Construction Philippines GineersNow Feb2021 Covid-19 Vaccines, Johnson, AstraZenica, Pfizer, Moderna

FEBRUARY 2 0 2 1

NEWS

New Study Reveals Technology Investment Priorities for Hotels

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Rubber Demand to Increase 2.7% Per Year in Nominal Terms to 2023

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Metal Stampings and Fabrication Market Currently Valued at $250.80 Billion

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The New Energy Consumer

Architecting for the Future 1

EDITOR‘S NOTE

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ven after a year since the first COVID-19 case was recorded in China, many businesses continue to be affected by the looming pandemic. The commercial construction industry is no different. Many contractors in the United States have been challenged with a variety of problems over the past year, not only with the shutdown of projects but also with employee layoffs and rise in the cost of construction.

As 2020 ends, industry experts and economists predict that these issues will continue to be a problem in the following years. Seven of which are to be watched out for: labor shortage, shrinking backlog, decreasing construction costs, less work, price increases, issues in the supply chain, and diminished state and local government revenues.

The issue with labor shortage is no longer surprising as during the pre-pandemic times, the industry is already experiencing a shortage in skilled labor. This continued to loom over the heads of construction contractors despite the slowing, if not shutdown, of projects.

The backlogs in projects have also significantly declined in 2020 and is revealed to be

Challenges of Covid-19 in Construction Industry accelerating across all the markets in the country. Apart from these, the cost of construction had surprisingly dropped for the first time since 2010, an impactful hit to the profits of many contractors.

Because of the work-from-home setup and travel restrictions, there will be no urgent need for new office buildings, hotels, and event spaces in the meantime. This, in turn, results to less work and drop in profits for many construction firms. Another major player in the decline of profits for firms is the rising prices of construction materials across the globe.

Although contractors are expanding their network as a response to this issue, they still face the problem of delivery and availability of materials due to the strain in the supply chain.

Air Curation for Better Environment From residential to commercial applications, LG offers integrated solutions to meet various needs.

For any product inquiries, please contact Mr. Visak Tom Jose; Email: visakhtom.jose@lge.com

CON TENTS

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Electrical Support and Safety for Telecom Installations in the Philippines

Metal Stampings and Fabrication Market Currently Valued at $250.80 Billion

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Cost-Effective Solar Installation from NuPON Technologies

COVID-19 Impact on the Transport Industry

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LG’S Becon Cloud Service Brings Greater Convenience to HVAC Management with reduced Equipment downtime and Operational Cost Savings

MIT & Harvard Strategy to Limit the Spread of COVID-19

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SIA Engineering to Invest in Pos Aviation Malaysia

Challenges of Covid-19 in Construction Industry

54 New Study Reveals Technology Investment Priorities for Hotels

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Rubber Demand to Increase 2.7% Per Year in Nominal Terms to 2023

78 82 Ways for Truckers to Stay Safe on the Road During COVID-19

86 The Critical Role of Digital Infrastructure in Engineering

94 Top 7 Modern Car Inventions

F E AT U R E S T O RY

Electrical Support and Safety for Telecom Installations in the Philippines

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ith COVID-19 came the rising speed of technological adoption as many people and business operations were forced to embrace the new normal. But among the technologies that have grown in popularity during the pandemic, COVID-19 has significantly stressed the importance of internet connectivity as access to employment, learning, and information.

This came as no surprise as online classes and work-from-home arrangements are now becoming a trend.

Most Filipinos have also turned to online shopping and selling, especially in Metro Manila and other urban areas, to avoid contracting the deadly virus. With this, many are seeking to have a fast and reliable internet connection with the internet service provider of their choice.

To achieve this, operational safety is necessary for telecommunications installation. Many dedicated professionals in electrical and utility trust only RIDGID tools. As a US champion brand, Ridgid offers a wide array of products engineered to the same high standards of quality, strength, and endurance.

Electrical Tools RE-60 The RE-60 from RIDGID features a unique QuickChange System that allows you to quickly and easily switch between interchangeable heads for cutting, crimping, and punching.

Whether you’re cutting wire, crimping lugs, or punching boxes, this tool helps you maximize your productivity and efficiency on the jobsite, eliminating the need to go back and forth to the truck to search for different tools.

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Electrical Tools Test & Measurement The micro CM-100 is a True RMS & Auto-Ranging Digital Clamp Meter with a large capacity and measuring range of cables up to 30 mm O.D. and currents up to 1000A AC/DC. The RIDGID micro DM-100 Digital Multimeter is another trustworthy troubleshooting tool on the site that features a drop-proof double molded water-resistant (1m) IP67 housing, making it suitable for use in the harshest jobsite conditions.

The RIDGID micro IR-200 Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer, on the other hand, is ideal for diagnosing and troubleshooting systems without getting in contact with them as it provides simple, quick, and accurate surface temperature readings at the push of a button. For quick distance readings and advanced calculations, the Micro LM-400 Advanced Laser Distance Meter is the best option. Connect to a smartphone or tablet to overlay measurements on a photo or sketch to share with others.

Electrical Tools Dubbed as the world’s lightest and easiestto-use 130-kN Manual Hydraulic Crimp Tool with C-Frame and weighing only 5.3 kgs, the RE 130-M provides 130-kN of hydraulic force output to crimp copper lugs and connectors up to 400 mm2. The tool is specially designed for one-person operation and features an industry-exclusive Head Stand which allows users to position the cable and lug between dies more easily and crimp with greater stability.

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Saving lives every day

Part of Blue Ocean Robotics

F E AT U R E S T O RY

Hand Tools RIDGID’s Bolt Cutter is made out of hardened alloy steel jaws that are designed and manufactured to ensure the longest possible blade life.

Featuring a one-step internal cam mechanism, this bolt cutter provides the quickest and simplest way to keep the cutting blades precisely aligned.

Light-weight and compact for ergonomic use, RIDGID’s Manual Cable Cutter comes with special-curved and surface-grinded blades made of high-coated steel for extended durability and blade lifetime.

Bending and Forming Made of cast iron, RIDGID’s Thin-Wall Conduit Benders have exceptionally smooth side walls which grip conduit snugly to minimize distortion. The tool’s bending grooves conform to Standard Code Radii with marks indicating 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90° bends.

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Diagnostics, Inspection and Locating Seektech SR-24 Line Locator with Bluetooth & GPS is a lightweight yet rugged receiver for locating underground cables and pipes. Featuring a mapping display that confirms a good locate signal and identifies distortion in congested areas, Seektech SR-24 also comes with Continual Depth, which increases productivity by showing depth changes in real time, and Omni-Seek, which increases accuracy and efficiency when searching passive power and radio bands to locate and avoid unknown metallic lines.

The Micro CA-300 Inspection Camera comes from RIDGID’s line of handheld visual inspection cameras that are equipped with a camera and light source attached to the end of a flexible 3’ cable The camera sends live images back to a high-visibility digital LCD display, allowing for detailed visual inspections in hard-to-reach spaces and reducing the amount of time required to detect and diagnose the unreachable.

