The Singapore Engineer April 2023

SINGAPORE THE ENGINEER

April 2023 | MCI (P) 033/03/2023

Southeast Asia’s largest energy storage system officially opens

www.ies.org.sg

STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT: Specifica on of residual current operated circuit breakers for modern applica ons WASTE RECYCLING: Pilot plant built to recycle lithium-ion ba ery waste

DIGITALISATION: The outlook for industry in 2023

CONTENTS

FEATURES

COVER STORY

12 Southeast Asia’s largest energy storage system officially opens It will support ac ve management of electricity supply and demand for grid stability.

SUSTAINABILITY

14 New Shaw Tower achieves BCA Green Mark Pla num (Super Low Energy) cer fica on

The building has been recognised for its green building features and digital connec vity as well as for ensuring the health and wellbeing of occupants and visitors.

15 Produc on starts at the world’s first industrial-scale facility for carbon-neutral fuel

Commencement of opera ons marks a milestone in decarbonising the transporta on sector.

STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT

16 Adop on of SS 554 improves the quality of air in air-condi oned environments

Indoor air quality (IAQ) has become especially important since the COVID-19 pandemic.

18 Specifica on of residual current operated circuit breakers for modern applica ons

This ar cle traces the changes and raises cri cal ques ons for future alignment of SS 97 with IEC (Interna onal Electrotechnical Commission) Standards.

WASTE RECYCLING

20 Pilot plant built to recycle lithium-ion ba ery waste

The plant will seek to op mise the extrac on of valuable metals for reuse.

22 Breakthrough technology transforms waste plas c bo les into polymers for lithium-ion ba eries

The success of the study will lead to a scaling up of the technology.

President Mr Dalson Chung

Chief Editor T Bhaskaran

t_b_n8@yahoo.com

Publica ons Manager Desmond Teo desmond@iesnet.org.sg

Snr Publica ons Execu ve Queek Jiayu jiayu@iesnet.org.sg

Publica ons Execu ve Nuraini Ahmad nuraini@iesnet.org.sg

Editorial Panel Dr Chandra Segaran

Dr Ang Keng Been Mr Syafiq Shahul Mr Jaime Vega Bau sta Jr

Dr Victor Sim

Mr Soon Ren Jun

Dr Alexander Wiegand Media Representa ve Mul media Communica ons (2000) Pte Ltd sales@mul mediacomms.sg

Design & layout by 2EZ Asia Pte Ltd

Cover designed by Irin Kuah

Cover image by Sembcorp Industries Published by

www.ies.org.sg

DIGITALISATION

24 The outlook for industry in 2023

Digital transforma on in supply chains, sustainability and the workforce present uncertainty and opportunity.

26 Top robo cs trends for 2023

The need to respond to labour shortages and technological developments is presen ng new opportuni es.

28 Is automa on a threat or boon to job security?

The impact of new technological developments is analysed.

CYBERSECURITY

29 Microso Vulnerabili es Report provides valuable informa on Eleva on of Privilege is the top vulnerability category.

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

30 Celebra ng 100 years of cemented carbide

Tracing the history of this important material for producing metal-cu ng tools.

32 Efficient and sustainable parts cleaning for sophis cated high-tech components

Op mally adapted solu ons can meet the stricter requirements in numerous branches of industry.

ENGINEERING AND R&D

34 Global investments in engineering and R&D expected to grow

Digital engineering is at the front and centre of companies’ reinvented business models.

The Singapore Engineer is published monthly by The Ins tu on of Engineers, Singapore (IES). The publica on is distributed free-of-charge to IES members and affiliates. Views expressed in this publica on do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or IES. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine shall be reproduced, mechanically or electronically, without the prior consent of IES. Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy of the content at press me, IES will not be liable for any discrepancies. Unsolicited contribu ons are welcome but their inclusion in the magazine is at the discre on of the Editor.

