NEC Corporation and Red Hat, Inc., the world’s leading provider of open source solutions, today announced an expanded global collaboration to drive IT modernization and digital transformation on Red Hat OpenShift. NEC now recognizes Red Hat OpenShift, the industry’s leading enterprise Kubernetes platform, as its preferred container platform for mission-critical applications, and this expansion will strengthen the technical cooperation between the two companies in this area, including the formation of a Center of Excellence and joint technology development.
NEC was recently announced as a Red Hat Premier Business Partner and was the first certified partner to support Red Hat OpenShift in Japan. Since then, NEC has emphasized helping customers to deploy and operate solutions on container applications, including Red Hat OpenShift(1).
Building on a longstanding relationship, the two companies plan to deliver solutions using Red Hat OpenShift to support NEC offerings such as core DX, global 5G, digital finance and digital government to customers globally. Red Hat OpenShift provides a more consistent, powerful container platform to help organizations build, deploy and run applications across IT environments, whether on-premises, in the cloud or at the edge. In combination with NEC’s portfolio of solutions, customers can more effectively manage hybrid cloud, multicloud and edge deployments to meet their business needs and scale into the future.
NEC and Red Hat are working together in the following areas to deliver greater support for global enterprise transformation:
Collaborative Center of Excellence
NEC and Red Hat will organize a joint technical support system (collaborative Center of Excellence) consisting of more than 100 personnel from both companies, mainly architects who are familiar with container technology and Red Hat products, so that customers can use NEC’s solutions together with Red Hat OpenShift with confidence. The two companies will contribute to improving the quality and reliability of customers’ IT system infrastructure and applications by consistently providing best practices in system design, technical support, and evaluation environments for deploying each solution. This will be the first Center of Excellence of its kind jointly offered by Red Hat and a Red Hat Premier Business Partner in Japan and one of the largest in Asia.
Joint technology development
NEC and Red Hat will strengthen joint engineering activities, including Kubernetes community collaboration(2) and co-located global engineering resources in order to expand NEC’s solutions with Red Hat OpenShift. With deeper technical collaboration, the companies intend to cooperate in providing end-to-end solutions with Red Hat OpenShift that reflect the requirements of mission-critical applications, such as improved availability and operational continuity and support services for mission-critical areas that can more quickly resolve customers’ technical issues.
Supported by the above initiatives, NEC and Red Hat will develop a global market development strategy to accelerate the deployment of core DX, global 5G, and solutions for key industries such as digital finance and digital government. NEC and Red Hat look forward to expanding this collaboration for the greater benefit of domestic and international customers in these key industries.
Supporting Quotes
Matt Hicks, president and chief executive officer, Red Hat
“As global enterprises use increasingly more complex systems and workloads to meet dynamic market demands, the need for abstraction and simplicity across their IT footprints becomes clear. Our expanded collaboration with NEC focuses on simplifying a broad range of transformative enterprise initiatives by delivering solutions built on a single, standardized, innovation platform in Red Hat OpenShift. With Red Hat’s hybrid cloud expertise and NEC’s skill in delivering industry-specific solutions, we’re providing our joint customers with the capabilities they need to fully evolve into digital enterprises, without miring them in complexity.”
Takayuki Morita, president and chief executive officer, NEC
“We are very pleased to announce the strengthening of our strategic collaboration with Red Hat globally. Through this collaboration, NEC will adopt Red Hat OpenShift as our container platform of choice to provide solutions to government and enterprise customers who are making the digital shift by linking them with NEC’s solutions for core DX, 5G, digital finance, and digital government, which are NEC’s business areas of focus. Together with Red Hat, we are confident that we can lead the expansion and success of a wide range of customers’ businesses.”
(1) NEC becomes the first Red Hat Certified Partner in Japan to offer support for the Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform https://jpn.nec.com/press/201702/20170215_01.html (Japanese text) (2) The Kubernetes community (developer community) that develops Kubernetes holds the values of “decentralized over centralized,” “community over product or company,” “process automation,” “inclusive over exclusive,” and “evolution over stagnation,” which have been key to the ongoing success of the project. The governance approach to putting this into practice is the Community Group.
About Red Hat
Red Hat is the world’s leading provider of enterprise open source software solutions, using a community-powered approach to deliver reliable and high-performing Linux, hybrid cloud, container, and Kubernetes technologies. Red Hat helps customers integrate new and existing IT applications, develop cloud-native applications, standardize on our industry-leading operating system, and automate, secure, and manage complex environments. Award-winning support, training, and consulting services make Red Hat a trusted adviser to the Fortune 500. As a strategic partner to cloud providers, system integrators, application vendors, customers, and open source communities, Red Hat can help organizations prepare for the digital future.
