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HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:
HGH Princess Galyani visits General Motors Thailand Assembly Center

Toyota introduces new Hilux Tiger D-4D at Pattaya Dusit Resort

DHL announces launch of EasyShip v4 Windows software

Cooperation Day at Thai-German Institute

HGH Princess Galyani visits General Motors Thailand Assembly Center

HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana Kromluang Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra graciously visited General Motors Thailand Assembly Center at Rayong Province to view the Zafira production line at the plant. William S. Botwick, executive director for ASEAN of General Motors Asia Pacific, and president & managing director for General Motors Thailand, as well as the GM staff showed the princess that the center is the home of the made-in-Thailand Zafira, the first passenger vehicle exported to Europe and Japan. On this occasion, Botwick presented the Chevrolet Zafira 2.2 Luxury Model for HRH Princess’ usage.

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Toyota introduces new Hilux Tiger D-4D at Pattaya Dusit Resort

Veerachai and Chakrapong

The Eastern Region Toyota Dealers’ Club introduced the Hilux Tiger D-4D on October 8 at the Dusit Resort. Wichien Phraepipatmongkol, chairman of the club, presided over the news conference, attended by auto dealers from provinces in the eastern region.

The special introduction took place all around the country, with similar press conferences also going on in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen and Had Yai. The official presentation for public showing began on October 12 at local showrooms around the country.

Toyota spokesmen said that due to newly installed technology, the Hilux Tiger D-4D enjoys up to 21% better fuel economy compared with other 2-litre engines. The total power output using 4-WD is 75 kilowatts at 3,600 revolutions per minute.

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DHL announces launch of EasyShip v4 Windows software

DHL Worldwide Express, the world’s leading air express and logistics provider, announced the release of the upgraded version of its widely popular product, EasyShip v4. The desktop PC-based shipment management system, which operates on Windows, now ensures even easier access for customers to automate and manage their shipment processes.

DHL EasyShip is a powerful shipment management tool that provides total shipping solutions to high-volume shippers. Through this product, DHL customers have the capability to process their shipments, send shipment notification, and query shipment charges and delivery status directly from their office computers.

Dr. Don Bhasavanich, general manager of DHL Thailand said, “Because we work so closely with our customers we were able to develop this new release to respond to our customer’s current needs. We assessed its feasibility and turned it around as quickly as possible. Again, I firmly believe that DHL has delivered more”.

EasyShip v4 is the latest edition of the original computer package and has been developed to run on Windows. New features include: MS-Outlook style navigation; prints airway bills and customs documentation on laser printers; new management reporting tools using Quick Report provides flexibility in reporting format; shipment import capability is now called from the main application; comprehensive help facility in every screen; data conversion utility, which converts data from DOS to the Windows version; easy network installation and configuration; uninstallation in one step.

“DHL is delighted to offer our customers an even more powerful version of EasyShip,” said Marc Duale, chief operating officer, DHL Asia Pacific. “DHL has made a significant investment in this product and we believe that EasyShip v4 will be well-received among our customers. The upgraded version is a demonstration of DHL’s long-standing commitment to providing the easiest, most accessible products in the industry and I believe that this product will differentiate us from our competitors”.

The launch comes as DHL introduces the EasyShip Rewards, a promotion to encourage customers to use the software. Rewards will be given based in the amount of percentage of upload performance used by each EasyShip customer during a specified period of time. The contest runs from October 1st to December 31st. Information for the promotion can be found on DHL ‘s official wed-site http://www.dhl.co.th/e-shipreward

Aggressive deployment in the Asia Pacifica region has been scheduled during the next few months. Currently, EasyShip v4 is available in English; however, DHL plans to release versions that run on various Asia Windows platforms within the year.

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Cooperation Day at Thai-German Institute

by Sue

The Thai-German Institute in Amata Nakorn Industrial Estate launched their third official exhibition day on the 10th of October. The theme of the day was “Cooperation Day” to commemorate Germany’s Reunification Day celebrated this month.

(L to R) German director of TGI Walter Kretschmar, German Ambassador to Thailand H.E. Andreas Von Stechow, and Hans-Dieter Westphal, managing director of Rieckermann Thai Engineering talk technology at the exhibition day.