PUB to par cipate in programmes within Energy Market Authority’s regulatory sandbox

PUB, Singapore’s Na onal Water Agency, recently announced a partnership with SP Group (SP), a leading u li es group in Asia Pacific, to par cipate in Energy Market Authority (EMA)’s Demand Response (DR) and Interrup ble Load (IL) programmes, making it the first government agency to do so. As a par cipant, PUB commits to voluntarily reduce its energy use or temporarily shi electricity usage during periods of peak usage, or when supply from renewable energy sources is intermi ent. This will help balance electricity demand and supply on the na onal power grid at cri cal mes, while facilita ng the integra on of more renewables.

The DR and IL programmes are part of EMA’s regulatory sandbox that enables organisa ons to op mise their energy consump on.

Mr Goh Si Hou, Chief Execu ve, PUB, said: “As Singapore’s na onal water agency, sustainability has been central to our mission. PUB is ac vely leveraging technological innova on and process redesign to raise the energy efficiency of our opera ons. We are improving treatment processes to reduce energy intake and enhance energy recovery, while drawing on renewable energy by deploying floa ng solar farms on our reservoirs. This is especially important as we will increasingly tap on energy-intensive sources like NEWater and desalinaon to meet future growth in water demand.”

“Coming onboard the Demand Response and Interrup ble Load programmes is thus in line with our sustainability efforts. It will provide PUB with greater flexibility in managing energy demand, and allow us to achieve cost savings. At the same me, our par cipa on will support the na onal effort for energy resilience, and bring system-level benefits to all users,” he added.

PUB signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SP on 5 April 2023. Under the MOU, SP will act as the DR aggregator and onboard PUB’s iden fied electricity load opera ons onto its system and par cipate in both the DR/IL programmes on its behalf. An electricity load curtailment is required to balance the na onal grid when energy demand is at its peak or when electricity supply dips. When that happens, SP will combine loads from its Marina Bay district

cooling ice thermal energy storage systems and its partners and make them available for demand response reduc on or interrup on, thus ac ng as an intermediary for partners including PUB. SP will also provide PUB with regular market reports, share technical know-how and work with PUB in mee ng load curtailment targets.

For a start, PUB has iden fied the Marina Raw Water Pumping Sta on, located at Kallang Basin, to

At the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between PUB and SP Group are, from le , Mr Stanley Huang, Group CEO, SP Group; Mr S Harsha, Managing Director, Sustainable Energy Solu ons, SP Group; Mr Harry Seah, Deputy Chief Execu ve (Opera ons), PUB; and Mr Goh Si Hou, Chief Execu ve, PUB. Image: PUB, Singapore’s Na onal Water Agency.

Marina Reservoir, Singapore’s 15th reservoir, with a catchment area of 10,000 hectares, has been created by Marina Barrage. Image: PUB, Singapore’s Na onal Water Agency.

be the contribu ng facility for both programmes. The pumping sta on is used to transfer raw water from Marina Reservoir to Upper Peirce Reservoir and has the flexibility to adjust non- me cri cal operaons, when required, to manage or reduce electricity usage.

Mr Stanley Huang, Group CEO, SP Group, said: “SP Group is well posi oned to be Singapore’s biggest DR aggregator, building on our experience in electricity load curtailment through our district cooling opera ons and now, bringing onboard industry partners like PUB. This unlocks the poten al of DR in electricity-intensive facili es here, paving the way for more

collabora ons that will strengthen the resilience of the na on’s grid through sustainable energy ini a ves.”

Mr Ngiam Shih Chun, Chief Execuve of EMA, said, “We welcome the PUB-SP Group collabora on and their par cipa on in our Demand Response and Interrup ble Load programmes. As we transform our energy sector to be more sustainable, it is also important that consumers are empowered to op mise and reduce their electricity consump on, in exchange for a share of the system-wide benefits. We encourage more consumers to come onboard the programmes and enjoy these benefits.”

EMA and SP had earlier announced a pilot ice thermal Energy Storage System (ESS) at the George Street substa on which will be opera onal in 2026. The total load curtailment capacity from PUB and George Street substa on opera ons, together with SP’s ice thermal ESS that supports the world’s largest underground district cooling opera ons at Marina Bay, is equivalent to the daily energy consump on of 10,000 four-room HDB flats.

