UPDATE Q4/2019: Green Technology

FROM THE EDITOR Dear readers, Thailand’s rich natural resources have been suppor ting local livelihoods and economic growth.

However, environmental degradation is escalating as a result of fast development and increasing consumption. Massive post-consumer plastics, for example, are now polluting oceans and threatening marine lives.

Thailand sets a target to create sustainability through environmentally-friendly development.

A renewable energy transition is one of the key factors in realising its new economic model “Thailand 4.0”.

Thailand currently generates around 10 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources, with a total energy generation capacity of 45,000 MW. As of April 2018, renewable energy supplied about 15 per cent of total power consumption in Thailand, while the national alternative energy development plan (AEDP) aims for renewable energy to account for 30 per cent of total capacity by 2036.

Therefore, green technology is playing an impor tant role in the realisation of “Thailand 4.0” and environmental sustainability. It helps generate power with less consumption of non-renewable energy such as fossil fuels as well as the reduction of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. One of the best-known examples of green technology is the solar cell that directly conver ts energy from sunlight into electricity. Other renewable energy sources include water, waste or biomass, wind and geothermal, which require state-of-the-art technologies to convert them into energy.

Turning waste into energy seems to be one of the most valued alternatives for solving the environmental problems because it can eliminate waste while creating energy.

GTCC would like to take this opportunity to announce that this issue of GTCC UPDATE Magazine will be our last paper edition. You can read our magazine in a digital format from the next issue in January 2020 onward. We are confident that even our small effort is going in the right direction towards environmental sustainability.

I trust you will enjoy an interesting and informative read.

Dr. Roland Wein

UPDATE is published quarterly by the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce and distributed free of charge to members and qualified non-members in Thailand and abroad.

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Roland Wein

Subscription is also available at an annual rate of US$75 (airmail). Payment can be made in cash or by cheque to the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce, 14Fl., AIA Sathorn Tower, 11/1 South Sathorn Rd., Bangkok 10120, Thailand. Tel.: +66 2 055 0600. Fax: +66 2 055 0601. info@gtcc.org.

Editor & Communications Director: Chadaphan Maliphan

Any opinions expressed in articles in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of the Chamber.

UPDATE welcomes story and photo contributions from members and non-members alike. Ar ticles may be reproduced with acknowledgement, except for those taken from other sources.

Circulation per issue : 1,000

Advertising Director: Ganya Aparaks Design & Layout: Sorapol Liengboonlertchai Sub-Editor: Tony Oliver

CONTENTS

06

Waste management in Thailand making progress

12 Shining a light on green hydrogen

26 30 GTCC site visit to Ducati Motor Thailand PAL Final Examination 2019

48 HANNOVER MESSE 2020

GREEN TECHNOLOGY

BUSINESS BRIEFS

14 Stiebel Eltron targeting growth through ‘Green

36 Mercedes-Benz and NSTDA ink a technology

16 Cement industry can play a major role in reducing

36 BayWa r.e. gives solar boost to Tetra Pak in Thailand

Technology’

marine pollution

18 Interview: ‘Bioenergy links ecology, economy and society’

CHAMBER ACTIVITIES 22 GTCC site visit to Wang Noi Beverage

transfer MoU

37 New President of BMW Group Thailand

MEMBERS’ CORNER 39 GTCC Speed Networking 40 New GTCC Members

25 GTCC Ice Breaker: “Welcome Back”

TRADE FAIRS

28 GTCC Meets the German Ambassador

44 MES Expo 2019

GTDEE INSIGHT 31 PAL Final Examination 2019 for Mercedes-Benz

apprentices (Level B)

35 Training Plan and Teaching Plan Development

Workshop

45 productronica 2019 46 Spielwarenmesse 47 VIVANESS

06 GREEN TECHNOLOGY

Collecting recyclable materials in waste management centre in Lampang province.

Waste management in Thailand making progress Thomas Hundt

Thailand is modernizing its waste management system. However, there is still a long way to go in transforming from a linear to a circular economy. The Government of Thailand is now introducing subsidies and recommends plastic reduction.

The Government’s National Solid Waste Management Master Plan 2016-2021 announces that all waste is to be collected, sorted and disposed. The aim of the Plan is also to establish the 3Rs principle, which means that households and business enterprises should reduce, reuse and recycle waste. However, waste management still has much catching up to do in order to achieve these goals.

Municipal waste is growing steadily. The recorded quantities increased from 26.8 million tons in 2013 to 27.8 million tons in 2018. Waste management now disposes about 40 per cent of this appropriately.

Disposal companies either recycle another third of it or produce fertilizers from it.

UPDATE 4/2019

The remaining 7.4 million tons of waste in 2018 was burned or continued to end up in nature, especially water resources. Environmentalists point to the vast amount of domestic plastic waste that pollutes the Gulf of Thailand.

Increasing recycling and proper disposal of urban waste in Thailand (Solid waste quantities in million tons) 2013: 26.8 Mio. t

Utilization 5.2 Mio. t Improper disposal 14.1 Mio. t

Proper disposal 7.5 Mio. t

2018: 27.8 Mio. t

Improper disposal 7.4 Mio. t

Utilization 9.6 Mio. t

Proper disposal 10.9 Mio. t

Source: Pollution Control Department Thailand, Š 2019 Germany Trade & Invest.

GREEN TECHNOLOGY 07

Household waste is not sufficiently collected and sorted Environment Minister Mr. Surasak Kanjanarat said in March 2019 that by 2030 all plastic waste should be recycled. Thailand’s cities produced 2 million tons of plastic waste in 2018. Yet, only about one quar ter of this was recycled.

Investors now want to start recycling more plastic waste. The Thailand Board of Investment grants exemptions from corporate income tax and import charges to companies that invest in the manufacturing of environmentallyfriendly products from recyclable materials.

In June 2019, the French Suez Group announced the construction of a plastics recycling plant in Bang Phli district near Bangkok. The plant will be able to conver t 30,000 tons of polyethylene film into recycled plastics per year. Suez also plans to equip the plant with its own wastewater treatment plant and solar roof top panels.

The local chemicals group PTT Global and the plastics converter Alpla from Austria are working on a feasibility study that envisages a recycling plant for producing polyethylene terephthalate- and high-density polyethylene recyclates. The investment decision was scheduled to be made during the third quarter of 2019.

Starting in 2019, the Government will also promote the use of biodegradable plastics and require certain plastic products to no longer be used. On 4 June 2019, the Cabinet decided that companies using biodegradable packaging should receive tax incentives.

They can deduct 1.25 times the cost of biodegradable plastic packaging purchased between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2021 from their taxable income. It remains to be seen which compostable plastics qualify and how tax offices will deduct this special expense.

The Pollution Control Depar tment (PCD) is working with representatives from relevant industries on voluntar y ban of caps on water bottles and microbeads in detergents

“ Thailand’s cities produced 2 million tons of plastic waste in 2018. Yet, only about one quarter of this was recycled.” and cosmetics. The PCD is also discussing abandoning the use of plastic bags with film thicknesses of less than 36 micrometers, plastic straws, disposable plastic cups and polystyrene containers for food.

Waste management and recycling industry need to evolve In 2018, the PCD listed a total of 2,786 municipal waste disposal facilities, of which 2,398 were public and 388 were private. However, only 647 waste facilities were operating properly. This means that the remainder of these facilities should be closed or modernized. In 2018, the authorities closed a total of 419 overloaded or improperly operated dumps.

Total of 647 proper munucipal solid waste disposal and transfer sites

Type

Public

Private

Sanitary landfills/ Engineered landfills/ Semi-Aerobic landfills

90

19

Controlled dumps with a capacity of less than 50 tons/day

386

87

Incinerator with air pollution control system

16

11

Incinerators for energy production

0

6

Compost System

6

3

Mechanical-biological treatment/ Refuse derived fuel production

18

5

516

131

Total

Number (site)

Source: Pollution Control Department, Thailand’s State of Pollution

Waste incineration can be profitable In addition, 35 power plants generate electricity from waste. Their total capacity amounts to 313 megawatts. Thailand’s entire energy sector is supervised by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). It is also responsible for the regulation, tendering and approval of Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plants. Their capacities are expected to increase to 550 megawatts by 2036. More than 50 WTE projects are in the planning and implementation phases.

The ERC has tendered further WTE projects for 2019. The operators receive fixed feed-in tariffs and electricity purchase agreements with terms of up to 20 years, depending on fuel and plant size. The plants burn landfill gases, municipal or commercial waste. The largest operator of WTE power plants and Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) plants is TPI Polene Power Public Company, a subsidiary corporation of the local cement group TPI Polene. The holding

www.thailand.ahk.de

08 GREEN TECHNOLOGY

company, TPC Power Holding, also intends to increase its WTE capacities from 130 to 250 megawatts.

Hazardous waste is a problem Municipal companies recycle and dispose hazardous waste. In 2018, the PCD collected around 618,000 tons of hazardous municipal waste, of which 414,000 tons were electrical and electronic waste. However, households mix hazardous waste with non-hazardous waste. There are still no regulations for the separation and sorting of municipal waste.

The controlling authorities also continue to find large quantities of illegally impor ted hazardous and plastic waste in disposal and recycling facilities. After China stopped its imports of plastic waste, Thailand developed

UPDATE 4/2019

into a new quantity buyer. Imports of plastic waste tripled between 2017 and 2018 to 571,000 tons. Imports of electronic scrap also rose sharply to 51,500 tons. The Government therefore introduced import quotas and stricter controls on recycling companies in 2019 to prevent Thailand from becoming an international dumpsite.

The volume of registered industrial waste fell by a third to 22 million tons in 2018. Of that amount, 7.2 million tons were burned in power plants and 1.2 million tons treated as industrial hazardous waste. Specialized disposal companies for industrial waste are mainly found in the greater Bangkok area and the eastern industrial zones.

Inexperienced companies in particular do not treat their waste properly. The Department of Industrial Works is responsible for the

environmental assessment of approximately 140,000 companies that have received an operating permit under the provisions of the Factory Act 1992. From October 2019, however, smaller companies will be subject to fewer inspections because the approval requirements of the Factor y Act will only apply to sites with a workforce of more than 50 people. Until now, factories with more than seven employees require approval, including an environmental audit by the Department of Industrial Works.

