Segments

Less & more is the motto in the world of electronics and electrical engineering. Thanks to advancing miniaturization, the next generations of components are again becoming smaller, while their performance is actually increasing. See the chipsets with their more advanced semiconductor structures. Often the new machines that manufacture these components are once again bigger and more complex. And the installations in which the components are used must provide more functionality.

Competition is intense in the food industry. Health sugar, fat, salt, allergies and the environment CO2 footprint, meat are dominant themes. The battle of the brands for a place on the shelves of the powerful supermarkets is fiercer than ever. At the same time, those supermarkets are caught up in a continuous price war, and new distribution channels are springing up, Consider the home delivery of meal boxes. Food producers should be able to respond to these trends with cost reduction and innovation.

These are turbulent times for the navy & offshore and that has truly never been different. Investment levels are waving up and down with the oil price and the political climate, so ship and platform builders must always be prepared for ups & downs. And with its location and outsourcing policy, this industry moves equally dynamically, between Eastern Europe and Asia and back to the west.

The Netherlands has a strong basic industry. Think of the metallurgical enterprises, foundry and construction materials producers, from roof and other tiles to bricks. However, it is not a given that these companies can continue to operate in our small, overcrowded country. Governments are committed to making increasingly stringent requirements regarding permits, and local residents are making themselves heard.

We are dealing here with the contents, but also the packaging. This is certainly true in the consumer market, where packaging should trigger the consumer to buy the product it contains – or the opposite, in the case of tobacco. In addition the outer packaging should also look attractive. For example, these days many products are placed on the shelf \\(retail-ready\\) in the box, for neater presentation and easier shelf stocking.

The economy continues to grow and therefore more people and goods are being transported. It is becoming busier on the roads and the railways, and handling and transshipment are increasing, in distribution centres, ports and other transport hubs. This will intensify the deployment of ‘assets’, and possible failures will have severe consequences. A stationary train brings the rail network to a halt and a truck that breaks down creates long traffic jams. For example, if a crane is not working, the drivers are twiddling their thumbs. This means that people and goods will arrive late at their destination.

Automation is pushing its way into our buildings, under the term domotics. This is to increase comfort and convenience. For example, in homes, offices and factories, it can be used to turn the heating up or down, or completely regulate climate and lighting. The security system is easy to turn on and off and is useful for opening or closing the curtains at home.

In farming, fishing and forestry, conditions are often tough. Machines and appliances work in all weather conditions and are sometimes exposed to large \\(natural\\) forces and aggressive \\(manure\\) substances, also in stables. At the same time, they need to generate high yields and operate efficiently, because pricing pressure is always present – certainly in the food industry, which is confronted with the continuing price war among the supermarkets.

The automotive sector is under pressure, since the transition from an internal combustion engine to electrical driving is imminent. At the moment, the electric cars are equipped with batteries, but fuel cells that run on hydrogen are a strong alternative. With that, there is plenty of uncertainty about the exact direction and the pace of the transition. At the same time, it is still 'business as usual': the automotive sector is producing large numbers of vehicles in more and more variants. Logistics is a major challenge, for which a closely aligned supplier network has to supply the highest quality at the latest price just-in-time.

Energy transition is high on the political and industrial agenda. However, the share of wind and solar power in energy supply is still modest and for many years to come most cars will, for example, still be running on fossil fuels. This means that for the moment the oil & gas industry and petrochemicals will still be running at full capacity.

In industries such as logistics \\(transshipments\\), industry \\(metal\\), and construction, heavy loads have to be moved on a regular basis. Therefore, those sectors cannot do without hoisting and lifting. If something goes wrong, such as a load falling out of a crane, the personal and material consequences can be very serious. Safety therefore takes highest priority, and besides that continuity is also critical. If hoisting or lifting equipment is defective, work stops at the transshipment point, factory or construction site, with all the associated economic damage.

The wood industry is under pressure. Trees are, because of their CO2 intake, critical in reducing the impact of global warming. Sustainable forest management and responsible logging are therefore important ingredients of the global climate policy. FSC \\(Forest Stewardship Council\\) and PEFC \\(Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification\\) certifications contribute to this. Inevitably, this will increase the cost of timber extraction. Furthermore, these are turbulent times for the paper and cardboard industry, a major wood consumer alongside construction, the furniture industry and the distribution sector \\(for crates and pallets\\).

Plastic and rubber applications in consumer and professional products are almost limitless. This is due to the wide variation in formulations and appearance of polymer materials. They are characterised by favourable \\(mechanical\\) properties such as light weight, offer advanced design flexibility, are easy to process and provide options for the functioning of plastic products.

Water is globally one of the most important raw materials, and the need for clean water keeps on increasing. In many places water scarcity and pollution threaten public health and as a result the cost of water consumption increases. That is why the price of water rises and governments increase levies on waste water discharge. Both citizens and businesses are confronted with this. The corporate world not only uses water as a raw material for products but also as a tool in production, for cooling, cleaning, etc.

The modern world cannot do without pharma and chemicals for its health and daily needs. However, both industries are often faced with a critical public, because of, among other things, environmental impact, \\(alleged\\) lack of safety and high prices. This means that they must do everything possible to operate safely and efficiently, while maintaining and further increasing their standards of quality.

Oil & gas will not run out for a while yet, but their extraction is an escalating cost item and an increasing threat to the environment and climate. Furthermore, political and also geological risks are associated with it. The market share of alternative energy sources is therefore steadily increasing, from wind and solar energy to hydro power, biomass and that ‘old chestnut’ nuclear energy. The further development of these technologies takes a lot of innovation focused on reliable and affordable energy generation.