SP has been an ac ve par cipant in the IL and DR programmes since 2016, with the capability to facilitate electricity load curtailment for partners like PUB, when required.

The pilot ice thermal Energy Storage System (ESS) at the George Street Substa on is the first installa on by EMA and SP, of an ice thermal storage facility, located on its own, outside a district cooling plant. Such ice thermal storage facili es are tradi onally located within a district cooling plant.

The pilot will op mise space usage within the substa on and be completed in the third quarter of 2026, as part of the substa on’s renewal works. The ESS will add up to 1,500 refrigera on ton-hour (RTH) of ice thermal energy to the Marina Bay district cooling network operated by SP. This will enable the curtailment of up to 2 MW of electrical load – the equivalent of the power requirement of 170 4-room HDB flats for a day. This will also contribute towards EMA’s target to deploy at least 200 MW of ESS beyond 2025.

ESS can help to address the issue of supply intermi ency, as renewable energy such as solar power fluctuates due to weather condi ons. The stored thermal energy can also be discharged to power the district cooling plant and shave peak load demand. This will help to balance the

electricity load, thereby reducing intermi ency and enabling the grid to be more resilient.

On the pilot’s importance, Mr Ngiam Shih Chun, Chief Execu ve of EMA, said, “Energy storage systems (ESS) help to address solar intermi ency and can enhance the resilience of our power grid. EMA is pleased to partner SP Group on a thermal ESS at the George Street power substa on. If successful, more thermal ESS can be installed island-wide, which will support Singapore’s target of having at least 200 MW of ESS beyond 2025.”

As part of the pilot, SP will install 3,000 refrigera on tons (RT) of chiller capacity at the substa on to support the future expansion of the Marina Bay district cooling network, bringing the total installed capacity of the network to 73,000 RT. This will allow SP to provide sustainable cooling to more buildings in the Marina Bay vicinity and surrounding areas such as Boat Quay.

Mr Stanley Huang, Group CEO, SP Group, said, “SP Group has built deep capabili es in opera ng Singapore’s na onal grid and upholding its world-class

electricity network reliability. This pilot will provide valuable insights on leveraging exis ng electricity infrastructure to support sustainable energy developments. In exploring the opera on of thermal energy storage in more loca ons, we aim to strengthen the resilience, reliability and sustainability of both our electricity and district cooling networks. This will also enable us to incorporate more renewable energy sources to empower a low-carbon, smart energy future for Singapore.”

The thermal ESS will also enhance SP’s par cipa on in demand response, mi ga ng high prices during mes of ght electricity supply. SP’s district cooling opera ons at Marina Bay are currently a key demand response provider in Singapore, with five thermal storage tanks contribu ng up to 11 MW of electricity load curtailment capacity. With the addi onal thermal energy storage from the George Street Substa on, SP can increase its electricity load curtailment capacity for demand response during peak periods which will result in overall system savings.

Pilot thermal Energy Storage System at electricity substa on

Grundfos Commercial Building Services unveils new global headquarters in Singapore

Grundfos, a global leader in advanced pump solu ons and water technologies, recently inaugurated the global headquarters of its Commercial Building Services (CBS) division, in Singapore. The move comes off the back of heightened demand for resource-efficient solu ons to foster a sustainable built environment in Singapore and the region.

Serving commercial buildings such as hotels, hospitals, office towers, airports and data centres, Grundfos’ CBS division delivers water pump systems that have various applica ons suppor ng the successful opera on of these buildings, including air-condi oning, cooling, hea ng, fire protec on, and wastewater and water disinfec on.

A cri cal component of the Grundfos’ reloca on strategy will be the Singapore Innova on Hub at the new global headquarters of the company’s CBS division.

The Singapore Innova on Hub aims to leverage local knowledge to pioneer future solu ons for energy-efficient commercial buildings. The facility will look to bring Grundfos’ R&D capabili es closer to customers and the market, as well as provide a pla orm for collabora on with industry partners, customers and researchers, to co-develop energy and water-efficient, smart solu ons.

