Nippon Express' temperature-controlled facility in Chiba's Narita obtains GDP certification

KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 -- Nippon Express Co Ltd has received Good Distribution Practice (GDP) certification for its in-transit air cargo storage services at the Narita Temperature Controlled Hub in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.

The certification, effective Feb 6, indicates compliance with industry-accepted standards for proper distribution of pharmaceutical products for the temperature-controlled facility within a company logistics centre near the Narita Airport.

According to a statement, obtaining GDP certification in the Narita area, one of Japan's principal air cargo gateways, will better enable Nippon Express to provide high-quality and safe pharmaceutical transport services on a global level.

More details at http://www.nipponexpress.com/

-- BERNAMA

Japanese insurers grapple with global market volatility - Best's Commentary

KUALA LUMPUR, March 23 -- Despite the recent global equities rout, insurers in Japan remain financially stable to weather market volatility, given their robust balance sheet fundamentals, according to AM Best commentary in a statement.

The new Best’s Commentary, titled ‘Japanese Insurers Continue to Grapple With Global Market Volatility’ states that in AM Best’s view, the credit fundamentals of most insurers in Japan have not changed materially, even with the ongoing COVID-19 virus outbreak and the recent declines seen across global stock markets.

Domestically, the share prices of most of Japan’s large insurance groups have decreased by 30 to 40 per cent from the year-start.

In AM Best’s opinion, the recent share price movements of the major insurance groups do not have much in relation to the business fundamentals of Japan’s major insurance groups.

In addition, most domestic insurers maintain capital adequacy ratios and financial leverage ratios that AM Best considers to be conservative relative to global peers, which should enable the companies to withstand adverse market conditions.

With global financial markets expected to remain volatile over the near to medium term, AM Best’s view of Japanese insurers’ financial strength would be largely subject to the development of oil prices, as well as the evolving nature of the current COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in Europe and the United States.

-- BERNAMA

Crown Bioscience unveils two liver fibrosis rodent models

KUALA LUMPUR, March 11 -- Crown Bioscience has launched two new liver fibrosis rodent models, allowing more rapid and cost-effective evaluation of the preclinical effects of NASH and anti-fibrotic treatments on acute liver injury, advanced fibrosis and/or fibrosis reversal.

The launch of these models furthers CrownBio’s commitment to progressing NASH drug development by providing a wider breadth of preclinical platforms.

According to a statement, the two models encompass fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride and a new cholesterol-added, choline-deficient fibrosis (CCDF) diet.

The new CCDF diet is a modification of the choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined, high-fat diet (CDAHFD) currently in preclinical use, featuring lower fat composition and added cholesterol.

The resulting Wistar rat and C57BL/6 murine models display more severe liver injury than rodents on CDAHFD, with fibrosis observed in only six to nine weeks, and without the significant weight loss commonly observed in conventional chemical and nutritional deficit models.

“Fibrosis is associated with more severe forms of NASH, so developing new platforms to model this disease aspect can help the patient populations worst affected by this silent disease,” said CrownBio senior vice-president (Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease), Dr Jim Wang.

“These new models, along with other liver disease models including MS-NASH and CCl(4) induced or modified rodent models, as well as NHP models, add to our vision of establishing a market-leading platform of highly translational models to accelerate NASH drug discovery.”

-- BERNAMA

DIP Corporation provides coronavirus relief compensation of one half month salary

KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 -- Japan-based DIP Corporation (DIP) has started offering relief compensation to those who are unable to work due to a coronavirus related illness.

According to a statement by the company, the amount of compensation is equivalent to the salary for one half month, up to a maximum of 100,000 yen. (100 yen = RM4.09)

Those eligible are part-time and contracted workers (part-time, dispatched, contracted and outsourcing, excluding regular employees) employed via the Baitoru, Baitoru NEXT or Hatarako.net websites between March 1, 2017 and now.

DIP president and chief executive officer, Hideki Tomita said: “Realising that many of our users are part-time or contracted employees, I understand full well that they do not enjoy the benefits of paid absence or leave allowance that protect regular employees.

“As distasteful as it is, we must recognise the possibility that some of these users may contract a coronavirus related illness and face serious financial pressures resulting from a loss of income.

“Furthermore, we have begun to offer free job postings on our recruiting sites for clients in urgent need of short-term replacements for their current employees who are required to stay home with children due to the cancellation of all public-school classes and activities.”

More details at https://www.baitoru.com/pdt/shien2020 and https://www.hatarako.net/contents/shien2020. Both in Japanese.

-- BERNAMA

Moore Nanotechnology opens tech centre in Shanghai, China

KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 -- Moore Nanotechnology Systems (Nanotech) and DKSH have made grand opening of their Ultra-Precision Machining demo, training and applications centre in the Minhang District of Shanghai, China.