Contact details: Thomas Hundt Director Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos GERMANY TRADE & INVEST www.gtai.com

www.thailand.ahk.de

10 GREEN TECHNOLOGY

One of the water treatment plants in Thailand.

Greater capacities needed for water management in Thailand Thomas Hundt

Increasing water demand and wastewater volumes in Thailand mean the countr y urgently needs to catch up in drinking water production and wastewater treatment. Water consumption is on the rise and treatment is barely possible. In addition, oppor tunities in industrial water management arise where foreign technology is in demand.

The cur rent National Water Quality Management Plan 2018-2037 sets ambitious goals for water protection, water supply and wastewater treatment in Thailand. Water consumption and environmental pollution are to be reduced and extensive wastewater treatment is to be provided. New fees, stricter rules and, above all, enforcement thereof are planned.

The Government intends to focus its expenditure on improving water quality, providing drinking water to all villages and urban households, developing new irrigation systems for agriculture and preventing flooding.

Immense need to catch up Thailand’s 21 million households produced 9.7 million cubic metres (cbm) of wastewater

UPDATE 4/2019

per day in 2018. However, the country’s 95 active municipal sewage treatment plants only have a total capacity of 2.6 million cbm. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) operates eight wastewater treatment plants, while the Wastewater Management Authority (WMA) has 25 facilities. The remaining sewage treatment plants are under the control of cities and municipalities.

BMA and WMA are each planning four Build-Operate-Transfer projects where private companies will build eight municipal sewage treatment plants and operate them for 25 to 29 years. However, it is reported that the selection process has not yet started.

Only a small part of the total wastewater is treated properly. Owners of larger buildings must install their own treatment plants. In residential and commercial buildings, black wastewater is usually collected in septic tanks.

They collect the wastewater from the toilets and the sediments are deposited. The supernatant water should be able to flow off in a controlled manner and the sewage sludge should be pumped off regularly. However, this is not always done properly. As a result, during heavy rainfall and flooding, wastewater flows uncontrolled into the environment.

Modern sewage technology is lacking Septic tanks in larger buildings and other households are necessary because there are no sewer networks for black sewage in most places. The wastewater pipes only transport the grey wastewater (washing water and kitchen wastewater) to the treatment plants.

On the way, rainwater also flows into the sewers; as a result, wastewater arriving at the sewage treatment plants is therefore heavily diluted.

Cities thus need to invest in additional canals and pipelines for separation systems.

However, because the water charges are very low or are not levied at all, the water treatment and water utility companies have too little revenue and funds.

Investment programmes of the two national water utilities The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) and Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) are the countr y’s central water suppliers. The MWA is responsible for the Bangkok metropolitan area and the PWA for the remaining 74 provinces. Both are under the control of the Ministr y of the

GREEN TECHNOLOGY 11

“The volume of wastewater from Thailand’s industrial plants is estimated to be around 3 million cbm per day and the volume is rising.”

Interior, which can provide funds for investments.

The MWA has been implementing the Ninth Bangkok Water Supply Improvement Project since 2017, which will run until 2022 with total project investments of over 42 billion baht. The MWA projects include the extension of the Mahasawat water treatment plant by 800,000 cbm per day, the Bangmod pumping station, and the construction of new pipelines and reservoirs.

In 2018, the MWA’s four treatment plants produced approximately 2.0 billion cbm of tap water. However, the 2.4 million MWA customers received only 1. 4 billion cbm.

The MWA wants to reduce its water losses from 30 to 19 per cent by 2021. On average, customers paid 12 Baht per cubic metre.

Consumers do not trust the quality of tap water According to the beverage company Singha consumers bought around 3.2 billion litres of bottled water in 2018 worth 36 billion baht.

Analysts estimate that the market for bottled drinking water will grow by 5 to 7 per cent annually in the medium term.

The PWA is also working on an expansion

programme, the cost of which will amount to approximately 20 billion baht between 2017 and 2020. The funds will be used to expand the supply of tap water, which is expected to reach 6.57 million cbm per day in 2019 (2018: 6.25 million cbm).

Investments in new pipelines should also help to reduce transport losses, which average 34 per cent in the PWA-supplied regions. The focus is on projects in the Eastern Economic Corridor, where most of the countr y’s industrial enterprises are located.

However, foreign companies in the sector are expecting delays and difficulties in allocating public water projects. The water management of international industrial companies offers better business opportunities.

Modern technology for industrial water use and wastewater treatment The volume of wastewater from Thailand’s industrial plants is estimated to be around 3 million cbm per day and the volume is rising.

Factories are mostly located in industrial parks that operate their own wastewater treatment plants. In particular, the treatment of effluents from the chemical industry, refineries or other plants producing heavily polluted effluents requires foreign know-how and technology.

The real estate company Colliers estimates Thailand’s total area of industrial land to be approximately 27,000 hectares. Fur ther industrial zones are planned because gross fixed capital formation and foreign direct investment are on the rise.

Industr ial par ks must comply with environmental standards as laid down in the official announcements of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand. Factories covered by the Factory Act are required to comply with the Notification of the Ministr y of Industry regarding Industrial Effluent Standards B.E. 2560 of 2017. The standards are largely in line with international standards.

Specific standards and limits apply to manufacturers of textiles, paper, cardboard, starch and tanneries, among others. In many places, however, there is a lack of officials to control factories and laboratories for analysing wastewater. The Ministry of Industry has therefore issued a number of notices specifying which companies must use equipment to monitor their wastewater. The Department of Industrial Works receives the data online and monitors compliance with the regulations.

Contact details: Thomas Hundt Director Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos GERMANY TRADE & INVEST www.gtai.com

Water-related organizations and events in Thailand

Name

Wastewater Management Authority

Link to website www.wma.or.th

Notes Operation and control of sewage treatment plants

Metropolitan Waterworks Authority www.mwa.co.th

Water supplier for the Bangkok Metropolitan region

Provincial Waterworks Authority

Water supplier in all other regions

https://en.pwa.co.th

Thai-German Climate programme https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/

70696.html

Support the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions in the municipal waste and wastewater sector

Thaiwater

Trade fair, 10-12 June 2021 in Bangkok

http://www.thai-water.com

www.thailand.ahk.de

12 GREEN TECHNOLOGY

Hydrogen Mini Grid in La Reunion

Shining a light on green hydrogen Vaitea Cowan

We are reaching a turning point in our understanding of energy. This paradigm shift is occurring at the inter section of technological advancements and collective consciousness on climate change. Nations are feeling the effects of the rise in temperatures and oceans, and poor air quality. Students are marching to demand the preservation of a liveable environment. Climate change requires us to act urgently — not to act out of guilt or greed, but with compassion for this same planet that each of us comes from. The use of solar and wind energy is being widely adopted today. In the media, they are repor ted as being cheaper than fossil fuels. However, we are far from winning the climate challenge.

Fossil fuels are stored energy and can be burned when needed. Renewable sources, however, are not available on demand. In order to phase out fossil fuels, we need to store and transform renewables so that they are usable when, and where, there is demand.

Until now, energy storage has been limited to diesel generators or batteries. These low cost, but polluting, alternatives only address the power sector. The use of renewables is predominant in electricity generation.

However, this sector only accounts for 30 per cent of global energy consumption.

UPDATE 4/2019

Consumption of the remaining 70 per cent is in mobility, heating, and industry. To undertake an energy transition, we must find ways to make green energy sources usable for powering our heavy loads, heating our homes and providing feedstocks for industry.

hydrogen without any emission. Solar and wind electricity splits water into hydrogen and oxygen, turning renewables into a superfuel.

A fuel that meets our mobility, heat, and industrial needs, and effectively couples all energy sectors to green electricity.

Hydrogen is one solution. It is the most versatile energy carrier and is the missing link to a successful energy transition. Water electrolysis is a well-known process to create

Until now, the high cost of producing hydrogen from renewables held back its mass deployment. Constraints in the industry are high costs and the inability to scale.

Hydrogen storage system in the Phi Suea House, Chiang Mai,Thailand

GREEN TECHNOLOGY 13

Players try tackling the issue by building ever larger industrial electrolysis plants to drive down the cost. While this is a requirement for those using precious metals, it is not for Enapter which spearheads the development of modular electrolysers. Such hydrogen generators are scalable and can be used for any applications: residential storage, refuelling, industry, heat… These electrolysers can be plugged in to any hybrid energy set up, without any size limitations.

Energy players are realising the hydrogen oppor tunity. A wide range of stakeholders now propel the hydrogen market. It is no l onger just hydrogen companies, but also oil and gas industries that recognise the need to change fuels. At last, society’s spheres are aligned — the academic sector with the business sector, corporate entities and Governments. The support for the transition to hydrogen is an international movement across all industries.

On 21 August 2019, at the National Aviation Conference in Leipzig, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced a national hydrogen strategy for climate-friendly aviation. Mobility advances are also being made by China, which is developing hydrogen buses. In remote areas, such as the Glorioso Islands, a hydrogen microgrid for the French Army is being developed to meet power needs. In Norway, collaboration is flourishing in the production of low carbon emission fer tilizer by using hydrogen. Japan, which will host the next Olympics, is another active nation that is developing the hydrogen infrastructure. Like the technological showcase of the bullet train in 1964, 2020 will be the year of hydrogen.

The Olympic flame will be fuelled by hydrogen and Toyota will demonstrate its strides in developing the Japanese hydrogen society.

World leaders at the G-20 meeting in Japan discussed ways to overcome bottlenecks that prevent the investment needed for large-scale hydrogen deployment. The key message was that there is a multi-billion US dollar hydrogen market and it is time to invest. A market size of US$ 150 billion is expected by 2030.

Thailand is also making noteworthy advances in hydrogen applications. The Phi Suea House

EGAT and Enapter signing cooperation agreement to produce green hydrogen in Thailand

“ Energy players are realising the hydrogen opportunity.

A wide range of stakeholders now propel the hydrogen market.” is a lighthouse project in Chiang Mai that creates onsite hydrogen as an energy storage solution.

