ALR helps customers fight the recession

PCB supplier ALR Services has announced a number of measures to help its customers stay competitive and in control of their PCB costs during these difficult times for the UK electronics industry. These include free tooling for all new customers on their first orders, plus the opportunity to participate in our innovative Consignment Stock scheme, which has been designed to help customers minimise the amount of cash tied-up in PCB inventory.

To coincide with its participation in the Southern Electronics Show 2009 (FIVE, Farnborough 11th-12th February 2009), the company be offering free tooling to all new customers placing their first orders in January, February and March. ALR spends in excess of £4m annually on bare boards alone, which gives it considerable leverage when it comes to ensuring to most competitive pricing. Combined with the free tooling offer, this means significant savings for customers. The same buying-power also ensures high-quality reliable delivery, together with the outstanding levels of customer service and support for which ALR has become well-known within the industry.

ALR’s support extends to operating a variety of inventory control schemes, intended to help customers achieve optimum levels of manufacturing efficiency and control of cash flow. It was the first PCB supplier in the UK to offer a Consignment Stock system. Under this scheme, six month’s supply of PCBs are purchased and delivered to the customer in one shipment, delivering a substantial cost saving and incurring just one delivery charge. The customer reports back to ALR the number of boards used on a monthly basis, and they are invoiced for that amount only. The advantages of this scheme are many: ALR’s considerable buying power reduces unit cost to the bare minimum; the flexibility of having stock held on their premises means no waiting for PCB’s to be delivered, making the assembly process much more responsive, yet as the customer only pays for the amount of boards used in a particular month, the amount of cash tied-up in stock or goods for resale is minimised.

From initial prototyping, to full production, shipping, stock-holding and delivery, ALR manages the complete supply chain on behalf of its customers and is able to supply all printed circuit board technologies, in any quantity and on the most demanding of lead times. Unlike some other suppliers, it is not tied to any particular manufacturer or manufacturing process, allowing it  the freedom to match customer requirements to the manufacturer best placed to service them. ALR’s UK-based suppliers offer fast turnaround times – typically 24 hours – for small quantities; higher volume PCBs are sourced from one of its six approved manufacturers in Asia.

ALR’s 14-year record of success is testimony to its ability to deliver real value to its customers – even when times are tough. And as if the sweet sound of cash in the till wasn’t enough, one lucky visitor each day to its stand at Southern Electronics will be walking away with an iPod in its free prize draw. Visit stand A42 at Southern Electronics to learn more about ALR’s commitment to customer support and to take advantage of the free tooling offer.

Mitsubishi Electric launch new professional displays at ISE 2009

Mitsubishi Electric will reveal an unprecedented number of new products at ISE 2009 spanning its entire professional display range – the greatest number of new display products the company has ever revealed at a single European exhibition. Among the impressive line-up will be an entirely new generation of display wall cubes, a new 10mm 3-in-1 LED screen designed for high-performance digital signage installations, two new large-format professional-grade LCDs and a rental version of its Resolia “plug and play” LED screen.

Mitsubishi will officially launch its next generation of display wall cubes at ISE 2009. The new Seventy Series cubes will build upon the huge success of the company’s existing display wall cubes, over 35,000 of which have been installed worldwide to date. The new display is absolutely feature-packed and totally customisable, with components such as cabinet type, projection engine and colour wheels all individually selectable to match a customer’s exact requirements. Seventy Series systems also feature built-in processing, enabling sophisticated display walls to be built with no outboard hardware required. Various input options are available, with each cube being able to display up to six different sources in any configuration. Along with Mitsubishi’s Dynamic Brightness Balancing and Colour Space control, the Seventy Series cubes now also feature an automatic geometry adjustment facility. Using a machine vision system and special software, Seventy Series cubes adjust themselves automatically to create a perfect line-up in a fraction of the time it normally takes to achieve.

At ISE 2009, Mitsubishi will demonstrate the new Seventy Series cubes using an innovative video-over-IP system developed by the company that allows multiple video streams, such as those found in a typical CCTV system, to be distributed via LAN, decoded and displayed natively.

Mitsubishi display products already have a good reputation for reliability and low cost of ownership and the company has made several further improvements in this area with its Seventy Series cubes: The operational life of components such as colours wheel and fans has been dramatically extended and Mitsubishi’s unique automatic lamp-changer system has been enhanced to deliver even faster performance.

