• National Instruments signs MoU with King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Kaowna Electric & Business Co. Ltd., and Mataneepan Co. Ltd.
• MCM lab features full spectrum of hardware and software technologies for machine condition monitoring
• Large scale manufacturing companies, industry and academia to benefit from MCM technology demos and workshops
Bangkok, Thailand, 02 May 2013 –( ASIA TODAY )- National Instruments (NI) is setting up a state-of-the-art machine condition monitoring (MCM) laboratory in Bangkok, Thailand in partnership with King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB), Kaowna Electric & Business Co. Ltd. (KEB), and Mataneepan Co. Ltd. This was announced today following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the four parties at the Faculty of Technical Education, KMUTNB.
A first for NI in Southeast Asia, the MCM lab at KMUTNB will be a full-fledged training centre with a full spectrum of machine condition monitoring workshops and professional services that includes motor fault analysis, motor repair and inspection. The lab will cater to companies engaged in large scale manufacturing and other industry and academic stakeholders that are interested in how MCM technologies can help drive operational efficiency, reduce costs, and increase workplace safety.
“With a strong manufacturing and industrial sector, Thailand is an ideal location for our very first machine condition monitoring laboratory in Southeast Asia. Thailand is poised to become a thriving technology hub, and we hope to contribute to the nation’s competitiveness in engineering and high technology with the establishment of the MCM facility,” said Chandran Nair, Managing Director of National Instruments – ASEAN.
Predicted to reach U$2.4 billion over the next five years, the global MCM equipment market has grown significantly in the United States, Europe, and industrialised markets in Asia including Japan and South Korea. Demand for MCM technologies is also robust in emerging markets such as China, India, Taiwan, Indonesia and Vietnam, on the back of greater investments in manufacturing and the shift of global production bases to this region. In Thailand, MCM is particularly gaining ground among local and multinational companies in petrochemicals, pulp & paper, steel production, and automotive assembly and test.
The second largest economy in Southeast Asia, Thailand represents a fast growing market for NI. For more than a decade, the company has been expanding its business in Thailand through strategic partnerships with the academia and leading industry players in the electronics, manufacturing, automotive, and energy sectors.
Commenting on the partnership, Dr. Teravuti Boonyasopon, PhD, President of KMUTNB said: “Ensuring that our students acquire high quality and industry-relevant skills is important to us. We believe that having this MCM laboratory in our campus would immensely benefit our students and faculty, and look forward to taking an active role in the research activities, demos, and training workshops at the lab in the future.”
With more than 20 years in engineering services and repair, KEB has extensive experience servicing some of Thailand’s largest manufacturing plants. “A few minutes of downtime in a manufacturing plant could cost a company millions of dollars. Machine condition monitoring helps ensure that motor faults are mitigated, or quickly spotted and resolved. With machineries running optimally, companies increase overall productivity and decrease costs associated with unplanned maintenance and downtime,” said Mr. Phatharadej Sophanpanichkul, Managing Director at KEB.
The ability to monitor remotely is enabled by vibration-based MCM technologies. Mataneepan, one of Thailand’s trusted engineering instruments trading companies and a strategic partner in the joint venture, are providing the sensors for the motor fault experiments and simulations at the MCM lab.
“We are pleased to collaborate with NI, KMUTNB, and KEB in this initiative, and help educate customers as well as engineering students on vibration-based MCM technologies. Remote monitoring gives companies greater flexibility in asset management, promotes cost savings and occupational safety,” said Mr. Songkran Somhwang, General Manager at Mataneepan.
The MCM lab at KMUTNB is expected to be fully equipped and ready for customer and academic workshops by Q3 2013.
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Contact: Jessie Lee, National Instruments (Email: jessie.lee@ni.com; Phone: +65 6226 5886)
About National Instruments
Since 1976, National Instruments (www.ni.com) has equipped engineers and scientists with tools that accelerate productivity, innovation and discovery. NI’s graphical system design approach to engineering provides an integrated software and hardware platform that speeds the development of any system needing measurement and control. The company’s long-term vision and focus on improving society through its technology supports the success of its customers, employees, suppliers and shareholders.
National Instruments, NI, ni.com and Planet NI are trademarks of National Instruments. Other products and company names listed are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies.
About King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB)
KMUTNB (www.kmutnb.ac.th) was established in 1959 from the cooperation between the Thai Government and the Federal Republic of Germany. With more than 20,000 students with excellent learning facilities and laboratories for both undergraduate and graduate levels, KMUTNB is one of the leading universities in Thailand. The university now comprises 10 faculties and different supportive Institutes. KMUTNB provides academic services with areas of specialization covering a wide range of engineering, technology and applied science. The university has 3 campuses, Rayong Province, Prachinburi Province and North Bangkok Campuses.
About Kaowna Electric & Business Co. Ltd.
Kaowna Electric and Business Co., Ltd. (www.keb-service.com) has been established for 20 years as a maintenance and engineering services company with high-calibre of experienced engineers, technicians, mechanics and support staff. Our services cover all kinds of industrial machines such as motors, pumps, gears, blowers, in both electrical and mechanical aspects. We service customers in various fields of industries, textile, petrochemical, steel rolling mills, pulp and paper mills and other business scale including SMEs.
About Mataneepan Co. Ltd.
Founded in May 2006, Mataneepan Co. Ltd. has developed into one of the trusted trading and engineering companies in Thailand. The company’s mission and vision focus on providing quality and reliable imported instruments and services for maintenance work and testing to customers from different industries and Thailand Government.