The energy system is designed in the most effective and ecological way, and demonstrates the feasibility of a low-carbon lifestyle. Big players are looking into the technology and are also setting up projects. In August this year, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Enapter to advance hydrogen production in Thailand. EGAT is planning to build at least two Energy Excellence Centres that will serve as a co-creation platform for a sustainable energy future, both for Thailand and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region.

Hydrogen microgrids similar to Phi Suea House are one example of using renewables to provide energy security and independence. Remote areas, such as islands and mountains, are ideal candidates for carbon-free energy storage. From October 8 to 11 this year in Thailand, The Big Thing event will demonstrate how to use hydrogen in microgrids as an energy storage alternative to diesel generators. Enapter is inviting experts to workshops on electrochemistry, hydrogen business cases, and more.

We need solutions to effectively use green electricity in sectors such as heat, industry and mobility. Hydrogen can be the base for any gas or fuel, and can be transformed into electricity. It makes use of excess renewables, stores them for later use, or enables the use of solar and wind in sectors other than power.

Hydrogen is the missing link. Hydrogen is The Big Thing.

Contact details: Vaitea Cowan Communications Enapter +49 30 33941380 Vaitea@enapter.com https://www.enapter.com

www.thailand.ahk.de

14 GREEN TECHNOLOGY

Stiebel Eltron targeting growth through ‘Green Technology’ Stiebel Eltron Asia

‘Green Technology’ is an emerging concept that is now being promoted by many industries, with the fundamental idea being the creation of a more sustainable future.

Through the development and endorsement of new technologies and innovations, companies aim to minimise depletion and disturbance of natural resources, while fostering the growth of long-term sustainability.

Driven by a common set of goals to significantly reduce potential damage to the environment, the adoption of Green Technology across various industries promotes a strong focus towards developing sustainable solutions, such as renewable energy, as an alternative to fossil fuels.

providing hot water and ventilation for buildings through sustainable solutions. Stiebel Eltron’s research and development team continuously strives to produce and improve electric water heaters that maximize energy saving and minimize environmental impact through frequent testing and development efforts.

efficient heat pumps on the market, providing high energy cost savings and environmentallyfriendly hot water all year round. This hot water heat pump technology has been tried and tested in Germany for more than 40 years to ensure consumers constantly receive real energy, environmental and monetar y savings.

As ear ly as 1976 Stiebel Eltron began developing heat pump technology for energyefficient hot water. The Stiebel Eltron hot water heat pumps are among the most

According to Mr. Roland Hoehn, Managing Director of Stiebel Eltron Asia, “the prevailing challenge for the water heater market in Thailand is that the industr y is heading

This transition towards a more sustainable future is backed by the Thai Government’s relentless efforts to reduce carbon emission by utilizing renewable resources, which in turn increases rising demand for clean energy sources. With market expansion on the horizon, the global green technologies market is expected to reach 5 per cent growth between 2019 and 2023.

As a firm believer that electricity from renewable resources is the future of energy production, Germany’s Stiebel Eltron aims to increase consumers’ living comfor t with electricity-based, highly efficient solutions for

UPDATE 4/2019

An example of Stiebel Eltron heat pumps

GREEN TECHNOLOGY 15

“ (T)he global green technologies market is expected to reach 5 per cent growth between 2019 and 2023.” towards maturity, as most households are already in possession of water heaters. In view of this, Stiebel Eltron is committed to constant research and development in order to stay ahead of the game and sustain market growth. We will continue to introduce new Green Technology products in the market and we also want to produce these products in Thailand in the future. Due to this, we are currently increasing our production capacity by investing 200 million baht in expanding our factories”.

The Stiebel Eltron heat pump system in the Lit Bangkok Residence has already been in operation for more than four years. During that period, the system has shown reliable performance with great energy savings.

The hotel has saved up to 80 per cent of electricity costs compared with a standard electric water heater system and up to 60 per cent compared with a heating boiler system that utilizes fossil fuel.

In Thailand, not only in the residential market, but also in industrial and commercial buildings, consumers have started to explore options for sustainable development using heat pumps.

Stiebel Eltron has managed to supply heat pumps to various projects, such as Baan Issara Bangna, Mason Pattaya, the M-Soul Laundromat, Prueksa House, Jamahkiri Resort and Spa, and many others.

One of the projects that has used Stiebel Eltron heat pumps is the Lit Bangkok Residence, a stunning state-of-the-art hotel in Ratchathewi District, Bangkok. With a hot water consumption requirement of 8,000 litres per day, Stiebel Eltron installed WPL 23 E air-to-water heat pumps with 6,000 litres tanks to serve all the hotel’s needs. From the ver y beginning of the project, it was planned to make the Residence a “green hotel”.

The installation of the WPL 23 E 44 KW heat pump with 6,000-litre tanks at Lit Bangkok Residence.

Following its continuous effor ts to expand through Green Technology, Stiebel Eltron will be participating in the ‘Technology Showcase: Energy Efficiency for Buildings – Made in Ger many 2019’ showcase event dur ing October 2019, which will be hosted by the Thai-German Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Mittelstand Global – Energy Solutions made in Germany. The event will present a great opportunity for Stiebel Eltron to highlight its innovations and technology solutions in addition to promoting sustainability through the utilization of Green Technology.

Contact details: Patcha Kitipriwan Marketing Manager Stiebel Eltron Asia Ltd. Tel: +66 92 247 8266 patcha@stiebeleltronasia.com

Lit Bangkok Residence in Ratchathewi District

www.thailand.ahk.de

16 GREEN TECHNOLOGY

Cement industry can play a major role in reducing marine pollution Dr. Vincent Aloysius

The cement industr y has become a key partner for large players throughout various industrial sectors. This par tnership has is having a positive impact on the environment.

Cement kilns offer much-needed waste management infrastructure, par ticularly in emerging economies.

In Southeast Asia where plastics continue to leak into the ocean from landfills and dumpsites, cement kilns could also play a vital role in plugging in this leak. INSEE Ecocycle has star ted a programme in Thailand that allows it to mine municipal solid waste to extract refuse-derived fuel that can pre-processed at its facilities.

Up to 12.8 million metric tonnes of postconsumer plastics are now polluting the world’s oceans, according to a recent paper published in the academic journal Science, with leakage adding to this amount every day. Asia is the largest source, with nearly 60 per cent of the plastic waste leaking into the ocean coming from China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand, according to a repor t from the Ocean Conservancy and the McKinsey Center for Business and Environment.

UPDATE 4/2019

There is no escaping the doomsday scenario images of our oceans filled and poisoned by plastics. Its impact can already be seen from several high-profile cases of marine animals perishing after ingesting plastic waste creating greater public awareness.

Plastic remains pervasive in Southeast Asia.

However, instead of demonizing it, the focus should be on improving waste management collection and infrastructure — both of which are lacking in Southeast Asia — while simultaneously removing sources of postconsumer plastics that could leak into the ocean.

Mining for answers in the dumps The use of alternative fuels and raw materials in cement kilns is not a new concept in Southeast Asia, but it usually involves collecting and processing homogeneous waste streams that are easy-to-handle . However, for difficult-to-handle industrial waste, it becomes uneconomical for cement kilns to receive such materials without a reasonable disposal fee.

Municipal solid waste in most Southeast Asian countries is not segregated. The energy contained in plastics waste is mixed with

GREEN TECHNOLOGY 17

perishable kitchen waste and this makes it costly to handle and malodourous. Turning this waste into refuse-derived fuel (RDF) is possible, but not a high priority for the cement industry in the region.

In Thailand, INSEE Ecocycle created the MSW-RDF Project in order to both remove plastic from the country’s landfills and obtain RDF that could be co-processed in its cement kilns. INSEE Ecocycle mines municipal solid waste dumpsites to collect plastics scraps that can be turned into RDF. Not only does this contribute to the growing needs of its cement kilns in Thailand, but the process also helps to remove plastic waste from dumpsites and eliminates a source of leakage.

Landfills are difficult places to work in. They smell and there is quite a bit of discomfort; however, the teams who undertake this task for INSEE Ecocycle relish the challenge. They believe they are doing something good and their work effort to maintain the operation is amazing. You will never see other people this excited by being at a landfill.

Lowering the carbon footprint Collected plastics are then transported to an INSEE Ecocycle facility for treatment that further prepares it for co-processing in the company’s cement kilns. By overseeing the entire process, both the safety and operation of the RDF production can be managed.

This leads to higher fossil fuel substitution in the cement kilns, and the lowering of the carbon footprint.

INSEE Ecocycle began its landfill mining effort in 2017 and the company now operates in four dumpsites across Thailand. Currently, INSEE Ecocycle extracts and processes approximately 5,000 tonnes of RDF plastic waste on its own, with additional RDF sourced from other landfill operators in Thailand each month.

The results have been impressive. in 2018, INSEE Ecocycle produced 123,871 tons of RDF from municipal solid waste sources in Thailand. To put this into perspective, that is equivalent to approximately 11.35 billion plastic bags.

“ Plastic remains pervasive in Southeast Asia. However, instead of demonizing it, the focus should be on improving waste management collection and infrastructure…”

However, this is only one aspect of the MSW-RDF Project. INSEE Ecocycle believes that by raising the standards, it can gradually influence and bring safe practices to this activity on a regional and global level. What’s more, this practice can easily be replicated in other countries, something that will be very impor tant in the attempts to stop plastic waste leakage in Southeast Asia increasing.

There is so much plastic out there that the surface is hardly being scratched. The Thailand Pollution Control Depar tment estimates that of the 27.4 million tonnes of garbage generated in the countr y during 2017, some 7.18 million tonnes were disposed improperly.

However, by mining for RFD in Thai landfills, a source of plastic waste leakage that would otherwise go unchecked is being eliminated.

The fact that plastic waste, which could otherwise end up in the ocean, is now feeding

the needs of cement kilns in Thailand is a win-win solution for the industry and the environment.

Despite some challenges in Southeast Asia, the MSW-RDF Project shows it is possible to get this plastic waste out of landfills and dumpsites. Doing this reduces the leakage of plastics getting washed into streams, rivers and finally our oceans, while also proving to be a source of RDF.