Digital signage is an increasingly important business area for Mitsubishi globally, and ISE 2009 will reveal several new products ideally suited to this rapidly-growing market. The company announced the addition of two new large-format LCDs to its comprehensive range of professional-grade displays this week, and both with be exhibited at ISE 2009 for the first time. The new displays, at 52′ and 65′ respectively, will offer full 1080p (1920×1080 pixels) resolution, 2000:1 contrast ratio and superb picture performance. As well as the usual landscape display format, the 65′ display is also available in a native portrait version designed specifically with public display applications such as signage and retail in mind.

Mitsubishi will also be exhibiting several new LED products for the first time at ISE 2009, including a new 10 mm 3-in-1 SMD outdoor LED screen-ODT10. New ODT10 employs high contrast 3in1 LED technology similar to that used in the company’s existing high-performance 4mm and 6mm indoor LED screens. The result is an outdoor screen of truly exceptional clarity and colour conformity, delivering accurate colour reproduction and fine detail, even at close range. Excellent brightness and contrast make ODT10 perfect for prestigious architectural applications such as shopping malls, passenger terminals or atriums.

Also shown at ISE 2009 for the first time will be a rental version of Mitsubishi’s Resolia 140′ ‘plug and play’ 4mm 3-in-1 LED display, seen for first time at ISE 2008 last year. The Resolia’s discrete, single-module construction makes it a very flexible, high-quality LED solution, ideal for wall or suspended mounting. The new rental version of Resolia will deliver this flexibility in a mobile form; its internal cabling and construction has been completely re-designed to enable it to be separated into two halves for transportation, and easily reassembled into a single, seamless display that’s ready to operate in minutes. Other new LED products on show at ISE 2009 include a new compact High-Definition digital display controller for its Diamond Vision LED screens The XDC4000 allows native full HD performance to be achieved from a single, standalone unit and includes a host of other built-in features such as dual-channel inputs, PiP overlay and automatic brightness control.

More details on these and other products to be launched at ISE 2009 will be available shortly on the Mitsubishi Electric website at http://www.MitsubishiDisplayEngineering.com

Southern Manufacturing’s free seminar programme delivers practical help for industrial business

The Southern Manufacturing show (February 11th-12th 2009, FIVE, Farnborough) has announced its free seminar programme. As the most important annual industrial event in the South of England, the show provides the ideal setting for the busy two-day programme of highly-topical sessions that will be of real interest to anyone involved in manufacturing or engineering sub-contracting.

Now virtually an institution in its own right, the Southern Manufacturing Show free seminar programme is a fantastic opportunity for visitors and exhibitors alike to take part in a wide-ranging programme of presentations, each delivered by experts in their respective fields. No other show offers free access to such high-calibre technical and commercial expertise, and is one reason why the Southern Manufacturing Show enjoys such strong support from engineering and industrial businesses across the region.

This year’s seminar programme combines practical advice for businesses in these uncertain times with insights into new trends and ideas that may help engineering enterprises stave-off the worst effects of recession.

Clive Lewis will present a presentation entitled "Marketing in a Downturn". During recession, customers are more likely to switch suppliers to seek better value; this session will explain how effective marketing can help you win this new business. Richard Teal from The Manufacturing Advisory Service-South East (MAS-SE) will present a session on "Designing Demand" – how your organisation can become more innovative, more competitive and more profitable through exploiting design opportunities. "Carbon Footprinting, Eco-Design and Environmental Legislation", delivered by the MAS-SE and Rob Holdway, gives a practical overview on the competitive advantages delivered by reducing the supply chain costs and environmental impact of manufacturing enterprise.

John Grieves of Continuous Improvement Services will host a session entitled "Continuous Improvement – How it can impact your company" where visitors can learn about the skills needed to support change and improvement and how the multi-national approach can be transposed effectively into an SME environment. The MAS-SE will present several sessions on Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma; explaining how the ideologies employed by some of the world’s biggest manufacturers can also deliver real benefits for smaller organisations. Other sessions for the 2009 event will include reviews of the current CE Marking legislation, a look at Rapid Manufacturing technologies and some practical advice on becoming a supplier to the automotive and aerospace industries.

