New MD based in Thailand.

Teerapong Cheepchol (Jack) is the new Managing Director of Werum IT Solutions Ltd., Thailand. He succeeds David Margetts.

Teerapong Cheepchol

Teerapong Cheepchol looks back on more than twelve years of experience in the pharma industry and Manufacturing Execution System (MES) business. In his previous role, he served as Deputy Managing Director and Operations Director of Werum IT Solutions Ltd., Thailand, where he was responsible for service delivery and business administration since the opening of Werum's Asian hub in 2016. He had an active role in overseeing the company's overall business operations. Moreover, Teerapong Cheepchol was involved in strategic planning and organizing the company's activities to achieve its goals while building a strong team in Asia to provide high-quality service to its customers.

"We are very excited to have Teerapong Cheepchol taking on the role of Werum Asia’s Managing Director," says Jens Woehlbier, CEO of Werum IT Solutions GmbH. "He is best suited to guide and expand our business in the APAC region. Under Teerapong's dedicated leadership, Werum Asia will further develop the local team and strengthen existing relationships with its customers and partners. We wish Teerapong great success in his new position."

At the same time, Jens Woehlbier thanked David Margetts for successfully managing Werum Asia: "David Margetts has done a great job in expanding our Asian business. We wish him and his family all the best in their future endeavors."

 #MES #PAuto  #Asia @Werum

Disinfection technology for food & drink examined.

The latest technological innovations supporting water disinfection in the food and beverage industry will be the focus of the Water Academy seminar, jointly organised by Hanovia and Domnick Hunter RL, taking place in Bangkok, Thailand, in September. The one-day seminar will focus on best practice in process water technologies, and is aimed at process engineers and those responsible for technology procurement.

“This will be an informative and educational seminar, looking at the key water technologies that can benefit the beverage production process,” said Gunvinder Bhogal, Hanovia’s Global Marketing Manager. “The day’s presentations will focus not only on current best practice but also the innovations that will shape future development. It is a fantastic opportunity for attendees to network with leading industry experts and gain important knowledge about the latest technological advancements.”

The seminar is the first in a series to be held across the Asia Pacific region, where the beverage industry is growing rapidly due to increased demand in sectors such as bottled water, carbonated soft drinks, dairy and brewing. Water disinfection and treatment is a key element in the beverage production process globally, and the use of ultraviolet (UV) technology within the industry is predicted to increase by 12.5% over the 2015-2020 period.

Hanovia, the world’s leading provider of UV disinfection technology and water treatment solutions for industrial applications, will be making a series of presentations during the seminar’s morning session. These will include an introduction to UV light technology; a look at how UV dechlorination can reduce water treatment maintenance and lifecycle costs and provide enhanced protection against bio-contamination; details of how UV technology can be used in applications such as sugar syrup disinfection and process water deozonation; and an explanation of the validation process for UV systems. The afternoon session will include a presentation by Domnick Hunter RL - Thailand’s leading provider of liquid filters, water treatment and gas generation products - about cartridge filtration in beverage applications.

@Hanovia_UV  #PAuto

Boosting sugarcane delivery at Thai plant.

A Control Techniques Unidrive M600 variable speed drive is helping a major sugar plant in Thailand to guarantee the efficient delivery of sugarcane between processes.

First established in 1946, Mitr Phol Sugar Corp is the largest sugar producer in Thailand today, the biggest in Asia and the world’s fourth largest, producing 2 million tons of sugar a year from its various plants. To help produce this much sugar, Mitr Phol has to process around 20 million tons of sugarcane. At its Phulaung plant (in northeast Thailand), the company recently opted to replace the drive on its principal variable speed sugarcane conveyors to help meet demand.

“We have used various drives for this application in the past, but were attracted to the closed loop control of the Unidrive M600 with SI-Encoder module, as well as the low harmonics,” explained Mr Wanchai, the plant’s electrical & automation manager.

The SI-Encoder module features incremental encoder input to provide closed loop rotor flux control for induction motors (RFC-A) in Unidrive M600 applications.

“This is vital as the equipment is conveying sugarcane to each process station, including the crushing station,” said Mr Wanchai. “We need to run at full capacity, particularly during September to March, which is when the sugarcane comes into season. Any downtimes during these months can very damaging to the supply of sugar in the off-season.”

