GENERAL NEWS
The Chinese electric motor manufacturer , Physis , has ordered a Smartline press for stamping laminations .
COVID-19 pandemic recovery projections
“ One year into the COVID-19 pandemic , the accumulating human toll continues to raise concerns , even as growing vaccine coverage lifts sentiment . High uncertainty surrounds the global economic outlook , primarily related to the path of the pandemic . The contraction of activity in 2020 was unprecedented in living memory in its speed and synchronised nature ,” commented the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) in its ‘ Global Economic Outlook ’ released this April .
“ The global economy is projected to grow at 6 percent in 2021 , moderating to 4.4 per cent in 2022 . The contraction for 2020 is 1.1 percentage points smaller than projected in the October 2020 World Economic Outlook ( WEO ), reflecting the higher-thanexpected growth out-turns in the second half of the year for most regions after lockdowns were eased and as economies adapted to new ways of working ,” it continued .
The report indicates that global growth is expected to moderate to 3.3 per cent over the medium term — reflecting projected damage to supply potential and forces that pre-date the pandemic , including ageingrelated slower labour force growth in advanced economies and some emerging market economies .
“ Thanks to unprecedented policy response , the COVID-19 recession is likely to leave smaller scars than the 2008 global financial crisis . However , emerging market economies and low-income developing countries have been hit harder and are expected to suffer more significant mediumterm losses ,” explained the report .
It acknowledged that youth , women , workers with relatively lower educational attainment and the informally employed have generally been hit hardest . It also believes it likely that income inequality will increase significantly because of the pandemic . Unequal setbacks to schooling could further amplify income inequality .
“ Future developments will depend upon the path of the health crisis , including whether the new COVID-19 strains prove susceptible to vaccines or they prolong the pandemic ; the effectiveness of policy actions to limit persistent economic damage ( scarring ); the evolution of financial conditions and commodity prices ; and the adjustment capacity of the economy . The ebb and flow of these drivers and their interaction with countryspecific characteristics will determine the pace of the recovery and the extent of medium-term scarring across countries ,” added the IMF .
G-24 members commended swift international economic and health support for the crisis so far but noted intensified action is needed to end the pandemic and prevent long-term economic damage in vulnerable nations . Members noted that COVID severely disrupted economic activity in many developing nations and intensified their fiscal and debt problems . Recovery to pre-pandemic levels could be protracted where countries lack the revenues or borrowing capacity needed to stimulate their economies .
Fast access to affordable vaccines will be crucial for recovery in developing countries . Access now is heavily constrained by existing supply , which has mostly been purchased by advanced economies . G-24 members called on the World Trade Organisation and MDBs to seek solutions to scale-up the production of vaccines , including addressing intellectual property rules to expand the manufacturing of vaccines and other medical products needed to treat those infected by COVID-19 . n
Electric motor laminations for Physis
Founded in 2001 in Ningbo on the Chinese East Coast , Physis produces electric motors of all kinds . With over 1,000 employees , the company has a turnover of around one billion RMB ( around 125 million euros ). The electric motors are made up of laminations which are stamped on Schuler presses . It has now ordered new technology from the press manufacturer : a Smartline SA315S with a press force of 315 tons and a bed width of 2.7 metres .
“ The machine can process coil gauges of just 0.2mm and less – the thinner the laminations , the lower the eddy current losses and the better the efficiency of the electric motors . In the same step , the laminations are interlocked by the press into packets which will later form the core of the electric motor . To make the Smartline ’ s slide work within tolerances of hundredths of a millimetre , the electronics of the bottom dead centre control check the position of the upper die during every stroke and adjusts when necessary ,” Schuler told ISMR .
Schuler will manufacture the press parts at its Chinese production site in Dalian and install the machine in September this year . Schuler offers customised technology in all areas of forming — from the networked press to press shop planning . In addition to presses , its products include automation and software solutions ; dies ; process expertise and service for the entire metalworking industry . The company is majority-owned by the Austrian ANDRITZ Group . n
. physis . com . cn / en
6 | sheetmetalplus . com | ISMR May 2021