As part of developing the Singapore Innova on Hub, Grundfos has engaged in various feedback, steering and risk management efforts, following which the company will embark on iden fying and developing key innova on ini a ves, establish governance structures and discuss areas of collabora on with poten al partners. All this will contribute towards a comprehensive working plan for the new Singapore Innova on Hub by the third quarter of 2023.

Singapore was selected for the

reloca on, based on its strengths in innova on and talent, and its na on-wide commitment to sustainability through the Singapore Green Plan 2030. Singapore’s strategic loca on as the gateway to other ASEAN countries also allows Grundfos to work more closely with customers in these markets and support sustainable urbanisa on. Recent reports of climate change and rapid urbanisa on has called for countries to examine their buildings’ environmental impact.

According to a roadmap produced by the Interna onal Energy Agency (IEA), Southeast Asia’s building sector accounts for nearly a quarter of total energy consump on and energy-related carbon emissions, and this is s ll projected to grow by around 60% by 2030 and 120% by 2040. Also, specifically, space cooling is the fastest-growing use of energy in buildings globally.

Being one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change, the sector’s sustainability ambi ons are high on the region’s agenda.

Poul Due Jensen, Group President & CEO, Grundfos, said, “Loca ng our CBS headquarters in the heart of Asia is part of our wider business strategy of opera ng as a truly global company. We also recognise Singapore’s strong poten al in be-

coming a hub for green innova on, which aligns with our business focus of driving global sustainability. At Grundfos, we are commi ed to delivering on our net-zero targets validated by the Science Based Targets ini a ve (SBTi) to ensure our growth is sustainable. This includes designing our products and solu ons to help our customers reduce their energy consump on, conserve resources and minimise their environmental impact, and ul mately advance the global green transi on.”

Bent Jensen, Group Execu ve Vice President & CEO Commercial Building Services, Grundfos said, “Today’s milestone demonstrates our commitment to introducing cleaner, more energy-efficient technologies that can help exis ng and future buildings reduce their energy consump on and overall carbon footprint. We look forward to advancing a sustainable built environment both regionally and globally, with Singapore at the heart of our innova on and opera ons.”

Under the new CBS headquarters, Grundfos will also be strengthening its talent pipeline to over 200 employees, by bringing in global exper se and the hiring of local talents. The company will also connue collabora ng with public and private players, locally.

At the unveiling, in Singapore, of the new global headquarters of Grundfos Commercial Building Services division are, from le , Bent Jensen, Group Execu ve Vice President & CEO Commercial Building Services, Grundfos; Soh Wai Wah, Principal & CEO, Singapore Polytechnic; Poul Due Jensen, Group President & CEO, Grundfos; Birgit Dohmann Chang, Chargé d'affaires, Royal Danish Embassy Singapore; and Eric Lai, Regional Managing Director, Industry – APAC & Country Director for Singapore, Grundfos.

Results of global survey on the state of smart manufacturing released

Rockwell Automa on Inc, a leading interna onal company dedicated to industrial automa on and digital transforma on, has announced the results of the 8th annual ‘State of Smart Manufacturing Report’. The global study surveyed more than 1,350 manufacturers from 13 leading manufacturing countries, including Australia, China, India, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Key findings of the report include:

• ‘Balancing quality and growth’ and ‘tracking or quan fying sustainable prac ces’ are the biggest internal obstacles inhibi ng progress for Asia-Pacific (APAC) manufacturers this year, compared to deploying and integra ng new technology in 2022.

• Globally, twice as many manufacturers believe their organisa on lacks the technology needed to outpace the compe on, as compared to 2022.

• Four out of five manufacturers s ll lack an end-to-end supply chain planning solu on.

• Close to half (44%) of APAC manufacturers plan to adopt smart manufacturing within the next year. Out of this group, China (80%), Australia (60%) and India (59%) are already using some

components of smart manufacturing.

