Honda announced the details of its factory team(1), Team HRC, to compete in 2024 FIM(2) Endurance World Championship “Coca-Cola” Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race 45th Tournament (Suzuka 8 Hours), to be held at the Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture, Japan, on Sunday, July 21, 2024.
Team HRC, which last year won its second consecutive Suzuka 8 Hours, will compete again this year as Honda’s factory team with a factory bike based on the CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP. This year, MotoGP class CASTROL Honda LCR rider Johann Zarco (age 33, France) will join the team to compete in his first Suzuka 8 Hours.
Zarco will be joined by 2023/2024 champion Takumi Takahashi (age 34, Saitama) and a newcomer to Team HRC, Teppei Nagoe (age 26, Tokyo). This season, Takahashi is competing in the JSB1000 class of the MFJ*3 All Japan Road Race Championship (JSB1000) with Japan Post Honda Dream TP, while Nagoe is also competing in JSB1000 with SDG Honda Racing. If Takahashi wins this upcoming Suzuka 8 Hours, six overall will set an all-time record for the race.
(1) Factory team: Racing team managed by the bike manufacturer. (2) FIM: Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
Hitachi High-Tech Corporation (“Hitachi High-Tech”) announced today the launch of the SU3900SE and SU3800SE High-Resolution Schottky Scanning Electron Microscopes, which provide highly accurate and efficient observation of large and heavy specimens at the nano level.
The SU3900SE specimen stage has been redesigned to enable operators to observe heavy specimens up to 5 kg. The specimen stage is the largest in Hitachi High-Tech’s scanning electron microscope (SEM) offerings, making it suitable for large specimens up to 300 mm in diameter and 130 mm in height, which is around 1.5 times larger when compared to its SU5000 predecessor. This reduces the need for additional specimen preparations such as cutting specimens, helping to make the overall process more efficient. In addition to enabling the observation of large and heavy specimens, the specimen is controlled by a 5-axis motorized stage (X, Y, Z, tilt, and rotation).
These new instruments also feature a camera navigation function that stitches together separate images to allow viewing of the entire specimen, helping the operators with identifying points of interest when observing large specimens, providing improved usability.
As part of Hitachi High-Tech’s commitment to working towards a sustainable society, the environmentally friendly design reduces CO2emissions by reducing power consumption to 2 kVA, around 50% compared to existing FE-SEM models, while still maintaining high-performance requirements.
Product Development Background
SEM’s are instruments for observing microstructures on the surface of materials, and are widely used in research and development, manufacturing, and quality control in a variety of fields, including nanotechnology and biotechnology. In particular, there is a growing need for high-resolution Schottky field emission scanning microscopes (FE-SEMs) with a broader range of capabilities than what is currently available.
When observing large and heavy specimens, such as iron, steel, and other industrial materials or vehicle components, there are limitations to the size and weight of specimens that can be observed. This means specimens of this type require additional processing before observation, such as cutting, resulting in extra work for operators.
Recently, SEMs are being used more often to control microstructures to improve the functionality and performance of various kinds of materials and to analyze foreign matter and defects to improve product quality. This is why there is also a need for SEMs to reduce operator workload by continuous improvements in operability, such as improved efficiency to acquire large amounts of data and simplifying navigation when observing large areas.
Main Features(1) Wide-area observation of large/heavy specimens
Thanks to a specimen stage specially designed to enable the observation of large and heavy specimens—the largest in Hitachi High-Tech’s SEM product range—the new series can accommodate specimens up to 300 mm in diameter, 130 mm in height, and 5 kg in weight. In addition to enabling the observation of large and heavy specimens, the specimen is controlled by a motorized 5-axis stage.
(2) Simple wide-area movement using optical camera images
The navigation system uses an optical camera covering the stage’s entire range of motion, allowing operators to easily locate specific specimen positions. The optical camera can also follow the rotation of the stage, making specimen navigation and SEM observation a seamless experience.
(3) Reduced operator workload when acquiring large amounts of data
The optional EM Flow Creator function allows operators to configure a series of recipes by combining condition settings, such as magnification and stage position, and adjustment functions, such as focus and contrast, according to their specific requirements. Observation can be performed automatically using the created recipe, helping to reduce operator workload and reducing the amount of labor needed during continuous imaging acquisition.