According to a statement, the 350 sq metre-facility will allow Nanotech customers access to both classroom and hand-on demonstration of their model 250UPL(V2) compact diamond turning lathe.

It is used for the production of spherical and aspherical optical lenses, mold pins, mirrors, freeform optics and other ultra-precise mechanical components.

In addition to single point diamond turning, the centre will also offer access to associated metrology equipment, Applications Engineering and NanoCAM®4 software-support through the form of training, conferences and 1:1 meetings.

Nanotech president and chief executive officer, Mark Boomgarden said: “Having this world-class applications and training expertise closer to our Asian customer’s design and production facilities will allow us to better demonstrate our market-leading equipment and NanoCAM4 software real-time.”

Meanwhile, according to DKSH Technology Systems China managing director Oliver Hammel, DKSH will now be able to provide best-in-class solution-engineering services, along with diamond-turning test cuts, on-site in China.

Nanotech is a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of state-of-the-art ultra-precision machine tools and associated processes for the production of advanced optical components in consumer electronics, defence, aerospace, lighting, medical and automotive sectors.

-- BERNAMA

PSAV® to align portfolio of companies under new master brand

KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 -- PSAV, a global leader in event experiences will align its portfolio of companies under a new master brand and assume the name, Encore. 

According to a statement, the move will unify the brands to more accurately depict the combined companies’ industry leadership, end-to-end event capabilities and service excellence.

“Encore is a strong brand in our family of companies and adoption of its name will better reflect the full suite of event capabilities we provide,” said chief executive officer, Mike McIlwain.

“Together, the brands in our portfolio provide creative, production, advanced technology and staging services to customers all around the world. We are very excited to begin this transition that strongly supports our mission to connect and inspire audiences.”

With a global footprint reaching more than 20 countries, PSAV has recorded tremendous growth in recent years extending the solutions it provides customers to create event experiences.

It has built a strong portfolio of event experience capabilities with the recent acquisitions of Encore Event Technologies and other leading brands such as Hargrove, Hawthorn, KFP, FMAV and Eclipse.

The new brand will be launched later this summer with an entirely new brand identity. Over the coming months, the migration strategy for the complete portfolio of companies will be defined, beginning with Freeman AV Canada, which will adopt the new brand name on March-end.

More details at www.psav.com.

-- BERNAMA

Polyplastics offers DURANEX (R) PBT CG7030 for automotive applications

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 -- The Polyplastics Group is offering an improved polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) grade, providing improved tracking resistance for a range of high-voltage automotive components.

DURANEX (R) PBT CG7030 is a 30 per cent glass-filled grade which also delivers strong dimensional stability and highly stable electrical resistance and dielectric breakdown properties, according to a statement.

The automotive industry is undergoing drastic change with electrification gaining traction due to worldwide efforts to reduce the use of fossil fuels and cut emissions. As car makers move increasingly to electric vehicles, demand for high-voltage components is expected to increase.

Polyplastics conducted extensive testing of both PA 66 and PBT in temperature environments ranging from -40 C to 140 C for electric car applications such as batteries, power control units and motors/generators.

Since the properties of PBT grades experience little change even in hot, moist environments, Polyplastics determined that they are more suitable than PA66 for use in high-voltage applications.

These results suggest that using PBT could produce less variation in electrical properties when environments change.

DURANEX (R) PBT CG7030 also exhibits highly superior dimensional stability. Polyplastics reports that both moisture absorption and dimensional change rates for PBT grades are around one-tenth of the values observed for PA66-GF33 per cent.

-- BERNAMA

Entegris' manufacturing facility in Kulim receives NCOSH safety excellence award

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 -- Entegris has received a safety excellence award from the Malaysian National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (NCOSH), the highest safety award a company can receive in Malaysia.

According to a statement, the award was presented after a six-month evaluation process and it was received by Entegris Malaysia managing director, Derek Ong.

“Together, we keep our focus on continuous improvement through weekly management meetings, safety Gemba walks to celebrate successes and identify areas for improvement, employee safety training, two-minute safety briefings during every shift and safety promotional campaigns,” said Ong.

Over 950 employees work in the Kulim, Kedah facility, developing systems and products to ensure the clean and safe delivery of the microelectronic components used in semiconductor manufacturing processes and other high technology industries.

It is Entegris’ largest manufacturing site and a part of the company’s Advanced Materials Handling (AMH) Division.

According to AMH vice-president of operations, Mike Lloyd, among the aspects that received recognition from NCOSH were senior management’s involvement in all safety matters, substantial commitment of resources to fund health and safety programmes, system to track incidents and proactive reporting metrics.

In addition, the company has a recognition programme that rewards employees who make suggestions for safety improvements, demonstrate good safety behaviour, address safety issues and coach other employees on safety issues.

Employees also engage in a community outreach programme that promotes health and safety for children that includes First Aid training.

-- BERNAMA

Validity to acquire email analytics provider 250ok

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 -- Validity, the most trusted name in customer data quality has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire email analytics and deliverability provider, 250ok.