Red Hat, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, the Red Hat logo and OpenShift are trademarks or registered trademarks of Red Hat, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and other countries.
About NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of “Orchestrating a brighter world.” NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at www.nec.com.
For more information, visit www.nec.com/en/press/202209/global_20220929_01.html.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has decided to expand Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Aero Engines, Ltd. (MHIAEL) Nagasaki Plant, an aircraft engine component factory located in MHI’s Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works. Demand for engine components for short and medium range commercial aircraft manufactured at this plant is expected to increase further in the near future. The expansion will further strengthen its in-house production capacity and cost competitiveness and put in place a structure that will allow MHIAEL to meet industry needs readily and accurately once growth resumes in the post-Covid era. The expansion is scheduled for completion in March 2024.
Image of expanded MHIAEL Nagasaki Plant
The existing production plant manufactures combustors for the PW1100G-JM engines which powers the Airbus A320neo family. Since the start of its operations in November 2020, production has gradually increased and currently all production lines are operating near the planned capacity. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused sharp demand decrease in the aviation industry, however business relating to short and medium range commercial aircrafts used on domestic routes has been seeing a quick recovery. Aircraft flying hours of the Airbus A320neo family has already exceeded its pre-Covid level.
Airbus plans to gradually increase production of the A320neo in response to robust demand for narrow-body aircraft. Concurrently, demand for combustor components for the PW1100G-JM engines, as well as after-sales service, is expected to double over the next several years. This additional round of investment to build a second facility adjacent to the existing factory will nearly double the size of the plant, to around 11,000m2 from the current level of 5,400m2. In addition, the new facility will allow MHIAEL to incorporate certain manufacturing processes currently contracted out to overseas suppliers to achieve a fully integrated manufacturing for combustors, as well as reinforce its manufacturing facilities to support significant production ramp-up.
The MHIAEL Nagasaki Plant is a factory specialized in manufacturing combustors, which is one of core components of an aircraft engine, and the first full-fledged aircraft component factory in the Kyushu region. The plant has production lines which can handle fully integrated operations, from receipt of materials to machining and assembly. To achieve the high degree of precision and quality required for aircraft engine components, MHIAEL has introduced automation and labor-saving technologies such as cutting-edge machine tools, and automated conveyance and tool changing systems. The company also applies and utilizes IoT (Internet of Things), AI (Artificial Intelligence), and other technologies cultivated at its main mother factory in Komaki, Aichi Prefecture, to ensure an aircraft engine components factory with world-class levels of productivity and efficiency.
MHI Group, in anticipation of an increase in long-term demand for commercial aircraft engines worldwide, is expanding its business and production structure for aircraft engines, and this factory expansion plan is a part of such effort. The group is also actively working to bolster its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business for commercial aircraft engines and is steadily progressing to expand its MRO business portfolio at MHIAEL’s main site in Komaki.
Going forward, MHI will work in close cooperation with MHIAEL to enhance technological capabilities and reliability for the development, manufacture, and after-sales service of aircraft engines, as well as expand production capabilities, and contribute to the advancement of Japan’s aircraft industry.
About MHI Group
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, logistics & infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com.
BYD announced it will build eight K9M battery-electric 40-foot buses for the Antelope Valley Transit Authority, expanding the largest all-electric bus fleet in the nation.
AVTA, which serves northern Los Angeles County and portions of southern Kern County, was the first transit agency in North America to go 100% battery-electric. Since making the decision to go all-electric in 2016, AVTA has put 65 BYD zero-emission buses into revenue service.
By combining groundbreaking BYD electric bus technology with wireless inductive charging technology, AVTAs innovative bus project is the first of its kind in the nation, said Marvin Crist, AVTAs board chairman and Vice Mayor of the City of Lancaster. AVTAs zero-emission fleet, the first in the nation, accumulated six million service miles, saving 1.5 million gallons of diesel fuel and cutting 35.6 million pounds of CO2 and 112,000 pounds of particulate matter.
The battery-electric, zero-emission K9M has 37+1 seats, a range of 155 miles, and can be rapidly charged in 2 to 3 hours.
