AGC OBTAINS ITS FIRST ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DECLARATION FOR ARCHITECTURAL GLASS PRODUCTS IN ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

 TOKYO, Oct. 11, 2022 /Kyodo JBN-AsiaNet/ --

 

AGC Inc. (hereinafter "AGC"), headquartered in Tokyo, has announced the acquisition of its first Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for float glass manufactured at its two Asian plants, PT Asahimas Flat Glass Tbk (*1) (headquartered in Indonesia) and AGC Flat Glass (Thailand) Plc. (headquartered in Thailand). This is the first EPD attained by the AGC Group for the architectural glass manufactured in the Asia-Pacific region (*2).   Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202210047629-O1-xg94sU3n EPD: ( https://ecoleaf-label.jp/pdf_view.php?uuid=ec3052ba-dff5-4cbe-b1ea-7155c94ab795.pdf&filename=JR-BS-22001E_ENG.pdf ) The EPD obtained by AGC discloses the environmental impact of the production stage for architectural glass, and it benefits owners, architects, specifiers, and building professionals by enabling to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with building materials. The EPD is a type III environmental declaration which is compliant with the ISO 14025 standard and verified by the Sustainable Management Promotion Organization's (SuMPO) Japan EPD Program. The environmental declaration also meets the requirements of the government's building regulations, as well as contributing to earning points for obtaining green building scheme certifications, since green building rating systems (*3) award credits for building projects that use EPD-certified materials. The AGC Group will utilize this EPD to contribute to green purchasing and procurement in the construction industry in Asia. The company will also widen its EPD coverage to high-performance glass products, such as coated glass, double glazing units and decorative glass manufactured at Asian plants. The AGC Group has set the "promotion of sustainability management" as one of the priority issues in its medium-term management plan "AGC plus-2023," and has set a target of achieving net zero GHG emissions from its business activities by 2050. The AGC Group will continue to contribute to the realization of a sustainable global environment by reducing GHG emissions and supplying products and technologies that contribute to energy conservation and energy creation. Notes: (*1) PT Asahimas Flat Glass Tbk is part of the global AGC group. Asahimas Flat Glass was established as a joint venture in 1973 between Asahi Glass Co., Ltd. (now AGC Inc.) and PT Rodamas (Indonesian distributor of glass and related customer goods). (*2) AGC Glass Asia Pacific leads the sales and marketing activities of architectural, interior, automotive, industrial and smart glass products for the Asia-Pacific region. It is part of the Architectural Glass Asia Pacific Company, AGC Inc., headquartered in Japan, and its regional headquarters in Singapore was established in 2013. For more information about AGC Glass Asia Pacific's sustainability initiatives, visit https://agc-glassasia.com (*3) LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system by U.S. Green Building Council and Green Mark Certification Scheme by Singapore Building and Construction Authority are examples of green building rating systems. Source: AGC Inc.   --BERNAMA

NINTENDO, ILLUMINATION LAUNCH MAIDEN TRAILER FOR THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- Nintendo Co Ltd (Nintendo) and Illumination launched the first trailer for The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the new animated film based on the world of Super Mario Bros. during the Nintendo Direct which was streamed recently.

“We are now able to have everyone get a peek at the film. With not just the story itself, but through the characters’ look, their emotions, various gestures, we have built a Super Mario world using the language of film.

“The release is just around the corner, and we are in the fine tuning phase finalising all the details, just as we do with a Nintendo game. It is a film for all ages to enjoy, and I ask everyone to please cheer for Mario at the theatres,” said Representative Director, Fellow of Nintendo, Shigeru Miyamoto in a statement.

Meanwhile, Illumination’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Chris Meledandri said: “We are thrilled to finally share the very first look at The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

“Nintendo’s Mario and Luigi are the most iconic and beloved characters in the gaming universe and it has been an incredible honour to work with Miyamoto-san over the past few years to bring this story to film in a way that is authentic to its roots.”

The Super Mario Bros. animated film, produced by Chris Meledandri of Illumination and Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo, will be co-financed by Universal Pictures and Nintendo, and released worldwide by Universal Pictures.

From the launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System™ more than 30 years ago, through today and into the future, Nintendo’s continuing mission is to create unique entertainment that puts smiles on the faces of people all over the world.