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F E AT U R E S T O RY

General Purpose Hand Tools Featuring safe insulation, outstanding bearing capacity and lightweight material, the new multi-functional designed RIDGID’s Fiberglass Step Ladders with Protop is guaranteed to give you a sturdy and easily accessible work surface for electrical utility, heavy construction, and residential jobs. The RIDGID Fiberglass Extension Ladders are also great additions to your work truck as they are made of premium quality, non-conductive fiberglass rails and features ‘D’ shaped rungs directly connected to the rail for a slip resistance surface.

Where to Buy? For 100 years, Co Ban Kiat Hardware Inc. is the most trusted distributor of home improvement and hardware items in the Philippines.

Let’s shop wisely. #StayAtHome and order online at your convenience. Visit us in the following sites and enjoy deals, discounts, and more!

Website: https://www.cbkhardware. com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ cbkhardware/ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ cbkhardware Join our Fast Growing Viber Community http://%20https//bit. ly/3ebeCXU

Co Ban Kiat Hardware, Inc.

Having internet connectivity has become quite the trend as it becomes a means of communication, learning, and employment for most Filipinos. It is only, therefore, reasonable to have quality materials and equipment that we can rely on for smooth internet installation.

RIDGID products can easily get jobs done with fewer tools in the harsh demands of the professional’s worksite.

Together with Co Ban Kiat Hardware, RIDGID is committed to providing world-class hardware solutions to help internet service providers in the country grow and thrive.

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Ground Floor, Cobankiat Building II, 231 Juan Luna St. Binondo Manila, Philippines.

Phone +632 8243-1931 Phone +632 8243-5263 Phone +632 8894-6561 Email info@cobankiat.com.ph ; ind@cobankiat.com.ph

Coby's Designer Center

Unit 467 level 4 Shangri-La Plaza Edsa Corner Shaw Boulevard Mandaluyong City, Philippines Phone +632 86364895

About CBK Hardware For almost a hundred years, a family’s surname has become synonymous to the country’s biggest hardware supply company. Co Ban Kiat Hardware Incorporated, of the Cobankiat family has a regular client network of more than 1,500 industrial organizations; 1,600 traditional community hardware stores, and 584 home building specialty chain of stores across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

This ever-growing conglomerate traces its humble roots to Manila Chinatown, as a pioneer enterprise started by family’s patriarch, Mr. Cobankiat in 1920. Despite the ruins of World War II, the business goes back to its feet in 1948, rebuilding a storefront from the very same spot where it was known for three decades.

This ever-growing conglomerate traces its humble roots to Manila Chinatown, as a pioneer enterprise started by family’s patriarch, Mr. Cobankiat in 1920. Despite the ruins of World War II, the business goes back to its feet in 1948, rebuilding a storefront from the very same spot where it was known for three decades.

While the Filipinos continue to rebuild their lives post war, CBK Hardware sees the opportunity to introduce the retail concept once unheard for in hardware industry. Cobankiat Hardware brought the first DIY business in the Asia. A do it on yourself concept that created Cobankiat hardware in the Philippines. The Hardware Workshop Store is the fruit if this endeavor. CBK Hardware further cemented its legendary distribution channel with the creation of Coby’ Design Center in Edsa Shangi La in 1996, a specialty store that caters to discriminating taste of modern Filipinos.

In 1997, Mr. Johnny Cobankiat, the 4th generation Cobankiat leader, set another milestone for the company when he brings a franchise of Ace Hardware USA to the Philippines, and signs up CBK Hardware as one of its major suppliers. This further expanded into delivering quality world class products nearer to families of Filipino overseas workers in the countryside.

A century’s excellence can quickly pass, and guided by the vision to be the largest network supplier of the biggest global brands in the hardware industry, CBK Hardware resolve to source the best products to supply its customers anytime and every time.

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S T O R I E S

Cost-Effective Solar Installation from NuPON Technologies

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he cost of renewable energy drops as the years pass by, so it is no longer surprising that more and more households are starting to switch to clean sources for their electricity needs. Among the most popular and affordable of these is the solar panels.

Solar panels are easily one of the best ways to offset high energy bills, especially during the summer season.

Depending on their efficiency, size, and orientation relative to the sun, these equipment are actually capable of generating more electricity than what your home consumes. This, in turn, reduces the energy that you use from the utility supplier, thus cutting the cost of your monthly electric bill to almost zero.

But apart from saving on energy bill, installing solar panels has other significant benefits to the consumers and the environment.

• Helps in combatting greenhouse gas emissions. Fossil fuels, such as coal and

natural gas, produce harmful emissions that affect air quality and contribute to global warming. With reliance on clean, pure energy like solar power, more homes will consume less fossil fuels, subsequently helping Mother Earth heal. Solar power is also unlimited compared to fossil fuels, so there are no worries of it depleting in the near future.

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S T O R I E S

• Qualification for tax credits and rebates. In the US,

consumers who install solar panels can avail of the federal solar tax credit that gives tax payers a dollar-for-dollar reduction against federal income tax. This means that homeowners can get around 30% of the total system costs back as a federal income tax credit when filing their taxes. Having solar panels installed also increases the resale value of the home.

• Improves grid security.

When there is a high penetration of solar energy in the grid, it is less vulnerable to blackouts, thus improving its security in case of overload or nature/human-caused disasters.

In the Philippines, NuPON Technology can help homeowners achieve a more environmentallyfriendly energy source for their houses through the installations of solar panel systems, solar inverters, uninterruptible power supplies, and LED lights. This solutions provider company offers Elite Mono monocrystalline solar panel modules featuring high conversion efficiency of roughly 17.78%, anti-reflective coating and reduced operational and maintenance costs, more power yields than expected, and excellent loading capacity of 2400PA wind loads and 5400Pa snow loads.

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NuPON Tech also provides installation of Solar DC inverter air conditioners with 180° sine wave driving technology. These type of air conditioners are known for their higher energy efficiency, smoother running and lower noise, and more reliable operation compared to the 120° square wave DC inverter.

There is also a rich product portfolio of UPS and inverters that the company offers, including the Tough Series with an MPPT efficiency of over 99.9% and the Trinergy Plus Series that can handle a maximum DC power input of 35kW. On top of these, a wide array of indoor lighting solutions are readily available for installation. These range from LED T8 tube series, LED strip lights, and LED neon lights to solar street lights, value solar street lights, and LED street lights.

For more information about NuPON Technology, visit their website https:// www.nuponcorpphils.com/ or contact the following branches

NuPon Technology

Filsyn Corp Compound Brgy. Don Jose, Santa Rosa City, 4026 Laguna, Philippines.