• The biggest barriers to adop ng smart manufacturing for APAC manufacturers are employee resistance to technology adopon and change, lack of skill sets to manage smart manufacturing implementa on, and lack of clear defini on of the value/ROI of smart manufacturing.

• Quality management system (QMS) is the smart manufacturing system that APAC respondents have seen as genera ng the largest ROI, followed by manufacturing execu on system (MES) and enterprise resource planning (ERP).

• Cybersecurity risks rank highest as the obstacle all respondents are looking to mi gate, with smart manufacturing ini a ves.

• 88% of APAC manufacturers plan to maintain or grow employment due to technology adop on. Addi onally, 39% of respondents believe they will be able to repurpose the roles of exis ng workers due to their increasing use of technology.

• Of the 94% of APAC manufacturers who have formal or informal environmental, social

and governance (ESG) policies in place, close to half (48%) cite ‘a compe ve differen ator’ as the top driver for ESG ini a ves.

Based on the survey findings, technology is crucial to mi ga ng risk and delivering growth. However, for one-third of manufacturers, globally, the range of available systems and pla orms is leading to ‘technology paralysis’ – an inability to decide between solu ons. Manufacturers can overcome this indecision by choosing a partner with relevant industry exper se and experience, who can advise and guide them in implemen ng a fit-for-purpose soluon to achieve desired outcomes.

Methodology

This report analysed feedback from 1,353 respondents from 13 of the top manufacturing countries, with roles from management up to the C-suite. The survey was conducted, in associa on with Sapio Research and Plex, by Rockwell Automa on. Out of the total number of respondents, 425 are based in Asia-Pacific, in Australia, China, India, Japan and the Republic of Korea. The survey covered discrete, process, and hybrid industries across a balanced distribu on of company sizes.

Keysight and SUTD to Collaborate on Open RAN and 6G Technology

Keysight Technologies Inc, a leading technology company that delivers advanced design and valida on solu ons has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) to collaborate on Open RAN (O-RAN), 6G Technology, research, development and educa on.

SUTD is the host ins tu on for Singapore’s na onal Future Communica ons Research & Development Programme (FCP). Through this collabora on, Keysight and SUTD will conduct research in the areas of O-RAN security, O-RAN sustainability, O-RAN standards, 6G technologies and metaverse-ready networks. In addi on, both par es will work together to advance the adop on of Open RAN technologies focusing on O-RAN Alliance at SUTD, in order to provide tes ng, valida on and cer fica on of O-RAN systems and components.

The MoU builds on the successful development of a cyber-assessment framework designed for security and resilience tes ng of Open RAN systems and components by Keysight and SUTD. The framework employs a highly parameterised, threat-centric a ack injec on methodology designed by SUTD and implemented through Keysight’s Open RAN Architect (KORA) Security Test Suite which emulates live subscribers, devices, applicaons and services, against a set of security a acks and audit modules.

Professor Phoon Kok Kwang, Provost, SUTD, said, “We proudly call ourselves a unique inter-disciplinary ins tu on of higher educaon in the world. We look forward to innova ng for a be er world, in partnership with Keysight Technologies, in areas like O-RAN, Beyond 5G and 6G, as well as metaverseready networks. A trailblazer in higher educa on like SUTD and a market frontrunner like Keysight Technologies will certainly help to

posi on both organisa ons at the forefront of the digital revolu on, to bring value to our stakeholders and society at large.”

Mr Peng Cao, Vice President and General Manager for Keysight’s Wireless Test Group, said, “Open RAN and 6G hold great promise to enable a truly open and innova ve telecommunica ons ecosystem. However, the extended interfaces, cloudifica on, breakthrough

technology enablers such ar ficial intelligence / machine learning, and the need for mul -vendor-solu on integra on of these new technologies require a holis c security and sustainability-by-design approach to enable commercial deployments at scale. Keysight is commi ed to accelera ng Open RAN technology adopon and 6G R&D by partnering and co-innova ng with SUTD, to facilitate commercial-scale deployments of 5G and meet 6G requirements.”

