Hello, I'm Frederik from Norway.
I have stayed in Hua Hin for a few months for the last two years now, and I'm pretty sure this is the place I want to spend my near future (if not the rest of my life).
Well, I've passed 50, so I guess I could retire. But I still enjoy my work, which is something as common as developing electronic control systems for ROV's. (I guess all of you know what an ROV is, Remotely operated vehicle. In other words, a remote-controlled submersible used for underwater work and observation.)
One other aspect: I think it's time for me to give something back to the Thai people, not just come here and live cheaply.
So why not establish some production here?
A lot of norwegian companies are now getting their production done in China. Yes, it's cheaper. But I feel much more comfortable working with Thai people. (Compare the smiling frequency of Thai's and Chinese.)
ROV's are almost nonexisting in this part of the world. There are some in Singapore, heavy, hydraulic machines that cost a fortune.
And the market for them is steadily growing, with the surveying and oilexploration in the South China Sea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines... In deeper and deeper waters.
So in addition to having a production, I would also like to train pilots and service personell. (Why not female pilots? I don't think there are ANY in the whole world... and I'm sure the offshore workers would prefer my pilots to the others...)
I would really like to have some thoughts from all you people who have been living here for some time.
Don't you think Hua Hin could be a place for establishing some high-tech business? Obviously, there are enough hotels, bars and restaurants? (Well, i suppose there will NEVER be enough. But some balance could be nice?)
Do you know of any mechanical industry or small workshops here that could be used for subcontracting? Have any of you seen a lathe in Hua Hin? Or would I have to bulid facilities for everything?
I would appreciate any help from you.
From the ice & snow to the beach...
Re: From the ice & snow to the beach...
Never. The telecommunications system is 30 years old, support is non existent, and as for the internet .....Someone wrote: Don't you think Hua Hin could be a place for establishing some high-tech business?
Thailand lost its technological infrastructure when the former PM walked away with the profits.
If you bring your ROV's over here they'll be broken within a week.
Sorry for the cynicism and welcome to HHAD.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Scepticism...
can be good.
Thanks for your opinion.
However, my phone and fax are working, and my internet connection is faster than in Norway, at 1/3 the cost.
As for my ROV's, there are not brought from Norway. They will be built here, every small detail. That's the whole point. If they break, then the servicedepartment will be here.
So far I have had good experience with printed circuit bord manufacturers and component suppliers. I can mention one component, a connector that costs me the equivalent of 120 baht back home (I'm not sure if it's home anymore) and here it's 2 baht.
Ok, maybe I'm a bit of an optimist. But I sincerely believe it's possible to build the worlds most advanced, lightweight, low-priced no-nonsense ROV here.
Thanks for your opinion.
However, my phone and fax are working, and my internet connection is faster than in Norway, at 1/3 the cost.
As for my ROV's, there are not brought from Norway. They will be built here, every small detail. That's the whole point. If they break, then the servicedepartment will be here.
So far I have had good experience with printed circuit bord manufacturers and component suppliers. I can mention one component, a connector that costs me the equivalent of 120 baht back home (I'm not sure if it's home anymore) and here it's 2 baht.
Ok, maybe I'm a bit of an optimist. But I sincerely believe it's possible to build the worlds most advanced, lightweight, low-priced no-nonsense ROV here.
Don’t think Thailand has the technology you’re looking at
Also when you start bidding for contracts one of the first things we ask (I work for oil company) is where the regional support from, its not because were worried about what nationality they are, its how quick they can be here, there level of English so they can understand the operation, do the technicians have safety training for offshore, have they got work visas to get into where the jobs are at the drop of a hat.
If your plan is to build and sell them, oil companies / service companies will be looking for certification authority’s and to get that, your workshop / factory needs to be pretty developed before you can even dream about applying. My understanding is some of these modern ROV’s are now about 450,000 USD per unit so its big bucks.