As in previous years, Southern Manufacturing 2009 will run alongside its sibling events, Southern Electronics, and Auto Aero 2009 – the specialist aerospace and automotive engineering event, now in its second year. All of the regular features of the Southern Manufacturing show will return in 2009, including technology trails that allow visitors to make the most efficient use of their time at the show and specialist areas such as the Machinery Centre, where the latest machines can be seen in action.

The seminars are open to all visitors and exhibitors at Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2009. Places are limited and demand is expected to be exceptionally high, so pre-booking is essential. Visitor pre-registration for the event and seminars, together with full event information, is available online at www.industry.co.uk/southern.

Entry to the show itself is completely free to business visitors, and FIVE Farnborough offers plentiful free car parking, superb access by road, rail or air, and an excellent selection of local hotels and restaurants to make your visit as enjoyable as it is productive. To register online for tickets, or to find out about exhibiting at this unique event, simply visit www.industry.co.uk

Going Up: 3D Display Market to Rocket

rAVe Europe reports on market research that predicts explosive annual growth for 3D displays

The 3D display market will show 95% average annual growth rate and create USD 15.8 billion market in 2015, says Displaybank.
According to the report, the global 3D display will hit USD 140 million in 2008.
Public adoption of hi res TV, further 3D content development, and relief of visual fatigue issue are the issues Displaybank say need to be resolved for 3D to take 9.2% market share by 2015.
Editor’s Note: To hype-up the consumer 3D market, America’s NFL will broadcast a US-football game in 3D for the first time today. 3ality Digital (office in USA and Germany) shot the game with special 3D cameras and transmitted the game via satellite service to three theatres. Real D 3D provides the displays in the theatres and is overseeing production and transmission of the 3D broadcast.

Go 3D Display is a Rocket

Auto Aero 2009 showcases specialist engineering suppliers

 

Auto Aero Show 2009; 11th-12th February 2009,Farnborough,UK

Auto Aero 2009 showcases specialist engineering suppliers

2008-12-02 06:10:58 – The specialist aerospace and automotive engineering show, Auto Aero returns to FIVE, Farnborough on the February 11th-12th next year. As the only annual specialist event of its kind in the region, Auto Aero 2009 provides the perfect opportunity for high-performance engineering sub-contractors to promote their services to the extremely active UK autosport and aerospace market.

Farnborough was the birthplace of the British aviation industry and with many of the UK’s most important aerospace and autosport businesses still located in the area, Farnborough is the ideal setting for the busy two-day showcase of engineering excellence, featuring some of the UK’s top precision engineering sub-contractors and suppliers. Products and services on display include surface engineering, coatings, composites, low-cost tooling, digital manufacture, engine components, assembly integration and many more.

Now in its second year, Auto Aero 2009 is part of the larger Southern Manufacturing & Electronics Show, the South’s number one industrial and engineering event, which last year attracted 450 exhibitors and well over 5000 visitors. Virtually every kind of engineering discipline and manufacturing process is represented at the show, making it a unique opportunity to meet suppliers from every branch of manufacturing industry in one, convenient visit.

Visitors to Auto Aero 2009 can also benefit by participating in the free technical seminar sessions that run over both days of the event. Now virtually an institution in its own right, the free seminar programme is a fantastic opportunity for visitors and exhibitors alike to take part in a wide-ranging programme of presentations, each delivered by experts in their respective fields. No other show offers free access to such high-calibre technical and commercial expertise, and is one reason why the show enjoys such strong support from engineering and industrial businesses across the region.

This year’s seminar programme combines practical advice for businesses in these uncertain times with insights into new trends and ideas that may help engineering enterprises stave-off the worst effects of recession. Clive Lewis will present a presentation entitled ‘Marketing in a Downturn’. During recession, customers are more likely to switch suppliers to seek better value; this session will explain how effective marketing can help you win this new business. Richard Teal from the Manufacturing Advisory Service – South East (MAS-SE) will present a session on ‘Designing Demand’ – how your organisation can become more innovative, more competitive and more profitable through exploiting design opportunities.

‘Carbon Footprinting, Eco-Design and Environmental Legislation’, delivered by the MAS-SE and Rob Holdway, gives a practical overview on the competitive advantages delivered by reducing the supply chain costs and environmental impact of manufacturing enterprise. And for those companies wishing to become a supplier to the automotive and aerospace industries, Clive Lewis will present a session packed with practical tips on how to do achieve their objectives.