Advancing 6G technology design and development

Keysight Technologies Inc has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Analog Devices Inc (ADI), a global semiconductor leader that bridges the physical and digital worlds, to advance 6G technology design and development.

ADI will bring together high-performance solu ons and exper se across a wide range of technology domains to realise the industry’s evolving 6G vision. Under the MoU, the companies will collaborate to develop innova ve solu ons in technology areas cri cal to mul ple facets of wireless network performance,

including energy efficiency as well as resilient and secure wireless connec vity.

The two companies will build on exis ng collabora ons in 5G, open radio access network (RAN), and phased array technology, to accelerate technological breakthroughs required to deliver solu ons and services with the poten al to transform lives while offering huge opportuni es for business, industry, and consumers. Future use cases will leverage new waveforms and spectrum technologies, a new 6G air-interface, higher order antenna systems and sensing.

A er the signing of the MoU between SUTD and Keysight are, from le , Professor Phoon Kok Kwang, Provost, SUTD; Professor Tony Quek, Director, Future Communica ons Research & Development Programme (FCP); Mr Oh Sang Ho, Director of Keysight South Asia Pacific Regional; and Mr Peng Cao, Vice President & General Manager of Keysight Wireless Test Group.

ABB expands in Asia with new electrical service teams in Vietnam and Japan

Responding to rising demand for extending the life cycle of electrical assets, ABB, a technology leader in electrifica on and automa on, is expanding its electrical service presence by hiring new teams in Vietnam and Japan.

The expansion will bolster ABB’s presence in Asia, which now includes 38 service workshops and more than 400 field engineers across the region. In total, ABB has more than 700 electrical servicing employees in 12 countries - with over 100 roles focused on operaons and service delivery.

The new teams in Vietnam and Japan will help to be er support the growing numbers of ABB’s u lity, industrial and commercial customers increasingly looking to op mise and extend the life cycle of their electrical assets to meet sustainability targets.

According to ABB, one of the biggest growth areas is data centres which have expanded rapidly across the Asia region in recent years due to the rising global demand for data. Due to the poten al reputa onal damage a data shutdown

could bring, operators can ill-afford down me at their facili es, which is spurring them to invest in endto-end electrical asset support, o en requiring 24/7 service level agreements.

Andrew Stepien, Vice President of ABB Electrifica on’s Service Division in Asia, said, “Electrifica on is one of the key enablers of Asia’s transi on towards a greener future, and we see a strong opportunity to partner across even more geographies and segments, helping customers to embrace digitalisa on and clean electrifica on.”

“This broader footprint will help us to support our customers in Asia with their transforma on, through upgrades, retrofits and tailor-made services, that op mise energy efficiency, energy consump on, produc vity and maintenance for the next level of performance and sustainability,” he added.

The expansion of ABB’s electrification services in Asia will help customers improve their return on investment and keep the electrical equipment operating at the highest efficiency and productiv-

Addressing the growing threat of cyber a acks

Over 800 cybersecurity delegates a ended ABB’s Ransom-Aware OT Defense Summit recently, organised in partnership with the global technology advisory board, Industry IoT. The event focused on strategies to reduce the risk of ransomware a acks and iden fy security threats to cri cal infrastructure.

The World Economic Forum’s Global Cyber Security Outlook 2022 reveals that 80% of cyber leaders believe ransomware is a dangerous and evolving threat – with 50% indica ng it is one of their greatest

concerns when it comes to cyber threats.

During the event, ABB launched its ‘Defense in Depth’ playbook which includes a recommended risk reduc on roadmap for customers, and outlines strategies that leverage mul ple security measures and defensive mechanisms to protect systems and data from vulnerabili es.

The efficacy of the ‘defence in depth’ methodology has been widely acknowledged. The Na on-

ity levels throughout their entire lifetime.

ABB’s offering spans the en re value chain, from the moment a customer makes the first inquiry, through customer care and support, upgrades and advanced services, through to final disposal and recycling of the product. Throughout the lifecycle, ABB provides training, technical support and customised solu ons, supported by an extensive global sales and service network.

al Ins tute of Technology (NIST) recommends using it from the very start through to the design of security and privacy architectures. The Interna onal Society of Automaon (ISA) refers to it as a superior approach to achieving security objec ves.

