Industrial News

Robots have been taking our jobs since the 1960s. So why are politicians and business leaders only now becoming so worried about robots causing mass unemployment? Again, in an ideal scenario, humans may be able to focus on doing the things that make us human, perhaps fuelled by a basic income generated from robotic work. Ultimately, it will be up to us to define whether the robotic workforce will work for us, with us, or against us. It comes down to the question of what a robot really is. While science fiction has often portrayed robots as androids carrying out tasks in the much the same way as humans, the [...]

SAN FRANCISCO — Microchip Technology plans to acquire Microsemi Corp. for about $8.35 billion in cash under the terms of a definitive agreement announced Thursday (March 1). The deal would significantly expand Microchip's presence in several end markets, including the communications and aerospace and defense markets, which make up about 60 percent of Microsemi's sales. Microchip said the acquisition would expand its serviceable market by about $18 billion to more than $50 billion. The combined company would have annual sales of about $5.8 billion, based on each firm's revenue in the fourth quarter of 2017. "Microchip continues to view accretive [...]

While the largest deal in the history of technology continues to hit a number of speed bumps, we’re now getting into the phase of very strongly worded publicly issued statements between the two companies as we get closer and closer to the annual meeting of stockholders in early March. Broadcom  and Qualcomm  — the former of which is trying to acquire the latter — are continuing to duke it out on their respective investor relations pages by issuing public statements to investors over how much drama there is over the pricing of this deal. Broadcom is looking to buy Qualcomm for $79 per [...]

Merlin’s innovative solar panels (screengrab from website) Conglomerate Ayala Corp. has expanded its footprint in solar energy with the acquisition of a controlling stake in Merlin Solar Technologies Inc., a Silicon Valley-based firm that has developed “disruptive” solar farming technology whose operations can be scaled up by a manufacturing hub in the Philippines. The transaction was done through AC Industrials’ subsidiary, ACI Solar Holdings NA, which had previously made a minority investment in Merlin in 2016. AC Industrials will have an ownership interest of 78.2 percent in Merlin after the transaction and completion of other related activities, Ayala [...]

We stand on the brink of a technological revolution that will fundamentally alter the way we live, work, and relate to one another. In its scale, scope, and complexity, the transformation will be unlike anything humankind has experienced before. We do not yet know just how it will unfold, but one thing is clear: the response to it must be integrated and comprehensive, involving all stakeholders of the global polity, from the public and private sectors to academia and civil society. The First Industrial Revolution used water and steam power to mechanize production. The Second used electric power to create [...]

Qualcomm Inc.., the largest maker of mobile-phone chips, will acquire NXP Semiconductors NV in a transaction valued at $47 billion, aiming to speed an expansion into new industries and reduce its dependence on the smartphone market. San Diego-based Qualcomm agreed to pay $110 a share in cash for NXP, the biggest supplier of chips used in the automotive industry, or 11 percent more than Wednesday’s close, the companies said in a statement Thursday. The deal will be funded with cash on hand as well as new debt. Chief Executive Officer Steve Mollenkopf is betting the deal, the largest in the chip industry’s history, will [...]

This map shows the global aggregated trade flows of cobalt ores, concentrates, mattes, and other intermediate products of cobalt metallurgy, including waste and scrap for the year 2015. Flows below 10 million USD are not included. Credit: Olivetti et al./Joule 2017 The key materials that make up lithium-ion batteries, including manganese, nickel, and graphite, likely have sufficient supply to meet the anticipated long-term growth in demand for electric vehicles and portable electronics if we start planning now, say researchers in a perspective published October 11 in the journal Joule. Their first-of-its-kind analysis of the lithium-ion battery supply [...]

Year-to-Date data for Philippine Electronic Exports. Top 10 Destination Countries for Philippine Electronics (July 2017 vs. June 2017). Notice: Images and logos is for illustration purposes only and not intended for patent infringement

Electronics Product by Sector (Month-on-Month and Year-on-Year). Notice: Images and logos is for illustration purposes only and not intended for patent infringement

Notice: Images and logos is for illustration purposes only and not intended for patent infringement