Robots on the rise in North America

Posted by Rick Lingle, Technical Editor -- Packaging Digest, 2/7/2013 1:28:14 PM

The North American robotics market has recorded its strongest year ever in 2012, according to new statistics from Robotic Industries Association (RIA), the industry's trade group.

A total of 22,598 robots valued at $1.48 billion were sold to companies in North America in 2012, beating the previous record of 19,337 robots sold in 2011. When sales by North American robot suppliers to companies outside North America are included, the totals are 25,557 robots valued at $1.66 billion.

Compared to 2011, North American orders were up 17% in units and 27% in dollars.

"The Automotive industry has continued to be the strongest driver of the North American robotics market," says Alex Shikany, Director of Market Analysis for RIA. "Robots sold to automotive OEMs in North America jum

ped 47% over a then record-setting 2011, while robots sold to automotive component suppliers increased 21%," he noted.

Industry, applications results

Sales were also up in metalworking industries (+12%) and life sciences/pharmaceuticals (+3%). In terms of applications, increases were seen in assembly (+40%), spot welding (+37%), arc welding (+24%), coating & dispensing (+13%), and material handling (+3%).

The fourth quarter of 2012 was the strongest quarter ever recorded by RIA (the association began reporting data in 1984) in terms of units ordered, with 6,235 robots sold to North American companies. The fourth quarter w

as up nine percent in units and 21 percent in dollars over the same period in 2011.

"It is promising to see such positive growth in robotics despite the tumultuous manufacturing environment throughout 2012" says Jeff Burnstein, President of RIA. "This growth is an indication that more North American companies are looking to automate in order to reduce costs and increase productivity, and that is a good sign for robotics."

U.S. trails only Japan in robotics use

RIA estimates that some 225,000 robots are now at use in United States factories, placing the U.S. second only to Japan in robot use. 

"Many observers believe that only about 10% of the U.S. companies that could benefit from robots have installed any so far," Burnstein says, "and among those that have the most to gain from robots are small and medium sized companies."

Founded in 1974, RIA represents some 300 companies, including leading robot manufacturers, component suppliers, system integrators, end users, research groups and consulting firms. RIA's quarterly statistics report is based on data supplied by member companies representing an estimated 90% of the North American market.

What will 2013 hold? Burnstein said RIA does not make robotics sales forecasts, but he believes that if the economy remains strong we should be looking at another good year for the robotics industry.

"The increased demand for robotics was evident at this year's Automate show in Chicago, which had record setting attendance levels," says Burnstein. "It is clear that people are excited about automation and the benefits it provides."

Source: RIA

http://www.packagingdigest.com/article/522974-Robots_on_the_rise_in_North_America.php

Successful negotiation tactic used for electric power In India

Finding the Right Process in India

EDITED BY PON_STAFF ON MARCH 6TH, 2013 / CRISIS NEGOTIATIONS

• inShare
•  Comment
•  
• 

In 1995, a new government came into power in the Indian state of Maharashtra and canceled a 20-year power purchase agreement with the Dabhol Power Company, a joint-venture formed by Enron, General Electric, and Bechtel. Claiming that the deal was improper and even illegal, the government declared publicly that it would not renegotiate.

When the government recognized that it had no other options to secure power, it began to soften its position. But if renegotiations were to take place, the parties would need a process that would preserve the government’s dignity and prestige. Ultimately, the government chose to appoint a “review panel” consisting of disinterested energy experts to reexamine the project. The panel met with Dabhol representatives and project critics, and then submitted a proposal to the government that contained the terms of a renegotiated electricity supply agreement that both sides accepted.