-- BERNAMA

TOKUSHIMA INTERNATIONAL CONSUMER'S FORUM 2022 GOES LIVE ON OCT 25

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- The live-streaming of the Tokushima International Consumer’s Forum 2022 will be held on Oct 25, 2022.

The forum will have leading experts from various countries offer opinions and recommendations that promote "ethical consumption" and "sustainable fashion" -- from "awareness" to "practices," -- in order to achieve the SDGs by 2030 and carbon neutrality goal by 2050.

The forum will also include participants from the younger generation from within the prefecture and from overseas.

The forum will consist among others, Speech by the Governor of Tokushima Prefecture, Keynote Speech Video Message from the Director-General of Consumers International, and three Sessions including Session 2: "Future" session with the youth from Tokushima Prefecture and ASEAN (Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand).

“We hope that the forthcoming forum will facilitate meaningful discussions leading to the progress of international consumer policy and consumer behaviour toward a sustainable society for everyone around the world,” said in a statement.

The Consumer Policy Department of the Tokushima Prefectural Government is currently promoting initiatives for consumer administration and education.

This is in cooperation with the Consumer Affairs Agency’s Strategic Headquarters for Frontiers of Consumer Policy, a national agency established in Tokushima Prefecture as Japan's hub for policy development and international operations in consumer administration.

More details at https://www.pref.tokushima.lg.jp/en/world.consumer.forum/2022/

-- BERNAMA

NEW WE BRANDS IN MOTION STUDY UNCOVERS: BRAND PURPOSE IS FACING A PRESSURE TEST

Global WE Communications Research Finds Only Half of Companies Are Delivering on Their Values-led Commitments


NEW YORK & LONDON & SINGAPORE, Oct 5 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Today, WE Communications (WE) released its latest Brands in Motion global report, “The Bravery Mandate: Make It Real.” The data reveals growing skepticism over whether brands are ultimately delivering on their purpose and environmental, social and governance (ESG) pledges — especially in a world where volatility is the new constant.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221004005186/en/

Partnering with YouGov, WE surveyed consumers in Australia, Germany, India, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom (U.K.) and the United States (U.S.) to understand their perspectives on brand purpose. Across the globe, stakeholders are demanding that companies step up and offer solutions to urgent challenges such as social injustice and climate change, with “cost of living” chosen as the No. 1 area where brands should be accelerating their efforts.

“Despite mounting pressure, organizations must continue to be guided by brand purpose as their north star,” said WE’s EVP International Rebecca Wilson. “Brands that speak out and act boldly on their causes, and stay the course on their long-term plans to address larger societal issues, will gain market share and attract talent in the years ahead.”

The expectation for companies to speak and act on large-scale societal issues is here to stay. Survey respondents see brands as one of the most important institutions for driving positive change, right after government and media.

This year’s study uncovers three main themes:

PRACTICALITY TAKES PRECEDENCE

People do not expect perfection, but they do want progress. They do not need brands to solve every problem, but they do need them to own the ones they take on. Seventy percent of respondents surveyed prefer that companies focus their multiyear investments on a single cause, rather than support a different issue every year.

Globally, consumers prefer that brands place greater emphasis on practical, values-led goals over ambitious ones, with an ideal balance of 59% practical goals to 41% ambitious ones.

“This focus on practically is not a call for brands to abandon their ambitious plans, as people continue to view companies as important drivers of change,” said Wilson. “Companies should strive to find a balance between their big-sky and ground-level goals.”

SHOW YOUR WORK

The WE Brands in Motion report found that lack of data and data-driven goals is the No. 1 reason consumers become skeptical of brands’ purpose-led claims. As a result, 74% of survey respondents say that brands should be transparent when informing the public about their actions in response to current and emerging societal issues.

By including stakeholders in the process, providing regular updates with hard data, clear metrics and quantifiable results — even when those results fall short of expectations — companies can build trust with them along the way.

“Stakeholders want to know what happens beyond the pledges and press releases,” said Wilson. “They demand a front-row seat to your purpose initiatives.”

LEANING INTO THE “S” IN ESG

As companies work to create solutions and share progress, they must find the right balance between showing their work and focusing on the human impact. Sharing hard data and making clear and accurate net-zero calculations is extremely important, but companies must remember not to get lost behind the math.