Contact details: Dr. Vincent Aloysius Chief Executive Officer INSEE Ecocycle Company Limited Siam City Cement Group Company Tel +662 797 7000 vincent.aloysius@siamcitycement.com http://www.inseeecocycle.com

www.thailand.ahk.de

18 INTERVIEW

‘Bioenergy links ecology, economy and society’ Dr. Nils Rottmann, Chief Executive Officer of BioEnergy Germany

Renewable energy is one of the most dynamic sectors of today’s economy and it will play and ever bigger role in the future. Nearly all industries have by-products at the end of their production line. With the industries growing, industry waste grows as well and needs to be properly taken care of. There are many approaches and ideas on how to deal with industrial waste, one of which is the utilisation of biogas.

BioEnergy Germany is one of the “green energy” companies with its 10 years of experience in the manufacturing and operation of biogas plants worldwide, the know-how of service and maintenance of more than 600 plants as well as the biological support world-wide for more than 300 biogas plants. It is now well-anchored in the Thai market after its establishment in 2015. The chamber is grateful to Dr. Nils Rottmann, CEO of BioEnergy Germany for sharing his experiences and expertise with GTCC about biogas on the Thai market.

What is your perspective on renewable energy, especially the biogas sector in Thailand and its potential?

There is a great deal of untapped potential in the biogas sector in Thailand. The big advantage here is that renewable raw materials do not need to be grown – a lot of agricultural waste is already available. A good example is starch production. Thailand is one of the most significant producers and expor ters of starch worldwide and has countless starch factories. They all produce wastewater with a very high energy content as well as solid waste — so-called pulp — which is one of the best substrates for biogas plants anywhere. The waste products of the palm oil production can also be used well for biogas production.

We work towards bringing high-quality biogas systems to Thailand. With biogas, it would be possible for factories to cover their entire

UPDATE 4/2019

energy requirements from the waste they generate in the form of by-products. This would bring financial benefits to them, as there would be no need for them to buy electricity anymore from outside providers.

The waste produced by factories has to be treated in any case, so producing electricity during the treatment seems to be a win-win for factories and the environment. In addition, electricity and gas can be generated decentrally. This makes transport of natural gas to more remote regions like Udon Thani superfluous, as it can be produced locally.

Biogas can be upgraded to replace natural gas as well as LPG (liquified petroleum gas).

What are the challenges that you face as a German company in the Thai biogas market?

The biogas sector is largely dependent on government policies. Many factories that use biogas produce more electricity than they need. Therefore, they would like to sell the

rest of the produced electricity — either using the peer-to-peer system or feeding of the grid. Often, however, the permits to sell such electricity have yet issued and the factories cannot sell what they have produced from their investments. With the new Government of Thailand in place, our sector is hoping for some positive changes; If permits are granted, the sector will bloom.

When we came to Thailand in 2015, we realised that the substrates available here are different. Therefore, in our laboratory, we conducted research on the specific properties and real energy potential of the substrates used in Thailand and adapted our systems to them.

How is your company specialised with regard to input materials from Thailand?

We have specialised in Thai solids, such as Napier grass and chicken manure. We can

INTERVIEW 19

also use MSW (municipal solid waste) as well as EFB (empty fruit bunch) and decanter cake from the palm oil industry or pulp from the starch industry. In the case of solids, only minor technical adjustments are required; the important thing here is knowledge of these substances and the correct way to design the biogas plant. We have set up our own laboratory in Thailand to investigate the digestion of substances and how they behave in the tank, the amount of gas that is produced and what par ameter s can be used to determine the expected amount of gas.

As for wastewater, the challenge is that bringing it into the tank system will be very expensive because you need a large-volume container. In the Thai market, lagoons are still the preferred system for biogas production.

Lagoons are a simple technique where a hole is dug in the ground and a theoretically air-tight sealing foil is applied on all sides around the hole . When wastewater is pumped into the tank, nature and its bacteria start producing gas. A common problem with this system is leakage, which is accompanied by a reduced energy output and possible contamination of the underlying soil.

In order to effectively solve these problems and present the Thai market with a fitting solution, we have developed the lagoon 4. 0 with which we create a hybrid system between the conventional lagoon and a tank system, it is an inground-reactor. We also call it CSLR: Continuously Stirred Lagoon Reactor.

The lagoon is completely automated as everything can be monitored via computer or an app. We have created an app for smartphones where you can see all values online or start and stop the lagoon.

What impact do the ongoing changes and the development of sustainability have on your business?

In fact, this trend has no impact on our

“ There is a great deal of untapped potential in the biogas sector in Thailand. The big advantage here is that renewable raw materials do not need to be grown — a lot of agricultural waste is already available.” business as it is more likely to affect mass customers. Our customers are more in the industrial sector. So, for them, we would rather offer waste treatment solutions. They have waste as a problem, which must be solved. This has the positive side-effect of generating gas, electricity and heat. I don’t believe that our customer s make their decisions based on sustainability ideas but based on economic decisions.

“Bioenergy links ecology, economy and society” is your business’ motto. How you connect these three aspects?

The link between economy, ecology and the local population is important. For example, in the area of biogas plants for Napier grass, ever yone must make their contribution.

Only if the far mer s par ticipate in the facilities as well, can you have the chance to get local acceptance. It is crucial that you take the communities with you from the very beginning, so that everyone can see the benefits and their obligations in the project.

B i o E n e r g y Ge rmany can provid e a “zero-waste concept” for most factories.

C a n yo u d e s cribe brie fly what the zero-waste concept is based on, and how you implement it in Thailand?

Let’s take the example of a starch factory.

After cassava roots are processed in the factor y, you have shells of waste, pulp and wastewater. The wastewater can be discharged into the field or an open lagoon.

The pulp can be sold as animal feed or be buried.

In the case of a biogas plant, all three wastes would be treated, partly to generate gas and partly to produce clear water. The gas can then be converted into energy and the clear water can be reused, so you have no waste left.

What expectations do you have for the development of your business in Thailand?

The liberalisation or opening of the electricity market is a great opportunity. This would allow the companies that generate gas from their waste to sell the electricity, either to the Government or to other customers.

That would be a very big opportunity.

The other opportunity is the promotion of cer tain substrates such as Napier grass. In Thailand, special species with a higher energy content than the standard Napier grass have already been developed. If subsidies and support fare provided to farmers for this, it would be a very positive development for the future of biogas plants using Napier grass.

The projects of many competitors in the past have shown that overly cheap products are not solutions for the future. Although it took a long time for BioEnergy Germany to gain a foothold in the Thai market, we are now putting out biogas plants that link high quality and efficiency with low costs and prices as required by the market. Through our projects that have already been already implemented in Thailand, we have established many contacts throughout Southeast Asia, so we now have the oppor tunity to also offer good solutions in neighbouring countries like Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. Nevertheless, we are focusing on Thailand, where the market potential for the foreseeable future is definitely very large.

Interviewed by Lisa te Kaat and Katja Klose, GTCC Team

www.thailand.ahk.de

20 INTERVIEW

EABC: Supporting European-Thailand trade and investment

Jan Eriksson, President of European Association of Business and Commerce (EABC).

GTCC caught up with Jan Eriksson, President of European Association of Business and Commerce (EABC).

The European Association of Business and Commerce (EABC), established in 2011, aims to be the unified voice of the European business community in Thailand. EABC’s objectives are to advocate member interests, to support European business in Thailand and to promote Thailand as an attractive partner for European foreign investment and trade. EABC is the European chamber of commerce in Thailand, covering all EEA (European Economic Area) states, not just EU states. Jan Eriksson, EABC President talks about EABC’s core focus, and benefits of EABC .membership.

What are EABC’s key activities and services Advocacy is EABC’s core business. The 12 Working Groups and their chairs are the focal points of EABC Advocacy. EABC aims to build consensus in the European Business Community by welcoming to its Working Groups EABC member s who are also members of bilateral chambers. This provides a broader source pool of ideas, information and experience. New Working Groups can be made in cases of real interest where a chair is voted lead the effort.

Engagement with government agencies can be by small or larger group dialogues, written submissions, seminars and conferences.

EABC does not make demands, but maintains respect through dialogue to achieve outcomes in the interest of the Thai economy and Thai-European tr ade and investment.

The Working Groups represent a deep experience, know how and commitment to objectives.

EABC Advisory Council comprises European chamber presidents and where there is no chamber, the head of an Embassy’s trade or investment section. It also includes the EU Delegation. It meets twice per year.

It provides for better knowledge of EABC status, developments and activities, closer understanding by Advisory Council members of advocacy work, initiatives and activities in policy advocacy. It also fosters closer direct understanding by EABC advocacy champions

UPDATE 4/2019

of the policies and business issues of interest to chambers and European missions and provides guidance to EABC on bigger picture issues.

The Advisory Council does not replace the EABC Board, which along with the EABC Members’ meeting, are the decision-making organs of EABC. Membership Being an EABC member offers: • Opportunity to join in any of the 12 EABC Working Groups and contribute to Advocacy work; which can enhance the chamber’s own advocacy interests.

• Being part of building consensus in the European business community in Thailand and influencing Thai policy maker s (Ministries and other government organizations) through our advocacy Working Group through a wide base • Being par t of a wider grouping with European business rather than trying to advocate for outcomes on one’s own • Create direct contacts with Thai Government representatives as well as with top business decision makers in Thailand and in Southeast Asia • Opportunity to be elected as Head of Working Group and/or Board member of EABC • All standard company exposure benefits in EABC communication materials and channels EABC is also a member of the EU-ASEAN

Business Council and gains regional exposure through that relationship, including many regional visits and the annual conference, this year co-organized by EABC, in Bangkok in September.

Both local and foreign authorities have recognized the EABC as a valuable and effective advocate for European business in Thailand.

GTCC participates in EABC in two ways: • Its members as members of EABC can be par t of EABCs Working Groups, including being elected a Working Group chair.

• through being a member of EABC’s Advisory Council.

EABC offers special rates to GTCC members (and other bilateral European chamber members): • THB 6,000 admission fee waived • 20% discount on annual fees (resulting in THB 12,000 for SMEs and THB 24,000 for larger companies) “EABC membership is an add-on enhancement, not in conflict with or duplicaing membership in GTCC or other bilateral European chambers”.

For more infor mation about EABC Membership please go to www.eabc-thailand. org Tel: 02 252 8751 ext. 109, or contact O p e r a t i o n s D i r e c t o r, D r. C h a r a n y a Nopnukulvised (members@eabc-thailand.org).