Another principal reason for selecting Unidrive M was its task-based commissioning, diagnostics and maintenance, which in turn helps minimise downtime at high-volume plants such as Mitr Phol.

“Unidrive M600 allows us to greatly enhance performance. For instance, we now have better overload torque (180% for 3 seconds) in RFC-A mode. Moreover, we reduced downtime from 1-1½ hours to just 30 minutes by using Control Techniques’ commissioning software tool Unidrive M Connect.”

Unidrive M Connect is the latest drive configuration tool from Control Techniques for commissioning, optimising and monitoring drive/system performance. It uses graphical tools that enhance and simplify user experience, although, for experienced users, dynamic drive logic diagrams and enhanced searchable listings are also present.

“We received highly responsive technical support during of pre-sales and after-sales from Control Techniques and local partner Contrologic throughout the process,” concluded Mr Wanchai. “We certainly plan to incorporate additional products from Control Techniques into our business moving forwards.”

@EmersonIndAuto  #Pauto @Emerson_News #Food

Best pharma solutions provider.

Werum IT Solutions has been named “Best Pharma Solutions Provider” at this year’s Asian Manufacturing Award ceremony. With this, the deciding jury of industry experts acknowledged Werum’s innovations and continuous advancement of its PAS-X Manufacturing Execution System. Its specialized solutions help pharma manufacturers in Asia increase efficiency, improve productivity, and meet regulatory requirements.

The Asian Manufacturing Award honors control, instrumentation, and automation product manufacturers and service providers who have delivered the best solutions to address today’s engineering and manufacturing challenges. First held in 2012, the annual competition is organized by Contineo Media, publisher of high-circulation Asian trade magazines such as Pharma Asia and Control Engineering Asia.

“A special thank you to our customers, because they are the foundation for this recognition,” says Rüdiger Schlierenkämper, CEO of Werum IT Solutions GmbH. “We are very proud to be recognized as ‘Best Pharma Solutions Provider’ for our PAS-X manufacturing IT product and services offering. The award motivates us to continue developing innovative, high quality software products that address the challenges of the pharma industry – such as Manufacturing Intelligence and Industry 4.0 (Internet of Things) – together with our customers.”

David Margetts, Managing Director, Werum IT Solutions Ltd., Thailand, who received the Asian Manufacturing Award during the gala ceremony in Singapore, adds: “Earning the Asian Manufacturing Award is a remarkable achievement we want to share with our customers, partners and employees. We would like to thank all of our customers for their trust and commitment.”

• Picture shows David Margetts (right), Managing Director, Werum IT Solutions Thailand, receiving the Asian Manufacturing Award.

@Werum #PAuto #Pharma #Asia

Clean air monitoring in Thailand.

When its existing photoionisation detectors (PIDs) proved ineffective in high humidity, indoor air quality monitoring specialist, Clean Air (Thailand) Company Ltd turned to Ion Science and its high performance Tiger instrument. The handheld detector is being used by the Bangkok-based business as part of its audit programme to measure potentially harmful total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) in a wide range of buildings including offices, hospitals, hotels and residential properties.

Established since 2007, Clean Air Thailand designs and manufactures specialist Ozone and UVGI equipment to improve indoor air quality (IAQ). The company also offers an IAQ test service which helps building managers understand what is happening in their properties. The scientific information provided can then be used to introduce IAQ improvement programmes, often without the need for extra equipment.

Philip North, Director at Clean Air Thailand comments: “Even though a building’s IAQ might seem fine, it is essential that all the parameters which make up the air being breathed are regularly assessed. As part of our IAQaudit service, we measure TVOCs present within buildings but our previous monitoring instrument proved unreliable in Thailand’s humid conditions. We provide solutions to customers based on high levels of TVOCs being detected so needed a device we can completely trust when we show before and after readings.

“Following recommendation from another business, we chose the Ion Science Tiger VOC detector due to its revolutionary PID sensor technology offering excellent humidity resistance and anti-contamination design. As well as providing highly accurate readings, we were impressed with the system’s response time of just two seconds and opted for the data logging function for easy reporting.”

Providing market-leading accuracy and run time, the Tiger’s PID sensor capabilities utilise advanced patented Fence Electrode technology, a three-electrode format with increased resistance to humidity (up to 99% RH) and contamination. Combined with 24-hour battery life, these features maximise usage by minimising erroneous readings in high humidity and drift in harsh environments. The anti-contamination design also reduces calibration frequency.