Entry to the show and the seminars is completely free to business visitors, and FIVE Farnborough offers plentiful free car parking, superb access by road, rail or air, and an excellent selection of local hotels and restaurants to make your visit as enjoyable as it is productive. To register online for tickets and seminar places, or to find out about exhibiting at this unique event, simply visit www.industry.co.uk or call 01784 880 890.

Auto Aero 2009 showcases specialist engineering suppliers

NTT testing new digital-signage tech in Tokyo

by Barnaby Page, editor, Screens.TV

Japan’s NTT and its NTT Com subsidiary today began testing systems that can distribute advertising content to digital-signage systems from multiple manufacturers and then estimate the audiences they reach.
If successful, the company’s researchers could smooth the way toward greater acceptance of digital out-of-home on the part of agencies and brands currently deterred by differing technical requirements for content and inconsistent audience measurement.
The tests will run until March in NTT’s labs and at four Tokyo locations: Shinagawa (pictured), Yokohama and Haneda Airport train stations and the Marunouchi Building.
They are based on two technologies from NTT’s Cyber Communications Laboratory Group – distribution management integration, which allows content to be dispatched to multiple different digital-signage platforms through a single interface, and advertising effectiveness measurement, based on video capture of audiences.
“Differences in the distribution and data formats of manufacturers have made it difficult to distribute ads on a wide scope,” the companies said.

NTT testing new digital-signage tech in Tokyo

Mitsubishi Electric and C-nario Announce Partnership in Benelux, Eastern Europe, Russia, CIS and Turkey

Mitsubishi Electric’s Visual Information Systems Division in the Netherlands, and C-nario, a global provider of digital signage software solutions, today announced a strategic partnership to provide comprehensive digital signage solutions. Mitsubishi’s product offering, including professional LCD monitors, multimedia projectors, LED display systems and display wall cube systems, will be combined with C-nario’s digital signage software products as turnkey solutions for all system integrators offering digital signage solutions. Mitsubishi Electric Benelux office is responsible for Benelux, Eastern Europe, Russia, CIS and Turkey.

The announcement comes at an exciting time for both parties, with Mitsubishi Electric looking to increase its presence within the narrowcasting/public display sector, and C-nario expanding its digital signage solutions portfolio in the AV and IT channels, strengthening the company’s relations with AV and IT integrators. Both companies expect synergy for all partners in this multi-channel approach.

C-nario’s software-based platform has proven extremely successful in numerous demanding applications, meeting the requirements of a wide range of customers. Through the partnership announced today, Mitsubishi Electric’s and C-nario’s expertise in advanced visual information technologies and applications will enable both companies to deliver complete turnkey narrowcasting/public display solutions, supported by the resources of Mitsubishi Electric, one of the world’s largest engineering businesses.

"We always strive to make digital signage projects implementation as simple as possible, without compromising quality. A standard package of high quality Mitsubishi displays and C-nario’s digital signage operating platform aims to do precisely that. This is an exciting business opportunity to our partners and customers," said Rami Bahar, C-nario’s Vice President Sales and Strategic Planning. "We strongly believe that our partnership with Mitsubishi Electric will greatly enhance our digital signage offering, add further momentum to our strong growth in this sector, and enable integrators to simplify digital signage projects. "

"We are very pleased to announce our partnership with C-nario," said A.C. ter Meulen, President, Mitsubishi Electric Benelux. "We are confident that C-nario’s knowledge and experience within the digital signage sector coupled with Mitsubishi’s comprehensive product range will prove a highly-successful and mutually beneficial partnership".

CEATEC 2008: OOH is getting bigger; ITH is getting skinny and 3D is getting everywhere

I recently visited the CEATEC electronics show in Tokyo and was completely knocked out by some of the technologies on display. CEATEC is perhaps the premier event in the world for the showcasing of new electronics products and technologies. Although I have followed reports of the show religiously for a number of years, this was my first time actual visit – and it didn’t disappoint.

Nearly 200,000 people poured through the doors over the five days of the show; on the day I visited the gate was nearly 48,000. It was packed! But somehow the frenetic atmosphere and jostling to peer through the assembled masses at the latest gadget actually added to the excitement.