INTERVIEW 21

www.thailand.ahk.de

22 CHAMBER ACTIVITIES

GTCC site visit to Wang Noi Beverage About 30 GTCC members, led by GTCC, visited the site of Wang Noi Beverage Co., Ltd. on 20 June 2019 to explore the production of the Singha drinking water and the company’s modern technology plays a key role in increasing productivity, manufacturing efficiency and safety. Wang Noi Bever age Co., Ltd., a leading and well-recognised soda and drinking water producer, has five production lines at its site in Ayutthaya province. The production lines include: 500 ml bottled drinking water, 400 ml glass-bottled soda water; 325 ml bottled soda water; 0.5-litre and 1.5-litre PET plastic bottled drinking water ; and 6 litre bottled drinking water.

GTCC Stammtisch Bangkok at Bei Otto A warm gathering was enjoyed among GTCC members, colleagues and friends, with popular traditional German food and beverages, at GTCC Stammtisch at Bei Otto on 20 June 2019. GTCC President Mr. Markus Lorenzini opened the event. The evening was also made even more exciting with a lucky draw to win a litre of Erdinger beer from Bei Otto.

UPDATE 4/2019

CHAMBER ACTIVITIES 23

GTCC Multi-Chamber Networking: “Diversity in the Workplace” Diversity matters! GTCC is grateful to the guest speakers and event partners for making the GTCC Multi-Chamber Networking event, “Diver sity in the Wor kplace”, a successful evening on 25 June 2019 at SO Sofitel Bangkok. The speakers included: Mr. Wolfgang Jockusch, Trainer and Consultant for Intercultural and Diversity Management at BAMIK GmbH; Ms. Pattama Wisetsutthichai, Head of Human Resources at Boehringer Ingelheim (Thai) Ltd.; Mr. Jean-Francois Br un, General Manager at SO Sofitel Bangkok; Mr. Stuar t Reid SVP – Executive Recruitment, Banking and Financial Services at PRTR Recruitment & Outsourcing; and Mr. Waranon (Warren) Vanichprapa, Partner and Chair of CSR at Baker & McKenzie Limited, Attorneys at Law. The event partners were Paulaner and Usay.

GTCC supports Iceman Charity GTCC supports Iceman Charity for the good health of 2,400 children in the Wat Sakaeo orphanage, one of the largest orphanages in Thailand. Together with our guests at the GTCC Gala Night 2019, we raised the fund of 112,000 Baht, which was donated to the Iceman Charity represented by founder Volker Capito on 5 July 2019. The donation was contributed to buying a new scrubber machine of Kärcher for daily cleaning of the orphanage’s 2,000 sqm canteen. The cleaning star ted from Wat Sakaeo orphanage’s Cleaning Festival 2019 on 3 August 2019.

www.thailand.ahk.de

24 CHAMBER ACTIVITIES

GTCC Seminar: Innovation in Operational Excellence Challenging the status quo is always worth the effor t. At the GTCC Seminar on “Innovation in Operational Excellence”, with Mr. Ralph Rettler from the Bold Group, the participants learned how to look at situations from a different perspective and how to use related approaches, e.g., thinking outside the box. Mr. Rettler explained to the participants how innovation could create outstanding re s ults , and gave re al e x amples fr om c o mp anie s s uc h as A irbus , BMW a nd Siemens. The seminar took place at the GTCC office on 9 July 2019.

Asia-Pacific Forum Bayern Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) is one of the “hotspots” in Asia in terms of trade and investment. It is expected to attract approximately US$ 46 billion in investments, with a focus on “S-curve” industries such as automotive, electronics, robotics and digital technology.

GTCC Executive Director Dr. Roland Wein discussed Thailand’s EEC at the “New Hotspots in Asia” session, held on 10 July 2019 at the 14th Asia-Pacific Forum Bayern, with Director of Thailand’s Board of Investment, Frankfurt, Dr. Ratchanee Wattanawisitporn, and delegations from other German Chambers of Commerce in the Asia-Pacific region. The Asia-Pacific Forum Bavaria, organised by the Bavarian Foreign Trade Centre and the IHK in Bayern, is one of the largest foreign trade events in Germany.

UPDATE 4/2019

CHAMBER ACTIVITIES 25

GTCC Young Professionals networking with a talk on agility GTCC Young Professionals Network Evening “The Rules are Changing: Why Agility Marks the Road Forward for Business” was organised on 11 July 2019, with Mr. William Malek, Senior Executive Director for Leadership & Innovations at SEAC Lifelong Learning Center as the speaker. Event partners were Turkish Airlines, A Taste of Africa restaurant, and SPACES at Empire Tower.

GTCC Ice Breaker: “Welcome Back”

GTCC members, par tners and friends got connected and reconnected with the business network at the GTCC Ice Breaker “Welcome Back” networking on 8 August 2019. The event was held at our Venue Partner, Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Bangkok Menam Riverside, with its the spectacular view of the Chao Phraya River, where the participants enjoyed a variety of delicious food and free flows of drinks. The impressive location as well as the excellent service and F&B arrangements made the event even more memorable. GTCC is also grateful for the support provided by the Event Partners, Mazars Thailand, Schaeffler Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. and Turkish Airlines.

www.thailand.ahk.de

26 CHAMBER ACTIVITIES

GTCC Oktoberfest 2019 Press Conference GTCC, in co-operation with the German Embassy in Bangkok, Flow Inter Company Limited and the Bangkok Marriott Marquise Hotel, Queen’s Park, organised a successful GTCC Oktoberfest 2019 Press Conference on 21 August 2019 at the hotel.

GTCC site visit to Ducati Motor Thailand A GTCC site visit to Ducati Motor Thailand Co., Ltd. was organised on 23 August 2019.

About 50 GTCC members learned about the company’s milestones, products and heritage values. They also explored the firm’s high-quality production that is standardised to ensure the safety of customers as well as the high-performance engines with its renowned “desmodromic” technology. We appreciate the warm welcome and informative presentations as well as the plant tour led by Mr. Alberto Strada, Managing Director of Ducati Motor Thailand.

UPDATE 4/2019

CHAMBER ACTIVITIES 27

Mission to Berlin Protectionism is rising worldwide and trade disputes among States are escalating. Exchanges between diplomatic and business sectors are therefore increasing in impor tance. Urgent challenges in this area were addressed at the Ambassador Conference 2019, “Creating multilateralism: the economy as a par tner in Europe and the world”. Held from 26 to 29 August 2019 in Berlin, the event attracted German representatives from abroad, including German Ambassador to Thailand, H.E. Georg Schmidt and GTCC Executive Director, Dr. Roland Wein, who discussed related matters with German companies.

On 28 August, Dr. Wein provided first-hand information on ASEAN as a dynamic market and good example of economic integration as well as the current situation, outlook and business opportunities, both in the region and Thailand, at the ASEAN Business Roundtable that was organised by IHK Magdeburg.

GTCC Executive Breakfast Talk with Luther LLP GTCC or ganised a breakfast talk on intellectual proper ty, “Basic IP Check for Companies” on 6 September 2019 at the Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit. Luther LLP’s IP expert, Ms. Anja Schwarz, LL.M. (London), Attorney-at-Law and Registered Foreign Lawyer (Singapore), discussed key basic actions that ever y business should take with regard to the risks and benefits of oppor tunities connected with intellectual proper ty. In addition, she addressed how to: ensure that developments made by employees/freelancers will be passed to their companies; protect a company’s’ intellectual proper ty; exploit intellectual proper ty commercially; enforce it against third party usage; and avoid infringement of intellectual proper ty of other par ties in order to avoid costly and lengthy legal disputes.

www.thailand.ahk.de

28 CHAMBER ACTIVITIES

GTCC Meets the German Ambassador At the “GTTC Meets the German Ambassador” event held on 12 September 2019 at the Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit, GTCC members had the opportunity to discuss various topics with German Ambassador to Thailand, H.E. Georg Schmidt. The Ambassador shared his diplomatic experiences in Thailand and Asia as well as his perspectives on Thailand’s economy and politics during the talk with Mr. Saksith Saiyasombut, Thailand Correspondent, CNA. The participants also strengthened their business connections with other members during the networking session.

UPDATE 4/2019

CHAMBER ACTIVITIES 29

30 GTDEE INSIGHT

PAL Final Examination 2019 (Theoretical and Practical) for BMW and Mercedes-Benz apprentices (Level A)

German-Thai Dual Excellence Education (GTDEE) Bangkok team members, CIM Integrated Exper t and GTDEE Project Director Mr. Markus Hoffmann, Senior Manager of GTDEE Depar tment Dr. Kamonsak Suradom, GTDEE Department Manager Mr. Katiphot Kanoknorrasade, GTDEE Depar tment Manager Mr. Anon Siharat and GTDEE Project Assistant Ms. Apinya Amporn organised the PAL Final Examination 2019 (theoretical and practical) in Automotive Mechatronics for BMW and Mercedes-Benz apprentices batch 2017 (total 25 apprentices) from 2 to 10 May 2019. The examinations were held at Don Bosco Techonological College; BMW Group (Thailand) Training Centre, Pathum Thani; and Mercedes-Benz Competence Centre (MBCC), Bangna-Trad Km. 19.

UPDATE 4/2019

The Examination Committee comprised the following experts from the College of Industrial Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chedthawut Poompipatpong, Head of the Department of Power Engineering Technology, College of Industrial Technology, Asst. Prof. Dr. Warit Thammasiriroj and Asst. Prof. Direk Choowichien.