Tel: (049) 530-1879 Tel: (049) 530-2329 / (049) 530-1879 Fax: (049) 541-0214 Email: ntpctmsg@gmail.com Whatsapp +639178675324

Biz One Venture Sdn Bhd

556-U, Taman Century, Jalan Batu Uban, 11700 Gelugor, Penang, Malaysia.

Tel: +6016-4197072 Fax: +604-6451241

Cavite Branch

For the past 20 years, NuPON Tech has been the leading integrated product development and supply chain specialist group in the country, supporting not only industrial safety and clean room but also PPE, metrology, AGV, and ergonomic lifting equipment. With its commitment to provide superior quality products, services, and total solutions which exceeds customer’s requirements and expectations consistently, the company has joined forces with global research and development teams and manufacturing facilities of top brands. It continues to develop products that mirror its clients’ missions in quality, cost, and yield profit management, earning the trust of Filipinos across the country.

The Arcade Bldg. Blk 5 Stl 9&10, Holiday Homes, Brgy. Biclatan, Gen. Trias Cavite 4107.

Tel: (046) 512-0982 Tel: (046) 512-0979

Subic Branch

83A 14th St., New Kalalake, OC. Tel: (047) 223-8894 Fax: (047) 223-8894

Clark Branch

Apartment#5 Jasmin St, Pineda Subd.

Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga.

Tel: (045) 625-0162 Fax: (045) 625-0162

Cebu Branch

158 Sangi Road, Pajo. Lapu-lapu City Cebu, Philippines 6015.

Tel: (6332)520-3285 Fax: (6332)238-6085

Baguio Branch

#71 Sarok Road Camp 7 Baguio City.

Tel: (074) 246 2391

F E AT U R E S T O RY

MEP HVAC POWER 25: LG ELECTRONICS

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uring a year in which comprehensive yet efficient HVAC solutions have become increasingly crucial, LG Electronics (LG) has focused on strengthening its ties with industry leaders such as ASHRAE (American Air Conditioning Association) and REHVA (European Air Conditioning Association) to deliver new standards of comfort and care to all.

LG’s commitment to championing innovation has allowed the company to successfully negotiate the challenges of 2020, while

empowering businesses and individuals across the Middle East and Africa as a complete smart energy solution provider.

partner in MEA – based on the values of integration, expertise and customer service to create positive impact.”

Sangmin Lee, Leader of the LG Electronics Business Solution Division for the Middle East and Africa reiterated the company’s commitment to the region, “Our success comes as a result of having clear understanding of local market demands, responding by bringing new technologies to the market at rapid pace and scale. We will continue to accelerate our focus on becoming a trusted HVAC

Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems are representative of LG’s HVAC solutions and have been at the forefront of new installations in schools, hotels, offices, and entertainment hubs across the region. These systems are equipped with powerful and reliable inverter compressors, which enable them to offers maximum efficiency in part-load as well as full-load conditions.

This track record of advanced air solution technology has allowed LG Electronics to capture 20% of the UAE’s $5 million air purification market in 2020 alone.

LG’s advanced VRF systems have been installed at several sites across the region, including Dubai’s Sustainable City and Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Beach Villas.

To ensure LG remains at the forefront of air solution technology and provides unparalleled customer service, the company has been training technicians at its state-of-theart LG Air Solutions Academy in Jebel Ali since 2010.

In recent months, LG has introduced purification and sterilization kits onto existing air conditioning units to improve comfort and indoor air quality. Customers looking for more aesthetically-pleasing solutions have also been introduced to the advantages of LG’s Dual Vane and Round Cassette air conditioning units.

Building on the longstanding success of its PuriCare air purifier line-up, LG has introduced a host of new iterations, including a commercial model for office spaces and more recently, the PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier. LG’s Wearable device, which uses two H13 HEPA filters and a patented Respiratory Sensor to filter air and regulate airflow on-the-

go, has been received with great interest and is already serving government bodies and hospitals in other markets.

While the PuriCare Wearable had been in R&D since 2017, the pandemic also revealed a need for new, more affordable air solutions with hygiene at the forefront and LG has been focused on bringing the right, cost-effective technologies to market to meet this demand.

LG has continued its longstanding tradition of supporting healthcare facilities by delivering tailored solutions that meet the differing temperature, humidity and air pressure requirements of operating theatres, patient rooms and intensive care units. LG’s Multi V system offers optimum efficiency during peak and partial load hours across the entire facility while the LG control solution also makes operation much more efficient. This gives healthcare providers the ability to manage facilities while reducing operating costs.

With the prevalence of remote interactions during the height of the pandemic, LG quickly transitioned to online communication with its clients, the media and wider public – leveraging digital technologies to host product unveilings during livestreams and via social channels.

The company continues to provide smart energy management with its BECON

(Building Energy Control) Cloud Solution, an IoT-based platform. This enables greater visibility and convenience via remote real-time monitoring and energy efficiency management.

About LG Electronics Air Solution Business Unit LG Electronics’ Air Solution Business Unit is a global leader in HVAC and energy solutions with a comprehensive portfolio of proven expertise and performance. Launching Korea’s first residential air conditioner in 1968, LG has paved the way for total HVAC solutions over the last five decades through strategic utilization of advanced technologies. With a wellestablished production base and industry-leading capacity, the company provides effective HVAC solutions for both the commercial and residential sectors. Its wide range of cutting-edge systems for heating, ventilation and air conditioning truly represent LG’s initiative in offering the most optimized solutions for a variety of uses. Pursuant to its mission of “Innovation for a Better Life,” the company offers solutions boasting high energy efficiency and reliability based on its state-of-the-art knowhow and technologies to ensure the most optimal environment for users. For more information, please visit www.LG.com.

F E AT U R E S T O RY

LG’S Becon Cloud Service Brings Greater Convenience to HVAC Management with reduced Equipment downtime and Operational Cost Savings HVAC Systems Can Now Be Easily Monitored Anytime Through a Secure Cloud-based Remote Service

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G Electronics (LG) has announced the availability of its BECON cloud Digital HVAC Management Solution that enables business operators to remotely monitor and control their systems with reduced costs and shortened non-operating times.

BECON cloud offers a comprehensive service to monitor stored data in dedicated cloud servers, giving operators the capability to analyze results and ongoing reports so they are kept upto-date on the status of HVAC equipment. Systems can be checked anywhere so if and when problems arise, they can be quickly identified and resolved efficiently to minimize downtime.

It forms part of LG’s wider VRF System Maintenance service, which supports businesses in maintaining equipment performance and preventing unnecessary operating expenses. BECON cloud is able to manage every aspect of a HVAC system from remote management to control and maintenance.

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Operators receive real-time monitoring data anytime and anywhere making it easy to prevent malfunctions while at the same time providing excellent energy saving, differentiated service and consulting.

“Our BECON cloud offering is the latest example of LG’s innovative approach to HVAC management services. The system provides operators with real-time management data that empowers them to make improved system management decisions to

avoid problems before they arise. BECON cloud also complements our larger VRF System Maintenance service giving end-users a truly comprehensive approach to HVAC management,” said Mr. Jungtae Youm, General Manager Hi M Solutek, LG’s Service and Maintenance company.

