MEA urges people to beware of electric shocks in monsoon
Aug 17. 2020
By THE NATION
The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) has advised people to beware of electric shocks during the rainy season, while warning that stealing electricity is both illegal and unsafe.
Boonthin Aimyanyao, Occupational Health, Safety and Environment Director at MEA, said that during the rainy season the risk of electrical shock becomes greater, and advised users to be more cautious.
“Electrical users must make sure that the power lines, main switch, breakers, ground lines and appliances in their home are in good condition and safe from water damage,” he said. “Avoid using appliances with damaged power cord, and plugging too many appliances in one power strip, which increase the risk of power overload.”
“The MEA also advises against stealing power from high-voltage lines, which is illegal and greatly increases the risk of electrical shock, not to mention it could cause a blackout in the neighbourhood in case of shortcircuit or explosion,” Boonthin added. “For your safety, temporary electrical users such as weekend markets and construction sites can seek MEA services which are provided by professional staff instead of illegally tapping from high-voltage lines.”
For more information, contact MEA branch offices or MEA Call Centre 1130, Twitter: @MEA_news, Line: @meathailand, Facebook: @Metropolitan.Electricity.Authority or download the “MEA Smart Life” mobile app, available for both Android and iOS users.
Roche rapid test can detect Sars-CoV-2 antibodies, pinpointing cases of infection
Aug 15. 2020
By THE NATION
Pharmaceutical company Roche has launched a rapid test for the detection of antibodies to Sars-CoV-2 to add a point of care testing solution to the fight against Covid-19, the company said.
The launch is a partnership with SD Biosensor Inc, with whom Roche has a global distribution agreement.
The newly developed rapid antibody test is for use in point-of-care settings and can help healthcare professionals identify patients that have developed antibodies against Sars-CoV-2, indicating prior infection, Roche said.
The test is part of the comprehensive Roche diagnostic portfolio to help healthcare systems combat Covid-19, which also includes molecular, serology and digital solutions, the company said.
The rapid antibody test can be performed by healthcare professionals in a number of settings outside clinical labs and near to the patient. This is beneficial in situations where timely decisions are needed, laboratory Sars-CoV-2 testing is not available, or finger prick sampling is the better option over a venous blood draw.
Thomas Schinecker, CEO of Roche Diagnostics, stated that, “We have a global responsibility to help better manage the Covid-19 health crisis and provide solutions to our patients when and where needed. We are proud to have an antibody test for the point of care now included in our Covid-19 diagnostic portfolio.”
Award-winning GM takes helm at Four Points by Sheraton Phuket
Aug 14. 2020Daryn Hudson
By The Nation
Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort has appointed Daryn Hudson as its general manager ahead of the hotel’s opening in October 2020.
Hudson brings a wealth of experience to the role, having joined Marriott International in 2005 as director of Food & Beverage at the Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa. The company said he has gone on to become one of its most highly-regarded executives.
A successful spell as GM of the Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Pangyo saw Hudson win the “Asia Pacific General Manager of the Year – Select Service” and “Global Courtyard Diamond General Manager of the Year” awards in 2016.
“I am delighted to take this opportunity. With its large room count and impressive facilities, Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort will bring something new to the island’s hospitality landscape, providing options for leisure travellers and large-scale corporate events. I look forward to working with our entire team as we prepare to welcome our first guests later this year,” said Hudson, who will be based in Phuket with his wife and two daughters.
Krungsri, MUFG pledge Bt116m to support Thai, SE Asian students in Japan
Aug 14. 2020Noriaki Goto, MUFG Bank’s Regional Executive for Asia Pacific and Krungsri’s Vice Chairman
By The Nation
Thai students in Japan are being handed Bt29 million to help them get through hardships caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The money is part of a Bt116-million relief fund organised by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), the major shareholder in Bank of Ayudhya (Krungsri), to aid Southeast Asian students in Japan during the virus crisis.
MUFG will distribute the donation evenly across four beneficiaries: the Thai Students’ Association in Japan, the Indonesian Embassy in Japan, the Association of Filipino Students in Japan, and the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan.