Anyway not to knock the wind out of your sails, i’m sure something operating out of Thailand would fly and the oil industry is jumping just now but I think I would look at something a bit cheaper and a little less technology involved
cheers
Also when you start bidding for contracts one of the first things we ask (I work for oil company) is where the regional support from, its not because were worried about what nationality they are, its how quick they can be here, there level of English so they can understand the operation, do the technicians have safety training for offshore, have they got work visas to get into where the jobs are at the drop of a hat.
If your plan is to build and sell them, oil companies / service companies will be looking for certification authority’s and to get that, your workshop / factory needs to be pretty developed before you can even dream about applying. My understanding is some of these modern ROV’s are now about 450,000 USD per unit so its big bucks.
Anyway not to knock the wind out of your sails, i’m sure something operating out of Thailand would fly and the oil industry is jumping just now but I think I would look at something a bit cheaper and a little less technology involved
cheers
Hi Frederik, I’m an Avionics Engineer, but back in the early nineties I spent some time up in Aberdeen with Subsea Offshore, helping them to fit helicopter type autopilots into a couple of ROV’s.
Although I wouldn’t rule out Thailand for any of your plans, I do have to agree with Buksida that the area around Hua Hin is not the place to be.
There are simply none of the types of skills or facilities in the locale to support that kind of enterprise.
Off the top of my head, I would say you would be better off, either somewhere around the Bangkok docks area where you would at least find Marine Electricians, light and heavy engineering and hydraulics, or maybe around Korat where you will find an electronics industry.
However I wish you luck with any business venture, and if you can offer me a job any nearer to Hua Hin than Luxembourg, please feel free to send me a message!
Although I wouldn’t rule out Thailand for any of your plans, I do have to agree with Buksida that the area around Hua Hin is not the place to be.
There are simply none of the types of skills or facilities in the locale to support that kind of enterprise.
Off the top of my head, I would say you would be better off, either somewhere around the Bangkok docks area where you would at least find Marine Electricians, light and heavy engineering and hydraulics, or maybe around Korat where you will find an electronics industry.
However I wish you luck with any business venture, and if you can offer me a job any nearer to Hua Hin than Luxembourg, please feel free to send me a message!
Mack111,
Constructive reply.
But as you know, there are ROV's and there are ROV's.
It'a big difference between a heavy hydraulic work ROV and a small electric one. (And I'm not talking about the toys.)
BTW, 450.000 USD is cheap...
One of the companies I have worked for, deliberately stayed away from the offshore business just because of these certification problems.
But you know, there are a lot of other areas.
I was just at the Philippines for a subsea cable trenching job. The company laying the cables really wished for a small observation unit for documentation purposes. They wouldn't care about what kind of ROV took the pictures. That goes for a lot of other inspection and documentation jobs.
And the flight recorder of the Eva Air plane that crashed New Years Eve...
They cannot get to it because it's at more than 1000 metres depth.
Since you are in the business: My intended ROV is a carbon-fibre tube construction, only 2kW power, but 40 kg in weight. Can be handluggage. Maybe 6 knots forward speed. Depth rating 3000 m. I would estimate production cost at less than 15.000 USD with a surface control unit. (Maybe much less....)
And No, Thailand does not have that kind of technology. That's what I thought I could help them with.
So what do you think?
But as you know, there are ROV's and there are ROV's.
It'a big difference between a heavy hydraulic work ROV and a small electric one. (And I'm not talking about the toys.)
BTW, 450.000 USD is cheap...
One of the companies I have worked for, deliberately stayed away from the offshore business just because of these certification problems.
But you know, there are a lot of other areas.
I was just at the Philippines for a subsea cable trenching job. The company laying the cables really wished for a small observation unit for documentation purposes. They wouldn't care about what kind of ROV took the pictures. That goes for a lot of other inspection and documentation jobs.
And the flight recorder of the Eva Air plane that crashed New Years Eve...
They cannot get to it because it's at more than 1000 metres depth.
Since you are in the business: My intended ROV is a carbon-fibre tube construction, only 2kW power, but 40 kg in weight. Can be handluggage. Maybe 6 knots forward speed. Depth rating 3000 m. I would estimate production cost at less than 15.000 USD with a surface control unit. (Maybe much less....)