The great thing about CEATEC is that it is part pro-equipment and part consumer, so it’s possible to see what’s around the corner in both sectors of the displays business at once.

From a professional standpoint, it’s clear that the digital signage movement has finally gained the momentum that many have been predicting for a number of years. Mitsubishi Electric dedicated virtually the whole of its professional products area to a digital signage display based around its Resolia LED screens and flat panel displays. Image content was delivered to the mix of displays by a new Video over IP solution. Unfortunately, my Japanese didn’t stretch to finding out more, but I’m sure it’s not the last we’ve heard of this particular technology.

 

Aside from Mitsubishi, there were plenty of other manufacturers there hawking displays clearly intended for DOOH applications. Large-format LCDs from a number of companies were much in evidence, and particularly noteworthy was the number of really big format screens – 72” and above – being showcased by Chinese and Korean producers that are as yet unheard of in the West. Possibly an early indication of a price-squeeze in the channel at DOOH hots-up around the world?

The other big trend is for wafer-thin displays, with Sony leading the field with its astonishingly gossamer-like OLED screen. So thin is this screen, in fact, that my camera couldn’t get an accurate focus on it side on – it really is quite remarkable. The picture quality was also quite impressive, and it seems that Sony might be onto something with its OLED. But other manufacturers are following closely and Sony will have to be careful not to make the mistake it did with LED and take its eye off the ball.

The other interesting new display technology on show at CEATEC was Mitsubishi Electric’s Laservue laser powered rear projection TV. The new displays were demonstrated in special private viewing theatres and visitors queued for up to an hour at a time to get a glimpse of this new technology. Aimed at the home market, the colour rendition of Laservue is quite remarkable – the colours really punch-out of the screen – putting this display pretty much at the top-end of the market. both in terms of performance and price. Mitsubishi finished its presentation of Laservue with some 3D footage that was impressive. Although perhaps not quite so interesting at some of the other 3D technologies on show.

3D display has been around for quite a while in various guises but continues to suffer the perennial problem of how to get two separate images onto the same screen without the use of special glasses. That is, until now.

Panasonic had this interesting device on show – a full colour, full motion 3D screen that requires no glasses. As I understand it, special optical strips restrict image crossover between the viewers eyes to give an illusion of depth. It really does work, however as you’d expect, the viewing angle is quite restricted to get the full effect. Nevertheless, it’s an interesting approach. The obvious application is in mobile devices, and on the KDDi stand, they demonstrated just that – a phone with a 3D display. Again, it worked – albeit with the same provisos as the Panasonic.

But perhaps my favourite exhibit of the whole show was a new range of concept mobile phones inspired by Yamaha that really exemplifies the Japanese genius for design and ingenuity: We’ve all heard of playing music on your phone, but how about REALLY playing music – as in strumming a guitar, pounding the keys or blowing some cool sax? Well, now you can, and so can all your friends.

The new phones contain built-in musical instruments that allow you to play by “plucking” strings or hitting tiny piano keyboards or blowing through an electronic mouthpiece. The ensemble shown here demonstrated the possibilities in an onstage jam-session, each member playing a different “instrument”. There’s no denying the genius of the idea, although I suspect the novelty will wear pretty thin on commuters forced to endure endless tinny renditions of ‘Smoke On The Water’ on the 5.17 from Charing Cross.

You can view more pictures of the Mitsubishi stand at CEATEC HERE

DisplayLink Technology Expands into Japan with Mitsubishi’s First USB Monitor

From Forbes.com

Mitsubishi Electric Corp. is now shipping its first USB PC monitor powered by DisplayLink Corp.’s innovative network display technology.

Currently available in Japan, the new Mitsubishi WIDE LCD display (model RDT201WDL) is a 20.1-inch, wide-format system that relies on DisplayLink technology to give notebook users easy access to multi-monitor computing – all through one convenient USB connection.
In addition to its integrated USB display capabilities and 1680 x 1050 resolution, the new Mitsubishi WIDE LCD display (model RDT201WDL) features a built-in Ethernet connection and a USB hub that allows users to connect a mouse directly to the monitor as well. All together, the display is a smart solution for any notebook user who wants to transform a notebook experience into a desktop experience with just one cable.