BECON cloud’s Composition BECON cloud specializers are in total care of the LG HVAC from maintenance to

energy solution and it consists of two key functions. The Remote Control System (RCS) enables real-time monitoring via mobile, PC and tablet computers through an App and web control. The Facility Maintenance System (FMS) delivers proactive repairs based on real-time diagnosis with Remote Check-up, Group Management and Big Data Analysis.

Quick Repairs The power of the cloud is employed to give operators quick access to site control through a single security account to perform management of the system with hierarchical group management. Unlike traditional repairs services that require parts to be delivered, additional assessments and inspections, LG BECON cloud offers a more streamlined and efficient repair process.

A maintenance team can be quickly dispatched by the situation room once an error has been detected. An online check-up analysis and diagnosis repair guide can be used while parts are able to be prepared on the first visit with

the additional repair history reports also available.

User-friendly Main Functions LG BECON cloud provides operators with an easyto-use interface that gives users access to the most important and relevant information. A dashboard display summarizes data and highlights devices and equipment that are working correctly, have stopped or developed an error. Detailed status monitoring covers the site temperature, inflow/outflow temperature, error information and more. Devices can be switched on or off remotely with temperature, mode and other settings also able to be adjusted off-site. Users are given a complete upgrade, control and error history with reports that can guide optimal operating conditions.

Built Upon a Foundation of Network Security and Privacy LG has addressed security and data privacy concerns by ensuring BECON cloud

complies with stringent international security standards. It operates based on the cloud server provided

by Microsoft. In addition, it also uses LG and Microsoft’s security solutions to deliver an added layer of safety that ensures stable services without any security issues.

Proven Performance LG has a proven track record of delivering HVAC solutions in various air conditioning fields with optimized solutions based on the needs of facilities and the environment of the buildings and building type. BECON cloud further enhances LG’s HVAC management service with a digital solution that is convenient to use, saves operating costs and reduces downtime on equipment.

Business owners can also visit online to learn more about the products, service offerings and register a query. To learn more about LG’s Service Offering Modules visit: https://www.lg.com/ae/ business/service-maintenance 33

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It has been a year since the very first coronavirus case was reported in Wuhan, China, but COVID-19’s global threat continues to affect many businesses, including commercial construction. Ever since the pandemic hit the United States, construction contractors across the country have been struggling with a myriad of problems, including shutdown of projects, employee layoffs, and increase in the cost of construction.

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As 2020 ended, economists and industry experts conclude that majority of such issues will remain to challenge contractors even in 2021. Seven of the top factors are the following: • Labor shortage. Even before the pandemic, the industry has already been dealing with historic shortage of skilled labor, and this issue continues despite COVID-19 shutting down projects and slowing down others. Although many firms have started to recall their workers who were initially laid off in spring, a handful have refused the offer due to virus concerns, preference for unemployment benefits, and family responsibilities.

• Shrinking backlog. In September, the Construction Backlog Indicator of the Associated Builders and Contractors fell to 7.5 months, a drop of 0.5 months from the previous month’s reading and 1.5 months lower than September 2019’s. The Construction Confidence Index readings for sales and profit margins of the association also showed a noticeable decline.

According to ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu, the following months still don’t look positive for contractors who are looking forward to adding to their backlog of work. In fact, drops in backlog have started to accelerate across all the regions and markets.

• Decreasing construction costs. For the first time in ten years, construction costs have declined slightly due to a variety of pandemic-related issues, leading contractors to feel a drop in profits. The Turner Building Cost Index, a measure of costs in the non-residential building construction market in the US, shrunk to a value of 1171 in the third quarter of 2020. This marked a 1.5% quarterly reduction from January 2020, the first time that the Turner Building Cost Index declined in value since 2010.

• Less work. Economists say that even after the rest of the economy starts to recover from the COVID-19 threat, various sectors of commercial construction will still experience a decrease. For example, experts predict that most people will continue their work-from-home setup with occasional in-office work, so construction of office buildings remain uncertain in terms of future growth.

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The industry has already been dealing with historic shortage of skilled labor, and this issue continues despite COVID-19 shutting down projects and slowing down others.

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New healthcare facilities construction could also decline significantly due to the changes in lifestyle after the pandemic, according to chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, Ken Simonson. He added that hospital use had dropped off in the spring, and it is still unsure whether visits for non-essential procedures like elective surgery will even return. In turn, alternative medical care and surgery centers might see a growth.

• Price increases. The cost of lumber has skyrocketed in the past year, and other prices of construction materials have fluctuated, as well.

Generally speaking, though, prices of most materials have risen since May. That is why when construction comes back across the globe, the increasing demand for products could still keep these prices pretty high.

As a response to this, some contractors are already taking proactive steps and expanding their supplier network. They have also bought hedges on some materials to protect themselves from upward price swings.

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• Issues in the supply chain. Pomfrett said that although production is indeed returning to its previous levels internationally, there is still a strain on the supply chain and the delivery of materials and equipment. This, in turn, forced contractors to rely on not only one material supplier, but at least three separate ones from different geographic locations. Some have even gotten as many as five in place.

• Diminished state and local government revenues. A report from the Brookings Institution estimates that excluding the declines in fees to hospitals and higher education, state and local government revenues will decline by $155 billion in 2020, $167 billion in 2021, and $145 billion in 2022 — about 5.5%, 5.7% and 4.7%, respectively. This meant that state agencies, including the departments of transportation, have lesser funds for infrastructure initiatives like transit, road, and bridge projects. Many will have to look to the federal government to request for additional revenue.

- End -

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New Study Reveals Technology Investment Priorities for Hotels Chain hotels 77% more likely to increase technology investments, while independent counterparts prioritize room renovation

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ccording to a new survey of more than 1,200 hoteliers by Expedia Group, the world’s travel platform, chain hotels1 are nearly twice as likely as small independent properties2 to prioritize technology investment. Alternatively, small independent properties are 1.5 times as likely as chain hotels to prioritize room renovations – indicating a gap in technology investment strategies among different hotelier segments.

Reliance on technology is becoming increasingly important in the lodging industry as hotels begin to recognize how they can gain key competitive advantage with strategic technology investments. According to the

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latest report by Hospitality Technology3, 54% of hotels plan to increase their technology budgets for 2019, while only 8% plan to decrease.

However, cost continues to be the key barrier with technology adoption for many hoteliers, with nearly half of the small independent hotels surveyed indicating that technology investment decisions are based on affordability and value.

In contrast, more than half of the chain hotels prioritize technology that seamlessly integrates with their existing systems.

