Production Technology News

Brunvoll’s will invest $10m in new production technology: One large machining center for gearbox housings were ordered for the factory in Volda. The other machine on order is a large combination turning and machining center for the factory in Molde. The machines will be delivered by the supplier PAMA S.P.A in Q1 2025. PAMA is an Italian company with a 90-year long history of delivering medium to large machines with high requirements to rigidity and shares the same passion as Brunvoll…

Japan's biggest hydrogen supplier Iwatani Corp and five other firms said on Wednesday they will study the feasibility of building a green liquefied hydrogen supply chain between Japan and Australia that could produce 100 tonnes a day by around 2026.Green hydrogen is a zero-carbon fuel made by using renewable power to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

At the first symposium of the Green Ammonia Consortium (GAC) on January 22, Japanese shipping company NYK presented its approach of using ammonia as marine fuel for zero-emission ships.Ammonia does not emit carbon dioxide (CO2) when it is heated and would thus be expected to contribute to the effort to address global warming. NYK is participating in the consortium to consider not only the maritime transport of ammonia as a power generation fuel used by electric power companies but also the use of ammonia as marine fuel…

Japan's biggest shipbuilders Imabari Shipbuilding and Japan Marine United (JMU) have formalized their business alliance by agreeing to enter into a capital tie-up amid blockbuster mergers in South Korea and China.According to Jiji Press, with the alliance, the shipbuilders aim to strengthen their international competitiveness at a time when South Korean and Chinese rivals are going through major realignment to grow stronger.Under the basic deal Imabari Shipbuilding plans to buy a nearly 30 pct stake in JMU via a shares purchase. The duo plans to finalize the agreement within the 2019 fiscal year, ending in March 2020.The partners will establish a new company that will design, build and market commercial vessels, including tankers, cargo ships and vehicle carriers.

The annual ABS Joint China and Hong Kong Committee gathered Industry leaders to discuss global challenges facing the maritime sector. The group heard strategies to meet the IMO 2020 Sulfur Cap, as well as a look ahead to 2030, when vessel data will play a significant role in compliance management.“ABS has become the classification organization of choice for the Chinese shipbuilding and shipping industry, with a long track-record of working closely together on innovative projects in both marine and offshore. The China and Hong Kong Committee enables ABS to bring together the diverse expertise of many knowledgeable stakeholders to continue to address the industry’s complex challenges…

Wärtsilä is building a new center of research, product development and production, in Vaskiluoto, Vaasa. As of 2020, all of Wärtsilä's functions and personnel in central Vaasa will transfer to the new Smart Technology Hub, along with the logistics and maintenance workshop operations from Runsor.As a part of the project, Wärtsilä will invest 83 million euros in modern testing and production technology for the hub. The total investment in the Smart Technology Hub will be in the region of 200 million euros…

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday he would impose tariffs of 25 percent on imported steel and 10 percent on aluminum, in a move the administration said would protect U.S. industry, but which critics said would fail to boost jobs and risked stoking a trade war with China. Trump, speaking after a meeting with U.S. steel and aluminum makers said the duties would be formally announced next week. “We’re going to build our steel industry back and our aluminum industry back," he said. News of the tariffs drove the stocks of U.S.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday he would impose tariffs of 25 percent on imported steel and 10 percent on aluminum, in a move the administration said would protect U.S. industry, but which critics said would fail to boost jobs and risked stoking a trade war with China. Trump, speaking after a meeting with U.S. steel and aluminum makers said the duties would be formally announced next week. “We’re going to build our steel industry back and our aluminum industry back," he said. News of the tariffs drove the stocks of U.S.

Steve Roth has been promoted to President of Seaspan Ferries Corporation (SFC). In this position, Steve will continue to have the primary accountability for the overall performance of the SFC business unit, including management of day-to-day operations of SFC, as well as the short and long-term strategic planning processes, including setting and fulfilling revenue and profitability targets and maintaining relationships with all stakeholders. He is also responsible for ensuring that customer service expectations are met or exceeded while ensuring the safe operation of SFC’s vessels…

As the first company to commercialize hollow fiber membranes for air separation onboard ships, Air Products AS, Norway (APAS) is a true pioneer. Managing Director Tom Cantero discusses  his company’s technology, developments and outlook. A manufacturer of gas processing systems for offshore, shipboard and land-based use, APAS manages all facets of the membrane process, from basic research, system design, engineering and manufacturing, through installation and service. Since the first membrane system was introduced by APAS in 1984…

Aker Solutions informs updated unaudited financial information for the two companies - the new Aker Solutions and Akastor - that will be formed following the split of the business at the end of September. Previous pro forma financial information was disclosed in the information memorandum of July 11, 2014, and the second-quarter 2014 results published July 17 this year. The updated financial information reflects a decision in August by the board of directors to transfer the Aker Geo AS business unit to Akastor instead of keeping it within the new Aker Solutions as previously announced. The figures have also been revised because of continued work to reflect the financial performance of the two new companies as accurately as possible.