And No, Thailand does not have that kind of technology. That's what I thought I could help them with.
So what do you think?
Steve G.,
Thanks for the advice.
I'm sure you are right. But who wants to live in Bangkok?
My theory is that I can take any electronic- or mechanically interested young man and train them in a short time to do all tha tasks needed for production.
The Thai's have impressed me in that way. They learn easily and they are really good at practical work.
Ok, I'll keep a position for you. But with Thai salary....
I'm sure you are right. But who wants to live in Bangkok?
My theory is that I can take any electronic- or mechanically interested young man and train them in a short time to do all tha tasks needed for production.
The Thai's have impressed me in that way. They learn easily and they are really good at practical work.
Ok, I'll keep a position for you. But with Thai salary....
Re: Scepticism...
This doesn't really say much for Norwegian technology, Thailand is one of the most expensive countries in Asia for internet due to the limit on international bandwidth, I know for a fact it is cheaper in the UK and you at least get a system that works at ten times the speed.Someone wrote:My internet connection is faster than in Norway, at 1/3 the cost.
I don't know a lot about ROV's but this kind of technology is sadly lacking in Thailand, even chip and PC component manufacturers have opted for other countries such as Vietnam over this one.
Again you wont find these in Hua Hin, Bangkok possibly, but here enthusiastic, motivated staff are thin on the ground.My theory is that I can take any electronic- or mechanically interested young man and train them in a short time to do all tha tasks needed for production.
Sorry my reply didn't paint the picture you want, I just called up Ronny Real and asked for his take on it.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Steve, the Bangkok docks are going to be upscale condos within 10 years. 5 years if Thaksin was still here. Lam Chabang port gains more percentage every month and will eventually take over all. They already have facilities and capability to service nuclear powered ships. If I'm not mistaken, they are the only place outside Japan for this.
For "Someone's' purposes I would say Lam Chabang or Sattahip may be better. These places are also very close to the offshore fields this side of the Gulf. The crews all go out from Mataput near Rayong, just a 30 minute drive east of Sattahip.
Anyway, it's good to see someone with drive and ambition, God knows the Thai's could use a good dose of that. I wish you success, 'Someone'. Pete
For "Someone's' purposes I would say Lam Chabang or Sattahip may be better. These places are also very close to the offshore fields this side of the Gulf. The crews all go out from Mataput near Rayong, just a 30 minute drive east of Sattahip.
Anyway, it's good to see someone with drive and ambition, God knows the Thai's could use a good dose of that. I wish you success, 'Someone'. Pete
It's a bitter pill from an environmental viewpoint though. Many ships cheat and blow their ballast and garbage before they reach LC and subsequently it washes up on shores from Chonburi to Sattahip. The Thai Coast Guard does a pretty good job and fines the living hell out of them when caught, to the tune of millions of baht per incident. However, they don't catch all of them, the millions of baht don't go to clean up, maybe to retirement funds?STEVE G wrote:Yes Pete, I had forgotten about Lam Chabang, that’s the one you can see from the road on the way down to Pattaya; you are right, that looks like a pretty impressive facility.
PeteSteve & Pete,
I know there are impressive facilities many places in Thailand, especially in the electronics industry. Seagate is one example.
But my ambition was to try to do something here locally. Maybe it's overambitious.
It seems like you two and Buksida feels that enthusiasm, drive and ambition is rare around here? Do you think that people here are different from Bangkok, for instance? Or are they just less educated?
Back home there is a tendency amongst young people that after they finished school or university, they want to come home to their small home town, not live in the capital, even if most jobs are there. In that way, small companies are created everywhere.
Maybe it could work here too? Maybe I should just stand outside the gate at the universities at graduation day?
But seriously, what would be a good way to get in contact with young, englishspeaking people with some techincal background? Advertising in Bangkok Post, a local newspaper, or here at HHAD?
