Epson launches new 6-axis industrial robots, C8 series robots with advanced force sensor and vision system options as part of its technology features

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Epson announced the launch of its new 6-axis industrial robot, the C8 series robots. Along with the robots, Epson also provides advanced force sensor and vision system options as part of its technology features.

The new force sensors enable the robots to execute complex manufacturing tasks requiring high precision. With the force sensors, the robots are now able to ‘feel’ forces as limited as 0.1 Newton, and can perform tasks such as assembling delicate components. The sensors can also be used on tasks requiring human sensory perception such as polishing and deburring, freeing people from repetitive manual work.

The C8 series robots carry the highest payloads in Epson’s robot range, handling up to 8kg at high speeds with minimal vibration. Its advanced residual vibration control technology utilizing Epson’s Quartz Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (QMEMS) senses angular velocity and feedback to help significantly reduce vibration during motion.

One of the lightest robots in its class, the C8 series robots delivers high speed and precision in a compact space with maximum flexibility – its compact wrist and slim body design provides a wide range of motion for tight spaces.

The industrial robots can also be equipped with Epson Vision Guide software as an option – advanced machine vision and image processing systems that provide an interface for developing robot vision applications. With this, the robots are able to ‘see’ and identify objects intelligently during the production process, enabling it to pick randomly positioned products for high precision placing and assembly.

“The launch of our C8 series robots along with the force sensors has greatly expanded the applications we are able to offer to customers and is a significant innovative development in the industry. With the strong demand for industrial robots in Southeast Asia, we are excited about the expanded possibilities that come with the force sensors for our customers. As we take the next step forward in the development of our robots, we envision robots that can work alongside and support humans across industries, from manufacturing to service sectors,” said Ng Ngee Khiang, Regional General Manager (SE Asia), Epson Singapore.

Globally, it is estimated that from 2016 to 2018, robot installations will increase, at least by 15% on average per year (CAGR), with about 18% in Asia and Australia. Between 2015 and 2018, it is estimated that about 1.3 million new industrial robots will be installed in factories around the world (Source: International Federation of Robotics).

About Epson

Epson is a global technology leader dedicated to connecting people, things and information with its original efficient, compact and precision technologies. With a lineup that ranges from inkjet printers and digital printing systems to 3LCD projectors, smart glasses, sensing systems and industrial robots, the company is focused on driving innovations and exceeding customer expectations in inkjet, visual communications, wearables and robotics.

Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the Epson Group comprises more than 67,000 employees in 90 companies around the world, and is proud of its contributions to the communities in which it operates and its ongoing efforts to reduce environmental impacts.

http://global.epson.com/

About Epson Southeast Asia

Since 1982, Epson has developed a strong presence across major markets in Southeast Asia. Led by the regional headquarters, Epson Singapore Pte Ltd., Epson Southeast Asia spans an extensive network of 10 countries, and is responsible for delivering and supporting Epson’s cutting-edge consumer and business digital imaging products to the customers of these markets through its comprehensive infrastructure of over 360 service outlets, 10 Epson solution centres and 8 manufacturing facilities. http://www.epson.com.sg

About Epson Philippines

Epson’s corporate presence in the Philippines commenced in 1998. It grew rapidly into a billion peso company in a span of a few years from its establishment due to its client-oriented approach in its business management style by its dedicated and innovative staff members and officers. Epson Philippines has an extensive network of 77 Authorized Service Centers nationwide with more than 200 dealers and more than 800 shops across the Country. For more details, please visit our website (www.epson.com.ph) or our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/EpsonPhilippines).

For product inquiries and technical support, please contact Epson Customer Care at: Metro Manila: (02) 441-9030; Toll Free: 1-800-1069-37766 (PLDT), 1-800-3-0037766 (DIGITEL) or visit the Epson Customer Care website: http://customercare.epson.com.ph

Filipinos, meet Anthony Diaz V: Fall for a new kind of screen hero in “Break”

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Who would have imagined how far a China-made digital 4MB SD card palm camera could take a young dreamer’s film making dreams?

In the case of Filipino-American actor-director-producer Anthony Diaz V, it is quite far indeed. “When I was a kid, my family had movie night every Friday,” Anthony recalls. “After every film, I would ask my parents, ‘What motivated the characters’ actions?’”

That sort of set Anthony off on an early film education with his father encouraging his then ten-year-old son to lap up with glee movies like “The Godfather,” “Taxi Driver,” “Reservoir Dogs,” “Pulp Fiction,” “El Mariachi,” “The Shawshank Redemption,” the list goes on. These are films that Anthony admits “many kids my age at the time wouldn’t be interested in.”