“We’re witnessing chain hotels place significant investments in technology, which opens

the potential for a greater divide between properties that are not able to match those investments,” said Ait Voncke, senior vice president, Expedia Group. “Technology has the power to level the playing field for hoteliers of all sizes. We continue to listen to our partners’ needs and invest in how best to serve all our partners so even the smallest of properties can compete effectively and find opportunities to succeed.”

Among the small independent hotels surveyed, 1 in 4 cited complexity as their biggest challenge when adopting technology, with 1 in 3 saying ease of use is a priority when evaluating solutions. To remove these barriers, Expedia Group is making enhancements to its platform so partners not only have the right resources whenever and wherever they need it, these solutions are delivered through intuitive and easy to use tools.

Recently, the company released new userfriendly features on Expedia Group Partner Central platform to further streamline everyday tasks and provide suppliers instant access to relevant information so they can make realtime, informed decisions. New, enhanced features include: Partner Central Mobile App improvements – a series of upcoming enhancements will make managing rooms and rates easier with modified calendar navigation, the ability to view inventory and availability and make real time updates to reduce errors. Suppliers can also receive mobile notifications for bookings, cancellations, guest messages and prioritize with easy to use filters.

• New “Rooms and Rates” overview page – the simplified view streamlines information and tasks related to rooms, rates and inventory. The new page reduces the number of links and helps suppliers determine where to take action with business alerts and high-level insights.

• New “Marketing” overview page – suppliers currently using marketing tools will see reporting on their results, while suppliers that are not will be educated on the various tools available to influence their availability and increase conversion. The page brings the top five countries with the greatest booking opportunity and raises awareness of their property within the marketplace.

• New adaptive home page – designed to provide customized recommendations for partners based on their current familiarity with Partner Central. This personalised experience that enable suppliers to identify certain time-sensitive tasks they should take to accelerate booking potential on Expedia Group’s marketplace. This will be made available to majority of properties at the end of the year.

• Multi property portfolio dashboard – provides a portfolio snapshot for suppliers managing two or more properties.

The dashboard indicates the list of accommodations associated to the user, provides insights for each property and signals when and where action is needed.

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Rubber Demand to Increase 2.7% Per Year in Nominal Terms to 2023 Rising Production of Tires, Other Rubber Products Will Drive Growth

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S rubber demand is forecast to rise 2.7% per year in nominal terms through 2023, according to Rubber: United States, a report recently released by Freedonia Focus Reports. Suppliers will benefit from growth in domestic production of tires, belts, hoses, and other rubber parts for motor vehicles, machinery, and equipment. Rubber will remain a material of choice in these applications for its abrasion, chemical, heat, and oil resistance and resilience. The use of natural gas feedstocks in US ethylene production, of which butadiene is a byproduct, will continue to negatively impact synthetic rubber suppliers, as butadiene yields from natural gas feedstocks are lower relative to petroleum feedstocks.

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In real (inflation-adjusted) terms, rubber demand is projected to expand nearly 1.1% annually to 2023, driven by rising output of rubber products, with expected yearly shipment growth of 1.1% in real terms. Imports will restrict faster gains in domestic rubber product output, limiting stronger growth in real rubber consumption.

These and other key insights are featured in Rubber: United States. This report forecasts to 2023 US rubber demand in nominal and real (inflation-adjusted) terms and synthetic rubber shipments in nominal terms at the manufacturer level. Total demand in nominal terms is segmented by product in terms of: • • • • •

styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) natural rubber polybutadiene rubber (BR) ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM) polychloroprene (CR); isobutylene isoprene, or butyl, rubber (IIR); polyisoprene rubber (IR); and acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR)

other synthetic rubbers such as acrylic and fluoroelastomers To illustrate historical trends, total demand, total shipments, the various segments, and trade are provided in annual series from 2008 to 2018.

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Metal Stampings and Fabrication Market Currently Valued at $250.80 Billion

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he global market for metal stampings and fabrication is growing at a CAGR of 4-5 percent and is expected to reach a value of $286.20 billion by 2022, according to Beroe Inc., a procurement intelligence firm.

Globally, the end-user demand for metal fabrications is primarily from the construction, building/piping, architecture and automotive industries that are driving the growth of the market.

Europe is currently the largest market for metal stampings and fabrication, accounting for a market share of 50 percent with a value of $121.92 billion, growing at a CAGR of 1.6 percent. Asia holds a market share of 33 percent with a current value of

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$82.53 billion, growing at a CAGR of 4.2 percent. North America accounts for a 10 percent market share, worth $24.65 billion growing at a CAGR of 2.7 percent.

Beroe, which is based in North Carolina, further stated that procurement experts can access this report on its recently launched market intelligence platform Beroe LiVE: live. beroeinc.com Major end-user industries include construction, automotive, heavy machinery, and energy, however, the applications in construction, building/ piping, and architecture are expected to drive the market growth. The lack of substitutes makes the market stable, in terms of demand consistency. Lack

of skilled labor is a major challenge for the market as metal fabrication is a labour-intensive process. With increasing labor rates and a lack of availability of skilled labor, suppliers are expected to work with stiffer margins.

Based on end-user demand share, Construction, Building/Piping, and Architecture account for 46 percent of the total demands for metal stampings and fabrication, followed by Automotive and Transportation for 22 percent, Machinery and Heavy Industries for 11 percent, and Energy and Power for 11 percent. New technology advancements in the field are advanced pulsed GMAW, ultra-shot pulsed laser, cutting speed increase in abrasive water As metal fabrication is a customized process, jets, and anti-foulant coatings. based on project-based orders standardization of the manufacturing process beyond a Key Findings: certain level is not feasible. The inability to automate the production process keeps the Raw materials are traded as a commodity on manufacturing costs high and increases exchanges, like LME, SHFE, COMEX, and pressure to reduce costs in a competitive suppliers are subject to price fluctuations, market. which are usually passed on to the customer for custom made products due to which Supplier The research methodology adopted for the power is medium to high. report included: For lower-grade metal fabrication, given the lower cost of set up, there are likely to be several new entrants in the future. Metal fabrication where the product complexity is high, the initial set up costs and operations costs make it difficult for new entrants to establish themselves in the competitive market.

Most of the metal fabrication suppliers for welding, brazing, cutting, coating, heat treatment, surface treatments operate on a spot market basis and are primarily service centers.

For services like metal stamping or when the service is vertically integrated, engaging in long-term contracts is preferred.

The supplier market is fragmented and suppliers are aiming for an increased market, where the cost reduction pressure is high.

This calls for more aggressive automation of production processes and this may not be possible, due to the customized requirement of end products.

Experts with twenty years of domain experience Interaction with buyers Inputs from supply chain partners Metal stampings and fabrication cost components are raw materials for 45-47 percent of costs, labor for 31-34 percent, electricity for 5-9 percent, overheads for 6-8 percent, and margins for 7-8 percent.

Production of metal fabrication in high-cost countries, like the US, Germany, involves a relatively higher share of labor and raw material in the cost structure whereas in low-cost countries like China or India energy costs and the overhead costs are comparatively higher.