The morning commenced smoothly with a report on TGI’s activities and achievements by the two directors, starting with the German director Walter Kretschmar’s speech stating various factors the TGI uses to help strengthen Thailand’s industrial competitiveness in Asia and improve productivity through training, guidance and education.

German Ambassador to Thailand H.E. Andreas Von Stechow (left) and Deputy Minister of Industry, H.E. Pichate Satirachawal cut the ribbon to open the exhibition, as German director of TGI Walter Kretschmar (back left) and TGI’s Thai director Narong Rattana (back right) applaud.

The speech was followed by TGI’s Thai director Narong Rattana referring to TGI as the “hand of the government” to transfer modern manufacturing technology to Thai industry by focusing on human resource development. Narong gave a report on TGI’s fields of specialization, training and services and TGI’s plans to support various government projects in the year 2002.

(L to R) Walter Kretschmar, Ambassador Andreas Von Stechow, H.E. Pichate Satirachawal and Narong Rattana view and discuss the technology on display.

The first honorary speaker was the Deputy Minister of Industry, H.E. Pichate Satirachawal, who reminisced of the fond memories of many successful business projects which Germany and Thailand have carried out, including the beginnings of the state railway of Thailand when King Rama V, with a clear vision of in-land transportation, selected a German engineer, Karl Bethge to support the project in 1887. Bethge’s performed so well, he was appointed the first governor of the State Railways of Thailand, and the German government appointed him as their advisor on railway construction.

At that time new knowledge and technologies from Germany were being transferred to the Thai people in such fields as machinery, communications, ports, and the military. This information flow has continued to this day.

Following H.E. Khun Pichet’s speech, the highlight of the morning was the congratulatory speech from the German Ambassador, H.E. Andreas Von Stechow, who had just 2 months ago succeeded H.E Herrmann Erath, the previous ambassador to Thailand.

His Excellency later gave an interview, providing insights to his personal mission and vision on specific areas he would like to focus on in the initial stage of his term as German Ambassador to Thailand, and how he feels the Thai-German Institute plays a strong part in the development of Thai industries. His excellency said in general his mission is to improve the relations of the two countries, especially politically and culturally, as HM the King has said that, “It is important to open the hearts of the people.”

Other main concentration will be on economics and education, which are the heart and essence of political development not only for Thailand but also for Germany.

Technology on display at the Thai-German Institute’s Cooperation Day.

As for TGI, his excellency was very impressed with TGI’s excellent facility and its large scope of activities. TGI plays an important role in education and training, supplying Thai industry with technology and skilled manpower, which is also exactly the area of assistance provided by Germany, that is to support and develop small and medium enterprises to be able to survive in this modern competitive world.

The morning session ended with a ribbon cutting ceremony conducted by his excellencies Pichate Satirachawal and Andreas Von Stechow, officially opening the 3rd Exhibition Day. Many dignitaries from both the government and private sectors attended and viewed the many exhibition booths set up by the companies responsible for much of the high-tech equipment in use in Thailand today.

During the afternoon session, technical seminars were presented and discussions held. Highlights of these included:

The permanent secretary of Science, Technology and Environment, Pornchai Tarantham, held a very informative seminar on the topic of science and the development of recycled energy.

ABB finance director Dieter Brandenburg (center) explains his company’s technology to Walter Kretschmar (left) and Ambassador Andreas Von Stechow (right).

Petchaburi M.P. Alongkorn Ponlaboot, vice chairman of the government’s Energy Committee delivered a speech on Bio-fuel in Thailand.

Manu Leopairote, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Industry spoke on Thailand’s policy on energy.

A Bio-fuel in Thailand seminar was conducted by Dr. Yodchai Jotiban (PTT), Dr. Nongluck Pankurddee (TISTR), Thari Techapimanwong (EC-CHEM), and Dr. Samai Jai-In as the moderator.

Paul Johnstone of Siemens-Singapore gave a presentation on “High efficient energy saving motors and drives”.

The seminar was adjourned at 5.00 p.m., leaving participants filled with fresh ideas and motivation for further improvements and innovations in their fields, assured of strong support from the Thai-German Institute.

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