He was, in a manner of speaking, a normal kid whose growing love for films made him a misfit.

Before he was 20, the brawny Anthony Diaz has completed dozens of short films. The independent film making spirit has been evident early on with Anthony multitasking, taking on screen writing, directing, producing, acting, and editing duties. By the time he reached 20, he has already graduated with high honors at the University of Las Vegas Film School (UNLV), making him the youngest graduate in the history of the program.

Anthony has received acclaim for the early short films he made like “Delusion” and “Forgotten Heroes.” In 2012, he put up a film production company called Kaizen Studios in Las Vegas, USA. The following year, he established a satellite of Kaizen Studios in Shibuya, Japan.

Japan is close to Anthony’s heart, having been a frequent visitor to the land of sashimis, cherry blossoms, and top-tier car brands since he was 8. Little wonder then that when he embarked on his first full length feature, Anthony chose to make “Break.”

“Break” can be described in many ways depending on how the viewer sees it but at its core, it is a story about alienation and angst as a young Japanese-American lad is thrown into the underworld while he deals with personal issues as an outsider trying to fit into Japanese society.

It is, in a way, a throwback to Anthony’s childhood when he was watching movies that wouldn’t strike a chord with children his age. He was like a misfit then, as his character in “Break” is. There is a need to find his place in an environment that isn’t very welcoming. Then he loses the girl he loves and the downward spiral begins.

On screen and in photos, Anthony Diaz strikes you as a kind of millennial James Dean, but this time a rebel with a cause, and with a more relatable Liam Neeson-ish vibe. In the movie “Break,” he even does breakdancing in one scene. Clearly, Anthony is the new kind of screen hero who has a good head to match the well-toned physique. And somehow you sense that there is a tenderness that lies beneath the swagger and the action star gait.

But Anthony assures that the similarities between him and his movie character end there. “The movie is not autobiographical at all,” he points out. “Break,” according to him, “was actually inspired from a short film I made when I was 17 years old called ‘Lunch Break’ which I shot with my high school friends in Vegas. The premise of the story is similar, but I expanded the universe and characters against the backdrop of Japan.”

Why should Pinoy audiences not miss “Break?” “This film is really unique as it blends American storytelling with Japanese cinema infused with hip-hop. It’s the first time to my knowledge that a film has simultaneous English and Japanese language throughout the movie with supporting subtitles. But most importantly, the overall theme is of a foreigner trying desperately to fit in. It is what most of us have experienced in some form or another.”

“Break” has had a private screening in Japan last April and its second stop is the Philippines before it heads off to Sundance.

To find out more about “Break,” go to thebreakmovie.com or visit the Kaizen Studios FB page @Facebook.com/KaizenStudios

Kickstart Ventures invites local startups to participate in Singtel Innov8 Connect global business challenge

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Kickstart Ventures enjoins local startups to participate in the second installment of Singtel Innov8’s global call to create innovative solutions for real world business challenges. This follows the success and momentum of the initial Innov8 Connect programme launched in January 2016 which attracted over 120 submissions from startups across 22 countries.

“Through the second round of Innov8 Connect, Philippine startups are given another opportunity to realize their global growth aspirations. Kickstart, through Innov8 Connect, is opening doors for them to penetrate the global market as part of our mission to break down barriers and build bridges between the business community and the startup founders,” said Minette Navarrete, President of Kickstart, a wholly-owned venture capital firm of Globe Telecom. 

Kickstart is a founding member of Innov8 Sparks, the Singtel Group’s network of startup support and funding initiatives across Southeast Asia. It currently has 27 portfolio companies with various products and services encompassing SaaS (Software as a Service) for financial services; Healthcare; E-commerce and Online Marketplace, Social Impact; and Digital Lifestyle, several of which have already ventured to other countries.

Once selected in the second round of Innov8 Connect, the startups that offered the best solutions will be provided with up to S$75,000 to test and validate their business solutions as proof-of-concepts inside Singtel and Optus in Australia.

Successful solutions from promising startups may then lead to further commercialization opportunities within the Singtel Group which offers startups access to an extensive customer base that includes both enterprises and over 600 million mobile subscribers across Asia, Australia and Africa. These startups will also have the opportunity to seek funding from Singtel Innov8 and tap on its network of co-investors from Innov8 Sparks and partners across the globe.

Talking about the importance of the program, Tay Soo Meng, Group Chief Technology Officer at Singtel said: “Innov8 Connect started as a win-win platform to help startups develop viable business solutions while allowing the Singtel Group to stay at the cutting-edge of innovation through continuous experimentation. We hope to uncover more innovative answers for real emerging business challenges with start-ups in this latest installment of the programme.”