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COVID-19 Impact on the Transport Industry

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OVID-19 has presented unparalleled challenges to all businesses across the globe, but perhaps one of the most affected are those within the transport industry.

No longer can we freely move people across cities, countries and continents due to the travel restrictions put in place to combat the virus. The result is a dramatic decrease in transportation revenue that is causing a range of issues in both the short and long term, from pay decreases and redundancies to closures of long-standing businesses that can’t maintain liquidity through an extended period of inoperability.

Private companies and regional governments have aligned their strategies in this critical time to deliver an unprecedented response to the global medical emergency including a record number of infection tests, screenings, temporary quarantine centres and medical facilities as well as limitation of travel whilst providing support to those unable to return home. This same level of commitment in response must continue in the thought processes and proactive development of operational initiatives and solutions that will help shape land, sea and air travel after the impact of the pandemic begins to subside.

Transport Industry operators must at the very minimum consider the following initial changes to their operating and commercial models in order to support their clients to adapt quickly and efficiently to a new, infection-conscious way of providing a positive and efficient journey to customers.

Fixed-cost pricing models Fixed-cost pricing models need to transform into variable cost contracts with suppliers in order to support a relatively unquantifiable phased return to a ‘normal’ number of passenger traffic. Liquidity is one of the key issues around finances for Transport Industry organisations. Suppliers, providers and internal costs will need to be adjusted from a commercial and payment terms perspective.

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Communicate your safety with GineersNow The new world will require a build-up of confidence in customer’s safety as well as new ways of travelling during the re-opening stages and after the crisis. This will require companies to invest in understanding their customer’s journeys. Back-burner programmes and delayed projects will need to be accelerated, cancelled or re-evaluated against the new state of play globally.

In order to be proactive in restoring a level of normality to domestic and international travel, there are a range of new challenges that Transport Industry providers and operators must overcome. It is important to develop a suite of solutions to meet challenges such as social distancing requirements and an overall increase in travel duration.

Social distancing Social distancing measures will lead to lower holding capacity on planes and trains as well as within the land, sea and air hubs and in addition, queueing will have to be reconfigured to accommodate lateral distances as well as infrastructure limitations.

In order to reduce waiting times and enforce these measures, manpower requirements from suppliers will rise and passenger processing will have to be adjusted according to distance as well as lags in time to process.

Longer travel time Travel duration will increase due to increased checks of information, medical tests and social distancing measures will increase passenger processing times as well as a decreased throughput resulting in longer lead times.

Delayed onboarding and offboarding will reduce turnaround times for planes, coupled with increased time taken for luggage processing.

Limited passengers for bus services and

limited passengers on skybridges will further increase the overall travel duration, in conjunction to new onboarding procedures.

Long recovery As one of the hardest-hit sectors by the pandemic, Transport Industry will also be one of the sectors that takes the longest time and requires the most impact to recover.

Every single aspect of travel must be redesigned to achieve renewed passenger confidence in the safety of the system whilst counterbalancing the impact of increased wait times and reduced passenger carrying capacity.

Above all, a return to normal levels of passenger travel will only be achieved through the same unprecedented commitment levels shown in the initial steps taken to combat the virus. This is a time where businesses must support each other, forgoing a chase for profit and instead providing innovative, transformative and proactive solutions that will renew passenger confidence and in turn, repair the damage that coronavirus has dealt to the industry.

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MIT & Harvard Strategy to Limit the Spread of COVID-19

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ven as the death toll from COVID-19 continues to rise around the world, many cities and states in the U.S. and other countries are beginning to ease restrictions and develop policies to re-open economies and communities. The question is, which policy will best facilitate people’s safe return to work and limit the spread of the virus?

Researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School and Engineering and Applied Sciences, in collaboration with Harvard Medical School and MIT, have developed a model to simulate the impact of different physical distancing strategies on the spread of SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

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The researchers found that age-specific shelter in place policies may be just as effective as populationwide shelter in place policies — as long as everyone not sheltering in place also practices safe physical distancing.

“We found that rather than put the burden of sheltering in place on society as a whole, if some percentage of a specific age group were to stay home and everyone else practice physical distancing, the epidemic could be mitigated until a vaccine is developed,” said Milind Tambe, the Gordon McKay Professor of Computer Science at SEAS and co-senior author of the study.

“We’re cognizant of the fact that the kinds of populationwide sheltering orders that are currently in place in many countries around the world can’t proceed indefinitely,” said Maimuna Majumder, a faculty member of the Computational Health Informatics Programs based out of Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School and co-senior author of the study. “Part of what we wanted to demonstrate through this work is what might happen if we only enforce sheltering for one segment of the population and let others engage in a partial return to normalcy – while simultaneously doing their part to “flatten the curve” by physically distancing in offices, restaurants, and so on.”

The researchers developed an individual-level model for SARS-CoV2 transmission based on demographic data including age and household structure and, using that information, created population simulations for COVID-19 hotspots Hubei, China and Lombardy, Italy.

Using these simulations, the researchers were able to play out different policy scenarios and observe the impact on the virus.

“We’ve seen a range of different policies instituted, from staggering the lockdown of entire cities, provinces or even countries, to milder physical distancing policies,” said Bryan Wilder, a graduate student at SEAS and first author of the paper. “Within these lie a range of possible alternatives. Our goal was to simulate existing policies and try to come up with new, creative policies to slow the spread of the virus.”

The researchers played out their simulations in Lombardy, which was in the midst of the outbreak during the research. The researchers modeled the 71

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effect of either 50 percent or 100 percent of single age group sheltering in place while the rest of the population went about business as usual, with no physical distancing.

They found that even sheltering in place by everyone within a single age group left at least 60 percent of the population infected. If only 50 percent of that age group sheltered, nearly 70 to 80 percent of the population would be infected.

However, combining a single age group shelter-in-place policy with physical distancing by the rest of the population led to an infection rate below 50 percent and a substantial decrease in the total number of deaths. In this scenario, there was little difference between 100 percent of an age group sheltering and 50 percent of an age group sheltering.

The researchers also found that the most at-risk age groups, people age 70 or older, don’t necessarily need to be the ones sheltering. In fact, the researchers found that in Lombardy, the most effective policy would have 50 percent of people 30 to 49 shelter in place and everyone else practice physical distancing.

“If you think about it, people in the 30-to49-year-old-demographic have some of the largest social circles and those circles tend to be intergenerational,” said Wilder. “They have kids, go to work, take care of their parents, go out with friends and colleagues. So, targeted salutary sheltering of this age group combined with physical distancing of the general population may be enough to thwart a substantial number of cases and deaths.”

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The researchers proposed that physical distancing from the rest of the population include policies such as staggered work schedules, increased spacing in restaurants, and prescribed times to use the gym or grocery store.