GTDEE INSIGHT 31

PAL Final Examination 2019 for Mercedes-Benz apprentices (Level B)

On 23 May 2019, GTDEE team members Dr. Kamonsak Suradom and Mr. Katiphot Kanoknorrasade organised the following three events at the Mercedes-Benz Competence Centre (MBCC):

• PAL Final Examination for apprentices Batch 2017 level B (total 25 apprentices); • PAL Interim Examination pre-test for apprentices Batch 2018; and • English Workshop for apprentices Batch 2017 level A

GTCC Final Examination for Logistics 2019 On 20 June 2019, Mr. Katiphot Kanoknorrasade organised the GTCC Final Examination 2019 in logistics profession for apprentices in batch 2017 at Grohe Siam Limited. The examination was held at the King Mongkut’s University of Technology Nor th Bangkok (KMUTNB) Rayong campus.

www.thailand.ahk.de

32 GTDEE INSIGHT

GTDEE Systematic Thinking and Mind Mapping Workshop

GTDEE team member s Dr. Kamonsak Suradom, Mr. Katiphot Kanoknorrasade and Ms. Kanyawee Rungkanjanasak organised the Systematic Thinking and Mind Mapping workshop for the apprentices from Eastern

Technological College (E.Tech), Don Bosco Technological College and Khon Kaen Technical College whom were assigned for their apprenticeship at E.Tech and Boon Rawd Brewery Co., Ltd. The workshops took place at the E.Tech college in Chon Buri on 27 June, Pathum Thani Brewery Co., Ltd. in Pathum Thani on 2 July and Khon Kaen Technical College in Khon Kaen on 30 July.

GTDEE Workshops for apprentices Batch 2018

On 4 July 2019, GTDEE’s Dr. Kamonsak Suradom and Ms. Apinya Amporn organised two wor kshops for the Mercedes-Benz apprentices Batch 2018 in Automotive M ec h atr o n ic s at the M e rce d e s - B e n z Competence Centre, Bangna-Trad Km. 19.

The apprentices were divided into the following two groups for the workshop:

UPDATE 4/2019

• Systematic Thinking and Mind Mapping workshop which run by Dr. Kamonsak Suradom; • Preparation for the PAL Interim ExaminationWorkshop, which was run by Asst. Prof. Direk Choowichien from the College of Industrial Technology of KMUTNB. In addition, Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Senior Technical Trainer, Mr. Praweenawat Navaphongsireetorn, participated in workshops.

GTDEE INSIGHT 33

Quality Management and Plating Final Examination 2019 On 10 July 2019, Mr. Anon Siharat, Ms. Apinya Amporn and GTDEE Depar tment Trainee Ms. Kanyawee Rungkanjanasak organised the GTCC final examination 2019 in the two fields of quality management and plating for apprentices Batch 2017 from Grohe Siam Limited. In addition, Mr. Watcharin Minwonpen, the Human Resources Manager of Miki Siamese International Co., Ltd., was invited to join the Examination Committee. The examination was held at the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce (GTCC).

Meeting on curriculum approval in Electrics profession On 12 July 2019, Dr. Kamonsak Suradom participated in the meeting with Don Bosco Technological College’s Deputy Director of Academic Depar tment Mr. Bunluesak Adwattana, Head of Electrics Department Mr. Nirun Srikhamyod and the teacher of depar tment Mr. Worapong Punglikit, to discuss on curriculum approval in electrics profession under German standard for apprentices Batch 2018 in Electric Power of Pathum Thani Brewery Co,. Ltd. The meeting was held at Don Bosco Technological College.

www.thailand.ahk.de

34 GTDEE INSIGHT

Visits to BMW apprentices From June to July 2019, the GTDEE team visited apprentices Batch 2018 and Batch 2019 at BMW dealerships and held discussions with service managers and workshop managers in order to gain feedback and suggestions concerning GTDEE apprentices’ development.

The GTDEE team visited the following 11 dealerships: German Auto Pattaya; Europa Motors Charansanitwong; Performance Motor Charansanitwong; Performance Motor s Ramintra; Amorn Prestige Ratchada; Barcelona Motor Vibhavadi; Barcelona Motor Bangkhae; German Auto Bangna; Europa Motors Rama 2; Europa Motors Ratchapruek; and German Auto Chaengwattana.

GTDEE workshops for apprentices Batch 2019 GTDEE team members Dr. Kamonsak Suradom, Mr. Katiphot Kanoknorrasade, Mr. Anon Siharat and Ms. Apinya Amporn organised two workshops for Mercedes-Benz apprentices Batch 2019

from 17 to 19 July 2019 at the Mercedes-Benz

Competence Centre, Bangna-Trad Km. 19.

The apprentices were divided into the

following two groups for the workshops:

• Systematic Thinking and Mind Mapping

Workshop, which organised by Dr. Kamonsak Suradom;

• Preparation for the PAL Interim Examination Workshop, which arranged by Asst. Prof.

Direk Choowichien from the College of Industrial Technology of KMUTNB.

UPDATE 4/2019

In addition, Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) Co., Ltd.’s Senior Technical Trainer, Mr. Prawit Muang-Im, attended the workshops.

GTDEE INSIGHT 35

GTCC Certificate Presentation Ceremony On 18 July 2019, GTDEE team members Mr. Katiphot Kanoknorrasade and Ms. Apinya Amporn participated in a GTCC certificate presentation ceremony for the apprentices of Batch 2017 in mechatronics. The apprentices were the first-generation apprentices of Robert Bosch Automotive Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd. - Hemaraj. The apprentices received their GTCC certificates from Mr. Katiphot Kanoknorrasade together with Robert Bosch Automotive Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd. - Hemaraj Manager, Human Resources, Ms. Srithai Srisaichon. In addition, the Director of Thai-Austrian Technical College, Mr. Wichai Hanplachai, and the management team par ticipated in the ceremony, held at the College in Chon Buri.

Training Plan and Teaching Plan Development Workshop On 31 August 2019, GTDEE team members Mr. Markus Hoffmann and Dr. Kamonsak Suradom joined a Training Plan and Teaching Plan Development Workshop with the human resources management team and trainers of Khon Kaen Brewery Co., Ltd., together with Khon Kaen Technical College teachers. The workshop focused on training and teaching plans in the fields of electr ic power, electronics and industrial techniques. The workshop was held at the co-working space, Jump Space, in Khon Kaen.

www.thailand.ahk.de

36 BUSINESS BRIEFS

Mercedes-Benz and NSTDA ink a technology transfer MoU Thailand’s National Science and Technology D eve lo pme n t A ge n cy (N S TDA) a n d Mercedes-Benz Manufactur ing (Thailand) Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 2 August 2019 covering

research, development and technology transfer to support battery testing for electric vehicles.

As part of this collaboration, NSTDA’s PTEC

(Electrical and Electronic Products Testing Centre) has been appointed as the first electric vehicle battery testing laboratory in Thailand with the mission to handle activities for establishing the countr y’s quality infrastructure to suppor t the automotive industry in thefuture. These activities include the establishment of a batter y testing laboratory and autonomous vehicle testing laboratory.

By targeting the use of batter y testing laboratory facilities in Thailand, the aim is to (a) develop knowledge and sharpen the skills of the country’s testing professionals in order to meet the necessary policy standards for the modern automotive industr y, and (b) develop the production base in Thailand to ensure batteries are aligned with international quality standards.

BayWa r.e. gives solar boost to Tetra Pak in Thailand Renewable energy developer, service provider and wholesaler, BayWa r.e recently completed a new PV installation for the world’s leading food processing and packaging solutions company, Tetra Pak, in Thailand.

With more than 3,000 solar panels installed across four of its factory rooftops, Tetra Pak now has a capacity of 1,000 kWp, generating its own green energy for its Thai business. As an RE100 company, Tetra Pak has committed to sourcing 100 percent of its energy from renewables by 2030.

Tor Pramoj, Managing Director of BayWa r.e.

(Thailand) Co., Ltd. says: “We began operating in the APAC region in 2015 and we’re already a leader in the PV wholesale and the utilityscale renewable energy market. This project now marks the first of our Commercial and Industrial (C&I) projects in Thailand.”

UPDATE 4/2019

Currently Thailand has the highest solar power capacity among ASEAN members, but aims to increase the proportion of energy it sources from renewables from 14 per cent to 30 per cent by 2036 as a key part of its sustainability plans.

BUSINESS BRIEFS 37

New President of BMW Group Thailand BMW Group announced the appointment of Mr. Alexander Baraka as President of BMW Group Thailand, effective 1 September 2019. Mr. Baraka succeeds Mr. Christian Wiedmann, who is set to take up a new position as President and CEO of BMW Group Japan.

A 14-year veteran of the BMW Group, Mr. Alexander Baraka joined the BMW Group in 2005 and has since ser ved in various functions across many regions around the globe — including Spain, Germany and South Africa. In 2017, he was named as the General Manager, BMW Brand Management and Marketing Services for BMW Group South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa after two years in an overall supervisory role as General Manager for BMW Motorrad in the same mar ket. In his new position, Mr. Baraka’s responsibilities will cover the management of all BMW Group Thailand business divisions – including BMW, MINI, and BMW Motorrad.

Stiebel Eltron announces partnership with Borussia Dortmund

Stiebel Eltron, Thailand’s leading manufacturer of water heaters, water filters, hand-dryers, heat pumps and water pumps, is entering a two-year par tner ship with Bor ussia Dortmund (BVB) football club. The company has also announced that a 17 per cent overall growth in 2018 was achieved in Thailand, demonstrating the fact that the country is becoming the company’s key production and export hub for the Asia-Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC) initiative and beyond by 2020.

The partnership features numerous activities, including events with Borussia Dor tmund’s

mascot and legends in Thailand as well as lucky draws for Stiebel Eltron customers and Borussia Dor tmund fans to win tickets to attend matches in Germany and Asia. A limitededition Stiebel Eltron water heater co-branded with Borussia Dortmund, the “XG Dortmund Limited Edition”, is available in Homepro and Boonthavorn stores, also at online shops such as Lazada and Shopee.

www.thailand.ahk.de

38 MEMBERS’ CORNER

Grand opening of the Beiersdorf Thailand plant expansion advanced machiner y and manufacturing methodologies that are focused on the production of personal care products.

Project Pailin, which will be continued with the modernisation of the existing building used for skin and derma care production by 2021, demonstrates the company’s commitment to sustainability. The new facility has, for example, a solar-panelled roof for electricity production of up to 500 kW. It also utilises low-emittance construction materials and high-efficiency machines to minimize C02 emission, together with environmentally-friendly, CFC-free refrigerant units and the use of recycled water for irrigation.

