ROBOT DECLINE

According to Mongkol Arthipanu, a director of the institute, Thailand's imports of robots have declined in the past three years - from 1,458 robots in 2005, to 1,102 in 2006 and down to about 1,000 last year.

It is estimated that the Kingdom now has a robot population of 4,000, a tiny share compared to the worldwide robot population of about 1 million.

Mongkol said the government should increase its support for developing the country's human resources to be capable of producing robots that can help in repetitive and hazardous jobs, offset higher labour costs and enhance technological capabilities of some industries.

Compared to Singapore and Malaysia, the country is "less alert" in developing its human resources capable of dealing with robotic technologies despite the fact that it has a more advanced automotive industry, he said.

The biggest gathering of robots in Southeast Asia will happen in Assembly 2008, which will showcase the participating organisations' manufacturing genius.

The technology and automation fair will be held from June 19 to 21 at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre. More than 15 robots from famous brands, including ABB, Kuka, Fanuc, Yaskawa and SMC, will be displayed at the event.

Book Release

Some may wonder how a man who had spent more than 50 years working for many prestigious companies such as Super K would feel after his retirement. Judging from the book which sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren and admirers published for Kasame Chatikavanij and his wife to commemorate his 84th birthday, Kasame is very happy.

"I just realised that happiness in old age is of the best kind," Kasame was quoted as saying in the book.

This release may be a surprise for Kasame who had accepted the chairmanship of the troubled Bangkok Mass Transit System, the operator of Thailand's first electric trains, at the age of 67 and retired two years ago when he was 82.

No takers for awards

Although Thailand has upped its business efficiency by going from No 33 to No 27 in IMD's world competitiveness rankings for 2008, released last week, no company has won the Thailand Quality Award this year. Nevertheless, the natural gas transmission business, PTT, and the Songklanagarind Hospital have won the Thailand Quality Class awards.

Boss of the year

Khan Prachuabmoh, president of the Government Housing Bank, recently won the "Boss of the Year 2007" award in the finance and banking sector from Boss magazine.

Tisco head

Voranuch Supaibulpipat was appointed head of commercial lending for Tisco Bank last month. She received a bachelor's in economics from Chulalongkorn University, and had done her MBA from Middle Tennessee State, the United States. She has been with Tisco since 1987 and has spent more than 20 years in t he lending business.

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