The researchers have run the model to simulate reopening policies in other countries, including India and U.S. In collaboration with the Daily Beast, the researchers simulated the impact of lifting lockdown measures in Georgia, Florida and Mississippi. In all three states, the team found that lifting lockdowns and returning to 50 to 100 percent business-as-usual would result in a major increase in fatalities.

However, the researchers found that if physical distancing could be kept to 25 percent of pre-lockdown levels, it would allow the states to flatten the curve before June 15.

In India, the researchers found that after the initial lockdown, even policies that enforce physical distancing while otherwise returning to normal activity could lead to widespread outbreak.

However, middle ground policies that alternate weekly between total lockdown and physical distancing may lead to much lower rates of infection while simultaneously permitting some return to normalcy.

“Simulation models like ours allow us to explore the possible effects of various interventions – which will be enormously important moving forward as countries around the world and states here in the US consider how to safely relax shelter-in-place orders,” said Majumder. “Our work shows that embracing a new normal – in which those members of a given population who for example are permitted to go back to work but still engage in physical distancing – might help keep COVID-19 at bay until pharmaceutical interventions become available.”

“The global pandemic is the most salient threat we are facing right now,” said Dr. Purush Iyer, program manager in the Army Research Office, an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Army Research Laboratory, which supported the research. “Being able to strategize how to appropriately respond to the disease spread, misinformation, and urban operations are questions that are important not only to policy makers, but to Army operations as well. This model lays the groundwork for addressing questions that will arise in the future while simulating scenarios in cyber and multi-domain operations.”

“While preliminary, this research highlights potential policy implications for non-pharmaceutical interventions to slow the spread of SARS-CoV2 and may provide alternative strategies for national and regional governments moving forward,” said Tambe.

This paper was co-authored by Marie Charpignon, Jackson A. Killian, Han-Ching Ou, Aditya Mate, Shahin Jabbari, Andrew Perrault and Angel Desai.

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SIA Engineering to Invest in Pos Aviation Malaysia

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IA Engineering Company Limited (“SIAEC”) wishes to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Pos Aviation Sdn Bhd (“Pos Aviation”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Pos Malaysia Berhad (“Pos Malaysia”), to acquire a 49% stake in Pos Aviation Engineering Services Sdn Bhd (“PAES”).

Under the agreement, Pos Aviation will retain the remaining 51% stake.

The indicative consideration for the acquisition of Pos Aviation’s 49% stake is MYR10.087 million in cash. This was arrived at after arm’s length negotiations on a willing-buyer, willing-seller basis, and after considering, inter alia, the net asset value and financial performance of PAES. Based on PAES’s adjusted net assets as at 31 July 2019, the indicative net asset value of the PAES shares acquired by SIAEC is MYR10.087 million.

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PAES has operations in Kuala Lumpur International Airport and 9 other stations in Malaysia. These stations will complement SIAEC’s existing network of Line Maintenance International stations, which will grow to 46 airports in 9 countries including Singapore.

Mr Png Kim Chiang, Chief Executive Officer of SIAEC, said: “We are delighted to establish this partnership with Pos Aviation. With the combined strength of both parties’ capabilities and experience, we are confident that this strategic partnership will deliver a high level of despatch reliability and quality engineering services to international airline customers in Malaysia.”

Syed Md Najib Syed Md Noor, Group Chief Executive Officer of Pos Malaysia Berhad, said: “This strategic partnership marks the entry of a Malaysian brand

into the global MRO market, an important milestone for Pos Malaysia. We foresee an increase in our customer base and expansion of our market segments through enhanced product offerings, and this will contribute to the future growth of our revenue stream. SIAEC’s expertise in maintenance and fleet management, along with our experience in serving various commercial airlines in Malaysia allows the strategic partnership to offer a complete MRO solution to customers across the region.”

“We are undoubtedly excited about the future prospects and very confident that this strategic partnership shall exceed all expectations,” Syed Md Najib added.

The investment in PAES is not expected to have a material impact on the earnings per share or the net tangible assets per share of SIAEC for the financial year ending 31 March 2020. None of the Directors of SIAEC has any interest, direct or indirect, in the transaction.

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Ways for Truckers to Stay Safe on the Road During COVID-19

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he threat presented by the novel coronavirus has had a multi-tiered impact on supply chains. Product shortages, communication problems and scheduling difficulties have ensured that nearly everyone working in chain management has been consistently put through their paces. However, few members of the supply chain are in more immediate danger than truckers. Since they perform an essential service, telecommuting isn’t an option for them, and many of them routinely travel to areas with rising infection rates.

Supply chain managers looking for effective ways to keep truck drivers safe throughout the current pandemic should consider the following measures.

Wearing Face Masks During InPerson Interactions Although in-person interactions should be avoided whenever possible, wearing a face mask can help decrease the threat of infection. However, for maximum effectiveness, both parties should be donning masks. With this in mind, confirm that any clients with whom your drivers are expected to interact will be wearing masks.

Furthermore, make sure to educate your drivers on the importance of mask-wearing.

There’s a disturbing amount of misinformation regarding their necessity and effectiveness floating around, and it’s important for your drivers to know the facts.

Not only can the simple act of wearing a face mask help keep your drivers safe, it can protect the health of the people with whom 82

they interact on the road. In addition to ensuring that your drivers have plenty of masks at their disposal, confirm that they’re familiar with the proper manner in which to wear them – i.e., over the nose and the mouth.

Keeping Their Hands Clean Keeping your hands clean has always been conducive to good health, but with COVID-19 infection rates becoming worse by the day, hand-washing has never been more important.

Although there’s no true substitute for a thorough soap-and-water wash, high-quality hand sanitizer is the next best thing. That being the case, make sure your drivers have an ample supply of sanitizer and hand wipes, as well as an abundance of disinfecting wipes. Additionally, advise against face-touching – especially with unwashed hands.

Exploring Alternatives to Dining Out For many truckers, dining out is an essential part of being on the road. While trying out new eateries and enjoying meals at regular haunts are among the best aspects of the trucking experience, dine-in restaurants carry quite a few risks during pandemics. To prevent your drivers from taking unnecessary dining risks, encourage them to explore alternatives to sit-down establishments. If a driver isn’t keen on the idea of preparing their own meals, urge them to opt for takeout over dine-in. Restaurants that offer minimalcontact pickup options can be particularly helpful to health-conscious truckers. In the interest of minimizing person-to-person contact, drivers should seek out restaurants that allow online bill payment.

Minimizing Client Contact Minimizing your drivers’ in-person interactions with clients can be beneficial to both parties. If a client insists on checking in with drivers once they arrive, make sure these interactions take place over the phone or a virtual meeting app. While some drivers and clients may regard this as an abundance of caution, limiting nonessential person-toperson interactions is a vital part of flattening the curve.

Investing in high-quality cargo-monitoring tools can also prove helpful to your efforts.

As the name suggests, these tools are designed to detect and monitor any potential damage that occurs while cargo is in transit.