Independently verified as the industry’s best performing PID for its speed of response, accuracy and linearity, the Tiger provided the most stable, repeatable readings when tested against competitor instruments in humid and contaminated environments.

The instrument’s well proven MiniPID is a simple plug and play sensor that has been specially developed by Ion Science to deliver a dynamic and reliable response to thousands of VOCs.
Designed for rapid detection, with an unrivalled response time of just two seconds, and the widest measurement range of one part per billion (ppb) to 20,000 parts per million (ppm)*, the robust Tiger is ready to use, straight out of the box, and extremely simple to set up. It offers worldwide Intrinsic Safety (IS) certification, making it suitable for use in potentially explosive, hazardous environments, and also meets ATEX, IECEx, UL and CSA standards.

Inexpensive disposable parts such as filters and lamps are easy to change, minimising downtime. Simple connectivity to a PC via the USB allows data to be downloaded quickly.

Philip adds: “The service from Ion Science’s UK operation has been very good. Most importantly, I would give the Tiger instrument top marks for reliability and accuracy. It has proved entirely fit for purpose and can easily cope with the Asia’s extreme humidity.”

• See also: Photoionisation detector (PID) achieves top accolade! (5/10/2015)

@ionscience #Pauto #Environment

MES provider strengthens presence in Asia Pacific.

LtoR: Teerapong Cheepchol and David Margetts, Werum IT Solutions Ltd. (formerly Factorytalk Ltd.) & Rüdiger Schlierenkämper and Richard Nagorny, Werum IT Solutions GmbH.

Werum IT Solutions  and Factorytalk Co., Ltd., Thailand, a leading consulting company for pharma manufacturers in Southeast Asia, jointly announce the complete transfer of Factorytalk’s MES business to Werum’s corporate organization. All current Factorytalk MES employees – many of whom are long-term experienced MES experts – will transfer into the newly established subsidiary Werum IT Solutions Ltd. in Bangkok, Thailand. This ensures continuation and is the sound basis for future growth of the operational Werum business in the Asia Pacific region.
Factorytalk’s ten year long collaboration with Werum and proven track record of success in implementing Werum’s PAS-X MES working with qualified locally based consultants are the solid platform on which the business transfer is built. Through this initiative Werum can thus provide a fully integrated and comprehensive solution hub for the benefit of Werum’s existing and new clients in Asia.

“This deal is about market leadership and growth. We highly welcome the opportunity to expand our local activities for Asian customers in this important future market together with Factorytalk – a company with outstanding PAS-X MES and compliance expertise,” says Rüdiger Schlierenkämper, CEO, Werum IT Solutions GmbH, Lüneburg, Germany. “The transfer of Factorytalk’s MES business to Werum is an important step forward in realizing our future business growth strategy in the region.”

“For over ten years we have greatly valued and been proud to work in such a close and rewarding partnership with Werum”, says David Margetts, now appointed Managing Director of the newly founded Werum IT Solutions Ltd., formerly Managing Director Factorytalk Ltd. “By further developing our long established principles of trust, customer focus and commitment to ensure compliance and quality we are able to instantly integrate our MES team into Werum’s organization and fit seamlessly to its extensive global network. We are rapidly building on our existing success through a ‘best of both worlds’ concept which enables us to leverage our strong international expertise. Our very experienced local teams and partners are looking forward to delivering the world’s leading Pharma and Biotech MES solution across every major market, culture and language in the region, and to do this from a central location in Asia.”

Lars Hornung, Senior Director Global Sales, Werum IT Solutions GmbH, adds: “Werum’s new Asia hub in Thailand is the first step in our pursuit to be closer to our customers in this region. Our new Werum office in Bangkok will be a center of excellence for MES projects of pharma and biopharma clients in the Asian Pacific region. It will also be a first milestone on our way of establishing further offices in key markets in Asia. This will clearly enable us to serve our customers in the region even better than in the past.”

 @Werum #PAuto @factory_talk

Fluorescence spectroscopy systems in Thailand.

Edinburgh Instruments have accomplished installation of our top end fluorescence spectroscopy systems at the brand new Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC) in Thailand.

VISTEC is funded by PPT, a petroleum company, with the aim of high impact research publications in the science and technology field. The University has invested heavily in state of the art scientific facilities and recruited some of the best professors and researchers, including NRCT Research Award and Outstanding Scientist Award winners.