The donation will serve as financial aid for students experiencing economic hardship or disruption of their studies due to the pandemic.
The nationalities of the student beneficiaries correspond to four markets in which MUFG has made strategic investments over the past few years. MUFG said the donation underscores the group’s commitment to not just economic growth but social well-being in the markets in which it operates. Since 2012, MUFG has invested more than US$14 billion (Bt435 billion) in leading banks in these four countries – VietinBank in Vietnam, Krungsri in Thailand, Security Bank in the Philippines and Bank Danamon in Indonesia.
“As a global bank with deep roots in Asia, MUFG is fully committed to supporting the sustainable development of the communities that it operates in,” said Noriaki Goto, Krungsri’s vice chairman and MUFG Bank’s regional executive for Asia Pacific.
“Just as we are working closely with clients to build resilience in their businesses during these trying times, we hope that this support package will not only provide some measure of relief to students in need but demonstrate our long-term commitment to the deepening of bilateral ties between Japan and key Southeast Asian markets in the MUFG network. This donation is also a show of solidarity with our strategic partner banks, which have been doing admirable work in supporting the relief efforts in their own communities.”
Suvarnabhumi to get new aviation fuel tank next year
Aug 14. 2020
By The Nation
The Bangkok Aviation Fuel Services (BAFS) Group, Thailand’s leader in integrated fuel servicing, has signed a contract to construct an aviation fuel tank in Suvarnabhumi Airport to handle an expected rise in fuel demand once the midfield satellite building and the airport’s third runway are opened in 2022 and 2024 respectively.
MR Supadis Diskul, BAFS chief executive officer, said the group and engineering consulting firm Index International Group had jointly signed a contract to design and build an aviation fuel tank (T-2306) which will be located in Suvarnabhumi’s aviation fuel storage station.
BAFS has also signed a construction supervision contract for the T-2306 aviation fuel tank and connected equipment with the companies Alana Engineering and Triple – H E & C.
The construction of the fuel tank with a 15,000 cubic-metre capacity is scheduled to be completed within the fourth quarter of 2021.
The new tank will be built with an internal floating roof below the external fixed roof, which will allow the circulation of air and a reduction on the accumulation of chemical vapours. This will also protect the fuel tank from being hit by lightning.
“This project will boost the company’s revenue and underscore our leadership in providing integrated fuel servicing in Thailand, while also supporting BAFS Group’s growth strategy,” Supadis said.
MEA aims to convert Wat Liab branch building into Thailand Electricity Museum
Aug 11. 2020
By THE NATION
The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) on Monday (August 10) launched the survey and restoration project of Building 1 at MEA Wat Liab branch in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district together with officials from the Department of Fine Arts and Engineering Institute of Thailand with the aim to use it as the location for Thailand Electricity Museum.
“The head office of MEA Wat Liab branch is an old building aged over 100 years,” said Thepsakdi Thitaraksa, MEA deputy governor. “It was the location of the first power plant in Thailand owned by the Siam Electricity Ltd, who produced and distributed electricity, as well as sold electrical appliances and operated tram services in Bangkok.
The company was taken over by the government in 1950 and changed its named to Bangkok Electricity Authority, and then to Metropolitan Electricity Authority on August 1, 1958,” Thepsakdi added.
He revealed that the building was built in the reign of King Rama V and is among the first reinforced concrete buildings in Thailand. “The three-storey building features beautiful architecture of Thai-Western classic style that carries historical significance regarding the modernisation of the country,” he said. “The MEA is planning to restore it into Thailand Electricity Museum to provide knowledge on the history of electrical technology in Thailand to interested people as well as serve as a new landmark in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district.”
The MEA Wat Liab branch is also surrounded by historical landmarks and tourist attractions such as Phra Phuttayotfa Bridge, Wat Prayurawongsawat, Santa Cruz Church, the Temple of Dawn, the Praisaniyakarn (Thailand’s first postal office), and Chao Phraya Sky Park.
AIA Thailand launches new investment management entity
Aug 10. 2020
By The Nation
AIA Thailand, a leader in life assurance and unit-linked market in Thailand, has launched AIA Investment Management (Thailand) (AIAIMT) to manage funds under AIA-unit linked policies.