Vibration monitoring tools, in particular, are a worthwhile investment for any business that regularly works with fragile cargo.

These devices provide clients with an accurate accounting of any and all hardships cargo endures throughout its journey. So, instead of receiving in-person rundowns from drivers, clients can simply consult the aforementioned tools.

It’s been over a century since the world faced a pandemic like the one created by the novel coronavirus. With countless individuals and industries impacted by the ever-worsening threat of COVID-19, you’d be hard-pressed to come across a person who hasn’t felt the sting to some degree. As essential workers and vital players in virtually any supply chain, truckers have consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty throughout this ordeal. In light of their hard work and bravery, the least their employers can do is take measures to keep them safe.

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The Critical Role of Digital Infrastructure in Engineering

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he Asian region is one of the most diversified telecoms markets in the world. Stretching from China to Philippines and ASEAN region to India, it spans regions with highly advanced connectivity where 5G rollouts are happening at pace, as well as isolated rural areas with some of the most limited connectivity on the planet.

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The market is therefore a microcosm of the wider world; and at a time when half of the global population has been under confinement, the challenges faced by its telecoms networks are representative of those currently being faced across the globe.

Over just a couple of weeks, we have seen approximately 30% traffic growth in Asian networks – the same kind of growth that we would usually expect in a year. It is not just the scale of the increase that is testing operators, but also the significant behavioral changes as whole populations move abruptly to a new digital way of working and living, leaving city centers deserted and placing unprecedented pressure on residential networks.

Across several countries in Asia we have noticed a massive increase of the usage of certain applications, for example Zoom traffic has increased by 1000%, Webex by 500%, and Netflix by 50% - whilst YouTube usage is up 5-10% and social networking apps like Instagram and Facebook have seen spikes in traffic of 5-15%.

Combined, this presents a stark challenge to networks across a varied range of markets; it is a challenge our industry has risen to admirably, but one we can expect to endure.

We have now passed the initial surge in network use. We are seeing demand peaks stabilize as citizens across the world adjust to a new normal, completely reliant on connectivity. But the restrictions we are facing have fundamentally redefined the world’s expectations of networks. Operators should prepare for significantly elevated levels of demand – and crucially, uncertainty around usage patterns – for some time to come.

At Nokia, we have worked closely with operators to help them responding swiftly to the first phase by reducing congestion through network optimization and upgrades; and together, we are now looking to the next phase. We see two key priorities for operators as we adjust to the changes this pandemic has brought:

Scale: The Covid-19 lockdown restrictions will continue to place extreme demands on new areas of the network, particularly indoor and residential locations. Adding capacity in these new “hot zones” through spectrum expansion and additional sites will help prepare for the uncertainty we face moving forward, where in-built scalability and flexibility will be key in both access and transport networks.

In Asia, temporary spectrum allocations been granted by local regulatory in many countries to support operators to cope with traffic surge and better serve the local community.

The Covid-19 restrictions have also highlighted the challenges faced by populations across the world unserved or underserved by broadband. Fixed Wireless Access solutions, built over LTE or 5G Digital Infrastructure, are providing an effective way to expand broadband access to reach these communities in the short term.

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■ Neutral engine start system.

The engine will only start when the gate-lock is pulled up to avoid mis-operations.

■ Filters are conveniently located, making it easy to replace them ■ Sintered bushes create longer interval for greasing

Stimulate: The priority so far in this crisis has been to respond quickly and decisively to urgent challenges.

However, the steps we take today will help pave the way towards our 5G Digital Infrastructure future, and towards eventual economic recovery. In the coming months, operators must ensure they are evolving networks in a progressive way, making the most of network automation to create more flexible network architectures that can be run with minimal human intervention.

Telecoms will play a key role in accelerating the global digital transformation and the advance of 5G, providing a catalyst for the world’s fourth industrial revolution and enabling advanced e-health, e-commerce, e-learning, cloud robotics and more. If we invest now, we can further strengthen our infrastructure, economies and societies to cope in the best way possible with whatever challenges future decades may bring.

Despite the uncertainty ahead, there is one thing we can be sure of – as we move towards a 5G world, our networks will become even more critical to everyday life. 5G Digital Infrastructure networks are likely to underpin practically all critical functions of government and industry.

Ensuring resilience will be of the utmost importance; it could quite literally be a matter of life and death.

To support and enable this, we will need to draw on the skills and efforts of the extraordinary teams who have helped us weather the current crisis – field engineers and operations teams who have worked 24/7 to secure and strengthen our vital infrastructure. We must thank our people and invest in them; because as advanced as our technology gets, it will only ever be as good as the people creating and supporting it.

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Top 7 Modern Car Inventions

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ince the internal combustion engine was brought into being more than a hundred years ago, motor cars have evolved considerably. Sometimes this evolution has taken place in gradual increments; sometimes it is bounded forward in great leaps. Some developments, in hindsight, stand out as especially significant. We’re only including physical inventions that go into your car, here – the financial instruments that allow you to actually afford a car, like credit schemes for motorists with poor credit histories, aren’t included.

The Starter Motor The earliest kinds of personal motor vehicle had to be started by hand using a crank. This was not only inconvenient, but it created a significant safety problem. When the engine kicked back, the shaft would suddenly fly backwards with enough force to break an arm – or worse. The introduction of the electric starter motor addressed this problem – it turned the engine enough to get it started, without the risk to life and limb.

GPS The ability to successfully navigate to an unfamiliar location is fantastically useful.

Nowadays, you don’t need a passenger wielding an ordinance survey map; the global positioning system will determine where in the world you are and where you’d like to be, and it’ll present you with directions accordingly.

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Indicators

Airbags

It wasn’t until just before the second world war that Buick began fitting flashing indicators to the sides of their vehicles. Before that, motorists had to deploy special mechanical ones which actually protruded from the sides of the vehicle. Before that, they had to rely on their arms!

The concept behind the airbag is simple.

When your car is involved in a heavy collision, the dashboard opens out into a huge cushion, preventing your face from slamming into a hard surface. It’s another safety innovation responsible for saving thousands of lives.

ABS Brakes Antilock brakes prevent your car from skidding when you apply the brakes. They are not perfect, but they have saved countless lives and prevented countless more prangs.

The antilock braking system can trace its origins further back than you might think. Not long after the turn of the 20th century, the technology began to be introduced into trains.

In the 1950s, it was brought into aeroplanes, and then into cars and motorcycles.

Automatic Transmission Having to change gears all the time makes driving far more complicated than it otherwise might be. This isn’t just a matter of convenience; it also opens up the driving experience to disabled people who otherwise might not have access to a vehicle.

Internal Combustion Engine Finally, it’s worth mentioning the ICE itself.

Without this invention, the personal vehicle might never have gotten off the ground.

Internal combustion is set to be replaced over the coming decades, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t contributed enormously to the world of motoring, and to civilisation in general!

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