In the second round, 14 new business challenges have been identified by Singtel and its Australian arm, Optus, in areas such as the Internet of Things (IoT), augmented reality solutions and artificial intelligence.

“We look forward to working together with more start-ups on the new set of business challenges from this second installment of Innov8 Connect. Through these real challenges that businesses face, we hope to spur greater innovation while identifying and supporting viable solutions that meet the Group’s needs,” said Edgar Hardless, CEO of Singtel Innov8.

Interested start-ups may submit their proposals through the Innov8 Connect portalwww.innov8connect.com until October 31, 2016. The portal also contains detailed information on the 14 new business challenges. 

Selected start-ups will then be invited to pitch to a panel of management representatives from the Singtel Group.

As the venture arm of the Singtel Group, Singtel Innov8’s mandate is to scout for and provide the Group with insights and early access to emerging technologies, as well as to nurture the innovation ecosystem in Southeast Asia. Innov8 Connect is part of Singtel Innov8’s initiatives to create greater awareness for Singtel’s innovation agenda and engagement with startup ecosystems.

About Singtel Innov8

Singtel Innov8, the venture capital arm of the Singtel Group, invests in and partners with innovative tech startups worldwide. It has a fund size of US$250 million and its own set of decision making, approval and funding processes. Beyond funding, Singtel Innov8 is a gateway for startups to tap on the resources and expertise of the Singtel Group, while enabling the Group to gain access to emerging technologies. Singtel Innov8 focuses its investments on technologies and solutions that can lead to quantum changes in network capabilities, next generation devices, digital services and enablers to enhance customer experience. Headquartered in Singapore, Singtel Innov8 also has offices in San Francisco and Tel Aviv. For more info, visit innov8.singtel.com or follow @singtelinnov8 on Twitter.

1st Sem wins Best Feature at India filmfest; lead star Lotlot de Leon cited

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If earning Best Picture nomination nod at the 2nd CineFilipino Filmfest was any indication that indie film 1st Sem was bound for something great, it all became clear when it won Best Feature Film at a prestigious international film dubbed the biggest in South Asia.

First-time feature film directors Dexter Hemedez and Allan Ibanez found directorial breakthrough right on their first try after they won the Debut Directors Competition at the All Lights India International Film Festival last September 27. They bested entries from the US, Brazil and other countries.

1st Sem is a family comedy centered on mother and child relationship and themes on schooling, separation anxiety, youth, friendship, education, and ultimately, the sanity and sense of home.

“This victory is overwhelming for us considering that we went to India not expecting anything but just to enjoy being there,” expressed Dexter who informs that the film is a comedy that does not force itself to be and a drama told with just the right light feel to it.

The movie actually delivered a double strike after its lead actress Lotlot de Leon was honored with a Sole Acting Citation for her “exceptional performance." The Indian Filmfest usually gives honorable mention to the next best film but this time around, the esteemed jury decided to give the honor to the Pinay actress. It is her first international acting recognition -- a feat she bagged by acting lead for a comedy just for the first time in her career. 

The triumphant film, with screenwriting icon Ricky Lee as creative consultant, was cited by the All Lights jury as “containing courage and cinematic storytelling.” The jury was composed of Hassan Nazer whose film Utopia was Afghanistan’s Best Foreign Film entry to this year’s Oscars, Pan Nalin who directed the globally distributed Samsara, and Rajesh Touchriver who was nominated best debut director at Cannes. 

In 1st Sem, Lotlot stars as single mom of three Precy Marasigan, a probinsyana who sends his son Maru, played by Darwin Yu, to a Manila university to attend collegiate education. The incoming freshman apparently cannot cope with the transition to dorm life that he quickly returns home. From there, the story, describes by film critic Oggs Cruz as “a tender coming-of-age tale that has its heart in the right place” smoothly takes off.

Allan, who as writer has collaborated with Dexter, ventured to film directing with an eye for what’s honest and courageous. He related, “We crafted a story that will appeal to the youth, especially high school and college students, and to mothers like Precy. We intend to inspire and this win is for us, inspiring.”

Supporting Lotlot is a cast loaded with newbies taking her lead well, led by boyish-looking Darwin who honed his acting chops from Star Magic workshop. He plays the academically brilliant son who heads back home ahead of the batallion that sends him to the big city. That description alone from the duo director solicits laughter without them trying at all.

Allan Paule is no newbie, but him playing “that” cool uncle, makes way for a good balance opposite rising young actors Miguel Bagtas and Sebastian Vargas who are seen here as Maru’s brothers. Others in the cast are tried and tested thespians, including Teri Lacayanga, Maddie Martinez, and Karen Romualdez who had her acting training in Toronto, Canada.