Beiersdorf, the leading provider of innovative, high-quality skin care products, including brands such as NIVEA, Eucerin, La Prairie and Hansaplast, inaugurated its newly expanded production facility in Bangplee in July this year. Project Pailin, for which construction began in 2018, is part of a major investment scheme at its Thailand Production Centre. With a total investment of euros 67 million (baht 929 million), the production centre has increased Beiersdorf ’s production capacity by 50 per cent. The facility, which covers an area of 9,000 square metres, incorporates

In addition, enhanced shipping capabilities will make the Bangplee production centre an important export hub for the Beiersdorf network. It has already been the main supplier for Beiersdorf products within the region since 1982.

CEO Handover of Daimler Commercial Vehicles Daimler Commercial Vehicles Thailand recently hosted “The Future is Forward” event, an official Chief Executive Officer (CEO) handover event for their dealers, investors and business par tners. Former CEO Sascha Ricanek bid farewell to guests and officially welcomed his successor Stefano Giordani, who has assumed the role since the beginning of September. Both executives have worked together immensely in the past weeks to assure a smooth transition for all stakeholders.

Mr. Giordani, originally from Rome, Italy joined Daimler in 2005. His previous position was the Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services España. Mr. Giordani has developed a solid background in business development, and sales and mar keting throughout his career with Daimler, overseeing financial services as well as the truck and bus business.

UPDATE 4/2019

Mr. Ricanek was CEO of Daimler Commercial Vehicles Thailand since 2017. He was a key person in setting up the company in Thailand. He will now take on the role of Head of Global Product Planning and Life cycle management at the Daimler Trucks Asia headquarters in Kawasaki, Japan.

MEMBERS’ CORNER 39

GTCC Member Speed Networking GTCC organised a GTCC Member Speed Networking at Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Bangkok Menam Riverside on 8 August 2019. Fifteen representatives of GTCC member companies and network from various industries gathered at the meeting designed to establish exclusive connections in the German-Thai business community.

Our participants included: Isares Teerawongs, BE Prompt Trading and Services Limited; Teerasak Wongpiya, Bold Group GmbH; Tom Sorensen, Boyden Associates (Thailand) Limited; Harsh Deept Dash, CleanMax IHQ (Thailand) Co., Ltd.; Karun Pantong, EGS-plan (Bangkok) Co., Ltd.; Uwe D. Kuehner, Evonik (Thailand) Ltd.; Piyachat Chaiaroon, INSEE Ecocycle Company Limited; Teerasak Phongsawad, INSEE Ecocycle Company Limited; Jarred Kelly, Mahanakorn Partners

Group Co., Ltd.; Hans D. Westphal, Retech Energy Co., Ltd.; Juergen Kohnen, Rhenus Project Logistics Co., Ltd.; Thunyawee Phumejitpakdee, Total Access Communication Public Co., Ltd.; Chawanwit Liangsoonthornsit, Total Access Communication Public Co., Ltd.; Saran Tipparak, Turkish Airlines; Thomas Hundt, Germany Trade & Invest.

“The event was really great, much better than my expectations since it was my first event at GTCC. The format was very useful, got to know about a lot of companies and we could discuss possible synergies to work together.”

Harsh Deept Dash, Business Development Lead CleanMax IHQ (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

“Nice to have a chance to join this event. As a new member, this is a good oppor tunity to introduce our business, meeting other professionals in a short period of time” Piyachat Chaiaroon, Marketing Division Manager INSEE Ecocycle Co., Ltd.

“The Speed Networking by GTCC is a perfect event for pitching your services. We got one big project through the event, we always looking forward to joining again and wish that the event is happening more than once a year” Karun Pantong, Deputy Managing Director EGS-plan (Bangkok) Co., Ltd.

www.thailand.ahk.de

40 MEMBERS’ CORNER

New GTCC members up to 30 September 2019

German-Thai Chamber of Commerce warmly welcomes 14 new members BE Prompt Trading and Services Limited Khun Jintana Aursudkij Managing Director Khun Isares Teerawongs Operation Director beprompt@gmail.com www.beprompt.co.th Repair of fabricated metal products, machinery and equipment | Construction of buildings

INSEE Ecocycle Company Limited Dr. Vincent Aloysius CEO Khun Piyachat Chaiaroon Marketing Communication and Business Liaison Division Manager inseeecocycle@siamcitycement.com www.inseeecocycle.com Waste collection, treatment and disposal activities; materials recovery | Remediation activities and other waste management services

Enapter Co., Ltd.

Khun Janpen Sathitkarnmanee

Mr. Sebastian-Justus CEO Mr. Thomas Chrometzka Business Planning and Strategy Development Manager thomas@enapter.com www.enapter.com Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c. | Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | Scientific research and development

ERP Clould Sales Representative janpen.sathitkarnmanee@oracle.com, yjanpen@hotmail.com

Group D.M.T Co., Ltd.

Kaefer Engineering (Thailand) Ltd.

Mr. Robert Johann Gschwendtner Managing Director Mr. Robert MĂźller Production Manager Bangkok, Head of Marketing robert@digital-media-tech.com www.digital-media-tech.com Printing and reproduction of recorded media | Other professional, scientific and technical activities | Creative, arts and entertainment activities

Khun Teerachate Kenthaworn Managing Director Khun Krittanan Auamkul Operations Director Teerachate.Kenthaworn@kaefer.com www.kaefer.com Specialised construction activities

Hariki Precision (Thailand) Co.,Ltd. Mr. Nobuhiro Oketani Managing Director Khun Dhunyakarn Pichkittijoti General Manager oketani@hariki.co.jp www.hariki.co.jp Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products | Manufacture of electrical equipment | Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers

UPDATE 4/2019

MEMBERS’ CORNER 41

Phytobiotics (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

SILATEC - Asia Pacific Co., Ltd.

Khun Thawatchai Poolsawat Area Director South East Asian & South Asia Khun Yuttana Choisaeng Business Development Manager (CLMT) info@phytobiotics.com www.phytobiotics.com Crop and animal production, hunting and related service activities | Agents involved in the sale of agricultural raw materials, live animals, textile raw materials and semi-finished goods | Wholesale of agricultural raw materials and live animals

Mr. Rainer Philippeit Business Manager philippeit@silatec.de www.silatec-bulletproofglass.com Specialised construction activities | Other professional, scientific and technical activities | Security systems service activities

PĂśyry Energy Ltd.

Thai Taffeta Co., Ltd.

Mr. Knut Sierotzki Vice President Hydropower Asia Mr. Robert Braunshofer Business Director Hydropower energy.th@poyry.com www.henleyglobal.com Water collection, treatment and supply | Civil engineering | Management consultancy activities

Khun Supoj Chaiwilai Vice President Khun Arnuphap Chompuming Business Development Director techsales@thai-taffeta.com www.thai-taffeta.com Manufacture of textiles

Rehm Thermal Systems (Hong Kong) Limited

Khun Unchisa Thongtiamporn

Mr. Ralf Carsten Wagenfuehr Plant Manager Mr. Tsun Sang Ma General Manager info@rehm-group.com https://www.rehm-group.com/ Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c.

Member of the Board of Thai Photovoltaic Industries Association chisanatalia@gmail.com

Siam Sindhorn Co., Ltd. Khun Sarochinee Napawong Business Development Manager Mr. Jee Hoong Tan General Manager info@sindhorntower.com https://sindhornbuilding.com/index Accommodation

www.thailand.ahk.de

SPECIAL REPORT 43

EMO Hannover 2019 provides clarity in uncertain times EMO Hannover 2019 closed its doors on 21 September 2019 following a six-day run. From 16 to 21 September, round about 117,000 production specialists from 150 countries convened at the world’s leading tradeshow for the metalworking industry.

“This EMO Hannover 2019 built on the success of our boom year in 2017,” reported EMO General Commissioner Carl Mar tin Welcker. He continued: “In the context of subdued economic expectations over the past several months, the moderate decline in attendance has to be viewed as a success.

We are par ticular ly delighted at the further increase in the percentage of foreign attendees. As the world’s leading metalworking fair, it was the “place to be”.

Strong Asian presence at EMO Hannover As the flagship fair for its sector of industry, EMO Hannover has a strong international profile. More than half of all attendees came from abroad, split almost evenly between other European countries and overseas. A 20 percent growth in attendance from overseas in comparison with the 2017 event was particularly impressive. This included a high percentage of Asian guests, who accounted for almost one third of visitors from abroad, with China, Japan, Taiwan and India heading the rankings. “The highly international makeup of EMO visitors, par ticularly from Asia, resulted in a busy and extremely global atmosphere at our stand,” said Dr. Stefan Brand, CEO of Vollmer Werke in Biberach.

This trend was clearly related to a higher number of Asian exhibitors at this year’s event, who encouraged their customers to visit them in Hannover. Other countries with strong representation at the event included Italy, Poland, Sweden, Russia and Turkey.

Digitalization and automation gathering momentum “This year’s EMO once again generated fresh momentum for innovations,” reported Lothar Horn, Managing Director of Paul Horn GmbH in Tübingen. As an innovations platform for production technology, EMO is expected to chart the trends for the years ahead, and once again the mission was successful. The EMO motto “Smart technologies driving tomorrow’s production” accurately reflected the key issues facing the industry today. “Our many discussions with customers at EMO 2019 in Hannover revealed that a focus on the holistic process chain, including digital services, creates the relevant added value for customers,” said Christian Thönes, Chairman of the Executive Board at Bielefeld-based DMG Mori AG. This feeling was shared across all exhibitor segments. “The positive visitor response to our cloud-based simulation tools and monitoring system as an Industr y 4.0 application was striking,” commented MarieSophie Maier-Wember, CEO of Haas Schleifmaschinen GmbH in Trossingen. And the buzzwords of IoT platforms, apps, digital twins, artificial intelligence (AI), edge and cloud computing were omnipresent at the fair.

from 70 international firms and par tners, demonstrating for the first time that the universal interface between machines and IT systems can function across all product types.

EMO Hannover 2019 opens window to future “Against all expectations, we can wrap up EMO Hannover 2019 on a positive note. The fair is attractive for the entire international production technology community and has confirmed there is still demand for capital investment in the marketplace. In spite of all the political turmoil, this trade fair has revealed that industry is actively addressing the challenges of the future and is determined to make its contribution as a problem solver,” concluded EMO General Commissioner Carl Martin Welcker.

The next EMO will be staged in Milan from 4 to 9 October 2021.