The company will leverage its over 30 years of portfolio management expertise, connect investors with opportunities through its global network, and upgrade sustainable investment and business operations with ESG (environmental, social and governance) principles.
AIAIMT comes with a lower fee for active funds offering better returns to customers.
Dr Mark Konyn, chief investment officer for AIA Group, said AIA is the world’s largest insurance group with a strong investment experience in 18 countries in the Asia-Pacific and over 150 investment management experts across all regions in the world.
AIA Group realises the potential of managing the large amount of assets of AIA Thailand that have been invested in the bond, equity and property markets supported by extensive resources across AIA Group.
The opening of AIAIMT marks another major milestone for AIA in Thailand.
“AIAIMT will be one of the country’s largest investment management companies with investment experts offering more than three decades of experience and successfully managing financial investment. AIAIMT will focus on a sustainable investment policy and operate its business by addressing ESG principles. This is aligned with AIA Group’s policy of operating with integrity to build opportunities to create solid and sustainable returns,” Konyn said.
Sukkawat Prasurtying, chief executive officer for AIAIMT, said the new operation was established with Bt100 million in registered capital to manage the assets and investments of AIA Thailand’s unit-linked plans.
Currently, AIAIMT is the third largest investment management firm in Thailand with Bt847 billion in assets under management. The company has an experienced team of fund managers accustomed to investing in both Thai and international markets. AIAIMT will connect with AIA Group’s investment network across the world, together with other business partners to effectively manage investments.
AIAIMT has set up nine new funds, five of which are local and four foreign, focusing on long-term gains, covering industries with consistent growth and managed with careful risk management. AIAIMT has started off by launching the five local funds initially and will launch the foreign ones soon.
Krungsri Finnovate reveals business strategy for 2020 second half
Aug 10. 2020Sam Tanskul
By THE NATION
Krungsri Finnovate has unveiled its business strategy for the second half of 2020, with a goal of becoming the top start-up incubator and investor in the Asean region.
The Bank of Ayudhya’s start-up venture capital arm also announced its most recent investment – in property tech (proptech) firm ICON Framework.
“Krungsri Finnovate continues its focus on providing support to Thai start-ups while monitoring the Covid-19 impact on their ecosystem,” said Sam Tanskul, Krungsri Finnovate managing director.
“Krungsri Finnovate has redefined its business plan to focus on creating alliances as well as investing in start-ups with potential growth and technologies that will respond to the market post-Covid-19, which include e-logistics, online payment, software as a service (SaaS), food delivery, etc.”
Krungsri Finnovate said its strategy aligns with four investment themes:
1. Strategic Investment
2. Financial Returns
3. Futuristic Investment
4. Fund of Funds
The firm said it will continue seeking investment opportunities both domestically and in Southeast Asia, China, Europe, and other countries with advanced innovation, including Israel.
“Krungsri Finnovate is developing start-ups’ ecosystem and promoting start-ups’ growth both in terms of investment and building incubation and escalation platforms. Going forward, another important step is to collaborate and work closely with giant tech start-ups to develop innovations that connect directly to Krungsri Group’s businesses,” said Sam.
Meanwhile it continues to support growth of small start-ups through “Meet the Angels by Krungsri Finnovate” project which has been joined by over 40 start-ups since its launch,” he added.
Most recently, Krungsri Finnovate invested in ICON Framework, a Thai proptech firm developing an operating system for real estate businesses. ICON Framework has 12 years experience in property technology development and has worked with Thailand’s top 10 real estate developers. Krungsri Finnovate said the investment would help strengthen Krungsri’s home loan business in the long run.
Dow Unveils Future of Sustainable Packaging: INNATE™ TF Polyethylene Resins for Tenter Frame Biaxial Orientation
Aug 08. 2020
By The Nation
Answering industry demand for high performance, consumer convenience, and recyclability, Dow is excited to announce an innovative and revolutionary brand extension to the family of INNATE™ Precision Packaging Resins. INNATE™ TF Polyethylene Resins for Tenter Frame Biaxial Orientation are bringing commercial viability to a long-desired packaging goal: tenter frame biaxially oriented polyethene (TF-BOPE) films.