We are excited to be able to make this announcement during the annual APTA conference in Orlando. BYD is proud to partner with AVTA, a pioneer in battery-electric bus transportation in the United States, said Patrick Duan, BYD North America Senior Vice President. The AVTA continues to shows transit agencies throughout California and the rest of the transportation industry how to transition from fossil fuels to zero-emission technology. These battery-electric buses will help keep Southern Californias air clean and at the same time provide customers with a quiet, comfortable ride.
AVTA is buying the K9Ms through a State of Georgia statewide contract, which benefits local governments and transit agencies through the convenience and competitive pricing of pre-established contracts. BYD has also been selected as a vendor for transit buses and motor coaches in statewide contracts for California and New Mexico.
Visit BYD at Booth 3553 at APTAs TRANSform Expo at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. BYD showcasing six of its innovative and technologically superior American-Made battery electric buses at the expo: the 30-foot K7M-ER, the 35-foot K8M, the 40-foot K9M, and the 60-foot articulated K11M. Also on display are two BYD battery-electric motorcoach models, the 35-foot, double-deck C8MS and the 45-foot C10M.
BYD will have sales people and technicians on hand to present the vehicles and answer questions
About BYD
The Official Sponsor of Mother Nature, BYD, which stands for Build Your Dreams, is the worlds leading electric vehicle company with proven innovative technology for cars, buses, trucks, forklifts, and rail systems like SkyRail. BYD is dedicated to creating a truly zero-emission ecosystem offering technology for solar electricity generation, energy storage to save that electricity, and battery-electric vehicles powered by that clean energy. Globally, BYD is committed to corporate social responsibility, monitoring our supply chain in terms of human rights, environmental safety, hazardous substance control and intellectual property rights. We select only suppliers who share our commitment to labor practices, human rights standards and the environment.
BYD has 220,000 employees across the globe, including nearly 1,000 in North America. For more information, please visit www.BYD.com or follow BYD on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) has planned to expand its installed geothermal power plant capacity in order to provide greater contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in Indonesia, and support achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) on climate action, through implementing Environmental, Social, & Governance (ESG) based programs.
PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy’s (PGE’s) geothermal power plant. [ANTARA/HO-PGE]
“Our expansive plan will help Indonesia to achieve a net zero emissions target by 2060,” said the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Pertamina Geothermal Energy, Nelwin Aldriansyah, during a discussion session at the UN Global Compact on responsible business conduct and climate ambition, held virtually on Wednesday, Nov 10.
The UN Global Compact is a “voluntary initiative based on CEO commitments to implementing universal sustainability principles, and taking steps to supporting UN goals. Pertamina reiterates its commitment to achieving SDGs through the implementation of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) based programs in their operational areas.”
According to Aldriansyah, PGE is planning to issue its own wind green bonds in the first half of next year (2022) in addition to PT Pertamina’s plan to issue green bonds in 2022. “Proceedings of green bonds will be used to refinance our existing conventional loans and also to finance our capex (capital expenditure) plan in developing new geothermal projects in Indonesia,” he said.
With such an initiative, PGE would be expected to gain an additional 375 megawatts (MW) over the next four years, from the current installed capacity at its geothermal power plant of 672 MW.
“We are aiming to have a total installed capacity to 1,500 megawatts by 2030,” Aldriansyah remarked. He expressed optimism that with such an additional capacity, PGE would contribute significantly to Pertamina’s plan to decarbonize its assets and reduce emissions by 30 percent by 2030.
“At our current capacity, we currently reduce emissions by about 3.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per annum. And with the additional capacity, we expect to reduce the emissions further, to six million tonnes annually over the next four years, and to 12 million tonnes by year 2030,” he stated.
Aldriansyah stated that the government of Indonesia aims to improve its energy mix with the use of renewable energy sources from the current 12 percent to 23 percent by 2025. He expressed confidence that the increased use of energy mix would provide ample room for renewable energy companies such as Pertamina Geothermal Energy to expand installed capacity and provide higher contributions to emissions reduction.
The CFO believes that financing plans, including the issuance of green bonds next year, can support the capacity growth in the future, which will contribute significantly to Pertamina’s objective to decarbonize its asset portfolio. “It is also aligned with the Indonesian Government’s commitment to Paris Agreement,” added Aldriansyah, “And with goal No.13 of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) on climate action.”
Club Med, the pioneer of premium all-inclusive holidays, is gearing up for an aggressive travel rebound in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. Following the announcement of the brand’s upcoming greenfield beach resort in Borneo Kota Kinabalu, Club Med continues looking for opportunities in the Southeast Asian (SEA) region, specifically in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.