I know there are impressive facilities many places in Thailand, especially in the electronics industry. Seagate is one example.
But my ambition was to try to do something here locally. Maybe it's overambitious.
It seems like you two and Buksida feels that enthusiasm, drive and ambition is rare around here? Do you think that people here are different from Bangkok, for instance? Or are they just less educated?
Back home there is a tendency amongst young people that after they finished school or university, they want to come home to their small home town, not live in the capital, even if most jobs are there. In that way, small companies are created everywhere.
Maybe it could work here too? Maybe I should just stand outside the gate at the universities at graduation day?
But seriously, what would be a good way to get in contact with young, englishspeaking people with some techincal background? Advertising in Bangkok Post, a local newspaper, or here at HHAD?
Those are tough questions. I don't think the thinking of recent Thai graduates can equate to what we experience in the West.
The only reasons a Thai graduate with a good degree and fluency in English would move to HH is either family are there, or the opportunity is so great they can't pass it up. It's not just that Bangkok has the jobs, it also has the social life, connections, activities that no where else by far in Thailand has. I young man or lady would really have to be enticed to go to the provinces. Unless, they have majored in social type work or teaching, then their desire many times is to indeed go to the provinces to fulfill their ambitions.
The fastest way to get feedback is to actually go to places like Chullalongkorn and Thamasat (sp) Universities and maybe the next 3 on the status list, and post something on their bulletin board. However, before you do that be damn sure you have a legal company set up and all the t's crossed and i's dotted as you will get scrunty from not just interested applicants, but from University staff as well. However #2, if the flyer is not a job offer but only a 'feeler' about your ideas, make sure it says that.
I think the next best would be to put an ad in the Post and Nation, in English only as then not a lot of effort to sort out those who are and are not fluent.
Those are my only thoughts at the moment. Pete
The only reasons a Thai graduate with a good degree and fluency in English would move to HH is either family are there, or the opportunity is so great they can't pass it up. It's not just that Bangkok has the jobs, it also has the social life, connections, activities that no where else by far in Thailand has. I young man or lady would really have to be enticed to go to the provinces. Unless, they have majored in social type work or teaching, then their desire many times is to indeed go to the provinces to fulfill their ambitions.
The fastest way to get feedback is to actually go to places like Chullalongkorn and Thamasat (sp) Universities and maybe the next 3 on the status list, and post something on their bulletin board. However, before you do that be damn sure you have a legal company set up and all the t's crossed and i's dotted as you will get scrunty from not just interested applicants, but from University staff as well. However #2, if the flyer is not a job offer but only a 'feeler' about your ideas, make sure it says that.
I think the next best would be to put an ad in the Post and Nation, in English only as then not a lot of effort to sort out those who are and are not fluent.
Those are my only thoughts at the moment. Pete
totally, BKK is the place to source the kind of staff you're looking for.Hua Hin is a holiday town where most educated Thais get jobs in the hospitality industry and get paid less per month than the five star resort they work in charges per night.
Good luck with the venture and keep us posted.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Pete,
good thoughts.
It makes me more convinced that it's easier to train someone here without a formal education, than trying to convince the educated ones to move to the province.
I mean, there must be good people everywhere? And considering how many who cannot afford a university education, there are probably lots of quality subjects here.
I don't need engineers. I need someone who can solder cables, assemble circuit boards, use a screwdriver. And some more advanced work like operating a lathe and a milling machine. How long does it take to teach a clever boy (or girl) to do that? Just a few days. They don't need four years of education.
Well, thanks for your thoughts.
good thoughts.
It makes me more convinced that it's easier to train someone here without a formal education, than trying to convince the educated ones to move to the province.
I mean, there must be good people everywhere? And considering how many who cannot afford a university education, there are probably lots of quality subjects here.
I don't need engineers. I need someone who can solder cables, assemble circuit boards, use a screwdriver. And some more advanced work like operating a lathe and a milling machine. How long does it take to teach a clever boy (or girl) to do that? Just a few days. They don't need four years of education.
Well, thanks for your thoughts.