By telling the stories of how their work is helping — and providing the tangible, human impacts of their efforts — brands can show how effective their efforts are. Survey respondents identified three priorities for brands to invest in: employee well-being, providing income and employment opportunities, and access to health care.

“Ultimately, people believe that brands are helping create that better world, but they need to see proof,” said Wilson. “Now is the time for companies to make it happen, make it matter, make it real.”

ABOUT BRANDS IN MOTION

The WE Brands in Motion report is a worldwide study of how perceptions shift over time, conducted by WE and YouGov. Now in its sixth year, Brands in Motion has surveyed 100,000+ consumers and B2B decision-makers about their attitudes regarding:

• Expectations for brand actions and investments
• Forces affecting the market on a macro level
• Expectations for purpose initiatives

ABOUT WE

WE is one of the largest independent communications and integrated marketing agencies in the world. We’re all about people — both our clients and employees — and we believe in the power of communications to move audiences to positive action. Female-founded, female-led, and fiercely independent, WE has spent more than three decades helping world-class brands tell technology-led transformation stories that shift perceptions and change behavior.

Our global reach includes offices in 21 cities, partner networks that expand our footprint and client capabilities, and a team of more than 1,200 media and content strategists, creatives and data scientists across our technology, health, and consumer sectors. Our work with global brands like Microsoft, Honeywell, McDonald’s, and Volvo has been recognized by Cannes Lions, PRovoke SABRE Awards and PRWeek Awards, just to name a few.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221004005186/en/

Contact

For more information, press only:
Kara Kraft, WE, (503) 443-7143, karak@we-worldwide.com

Source : WE Communications

MOORE NANOTECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS OPENS GLOBAL TRAINING AND PROCESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

SWANZEY, N.H., Oct 5 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Moore Nanotechnology Systems (“Nanotech”), a leading global supplier of ultra-precision machining systems, announces the grand opening of their Global Training and Process Development Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Mark Boomgarden, President and CEO of Nanotech shared, “Nanotech is very excited to announce the grand opening of our Global Training and Process Development Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Although the initial focus of this facility is to provide customer-specific training and industry-leading process development, it also provides Nanotech incremental production capacity to meet the demands of a rapidly growing market.”

Nanotech purchased and recently completed the upfit of a 50,000 ft² building located in the Northpark Corporate Park - Charlotte, NC.  

Nanotech’s core technology and employee base is in Swanzey, New Hampshire, and this foundation is fundamental to the products and services in which they provide. But as the organization continues to grow, Nanotech needed to find an ecosystem to help foster and accelerate this growth, and the Charlotte region allows Nanotech access to a world-class university, an international airport, and a city with the infrastructure to support a global footprint.

Robert Keynton, Dean of Engineering at UNC Charlotte added, “One of the advantages of having Nanotech expand their facilities here in Charlotte is that it strengthens our collaborations and our relationship, to include the hiring of our students.” Keynton continued, “But it also enables them access to the cutting-edge research our faculty are doing and to incorporate that knowledge into their systems.”

Nanotech continues to see significant growth as the requirements for optical systems become more and more complex and evolve from both real to virtual applications. The knowledge and process development required to support the manufacturing of these systems has also dramatically increased.

Scott Gerhart, Vice President Nanotech Sales and Service commented “Training and application support are fundamental to our product and service offerings, and in today’s markets, are expected by our customers.” Gerhart continued, “Because of this, our business depends on hiring the top talent available in the ultra-precision machining world. The students that are coming out of the Precision Manufacturing and Metrology Programs at UNC Charlotte are extremely well-prepared for the kind of roles we need to be successful at Nanotech.”

Paul Vermette, Vice President of Engineering stated, “As our customer’s continue to advance their in-house capabilities to meet the industry’s demanding product requirements, Nanotech continues to stay 1 to 2 generations ahead of the curve.” Vermette continued, “Our 5-year product & technology roadmap is built with customer input, which when combined with our internal investments, provides Nanotech the required strategic direction to achieve these goals.”

This new Nanotech facility is located at 6510 Northpark Blvd in Charlotte - fifteen minutes from both Uptown and Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The facility was renovated in 2022, to include the buildout of Class 10k cleanrooms, sitting on 24-inches of concrete isolation pads, and temperature control to +/- 0.1 degrees C. Additionally, the facility was upgraded to include temperature controlled high-bay manufacturing space, and a state-of-the-art training complex to support customer engagement.
  