The first large-scale sustainably built BREEAM-certified beach resort in APAC
Positive expansion signal amidst economy’s recovery
While Asia has taken a more cautious approach to the resumption of travel as compared to the rest of the world, this presented an opportunity for travel and hospitality brands in the region to refine operations and enhance safety measures in preparation for a stronger rebound. The pandemic demonstrated the resilience of Club Med, evident from the successful reopening of resorts in China and Maldives, followed by Northern America, the Caribbean and Europe.
Domestic travel to Club Med resorts in China soared by more than 2.5 times in 2021 and is already on track to surpass pre-pandemic demand. Similar success was evidenced in Club Med’s resort in Malaysia, with an increase in business volume of over 60 percent in the weeks following the relaxation of interstate restrictions, before the recent MCO. Beyond the success of its current resorts, Club Med is also readying itself with an aggressive expansion pipeline.
“We entered the pandemic with a strong economic position and are well-placed for a swift, decisive and impactful rebound. Club Med has a demonstrated track record spanning more than 70 years as the pioneer of new destinations and untouched locations, with Club Med Seychelles and Club Med Lijiang as successful case studies of our recent greenfield projects around the globe, as well as the upcoming Club Med Borneo Kota Kinabalu, said Jean-Charles Fortoul, CEO APAC Resorts, Club Med. “Following these successes, we have also identified Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia as markets that are well-positioned to leverage this rebound and we are on the lookout for investors and partners to tap into the potential of these destinations.”
The first large-scale sustainably built BREEAM-certified beach resort in APAC
Come 2023, Club Med will be opening its first SEA greenfield beach resort in Borneo, Kota Kinabalu, in close collaboration with owners Golden Sands Beach Resort City Sdn Bhd (GSBRC). The 41-acre Club Med Borneo Kota Kinabalu resort will reveal a brand-new destination, encapsulating the beauty and potential of Sabah. In addition, with growing accessibility of the resort just 6 hours from key Asian markets, Club Med is confident to capture the vast untapped potential of this pristine location.
Club Med envisions exciting growth from this upcoming project. As one of our most upscale resorts in South East Asia, it is expected to attract tourists from all over the world, destined to deliver consistently high occupancy rates.
“Club Med has been an outstanding partner in our collaboration for the Club Med Borneo Kota Kinabalu resort. They bring expertise in crafting unique experiences at resorts, and they have the right savoir faire to bring them to life and elevate stays in the resort,” said Peter Wong, Managing Director of Golden Sands Beach Resort City. “We have utmost confidence in Club Med’s capabilities of creating a sense of destination at the Borneo Kota Kinabalu resort with upmarket designs that evoke emotional connections for guests with the destination, offering them the iconic Club Med experience in a site that is simply paradise.”
Unique business model poised to yield strong demand
Club Med’s success can be attributed to its capacity to market and distribute its resorts directly, evident from a consistent five percent year-on-year growth and a steady 1.4 million guests pre-pandemic, bringing them a total of 1.7 billion Euros in business volume in 2019. Occupancy rates across the globe reflected this success as well, with pre-pandemic averages of 75 percent in the East, South Asia and Pacific region, as well as 76 percent and 78 percent in the Europe-Africa and North America regions respectively.
Primed to bring the all-inclusive travel model to pioneering heights
As the pioneer provider of premium all-inclusive holidays, Club Med offers a plethora of activities from adventure sports, to culturally immersive programmes and family-focused offerings. Creating a sense of destination by seamlessly blending the resort facilities into the natural surroundings of idyllic locations, the unique Club Med experience is complemented by the resorts’ smooth flow between social, F&B and entertainment venues, to the various tranquil zones as well as the kids’ club and spaces for families to converge. Club Med is the world leader for all-inclusive holidays, having crafted more than 70 years’ worth of experiences in over 70 resorts around the world, bringing across a unique energy that guests feed off of.
ABOUT CLUB MED
Club Med, founded in 1950 by Gerard Blitz, invented the all-inclusive holiday club concept, adding in activities especially for children with the creation of the Mini Club in 1967. Led by its pioneering spirit, Club Med seeks out exceptional destinations and sites. Today, Club Med is the world’s leading provider of upscale, all-inclusive holiday packages with a French touch for families and working couples. Club Med operates nearly 70 resorts, of which 85% are rated Premium & Exclusive Collection. Present in 30 countries around the world, the Group employs more than 23,000 Gentils Organisateurs (GOs) and Gentils Employes (GEs), representing 110 nationalities.