The use of an expert panel to conduct what amounted to a renegotiation, in lieu of face-to-face discussions between the two sides, served to protect governmental dignity. The panel’s independent status also assured the public that the renegotiated agreement protected Indian interests.

http://www.pon.harvard.edu/?p=33991/?mqsc=E3476229&utm_source=WhatCountsEmail&utm_medium=PON%20Harvard+Negotiation%20Insider%20Tuesday&utm_campaign=Negotiation_Insider_03122013

Joint Gains in Negotiation

Crafting Joint Gains in Negotiation

FEBRUARY 27TH, 2013 / NEGOTIATION SKILLS

• inShare
•  Comment
•  
• 

While you might choose many processes for conducting your negotiations, we recommend the following three steps of a mutual-gains approach:

1. Identify and clarify interests. 

• Some portion of your discussion should be dedicated simply to identifying your and the other side’s interests on the various issues being negotiated. Try recording interests on flip-charts, a whiteboard, or a shared computer for all to see. During this stage, parties should avoid making judgments about what the other side expresses. Instead, focus on asking clarifying questions to ensure that you fully understand each other’s interests.

2. Brainstorm possible value-creating opportunities.

• Once you’ve made a complete list of interests, it’s time to brainstorm various options based on these interests. Ground rules are essential for brainstorming to be fruitful. For example, to boost creativity and minimize self-censorship, parties should agree to record all ideas without criticism or evaluation.

3. Evaluate options

• At the evaluation stage, parties should first agree upon a set of norms, standards, or criteria they can use to choose among the ideas generated from the brainstorming session. Such standards will help you weigh possible packages that might lead to efficient outcomes that maximize value for everyone involved.
• http://www.pon.harvard.edu/?p=33730/?mqsc=E3470856&utm_source=WhatCountsEmail&utm_medium=PON%20Harvard+Negotiation%20Insider%20Tuesday&utm_campaign=Negotiation_Insider_03052013

CRS finds US production grew outside federally controlled areas

WASHINGTON, DC, Mar. 5

03/05/2013

By Nick Snow
OGJ Washington Editor

3 Facebook

3 Twitter

0 LinkedIn

6 Share

While US oil and gas production has climbed to its highest level in 2 decades, all of the growth since 2007 has occurred outside federally controlled areas where production actually declined, a recent report from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service found.

“Private sector investment and new technologies are driving increases in oil and gas production,” said US Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Energy and Power Subcommittee, which released the Feb. 28 CRS analysis on Mar. 5.

“Where the states have been in charge, we have seen energy development boom in a safe and responsible way, but under federal control we have seen a sharp decline in production,” he declared. “A web of red tape and a backlog of delayed permits are blocking important energy production opportunities on federal lands.”

All of the fiscal 2007-12 US crude oil production increase took place outside nonfederal areas onshore and offshore, and the federal share of total domestic crude output fell by about seven percentage points during that period, the report said.

US gas production has grown by 4 tcf/year since 2007 as output grew by 40% on state and private land and fell by about 33% on federal onshore and offshore areas, it added.

Congress may consider two different proposals to increase oil and gas production from federally issued leases, according to the report’s executive summary.

Nonproduction fee

It noted that some members have proposed a $4/acre annual fee on nonproducing tracts which they believe are not being developed in a timely fashion. US Sec. of the Interior Ken Salazar imposed higher federal offshore lease rents in 2009 to discourage holding unused leases and to move more tracts into production if possible, it said.

Other members of Congress may propose legislation to streamline federal oil and gas drilling permit application processing, the report continued. It said that a review mandated by the 2005 Energy Policy Act found the average time it took producers and the US Bureau of Land Management to process a federal drilling permit application climbed from 218 days in fiscal 2006 to 307 days in 2011.

“The difference, however, is that in 2006 it took BLM an average of 127 days to process an [application], while in 2011 it took BLM 71 days,” CRS said in its report. “In 2006, the industry took an average of 91 days to complete [a drilling permit application], but in 2011, [it] took 236 days. BLM stated, in its fiscal 2012 and 2013 budget justifications, that overall processing times per [application] have increased because of the complexity of the process.”

“As [gasoline] prices continue to rise past $4/gal, American families are looking to Washington for solutions to help provide relief at the pump,” Whitfield said. “Expanding oil production on federal lands offers a real opportunity to help increase domestic supplies and stabilize prices as well as boost federal revenues.”

Contact Nick Snow at nicks@pennwell.com.

http://www.ogj.com/articles/2013/03/crs-finds-us-production-grew-outside-federally-controlled-areas.html?cmpid=EnlDailyMarch52013