According to a statement, the acquisition broadens Validity optimisation capabilities across the global ecosystem of email service providers.

250ok enables marketers to get more email delivered, the right way to targeted recipients and enjoy greater conversion and return on investment as a result.

The Validity for Email solution is strengthened with 250ok technologies and services including deliverability and reputation, engagement analytics, DMARC deployment, design previews, and, list validation.

Validity also brings together some of the top talents in the email industry to help ensure messages stay out of the spam folder.

Validity chairman and chief executive officer, Mark Briggs, said: “Our combined analytics platform, email expertise, and reach across the broadest set of email service providers brings enormous value to marketers across the world.”

More details at https://250ok.com

-- BERNAMA

JAPAN RAIL CAFE AT TOKYO STATION TO BECOME TRAVELLERS' INFORMATION HUB

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 (Bernama) -- East Japan Railway Co (JR East) will open ‘JAPAN RAIL CAFE’ at Tokyo Station on March 5 as a site where overseas visitors can interact with one another and gather seasonal travel information on Japan.

JAPAN RAIL CAFE will help visitors share the seasonal charms of Japan as ways of enjoying trips are being increasingly diversified, according to a statement.

The cafe will provide inbound tourists with up-to-date information ‘only now’ and ‘for yourselves only’ on various areas of Japan, which cannot be obtained from guidebooks or online, as well as travel support in one-stop service.

With ‘Talk about trips, meet new friends’ concept, the cafe will help foreign travellers interact with one another and talk about areas they should visit now as well as the charms of their hometowns, thereby exchanging hints about trips in Japan.

JR East will establish a tourism information and travel consultation counter at the cafe to propose specific travel plans in Japan in conjunction with tourism promotion campaigns underway in various parts of the country.

Visitors can exchange their vouchers for Japan Rail Pass and other specially planned tickets for visitors from overseas as well as selling JR tickets and ‘Welcome Suica’ IC cards for inbound tourists.

The cafe will also sell seasonal Japanese food and drinks, ‘ekiben’ box lunches and special food products made exclusively for the cafe under the supervision of Japanese tea producer-dealer, ‘Senchado Tokyo’.

A large 140-inch screen will be installed to allow visitors to have virtual experiences of travel in Japan. Visitors can also use digital signage content ‘Wall SHOP’ which utilises the fruits of Internet research by the Rakuten group, to enjoy searching for travel information.

More details at http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/japanrailcafe/tokyo/

-- BERNAMA

Nippon Express USA warehouse relocated to Long Beach, California

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 -- Nippon Express USA Inc (NE USA), a local subsidiary of Nippon Express Co Ltd has recently relocated its principal location for West Coast ocean cargo transport and warehousing operations from Torrance to Long Beach, both in California.

The new location in Long Beach, part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, opened for business in January, according to a statement from Nippon Express Co Ltd.

Reflecting the robust US economy, the Port of Los Angeles area has been seeing a sharp rise across the board in warehouse demand. NE USA’s previous location comprised three buildings on the same site.

However, the new location will use a single high-ceilinged building in the interest of greater storage and operational efficiency.

This consolidation of locations with a Nippon Express Group company, Associated Global Systems Inc, is expected to produce considerable synergy by efficiently integrating the trunk transport of cargo to/from Los Angeles.

The new site in Long Beach sits alongside the Port of Los Angeles' ‘Heavy Container Corridor’, a roadway on which overweight container loads can be transported without special authorisation.

NE USA will be seeking to take advantage of this siting to step up its business efforts in the transport of large plant equipment and other heavy haulage as well as various transloading operations and to acquire new forwarding business.

More details at http://www.nipponexpress.com.

-- BERNAMA

Vesta hires Shabab Muhaddes to lead expansion into Asia Pacific region

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 -- Vesta, a pioneer in guaranteed payments and fraud detection, is expanding into the Asia Pacific region with Singapore’s new office, led by Shabab Muhaddes as the region’s general manager.

“Asia Pacific is a dynamic and diverse region, and its eclectic mix of economies and rapid growth has created an immediate need for our guaranteed fraud protection and payment solutions,” said Vesta's chief executive officer, Ron Hynes, in a statement.

Muhaddes, who has more than a decade of experience building relationships across the region, brings to his role key local and global insights from the financial services, fintech and payments ecosystems.

Throughout his payments industry career, Muhaddes has demonstrated a strong ability to create win-win value propositions that serve companies, their partners and their customers in high-growth Asia Pacific markets.

Muhaddes said: “Vesta is a global company that, for over 20 years, has provided real-time automated machine learning technology to organisations seeking to effectively detect and prevent fraud, maximise revenue, reduce costs and deliver a seamless customer experience. I look forward to bringing these same tangible, positive impacts to organisations and consumers across the Asia Pacific region.” 

-- BERNAMA