This new technology will be exhibited at Microscopy & Microanalysis in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, from July 28 through August 1, 2024, and at JASIS 2024 at the Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Halls in Chiba, Japan, from September 4 through September 6, 2024.Hitachi High-Tech is committed to continuing to refine our core beam and analysis technologies and provide solutions for customer-specific issues including environmental challenges.
About Hitachi High-Tech
Hitachi High-Tech, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is engaged in activities in a broad range of fields, including manufacturing and sales of clinical analyzers, biotechnology products, radiation therapy systems, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, analytical instruments, and analysis equipment. Also, we provide high value-added solutions in industrial fields such as mobility, connected, environment and energy, etc. Through business based on our core Observation, Measurement and Analysis technologies, we will contribute to the realization of a sustainable society by solving social issues. The company’s consolidated revenues for FY2023 were approx. JPY 670.4 billion. For further information, visit https://www.hitachi-hightech.com/global/en/
Business Contact: Masanari Furiki Global Sales Planning Dept., Beam Technology & Analytical Systems Business Div., Core Technology & Solutions Business Group, Hitachi High-Tech Corporation Email: masanari.furiki.uf@hitachi-hightech.com
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The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government on May 31 strongly disapproved and condemned the United States (US) Department of State for the proposed imposition of the so-called “visa restrictions” on People’s Republic of China (PRC) and HKSAR officials relating to the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL).
A spokesman for the HKSAR Government said, “The proposed imposition of the so-called ‘visa restrictions’ by the US Government smack of despicable political manipulation to intimidate PRC and HKSAR officials who resolutely safeguard national security. These grossly interfere in China’s internal affairs and Hong Kong’s affairs, and violate the international law and the basic norms governing international relations. The HKSAR despises such threat and will not be intimidated by such a despicable behaviour. The HKSAR will resolutely continue to discharge the duty of safeguarding national security.
“The reasons for verdict in the conspiracy to commit subversion case delivered by the court on May 30 clearly confirmed that the criminal acts in the case aimed at undermining, destroying or overthrowing the existing political system and structure of the HKSAR established under the Basic Law and the ‘one country, two systems’ principle. Such criminal acts endangering national security had nothing to do with the so-called fight for democracy and human rights. In the 318-page judgment, the court has clearly set out the reasons and consideration underlying the conviction, and confirmed the occurrence of the offence of conspiracy to commit subversion. A total of 47 persons were charged in the case. Apart from the two defendants, against whom the evidence was found insufficient for the court to be sure of their participation in the conspiracy offence, the remaining 45 defendants were convicted, showing the scale and the seriousness of the criminal scheme. With regard to the verdict on the two defendants, the Department of Justice had already informed the court of its intention to appeal.
“The HKSAR law enforcement agencies have been taking law enforcement actions based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law in respect of the acts of the persons or entities concerned, which have nothing to do with their political stance, background or occupation. The suggestion that certain individuals should be immune from legal consequences for their illegal acts, including the illegal act of subversion, is no different from advocating a special pass to break the law, and this totally runs contrary to the spirit of the rule of law.
“The offences endangering national security stipulated under the NSL target acts endangering national security with precision, and define the elements and penalties of the offences with clarity. On the charge of conspiracy to commit subversion, the court pointed out clearly in the reasons for verdict that the prosecution has the duty to prove beyond reasonable doubt the relevant conspiratorial agreement; the defendants’ intention to carry out the unlawful means which was the subject matter of the charge; and the defendants so acted with a view to subverting the State power before the defendant may be convicted by the court,” the spokesman said.
“As guaranteed by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights, all defendants charged with a criminal offence shall have the right to a fair trial by the Judiciary exercising independent judicial power. The courts of the HKSAR shall exercise judicial power independently, free from any interference.
“The HKSAR Government strongly demands the US Government to immediately stop interfering in China’s internal affairs and Hong Kong’s affairs, and stop malicious smearing on the verdict of the relevant case,” the spokesperson reiterated.