Rounding up the 1st Sem cast are film and TV actor Simon Ibarra, model Marc Paloma, and fresh-faced Sachie Yu who plays Maru’s loyal bestfriend Michelle.

“On my first taping day, I was told by Tita Lotlot to just be natural on camera. She really helped me loosen up,” shared Darwin who played lead role Hercules in a high school production. 

Last July 7, 1st Sem’s DP (Director of Photography) Neil Daza received recognition for his cinematography, given by Cinema World Fest Awards in Ottawa, Canada.

The movie is set to participate at the Nazioarteko Zinetxiki Children and Youth International Film Festival to be held in Bilbao, Spain from November 14 to 27, 2016. The Hemedez-Ibanez tandem is bound to make a wave at the New Directors Section.

The Kids First! Film and Video Festival in New Mexico, USA likewise shortlisted 1st Sem in its selection and raved that “it offers a very realistic depiction of a Philippine single mother dealing with her son’s misadventures."

Part of 1st Sem's quick success is the brilliant camera work termed by the directors as "tuhog scenes" shown without the usual cut intervals --- for as long as five minutes. The background music is anchored on a couple of songs from seminal alternative rock band Siakol titled "Inihaw" and "Sige Na Tuloy Pa." Yes, the movie is very Pinoy and universal. 

(For further information on Ist Sem, check 1st SEM’s official Facebook page.)

Bossing Vic Sotto is now the Chooks-to-Go Endorser

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Vic Sotto

Well known and veteran actor and TV show host, “Bossing” Vic Sotto, has stood as an icon for countless brands. From homecare supplies to local beverage products, Vic’s charismatic appeal and conviction has propelled corporations, as well as himself, into a level of unmatched reliability.

Vic has consistently lived-up to his “Bossing” moniker, as an authority and someone whom Filipinos trust for everyday products. This time, the comedian partners with Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. (BAVI)—the second largest poultry integrator locally—as the newest brand endorser of Chooks-to-Go, the country’s leading and fastest-growing oven-roasted chicken chain with more than a thousand storess nationwide.

Like a Bossing, Vic Sotto chooses Chooks-to-Go as his take-home ulam. With its “Hindi ka Nag-Uuwi ng Ulam na Basta-basta Lang” campaign, built on the premise of being “Masarap Kahit Walang Sauce”, Chooks-to-Go and Bossing brings ready-to-go, oven-roasted quality chicken closer to Filipino moms as their take-home ulam of choice that will surely delight the family.

During the Chooks-to-Go  conversation with new Ambassador, Vic shared to us that his wife, Pauleen introduced the chooks-to-go chicken before as her one of the favorite ulam. He wanted it event without sauce, so he really chooses the chook-to-go as their food at the table always. 

“When you say ‘ready-to-go’ and ‘quality food’, it should come with a great serving, taste, and nutrition. Importante ‘yun kasi hindi puwedeng basta-basta lang ang maiuwing pagkain para sa pamilya,” said Vic. “Kung gusto mo ng manok, there’s Chooks-to-Go. Malaman ang manok nila, hindi basta-basta. And the best part—‘pag hinain mo na, ‘yun na ‘yun, hindi mo na kailangan ng sauce.”

As an admirer of hardworking Filipinos, especially moms, Bossing Vic recognizes the efforts made in order to provide food on the table. “Basta hardworking, ako’y saludo, especially for moms because they exert double effort,” the actor said. “That’s why for the times when they can’t cook and kids want delicious food, dumaan ka lang ng Chooks-to Go, okay ka na.”

Practical, affordable, and delicious food to-go, Chooks-to-Go’s superior-quality, oven-roasted chicken goodness brings a fresh and healthy ulam fix to many Filipino households, which, even Vic could not escape. 

“Personally, I didn’t think twice about promoting this product because Chooks-to-Go is also my wife’s favorite. Aside from the taste, the price of one whole chicken for the family is reasonable—kayang-kaya eh. Ayos ka na, nag-enjoy ka na, nasarapan ka pa, at nakatipid ka pa!” Sotto admitted. 

Endorsing is one thing, but attesting to a product as a part of one’s daily life is a different story. And with Vic’s proven and reliable track record of promoting a product or brand he uses and trusts, families are in for a treat as moms are set to bring home hindi lang basta-basta take-home ulam, but Chooks-to-Go’s oven-roasted chicken that’s always masarap kahit walang sauce.

“We are very excited to have Vic as our endorser because he really believes in the products he promotes,” said BAVI president Ronald Mascariñas. 

“With Chooks-to-Go and Bossing together, we have a great opportunity to support hardworking moms with a go-to take-home ulam of choice that’s affordable, healthy, and delicious.”