Moore Nanotechnology Systems (Nanotech) was founded in Keene, New Hampshire in 1997 as a stand-alone subsidiary of the Moore Tool Company. In 2010, the company relocated into a modern, purpose-built facility in Swanzey, New Hampshire and in 2020 opened a facility in Concord, North Carolina. For over 25 years, Nanotech has been a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of state-of-the-art ultra-precision machine tools and associated processes (single point diamond turning, micro-milling, micro-grinding and glass press molding) for the production of advanced optical components in consumer electronics, space, defense, aerospace, lighting, medical and automotive sectors. Moore Tool, founded in 1924 and located in Bridgeport, Connecticut, has a long history in the precision and ultra-precision machine tool markets. Today, Moore Tool provides a complete line of high-performance CNC jig grinders, along with contract precision-manufacturing services certified to both ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D. Moore Nanotechnology Systems and Moore Tool are vertically integrated under the PMT Group.

Moore Nanotechnology Systems: www.nanotechsys.com
Moore Tool, Inc: www.mooretool.com

For further information, please contact: sales@nanotechsys.com


SOURCE : Moore Nanotechnology Systems

SKYDRIVE UNVEILS SD-05 FLYING CAR DESIGN, AIMING TO BEGIN AIR TAXI SERVICE IN 2025

TOYOTA, Japan, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- SkyDrive Inc. has unveiled the design of its commercial model flying car -- the SkyDrive SD-05. SkyDrive is planning to use the SD-05, currently in development, to launch air taxi service in the Osaka Bay area during the world exposition scheduled for 2025 in Osaka, Japan.

"This is another big step towards the realization of flying cars and sky roads," said Takumi Yamamoto, SkyDrive design director. "Two years have passed since the announcement of the SD-03, which successfully completed its public manned flight test in August 2020, and we are very happy to be able to announce its successor, the SD-05."

Headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, SkyDrive is a leading developer and manufacturer of flying cars (*1) and cargo drones in Japan.

Image1: Exterior of the SD-05, currently in development

https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M105850/202209267185/_prw_PI5fl_to2kn1db.jpg

Video of the SD-05 Commercial Model

Title: SkyDrive SD-05: Zero Emission Flying Vehicle

URL: https://youtu.be/36tDLW-mFiU

SD-05 Overview

The SD-05 is a two-seat, electric-powered compact aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. Operated by a driver-pilot, its flight stability is secured with the assistance of a computer-controlled flight system. SkyDrive is developing flying cars with an eye toward realizing a world where they are used in daily life for air mobility much as automobiles are used for daily ground transportation.

"This vehicle is not just a simple means of traveling from point A to B," Yamamoto said. "Based on the design concept of 'giving wings to daily travel,' it's also a safer and more enjoyable travel partner."

SkyDrive is in the process of acquiring a type certificate (*2) for the SD-05 from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), as the first of its kind in Japan. The company continues to work toward initiating practical use of flying cars during the World Exposition Osaka, Kansai, scheduled for 2025 in Japan. The SD-05 is designed to travel up to approx. 10 km and the maximum cruise speed is 100 km/h. However, design and specifications are subject to change and the progress of design development.

Potential applications for SD-05 are currently under consideration, including short-cut transportation through the sky, a unique access to resort facilities, and emergency medical services.

"SkyDrive will continue to design the dreams of the future with the aim of realizing sky roads," said Yamamoto. SkyDrive is also moving to promote its business operations not only in Japan but also outside the country. In the U.S., for example, the company set up an office in September 2022, for the purpose of providing a means of "last mile" air transportation. The company has been developing the market jointly with local authorities and partner companies.

Exterior Design of SD-05

As with SkyDrive's single-seat SD-03 manned prototype aircraft, "progressive" (pioneering and advanced) is the term used to describe the design of the SD-05, which SkyDrive believes is an appropriate descriptor for a new genre of transportation. Viewing the fuselage, or body, of the aircraft from the side, an S-shaped contour suggests a pair of propellers lifting off into the sky. Looking down on the craft from above, viewers see the shape of a pearl-white swallow, a small but agile bird able to soar to great heights.

