Search Results for: japan

BY MARK ROWE

THE AVIATION sector is significantly boosting Asia-Pacific technical coatings demand. With fuel overheads typically accounting for around 40% of all costs in the aviation industry, there has been increased demand in recent years for a new generation of aerodynamic coatings, which can reduce drag and cut costs, especially in emerging markets where operators need to minimise costs.…

BY PETER DA COSTA

The European Commission has proposed a historic adjustment to its research and innovation policies by plunging whole-heartedly into pro-business mode for the European Union’s (EU) 2014-2020 research and development activities. Under the so-called Horizon 2020 programme announced this week, Brussels has set out budgets totalling Euro 80 billion to push forward the EU’s scientific and research strategies against the background of a difficult and dramatically changing economic environment.…

BY MJ DESCHAMPS

WITH renewable energy continuing to grow worldwide, concerns about its limited production predictability are growing. That is why energy companies, researchers and engineers are concentrating on developing innovative electricity storage solutions – primarily geared at harnessing energy from renewables – so during periods of low solar irradiance or wind, backup systems can distribute power to the grid.…

BY ZLATKO CONKAS

Will Croatia’s ascension to the EU hamper the country’s tobacco industry?

Croatia’s strong tobacco sector stands to benefit from selling into the European Union once the country joins the EU. However it could lose trade in neighbouring states because of duty changes.…

BY ROBERT STOKES

NATIONALISM and the energy industry have made uneasy bedfellows throughout history, yet Scotland is attracting substantial international investment in renewables despite having, since May and for the first time, a majority government committed to winning independence from the UK.…

BY MJ DESCHAMPS

THE GREEN picturesque land of New Zealand has recently gained some new human scenery: new stadiums and roadways, and an estimated 95,000 additional flag waving visitors: the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) is now underway. By the first kick-off between New Zealand’s All Blacks and Tonga on September 9, at a revamped Eden Park stadium in Auckland, the country’s central and local governments had already spent approximately New Zealand dollars NZD500 million (USD411 million) on the event.…

BY MARK GODFREY

THOUGH it remains the world’s key manufacturing powerhouse, gobbling up raw materials, China’s demand for imported metals scrap is currently slack. There are several reasons for the conundrum say local and international scrap players, among them exchange rate volatility and weak Chinese prices for scrap.…

BY WANG FANGQING

IN July, the monthly export value of textile and garments from China hit a record new US dollar USD25.9 billion, up 25% year-on-year, according to China Customs. It was not a surprise given that China earned USD122.7 billion in the first half (H1) of 2011, almost equivalent to the whole amount it made in 2005.…

BY MJ DESCHAMPS

COMMONLY used in industrial and outdoor environments – and exposed to direct heat and ultraviolet light, PVC coatings can very easily be weathered; losing tensile properties, colour and durability. Coatings manufacturers and their clients are increasingly using heat stabiliser additives as a result.…

BY PAUL COCHRANE

THE WESTERN financial system is undergoing profound change, of weakened trust in the sector, heightened tax regulations, pressure to curb banking secrecy and tougher regulatory compliance. As a result, the owners of legal and extra-legal capital who are looking for a safe haven for their money are starting to consider destinations outside the established offshore jurisdictions – the less regulated financial centres of the Middle East and Asia.…