ABB’s summit brought together industrial cyber experts and technology leaders from companies, including IBM, Cisco, Boston Consul ng Group, Johnson Ma hey, BASF Digital Solu ons, Norsk Hydro and Boliden.

ABB’s expanded services teams will help customers to op mise and extend the life cycle of their electrical assets.

AVEVA so ware helps Airbridge transform carbon emissions into high-value commodi es

AVEVA, a global leader in industrial so ware driving digital transformaon and sustainability, has partnered with Airbridge, an Australian innovator, in a breakthrough technology that converts carbon emissions into essen al global commodi es to accelerate the net-zero economy. The commodi es include fer liser, calcium carbonate and fuel addi ves, among others.

AVEVA’s Process Simula on soluon has been implemented in a pilot project for Airbridge’s Carbon Capture, U lisa on and Storage (CCUS) patented technology. The AVEVA so ware is used to create an accurate pilot data-model of Airbridge’s new carbon conversion facility, including a detailed electrolyte thermodynamic feature that enables the accurate predic on of chemical reac ons. Airbridge can also simulate the chemical process cycles to predict CO recovery. The recovered CO can then be repurposed into high-demand, high-value, commodi sed products, for use in industries such as agriculture, mining, construc on, manufactur-

ing and pharmaceu cals.

Sustainability impact from edge-to-enterprise

Airbridge also deploys two other AVEVA solu ons. AVEVA Edge unifies project process data at scale from mul ple sources, enabling Airbridge to cost-effec vely monitor opera ons of its patented reactor. This data is organised and visualised in AVEVA Insight, where Airbridge’s teams can monitor and analyse asset performance, collabora ng, in real me, in the cloud. AVEVA Insight will support Airbridge in sharing data with, and demonstra ng its capabili es to, investors, industrial partners and government organisa ons.

Deriving value from the air to support net zero

Airbridge is posi oning to be more than a carbon-capture company. It aims to partner with companies in some of the world’s largest emi ng industries to effect measurable environmental change. By turning

industries’ biggest challenge – carbon emissions – into their greatest opportunity, Airbridge hopes to enable companies to drive competi ve advantages while reducing the carbon impacts on the environment.

According to the Interna onal Energy Agency (IEA), CCUS is vital to the transi on to a carbon-free future. It is one of the technology op ons that industries can use to reduce direct emissions.

Within Australia alone, the government commi ed to an AUD 50 million CCUS Development Fund in 2021, benefi ng several opportuni es including carbon recycling, nega ve emissions/direct air capture, and carbon capture and storage. Since 2017, strategies for more than 30 new integrated CCUS facili es have been announced globally, in the US, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East and China. If all these projects come to frui on, global CO capture capacity could more than triple to around 130 metric tons per year, according to IEA.

Six addi onal gen-sets commissioned for waste-to-energy project

Wuhan Environmental Investment and Development Co Ltd (WEID) has commissioned six addi onal Jenbacher J320 engines, from INNIO, for the Wuhan Jiangxia Changshankou Municipal Solid Waste landfill gas (LFG) project. INNIO’s distributor, Guangzhou Shenfa Electromechanical Industrial Development Co Ltd (Shenfa), provided the project’s genset containers, landfill gas pre-treatment equipment and NOx reduc on equipment. Shenfa will also con nue to provide technical services for the customer. The project is now operating with 14 Jenbacher J320 generator sets, delivering a total installed capacity of 14.9 MW. This supports the city of Wuhan in achieving its

goal of becoming the most sustainable city in China.

In 2020, WEID turned to INNIO’s proven landfill gas power genera on technology, selec ng eight J320 gen-sets in their Wuhan City Changshankou LFG phase 1 project. The gen-sets were commissioned in April 2021. Based on the technological reliability of Jenbacher engines and Shenfa’s professional services, WEID purchased six addi onal J320 gen-sets in April 2022 for Phase II of the LFG project. The project provides enough electricity to power 35,000 homes in Wuhan. The six Jenbacher engines were commissioned in December 2022.