This year’s EMO also featured the first AI applications in the Start-up area and at the stands of the relevant trailblazing companies.

Along with the strong interest in AI and machine learning, visitors’ appetite for future visions was reflected in the accompanying events and forums, where the topics included not only AI, but also additive processes, the industrial internet of things (IIoT), 5G and not least OPC UA or umati, the new standard interface between machine tools and overarching IT systems. The standout attraction consisted of the big umati showcase, which included 110 machines

www.thailand.ahk.de

44 TRADE FAIRS

MES Expo 2019: Strategic focus on electronics supplies for the mobility sector 5-7 November 2019, Berlin

The mobility sector is facing a trendsetting phase of transition that will have an impact on longstanding and well-established supplier str uctures. The mar ket is undergoing significant changes as a result of upcoming new ideas, concepts and requirements. The electronics suppliers are first and foremost providing the industrial base for this profound transformation.

The MES Expo, which will be held at the Ber lin Expo-Center City from 5 to 7 November 2019, will reflect this market transformation, will be the first event of its type dedicated to this growing business sector. Requirements, know-how and solution concepts from the segments of rail, commercial vehicles and automobiles are being inter linked in order to meet the requirements of modern mobility.

What sets MES Expo apart is its strategic focus on the value-adding electronics supply industry. The event will be accompanied by a congress part attending trend topics like autonomous driving, e-mobility, digitalization and connectivity. Thus, MES Expo offers this industry a flawless B2B trade fair platform for the exchange of information, market observations and, of course, the establishment and expansion of business contacts.

UPDATE 4/2019

Exhibitors and trade visitors representing vehicle manufacturers as well as public and private transpor t companies will come together to meet manufacturers and suppliers of traffic technology.

The product groups will include: • Drive technology • Energy/charging systems • Vehicle system • Infotainment/telematics • Interior technology • IT/engineering • Technology for chassis/driving gear • Charging infrastructure • Communication • Service for vehicles • Security systems MES Expo is organised as an international trade fair every two years by the Mobility and Services Department of Messe Berlin.

It is supported by the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (ZVEI) and the German Railway Industry Association (VDB) as well as by the National Platform Future of Mobility (NPM), which are partners in the framework programme.

More information on MES Expo can be found at https://www.mobility-electronics.com. For further information, please contact GTCC’s official representative for Messe Berlin GmbH in Thailand, Ms. Patamaporn Wasuwat, at tel: +66 2 055 0641 or by e-mail at berlin@gtcc.org.

TRADE FAIRS 45

productronica 2019: Accelerating innovation in electronics development and production 12-15 November 2019, Munich Recognised as the world’s leading international trade fair for innovative electronics development and production, productronica is supported by the Productronics Association, which is in the German Engineering Federation (VDMA), as a conceptual partner. The event has taken place in Munich biennially since 1975 and is a core element of the electronics trade fair network of the Munich International Trade Fair.

It is the only event of its type that covers the complete range of current and forwardlooking products, technologies and system solutions in their entire breadth and depth along the entire value-added chain in the electronics and electrical goods industry. As a result, it is that industry’s largest and most important gathering.

Since 2017, SEMICON Europa, the European platform for the semiconductor manufacturing industr y, has been held in Munich in conjunction with productronica and electronica. The close integration of SEMICON Europa and productronica offers trade fair visitors an even greater range of information. As an annual event, SEMICON Europa focuses on everything related to semiconductor production and offers industry representatives an extensive suppor ting programme with various conferences.

The range of exhibits at productronica covers all aspects of traditional electronics manufacturing — from PCB and other circuit-carrier manufacturing and soldering t e ch n ol ogy to c able -p ro c e s s ing and component-mounting technologies, measuring and testing technology, and quality assurance.

The new cluster structure of productronica makes it even easier to be in the right place at all times and to have a perfect overview of the entire value chain for electronics manufacturing at the same time. It includes: • The PCB and EMS cluster • The SMT cluster • The Cables, Coils and Hybrids cluster • The Semiconductors cluster • The Future Markets cluster • Overall production support This year’s productronica will take place from Tuesday, 12 November to Friday, 15 November 2019 in Munich.

More details on productronica are available at https://www.productronica.com. For further information, please contact GTCC’s official representative for Messe München GmbH in Thailand, Ms. Patamaporn Wasuwat, at telephone at +66 2 055 0641 or by e-mail at muenchen@gtcc.org.

www.thailand.ahk.de

46 TRADE FAIRS

Spielwarenmesse: The most important trade fair for the world’s toy industry 29 January-2 February 2020, Nuremberg In celebrating its seventieth anniversary in 2019 with industry members from all over the world, Spielwarenmesse has confirmed its position as the world’s leading international fair for toys, hobbies and leisure. It is the biggest and most important annual gathering for these industries. This event is where international toy markets come together – renowned brands, toy innovations, licensed products, trendy start-ups, buyers from large chains, independent retailers and a plethora of media representatives.

At Spielwarenmesse 2019, held in Nuremberg’s exhibition centre , 2,886 companies from 68 countries presented their innovations to 68,500 trade visitors and buyers who flocked to the fair from 132 nations. Ninety per cent of the exhibitors and international visitors said they planned to exhibit and attend Spielwarenmesse 2020 from 29 Januar y to 2 Febr uar y 2020 in Nuremberg, Germany. In addition, 28.8 per cent of the exhibitors also said they only exhibited at Spielwarenmesse.

Covering an area of 170,000 square metres, one million products — including 120,000 innovations from 12 product segments – will be on display in 18 halls at Spielwarenmesse 2020. They will include: • Lifestyle products; • Dolls, soft toys; • Baby and infant articles; • Wooden toys and toys made from other natural materials; • School articles, stationery, creative design; • Technical toys, educational toys, action toys; • Electronic toys; • Model railways and model construction; • Sports, leisure, outdoors; • Festive articles, carnival, fireworks; • Games, books, learning and experimenting; • Multi-product group.

The world is changing faster than ever! Visitors will be able to discover toy trends for 2020 at the TrendGallery in Hall 3A. Covering 1,000 square metres, the TrendGallery will also provide visitors with the opportunity to see product presentations and live events as well as share discussions that will create inspiration. Be the first to learn details about the latest trends in the toy industry that have been collected worldwide by the Spielwarenmesse TrendCommittee and gain good advantage from such information.

Become a par t of Spielwarenmesse 2020, at which the world of play will share the toy industry’s most important event and build exceptional business relations with potential copanies all over the world.

Fur ther details are available at www.spielwarenmesse.de. For more general information about Spielwarenmesse 2020 (i.e., entrance tickets, fair catalogues, travel facilities and local accommodation, visitor brochures, delegation trips or information about the exhibition city of Nuremberg) please contact the Chamber’s official representative of Spielwarenmesse eG for Thailand, Ms. Chanikarn Ngarmchalee, at +66 2 055 0642 or by e-mail at chanikarn@gtcc.org.

UPDATE 4/2019

TRADE FAIRS 47

VIVANESS: International exhibition for natural and organic personal care 12-15 February 2020, Nuremberg

Nature has always been regarded as a source of energy and the best supplier of active ingredients for holistic care, vitalization and underlining people’s natural beauty. VIVANESS, the international trade fair for natural and organic personal care, brings together the traditional with the modern as well as pioneers with newcomers from the international cosmetics sector in a unique manner.

At next year’s VIVANESS, exhibitors will again present products from 12 to 15 February to industry professionals from all the relevant sales channels, such as natural food specialist stores and retailers such as specialised online stores, chemists, drugstores and perfumeries.

Natural and organic cosmetics have been par t of the product spectrum at BIOFACH, the world´s leading trade fair for organic food, since the exhibition was launched in 1990.

As the range of natural cosmetics grew and demand increased, this segment was separated in 2007 and has since taken place parallel to BIOFACH as the independent VIVANESS exhibition.

VIVANESS has successfully established itself as the international trade fair for natural and organic personal care. A total of 290 natural and organic cosmetic exhibitors gathered at VIVANESS 2019 in hall 7A of the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre.

What makes VIVANESS unique from other cosmetic trade fairs is that all the products exhibited at the event have either been cer tified by a recognized natural and organic cosmetics certifier or the individual ingredients have been checked for compliance with the VIVANESS criteria.

For more information and exhibitor/visitor inquiries, please contact GTCC’s official representative for NürnbergMesse GmbH in Thailand, Mr. Nupat Khusribanchong, at tel: +66 2 055 0600 or by e-mail at nuernberg@gtcc.org.

www.thailand.ahk.de

48 TRADE FAIRS

HANNOVER MESSE 2020 Industrial Pioneers Summit gearing up for second season 20-24 April 2020, Hannover, Germany Following its successful debut this year, the Industrial Pioneers Summit will be entering its second season of HANNOVER MESSE in April 2020. Some 500 par ticipants from around the world are expected to attend the event on 22 April 2020, which will be staged under the tagline “Industrial Transformation”.

At the Industrial Pioneers Summit, organised under the aegis of HANNOVER MESSE, var ious exper ts will be discussing the technological and social challenges posed by the increasing digitization of industrial processes in the future.

While the Industrial Pioneers Summit is a one-day, invitation-only event, HANNOVER MESSE remains open-for-all. The trade fair will take place from 20 to 24 April 2020 in Hannover, Germany. Indonesia will be featured as the official Partner Country for HANNOVER MESSE 2020. With its cohesive lead theme of “Industrial Transformation”, the event will address all of the hottest issues, e.g., Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence, 5G and smart logistics. The 2020 show will feature six display categories: “Future Hub”, “Automation, Motion and Drives”, “Digital Ecosystems”,

UPDATE 4/2019

“Energy Solutions”, “Logistics”, and “Engineered Parts and Solutions”. A supporting programme with more than 80 conferences and forums will complete the line-up.

The Thailand Pavilion is one of the national pavilions at HANNOVER MESSE 2020. The Pavilion, organised by the Thai Subcontracting Promotion Association (Thaisubcon) with the support of the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI). It is now open for registration by any company listed in Thailand. The special scheme is also applicable for small and medium-sized enterprises. For more information please contact Thaisubcon at +66 2 713 6540, GTCC’s local representative for Deutsche Messe AG in Thailand at +66 2 055 0643 or by e-mail at services@gtcc.org.