Compared to traditional polyethene (PE) films, the TF-BOPE film made with INNATE™ TF Polyethylene Resins for Tenter Frame Biaxial Orientation has higher mechanical properties and material rigidity, better optical and printing performance, and offers considerable sustainability advantages, including the potential for all-PE structures for recyclability.
Many valuable benefits
TF-BOPE films made using INNATE™ TF resins demonstrate many impressive properties prized across the value chain:
• Excellent optical properties such as transparency and glossiness
• up to 80% less haze compared to traditional PE films
• twice the impact strength and tensile modulus
• three times the puncture resistance and tensile strength of traditional blown PE films
• excellent flex crack resistance, even under low temperature
• good tearability for convenience-in-use
A more sustainable packaging solution
INNATE™ TF Polyethylene Resins for Tenter Frame Biaxial Orientation offer distinctive physical properties which can enable material substitution, film layer elimination, and/or downgauging, to reduce overall packaging materials.
The TF-BOPE film can be used directly as the printed layer of the packaging, allowing a combination of PE functional layers to achieve an all-PE structure, making it more convenient for recycling and increasing the sustainability quotient.
Applications are already on the shelf
Collaborating with a variety of value chain members, such as Guangdong Decro Film New Materials Co Ltd, CaiHua, NanCheng and KAIDA Group, commercial applications – including all-PE pillow pouches, recyclable SUP packaging, and liquid product SUPs – are now in the marketplace. Applications include rice bags, pet food bags, heavy-duty shipping sacks, liquid detergent pouches, and others. Case studies regarding some of these applications are available for review at www.dow.com/InnateTF.
More is to come through ongoing collaboration. Asia Pacific marketing director for Food & Specialty Packaging, Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics, Kodak Xiao, stated: “As one of the leading materials solutions providers to the packaging industry, Dow hopes to collaborate with key stakeholders across the value chain to promote innovative and sustainable packaging solutions and promote the healthy and dynamic development of the industry. With its downgauging and recyclability potential, INNATE™ TF resins already offer answers to the plastic waste issue, and we believe more advantages can be found together.”
These successes come after more than a decade of efforts. According to Wu Chang, Asia Pacific director for Technical Services and Development (TS&D), Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics: “Our Asia-Pacific regional R&D team engaged in intensive research into the future trends of the packaging market. This revolutionary product breaks through the limits of traditional PE products and showcases Dow’s futuristic and cutting-edge insights, as well as our strong R&D capacity.”
Since the initial release in 2017, Dow’s TF-BOPE resins have earned three prestigious awards: an Edison Awards Gold, an R&D 100 Award, and the Ringier Technology Innovation Award.
MEA’s solar-energy project in Bangkok community proves successful
Aug 06. 2020
By THE NATION
Officials from the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) visited the Koiruttukwa community in Bangkok’s Nong Chok district to follow up on a solar-energy project the agency had initiated in 2016.
The MEA had installed solar panels on the roofs of 189 houses in the community and installed solar-powered streetlights to promote the use of clean energy. Electricity generated from solar panels is also used to power the catfish farming business along the Lam Sai canal that runs through the community.
“This project has helped reduce residents’ power bills by around Bt12,000 per year and has boosted the profit from selling catfish by around Bt7,000 per year,” one of the residents said.
An MEA survey showed that the Koiruttukwa community used 40 per cent less power from the main grid per year, which works out to a reduction of more than 2.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
MEA is also using the solar rooftops, which have a capacity of 5.4 kilowatts, as a case study for nearby communities who may be interested. Students from other provinces have also been invited to study the installation of solar panels as well as other sufficiency economy models implemented in the Koiruttukwa community.
The agency is also providing courses for people interested in pursuing a career in the electrical field or those who want to use their professional skills to maintain infrastructure in their community.
Daryn Hudson
Noriaki Goto, MUFG Bank’s Regional Executive for Asia Pacific and Krungsri’s Vice Chairman
Sam Tanskul
SootinClaimon.Com 