Industry News In brief...


RS Components has completed the global implementation of its Live Chat service, which offers help to customers when browsing and making a pur- chase on the RS website. Now live in 29 countries in 19 languages, the ser- vice aims to enhance the customer’s online experience with relevant human interaction and support. Live Chat helps customers save time and money when using the RS web- site. The service includes both sales chats, when customers are invited to chat based on their behaviour on site, and service chats, when customers can click a button to initiate a chat themselves. www.rs- components.com


Mitsubishi Electric’s Irish branch has announced the introduction of the new FX3S PLC, which is says completes the FX3 compact PLC range with the most powerful micro PLC yet. By tak- ing the power and flexibility of the existing FX3G & FX3U compact PLCs and distilling it into a micro format Mitsubishi has created a new PLC cat- egory, the Premium Micro PLC. Mitsubishi Electric's philosophy is "why compromise?" even at the micro level. This is why the new FX3S incor- porates many of the features and func- tions of its larger FX3 siblings. For example, the built-in "Freqrol" driver enables users to set up a sim- ple, low cost network of PLC and up to 8 Mitsubishi inverters, allowing the FX3S to tackle tasks as diverse as materials handling to heating and cooling applications. The FX3S comes in 10, 14, 20 and 30 I/O vari- ants just like its predecessor. ie3a.mitsubishielectric.com


Access to experts


THE AIR CONDITIONING & Refrigeration Show 2014 takes place at the NEC, Birmingham from 11-13 February 2014. The exhibition provides an excellent opportunity for those in the cool- ing industry to get up to speed with the latest technology. The latest companies confirm- ing as exhibitors include refriger- ant supplier DuPont and air conditioning specialists Andrew Sykes and Greenmill AC. National wholesaler HRP has recently confirmed its participa- tion in the event, and will sponsor the high profile Business Seminar Programme. There will be 38 free of charge seminar sessions, cover- ing topical business and technical issues. Topping the bill is Daikin UK, headline exhibition sponsor. www.acrshow.co.uk


4 Survey reveals positive results


THE LATEST QUARTERLY Business Monitor (July - September 2013) from InterTradeIreland has revealed signs of a broadening recovery across the island. Results also show a steep rise in the percentage of businesses that are reporting increased sales in both Ireland and Northern Ireland, with this quar- ter's percentage being the highest since 2007 (31%). Furthermore, 26% of businesses are in growth mode, with more businesses in Ireland (28%) reporting that they are in growth position than those in Northern Ireland (21%), which is a reversal in recent trends. This quarter's report also high- lights that there are fewer busi- nesses indicating that a reduction in demand for goods and services and business and consumer con- fidence are an issue. However, more companies are reporting that the recruitment of appropri- ate skills is an issue.


Commenting on the Q3 2013 Business Monitor findings, Aidan Gough, strategy and policy director at InterTradeIreland said: “It is encouraging that firms across the island across a wide range of sectors are experiencing an improved business perfor- mance. Over the last few quar- ters, we have seen signs of economic improvement with more firms moving into stabilisa- tion. This quarter we observe a broadening recovery with more businesses moving from stabili- sation to a position of growth.” Businesses in Ireland are also showing increased optimism with a more positive outlook than NI firms with regards to increasing employment and sales levels over next 12 months. Interviews are conducted with business owner's from 750 SMEs in Northern Ireland and Ireland. www.intertradeireland.com/rese archandpublications


Managing waste


The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) public consultation on the pro- posed revised National Hazardous Waste Management Plan is currently underway. Closing date for comment is 23rd December 2013. This Proposed Revised Plan is a revi- sion of the National Hazardous Waste Management Plan (2008-2012) and sets out the priorities to be pursued over the next six years and beyond. Dr Jonathan Derham, Programme Manager, EPA, said: “As well as further [waste] prevention, significant progress is needed in key areas such as the collec- tion and correct treatment of hazardous waste from households and small busi- nesses, the regulation of legacy issues, and the improvement of Ireland's self-suf- ficiency in hazardous waste management where this is strategically advisable and technically and economically feasible. We wish to encourage people to engage in this consultation phase that will help towards improving Ireland’s hazardous waste over the next six years...” www.epa.ie


New business development manager for Ireland


AUTOCODING SYSTEMS, SOFTWARE specialist in packag- ing device automation and data integrity, is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Barry Long, a new business develop- ment manager with responsibil- ity for Ireland and Scotland. Long has over ten years’ expe- rience of working with blue chip companies across pharmaceuti- cal and food manufacturing sec- tors delivering complex Auto-ID solutions. AutoCoding Systems has continued to grow its cus- tomer base throughout Ireland and Scotland demanding that they have an experienced profes-


sional representation to progress these key accounts, as well as develop the significant opportu- nities that exist in these areas. In addition to this appointment, AutoCoding Systems has also recruited a business development manager for the South East of England. Akshay Intwala has an established technical sales back- ground spanning over five years. He has worked with numerous key accounts predominantly in the food and beverage industry having previously worked with Mettler Toledo and Intralox. Both Long and Intwala will be sup- ported by AutoCoding Systems’


pre sales and solutions teams. Managing director, Mike Hughes, said: “Barry and Akshay join AutoCoding Systems at an exciting time for growth.” www.autocodingsystems.com


Shale gas reserves will fuel European pump market


GREATER POLITICAL ACCEP- TANCE of shale gas exploration and the growing need among European countries to be self-suf- ficient in terms of energy is expected to result in growth for the pumps market. Pump manu- facturers, though, may not be able to capitalise on this potential as concerns on the environmental impact of fracking are likely to curb shale gas exploration activi- ties by oil and gas companies. These are the findings of new analysis from Frost & Sullivan. Its report: ‘Strategic Analysis of the Pumps Market in the European Shale Gas Industry’,


reveals that the market earned revenues of $35.3 million in 2012, and is expected to reach $47.7 million in 2017.


While the United Kingdom, Ukraine and Poland are at the forefront of shale gas production in order to meet energy require- ments and reduce dependency on Russian gas imports, the industry will be affected by uncertain poli- cies of local governments in other countries. For instance, France and the Netherlands have banned shale gas exploration. Moreover, although Germany and the UK have issued permits, large-scale exploration is yet to


begin since the feasibility of com- mercial shale gas production in Europe remains doubtful. Nevertheless, pump vendors will continue to find growth pock- ets as oil and gas companies such as Royal Dutch Shell continue exploration activities during the forecast period.


“In fact, proponents of the shale gas industry in Europe predict that increased exploration would be beneficial to countries affected by the slowdown, as it is expected to attract investments from major oil and gas companies...” said research analyst Niranjan Paul. www.frost.com


WINTER 2013 Irish Manufacturing


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