"Notebook PCs are perfect for working on a plane or train but not always so productive back at the office. The new Mitsubishi WIDE LCD display (model RDT201WDL) with DisplayLink’s USB technology helps give mobile workers the visual workspace they need with next to no hassle," said Hamid Farzaneh, DisplayLink president and CEO. "Once again, a leading global electronics company has recognized that DisplayLink’s plug-and-play technology is the best choice for delivering exceptional performance across multiple screens.

"The collaboration helps extend Mitsubishi’s proven LCD display leadership into the fast-growing USB monitor market, while also expanding the availability of DisplayLink’s innovations in Asia."

Besides bringing convenience and performance, the new Mitsubishi WIDE LCD display (model RDT201WDL) is a sustainability standout. Its energy-saving feature allows people to choose three levels of energy usage, depending on their requirements, and an on-screen energy meter shows how much power is being consumed, promoting awareness of power usage. When compared to traditional LCD systems, the combined power-saving capabilities of the new Mitsubishi WIDE LCD display (model RDT201WDL) can decrease energy use by up to 36 percent.

Energy consumption is further minimized thanks to the nature of the embedded DisplayLink hardware and software that efficiently drives multi-monitor computing via USB. DisplayLink research shows that connecting one additional display via USB increases power use by just seven percent. But if users install a discrete graphics solution onto their PCs to enable another monitor, power usage jumps 67 percent.

"That’s an important – and costly – difference for any enterprise aiming to lead in ‘green IT,’" said Farzaneh.

About DisplayLink
DisplayLink Corp. is a network display chip and software company that helps people create simple connections between computers and displays – via USB, making the benefits of expanded visual workspace available to everyone. Using universally accepted wired or wireless networking protocols and proprietary software compression techniques, graphically rich content can be transmitted easily between a single device and multiple displays over a network. Leading global manufacturers have integrated network display technology into an array of consumer electronics including USB-enabled monitors, video docking stations, display adapters and projectors. More information is at www.displaylink.com.

DisplayLink Technology Expands into Japan with Mitsubishi’s First USB Monitor – Forbes.com

The rules of engagement

We recently read an article in The Journalist – the magazine of the National Union of Journalists – that illustrates perfectly how misunderstanding the rules of engagement between journalists and PRs (and their clients) can result in massive problems on both sides.

At Eido we encourage our clients to engage directly with the press, but only if they are comfortable doing so, and with one simple but vital proviso: If you don’t want it printed – don’t say it!

PRs are often criticised by journalists for demanding unreasonable editorial control over interviews given by their clients. And quite often this criticism is justified. We do not condone the practice of demanding “first sight” of any copy written. It is not the PRs place to tell the journalist what they can or can’t write: It is, however, up to us to ensure our clients come across in the best possible way. The first step in achieving that is by making sure our clients understand the rules of engagement.

A journalist writes solely for the publication they’ve been commissioned by – not on our behalf, nor that of our clients. They are independent and guard that independence jealously. Their responsibility is to report what was said fairly, accurately and without bias. This is what they are trained to do, and their professional reputations (and livelihoods!) rest squarely on their ability to do so. Nothing rubs journalists up the wrong way quite like someone questioning their integrity and professional skills by demanding first sight of their work. How would you like it if somebody with little or no experience in your field of expertise insisted on “checking” and “improving” your work? Pretty irritated, I expect.

By simply approaching media contact in the right way, these problems need not arise: Interviews should always be approached as if they were on live TV, with no second chances to correct mistakes. In the light of the above knowledge – that as soon as words leave your lips they are outside of your control – it’s clear that the importance of choosing those words carefully and deliberately can never be overestimated. It occasionally comes as a shock to some when they realise with horror that their ill-thought out or inappropriate comments are destined for the newsstands and that there is very little they – or us – can do about it.

We always tell clients not to expect to see anything before it’s published. That’s not to say we don’t appreciate it when a journalist keeps us in the loop with regard to an interviewee’s contribution. We do, and it certainly helps to keep the relationships between business and media running smoothly. But we don’t expect it and we never demand it. We would like to see greater awareness in PR of the journalist’s perspective, and in so doing, help stamp-out this practice of demanding “first sight”, which does our profession no credit.

Click here to view the original article in The Journalist

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