to be more cost-effective. “Our injection molds start at $1,500 for the simplest parts that don’t contain side actions or complicated mold designs,” said Holtz. “Our standard delivery time is 15 business days or less; we have even turned around injection molds in as little as one day.” This suggests that time is less of a factor than you might think when deciding between CNC machining, 3D printing and injection molding for your prototype. Instead, consider how your product will be manufactured and work backwards from there. “Design something that can be manufactured with injection molding, then 3D print it,” Holtz suggested. “We’ve had people 3D print five parts and end up needing many more parts through traditional high-volume manufacturing.” Being able to produce parts that can’t be manufactured using traditional means is usually seen as an advantage of 3D printing, but it can be a double-edged sword if it forces you to go back and redesign your product. The advantage of starting with injection molding is that you’ll already have a backup mold in case your production tooling wears out. “If customers started prototyping with us and still have parts running off a production mold, we’ll contact them and ask if they still need our mold,” said Holtz. “We encourage them to say yes, since we can store it until it’s needed. You don’t know when a production mold is going to crash. If you have an assembly line going and have a supply chain emergency, we can cover you.” Source: ENGINEERING.com The ISM Manufacturing Index will likely be weak again, but it won’t be bad enough to induce an economic recession Nervous Nellies worried about a looming economic recession will likely get another anxiety-inducing data point Tuesday morning. It is worth taking this one with a grain of salt. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal forecast the February Institute for Supply Management’s national manufacturing index at 48.8. That would be up a bit from a month earlier. But, for a fifth month in a row, it would be below the key 50 mark that separates expanding activity from contracting. Ominously, the last time the ISM index sank below 50 for this long was in 2008 and 2009. No matter how you slice the data, manufacturers are struggling. Global turbulence has hurt demand for manufactured goods and a strong dollar has made it tougher for U.S. factories to compete. Another bellwether, the Chicago Business Barometer, disappointed on Monday and has had several sub-50 readings in recent months. Furthermore, oil’s deep slump has hurt capital-equipment sales. Regional indicators confirm these troubles. The Dallas Federal Reserve’s manufacturing index has contracted for 14 months in a row. Yet other economic indicators of late haven’t deteriorated in line with manufacturing, as was the case in earlier downturns. Job gains have been steady and inflation is moving closer to the Fed’s target. Consumer spending rose in January at the fastest rate in eight months, aided by those same falling energy prices hurting some manufacturers.
Highlighting the benign overall picture, the Citigroup Economic Surprise Index jumped Friday to its highest level in seven weeks. The index, a rolling measure of whether economic data are beating or missing Wall Street expectations, has been improving steadily over the past three weeks. That has coincided with the stock market’s recent move off the year’s lows. The fact that the downturn is manufacturing-specific is important. Manufacturing doesn’t pack as much punch in the U.S. economy as it used to. As of January, the sector accounted for 8.6% of U.S. employment, right around record lows, according to the Labor Department. By comparison, in the 1970s it represented about one-quarter of employees. In the mid-1940s it was nearly 40%. Weak manufacturing activity is a problem. It isn’t so much of one that a recession is assured. Source: The Wall Street Journal |
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