Image2:

https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M105850/202209267185/_prw_PI6fl_6XF2f9o3.jpg

The aerodynamically advanced airframe design is informed by studies of the streamlined shapes of birds and animals and features both horizontal and vertical tails for added stability in flight. At the top corners of the airframe, 12 motor-propeller units are positioned for flight stability. These reflect flight control technology acquired through more than 1,000 flight tests conducted during development of the airframe.

For the SD-05, specialists from SkyDrive and its partners have worked together in collaboration with JAMCO Corporation (*3), an aircraft interior maker; Toray Carbon Magic Co., Ltd. (*4), a provider of advanced Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Plastics (CFRP); and Electric Power Systems, Inc. (*5), a leading developer of battery systems that include high-power powertrains for electrified aircraft that are eligible for type certification.

With its mission to lead a once-in-a-century mobility revolution, SkyDrive is developing safer, more secure flying cars through development and repeated demonstration tests of the SD-05 commercial model, leading to a future where air transportation is part of daily life.

"We look forward to seeing everyone at the Osaka Expo in 2025," design director Yamamoto said.

 

Image3:

https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M105850/202209267185/_prw_PI3fl_7710DNlZ.jpg

Image4:

https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M105850/202209267185/_prw_PI4fl_98ccIudu.jpg

Notes:

(*1) Flying cars, called generally eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft outside Japan, are characterized by electrification, a fully autonomous autopilot, and vertical takeoff and landing. A new advancement in the field of mobility, the development of flying cars is being promoted globally. In Japan, the Public-Private Council for Air Mobility Revolution was established in 2018 for that purpose. The project is expected to lead to taxi services in urban areas, new means of transportation for remote islands and mountainous areas, and emergency transport in times of disaster. A roadmap formulated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the MLIT anticipates the start of business in the mid-2020s.

 

(*2) SkyDrive Press Release on agreement on basis for flying car type certification with MLIT

https://en.skydrive2020.com/archives/6379

(*3) SkyDrive Press Release on collaboration with JAMCO Corporation (Only available in Japanese)

https://skydrive2020.com/archives/9549

(*4) SkyDrive Press Release on collaboration with Toray Carbon Magic Co., Ltd.

https://en.skydrive2020.com/archives/6424

(*5) SkyDrive Press Release on collaboration with Electric Power Systems, Inc.

https://en.skydrive2020.com/archives/6429

About SkyDrive Inc.:

https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/attach/202209267185-O1-P01369p5.pdf

To learn about fundraising for the project, visit:

https://en.skydrive2020.com/archives/7416

For more information, visit:

https://en.skydrive2020.com/

Source: SkyDrive Inc.

--BERNAMA

[INVNT GROUP]™ LAUNCHES HYPNOGRAM™, CREATIVE GLOBAL BOUTIQUE AND STUDIO

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- [INVNT GROUP] THE GLOBAL BRANDSTORY PROJECT™, expands experiential storytelling capabilities with launching of Hypnogram™, a creative global boutique and studio focused on multimedia experiences that span the physical and digital world.

Hypnogram supports brands and organisations by translating ideas and messages into unimagined experiential multi-sensory moments via motion design, tech/art installations, augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality, across public and private spaces, including live shows and product launches.

“This multimedia studio led by CEO Pavel Popov, the visionary ex-managing partner at Radugadesign USA and Radugadesign China, deepens our global expansion strategy, augments our core capabilities, and offers clients end-to-end creative solutions that drive audience engagement through immersive, next-generation multimedia experiences and events,” said INVNT CEO and [INVNT GROUP] COO, Kristina McCoobery.

Meanwhile, Popov said: “Our mission is to become an industry-leading agency in multimedia design. When we combine what hypnogram brings to the table with the incredible, diverse capabilities of [INVNT GROUP], we are able to create added value for our partners around the world.”

According to a statement, Hypnogram is based in the U.S., operates globally, and is actively developing the China market, recently launching two 3D billboard projects commissioned by Vivo, a multinational technology company, and one of the leading smartphone manufacturers in China.

[INVNT GROUP]’s addition of Hypnogram enhances the group’s ability to imagine and fulfill creative, immersive, multimedia spectacles that change the relationship between brands and those who come into contact with them.

[INVNT GROUP] represents a growing portfolio of complementary disciplines designed to help forward thinking brands everywhere, impact the audiences that matter anywhere.

-- BERNAMA