Hitachi buys substrate facility

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies has agreed to acquire a substrate manufacturing facility located in Sarawak, Malaysia from Western Digital, reports Bizjournals.

San Jose-based Hitachi did not disclose financial terms of the deal.

The facility currently produces aluminium substrates used in hard disc drives; Lake Forest-based Western Digital originally acquired the Sarawak facility through its purchase of Milpitas-based Komag in 2007.

Wright Line, a manufacturer of products and solutions for technology-intensive environments, recently implemented a green cleaning process for its powder coating paint line, according to EP Magazine.

The green chemistry cleaning process consists of using chemicals and chemical processes designed to reduce or eliminate negative environmental impacts. Unlike conventional steel cleaning treatments, this green technology is free of hazardous metals such as phosphate, which has been proven to have a negative impact on local waterbodies.

The company estimates the new practice will save tens of thousands of dollars annually in lower chemical costs and will realise a return on investment within a few weeks.

IT and engineering services firm HCL Technologies says it is now working with Rockwell Automation on its enterprise solution partner (ESP) programme, says Manufacturing Computer Solutions.

Sandeep Kishore, head of global manufacturing at HCL, explains that the companies will collaborate on the delivery and integration of Rockwell Automation solutions, while HCL also helps manufacturers to build plant-wide information applications using FactoryTalk MES.

Rockwell's ESP programme was established in 2006 to provide manufacturers with a network of IT professionals and firms able to improve manufacturing performance by integrating ERP and plant-floor systems.