Vard Holdings Limited (“VARD”), one of the major global designers and shipbuilders of offshore and specialized vessels, has acquired STX Canada Marine Inc., a leading marine engineering and design company with more than 30 years history in North America, for approx. NOK 65 million. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, with branch offices in Ottawa and Houston and a workforce of over 75 employees, the new acquisition will be fully integrated with Vard Marine Inc. (“Vard Marine”), and operate under the Vard Marine name. The management directed by President Dave McMillan will continue, allowing the new organization to combine the best practices of Norwegian and North American marine engineering and design.

The United States has replaced OPEC as the marginal petroleum supplier to the world thanks to the shale revolution and improvements in automotive fuel efficiency. Net U.S. imports of crude and products have halved over the last five years, or by an amount equivalent to the entire daily crude exports of Saudi Arabia. Net imports totalled 5.2 million barrels per day at the start of 2014, down from 11.2 million at the beginning of 2009, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Not one barrel of U.S.

Building programs continue, spanning the full range of missions, despite budget concerns. Amidst all the talk of Beltway budget cutbacks and sequestration, the U.S. Coast Guard is quietly investing approximately $30 billion in major acquisition projects to modernize its physical assets. The process of recapitalizing these older and difficult-to-maintain assets has never been an easy task, and the Coast Guard has seen its share of bumps along the way. For example, the initially messy Deepwater debacle initially kicked off what has evolved into today’s more successful recapitalization process, now run by the Coast Guard’s Acquisition Directorate, which stood up in July 2007.

Shipyard boss Dr. Herbert Aly discusses Blohm+Voss’ radical reorganization as well as the strategies to secure new orders. When I started my nautical career at Blohm+Voss at the beginning of the early 1960s, one could see on the southside of the river Elbe nine independent operating shipyards. Today only one remains: Blohm+Voss. More than 100 years experience, technical know-how and modern production technology helps to ensure the international global competitiveness of the City of Hamburg as an important site for shipbuilding.

Following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) earlier this year, VEEM Ltd. has now agreed territories and principle responsibilities with the Italian marine equipment distributor SAIM Group. SAIM Group will be responsible for increasing awareness of the Australian engineering firm’s latest developments in gyro stabilization technology, whilst driving sales of the latest VEEM Gyro products across Central Europe. Both VEEM and SAIM Group have established enviable reputations within their respective fields for the development and distribution of high quality marine equipment.

With the support of technical due diligence advice from GL Garrad Hassan, Sumitomo Corporation and its subsidiary Sumitomo Corporation Europe last week agreed to invest significant amount of equity in two Belgian offshore projects. The Belwind 1 operational wind farm and Northwind project together account for 127 wind turbines and 381 MW of generating capacity with total project cost of about €1,550 million. The investment by Sumitomo is further evidence that offshore wind is attracting new sources of equity capital. Sumitomo agreed to take 39% of Belwind 1 and 33% of Northwind.

As part of President Obama’s all-of-the-above approach to domestic energy development, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Director James Watson today announced the Bureau is taking steps to establish an independent Ocean Energy Safety Institute (Institute) to further enhance safe and responsible operations across the offshore oil and gas industry. The Institute will provide a forum for dialogue, shared learning and cooperative research among academia, government, industry and other non-government organizations in offshore-related technologies and activities that ensure safe operations with limited impact to the environment.

Wärtsilä has developed the GasReformer, a product which converts associated gas, which is often flared, into usable fuel for its dual-fuel engines. When producing oil, associated gas is also released from the deposits. In many places this gas is commonly burnt off in gas flares, a waste of energy and a pollutant of the atmosphere. In addition to useful methane, this gas consists of heavier hydrocarbons including ethane, propane and butane. The composition of the gas typically also vary during the production phase of the oil field.

Aker Solutions secures a NOK 650 million (GBP 70 million) contract with BP to help redevelop one of the largest oil fields in the UK sector. The Aberdeen operation of Aker Solutions will manufacture and supply all subsea controls equipment for the Quad 204 project, the redevelopment of the Schiehallion and Loyal fields located approximately 100 miles west of the Shetland Islands. The scope of work includes subsea controls equipment for subsea trees, manifolds and subsea safety isolation valves as well as controls distribution assemblies.

Rolls-Royce recognised as one of the best in Europe for 'Technology Management' by the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology. The 'Successful Practice Award' was presented recently at a ceremony held in Vaals, the Netherlands. Rolls-Royce, which has invested over £7.5 billion in the last ten years on Research and Development, was commended for its long-term strategic approach to technology development. Also highlighted were its network of University Technology Centres…

A energy production technology services company Proserv has bolstered its rapidly-evolving global footprint and specialist integrated services after acquiring major US company Total Instrumentation & Controls (TIC). The acquisition of Houston-based TIC, which specializes in advanced process and control systems equipment and has a second manufacturing facility in Lafayette (LA), also significantly increases Proserv’s talent pool by more than 300 people to over 1600 with the entire American-based workforce joining forces with the company under the Proserv mantle.

Neptune  Advanced Subsea Flow Assurance Insulation System Named “Best Production Technology” of 2012. The winner of the 2012 World Oil Award for Best Production Technology is a breakthrough in subsea insulation developed by Dow Oil & Gas, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW), in cooperation with multiple organizations, including Trelleborg Offshore, a leading provider of polymer and syntactic foam-based coating solutions for the offshore oil and gas industry.