The FLS980 Fluorescence Spectrometer and the LP980 Transient Absorption Spectrometer will be used to investigate and improve the efficiency and photochemical characteristics of organic solar cell technology. The group researchers are aiming to reduce global consumption and dependence on fossil fuels through improving the overall light-collection efficiency and simplify the manufacture of this type of organic solar cell.

Our engineers attended a week-long installation and training seminar at the University to provide the local research group with systems operation and servicing training.

@Edinst #PAuto 

MES implementation on Thai site.

First PAS-X MES implementation in the Thai pharmaceutical industry / interfaces to ERP, LIMS and eQMS for efficiency and compliance / large benefits in quality, time- saving and reduction of lead times

GPO Rangsit

Werum’s PAS-X MES went live at the Government Pharmaceutical Organization’s (GPO) manufacturing site in Rangsit, Thailand – the first in the Thai pharmaceutical industry. GPO is the largest pharmaceutical producer and distributor of important medicines for the Thai market.

PAS-X has been implemented as a full-scope MES across the whole facility from the goods receipt of raw materials, warehousing, weighing, production and quality until shipment of finished products to the GPO nationwide supply chains. The MES integrates GPO’s ERP and LIMS systems to ensure efficient and compliant data transfer. The PAS-X MES is supported by an electronic QM system (eQMS) under the concept of a fully integrated and electronic production site.

“PAS-X has enabled us to reduce paper records from the plant floor and replace them with an electronic and sequenced way of gathering the right data for the right product from the right authority at the right time,” says Dr. Mukdavan Prakobvaitayakit, Deputy Managing Director, GPO. “The review-by-exception functionality has also enabled departments within the manufacturing organization to start reviewing the events in real-time which saves time and reduces lead time for product release as the review can be completed in parallel with production.”

The complete IT design and test and validation services were provided as a turnkey project to ensure the facility meets international GMP standards (PIC/S). The project was carried out locally by the Werum Asia Pacific Support Centre in Thailand.

 @Werum #PAuto #Pharma #Thailand

Thai oil contract signed

Invensys Operations Management has signed a five-year, multi-million dollar contract to deliver a comprehensive refinery-wide optimisation solution for Bangkok-based Thai Oil Public Company Limited, one of Asia Pacific’s leading refining and petrochemical companies.

Under the terms of the agreement, Invensys will implement its SimSci-Esscor ROMeo® optimisation software to improve the real-time performance of Thai Oil’s refinery operations. An integrated software solution for simulation, data reconciliation and operations decision support, the ROMeo software solution will be a critical part of Thai Oil’s five-year master plan to optimize all its major distillation and conversion units, as well as its plant-wide energy and hydrogen systems, supporting its vision of becoming a fully integrated high-performance refiner. Invensys will also provide turnkey design, engineering, commissioning and consulting services for the refinery-wide optimisation solutions.

“We look forward to helping Thai Oil achieve sustainable growth as they pursue their long-term strategic plan,” said Ravi Gopinath, president, Invensys Operations Management, Asia Pacific. “By providing accurate modelling capabilities and superior solver capabilities at every critical unit, the ROMeo solution will help Thai Oil maximize profits, minimize plant and processing costs, while achieving operations excellence by balancing control, asset and productivity excellence, along with environment and safety excellence.”

SimSci-Esscor’s ROMeo software provides a leading unified modeling environment for off-line and on-line optimisation. In use at dozens of refineries, petrochemical and chemical plants worldwide, it provides a scalable environment for optimizing all major refinery units, as well other aspects of refinery profitability, such as utilities and instrument/equipment performance. Additional benefits are derived from leveraging the rigorous predictive models to enhance planning and scheduling decisions, leading to increased refinery margins. It is an integrated software solution for simulation, data reconciliation, operations decision support and optimisation.
“Given the difficult economic forecast for refining in the near term, we need a comprehensive, scalable solution that will help us drive continuous peak performance,” said Chaiwat Damrongmongkulgul, deputy managing director, refinery, Thai Oil. “We have had considerable success in implementing advanced process control, but to ensure we meet our long-term strategic objectives, we have to move to real-time optimisation. We need an experienced partner and a sustainable optimisation solution that will allow us to improve the profitability of our operations in real time, and we believe that Invensys can deliver.”