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Automation networker picks Hong Kong

Electronics & Ele...Sweden

A Swedish maker of vehicle and automation electronics opted for the city as the best way to serve its APAC operations.

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Lars-Berno Fredriksson
Lars-Berno Fredriksson, President of Kvaser

Seeking to enhance support for its partner network in the Asia-Pacific, Swedish automotive technology supplier Kvaser picked Hong Kong for its regional sales office, which opened last November.Kvaser President Lars-Berno Fredriksson said that with the benefit of warehousing facilities, Kvaser (Hong Kong) can import and export directly, providing faster shipping and logistics convenience.“This development enables us to provide closer and more effective support to Kvaser’s Asia-Pacific qualified sales representatives and technical associates, outside Mainland China,” he said.

Cars first

Kvaser data loggers
Kvaser data loggers are used by the Tongji DIAN Racing Team from Tongji University, Shanghai

Kvaser is a global provider of Controller Area Network (CAN) interfaces and data-loggers. CAN, which allows electronic devices to communicate with each other in a highly reliable manner, was developed for the automotive market and can be found in every modern-day car, including the latest electric and autonomous vehicles, according to Mr Fredriksson. However, he added, the technology is widely used in industrial automation, marine, medical and aerospace sectors – all industries where safety-critical operation is needed. For example, Kvaser's interfaces and partner, Accurate Technologies' Vision software, played a key role in development of Cimco Marine Diesel's marine outboard diesel engine (main picture).“Kvaser's CAN interfaces and data loggers provide a way to connect to a CAN network to monitor, record and analyse this communication,” he said.“CAN isn't new; it has been used in cars since 1991,” Mr Fredriksson continued. “However, it has evolved considerably and continues to see growing application in everything from autonomous vehicles, to drones to the latest robotic systems. CAN's dependability is the secret behind the engine and brake controls in your car, the flight-state sensors in an aeroplane, the control mechanism in an elevator, X-ray system and even, your coffee machine.”Asia is “extremely important” to the company, with the region accounting for one-quarter of its business, he said. The Hong Kong office complements Kvaser’s Shanghai sales office opened in 2014. “In November 2019, we opened a second sales office in Hong Kong and recruited additional Mandarin-speaking support staff,” Mr Fredriksson said. Several factors have contributed to the company’s growing opportunities within the region; among them, great staff and great partners, he said. “Also, through our university outreach, which supports the work of students and university teams working on CAN-related projects worldwide, we have witnessed and encouraged increased CAN design-in capabilities. It's capable, well-educated local electronics design engineers that are driving our business today.”

Derek Sum
Derek Sum, General Manager, Kvaser (Hong Kong)
Kvaser (Hong Kong) General Manager Derek Sum agrees that opening an office in Hong Kong underscores Kvaser’s commitment to its partners and customers in the region. “The trend towards automotive electrification and autonomy, as well as increased automation and autonomous operation in the industrial sector, continues to drive many new opportunities for CAN, which we’ll be in a better position to pursue,” he said.Kvaser provides CAN solutions to engineers designing and deploying systems in areas as wide-ranging as transport (including electric vehicles), industrial automation, avionics, construction equipment, building automation, domestic appliances, marine, medical, military, railway, telecoms, textiles and more.“The biggest Chinese automobile and industrial control companies are Kvaser customers, such as BYD, Shanghai Automotive and Weichai Power,” Mr Sum said. “We are also seeing other industrial sectors such as off-road and automation expanding in the Asia-Pacific region, including Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, India and Australia. “We opened the Hong Kong office to more thoroughly support our partners in this region. Recently, we signed up two new partners in Japan and Australia, which is a good indication of the expanding market. A rapid response/support rate within the same time zone is crucial. With a hub in the Asia-Pacific region, we can more effectively allocate resources to support local partners with services such as key customer-site visits, technical training, as well as exhibition and technical conference presence.”

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Kvaser


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