More than 300 Jenbacher J320 generator sets have been delivered across China. INNIO is recognised as a leading energy solu on and service provider in the segment of power genera on.

The Wuhan waste-to-energy project.

Hexagon recognised as leading supplier of alarm management so ware and services

Hexagon’s Asset Lifecycle Intelligence division has been recognised as a leading provider of Alarm Management so ware by the ARC Advisory Group in its annual Alarm Management market research study.

Designed to deliver current market analysis plus a five-year market and technology forecast, the alarm management market research study iden fied Hexagon as the leading supplier of alarm management so ware and services worldwide.

“Reliable alarm management capabili es are a must-have for our customers, which is why we dive in head-first to provide the best so ware and services to our customers. For well over a decade, we have been recognised experts in alarm management and overall opera ons risk management. We build that exper se into our so ware and deliver that exper se through comprehensive services,” said Bill Hollifield of Hexagon’s Asset Lifecycle Intelligence division, author of ‘The Alarm Management Handbook’ and ‘Alarm Management: Seven Effec ve Methods for Op mum Performance’, and a key member of the Interna onal Soci-

ety of Automa on (ISA) 18.2 alarm management standards commi ee, since its incep on in 2003.

Not only has Hexagon gained recogni on as the largest alarm management so ware supplier globally, it is also the fastest-growing company in the alarm management so ware market.

PAS PlantState Integrity from Hexagon drives significant gains in safety, reliability and cost-effec veness, with real- me remote monitoring of opera ons, for one of the largest APAC oil and gas companies. Contact Energy, the second-largest power producer in New Zealand, has also

Bentley Systems acquires EasyPower

Bentley Systems Incorporated, a leading infrastructure engineering so ware company, recently acquired EasyPower, a leading developer of design and analysis so ware tools, including arc flash solu ons, for electrical engineering professionals.

Since its founding in 1984, EasyPower has innova vely combined graphics-based modelling and analysis, in order to make solving complex electrical engineering problems more straigh orward and accessible. EasyPower products are primarily used

for designing, analysing and monitoring power distribu on systems serving industrial and commercial facili es, to ensure safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance.

Bentley Systems’ acquisi on of EasyPower extends its capability in integrated and itera ve power systems design and analysis for infrastructure digital twins of every type, thereby broadening its comprehensiveness in infrastructure engineering. With an increasingly electrified future and with disparate and widely distrib-

reduced alarm load by 60%, for Heterogenous Control Systems, since implemen ng the so ware.

The PAS PlantState Integrity platform includes solu ons for alarm management, boundary management, control loop monitoring and tuning, and managing Independent Protec on Layers (IPL) that work together to ensure safe, reliable and compliant industrial opera ons. With the PlantState Integrity platform, one can gain holis c insights into core areas of the opera ons in order to strengthen the opera onal founda on and achieve new levels of process safety, control, operaonal resilience and effec veness.

uted energy resources on both sides of ‘the meter’, all infrastructure assets will benefit – in performance, economics, safety and resilience – from con nued simula on and assessment of power distribu on condi ons and designs, over their project and opera ng lifecycles.

Priori es for Bentley Systems will include integra ng EasyPower’s schema and digital workflows with Bentley’s OpenBuildings, OpenFlows, OpenPlant, OpenRail and Bentley Raceway and Cable Management applica ons.

Alarm management so ware provided by Hexagon contribute to opera onal safety, control, resilience and effec veness.

Southeast Asia’s largest energy storage system officially opens

It will support ac ve management of electricity supply and demand for grid stability.

In early February 2023, Sembcorp Industries (Sembcorp) and the Energy Market Authority (EMA) officially opened the Sembcorp Energy Storage System (ESS).

The Sembcorp ESS is Southeast Asia’s largest ESS and spans across two hectares of land in the Banyan and Sakra region on Jurong Island. Commissioned in six months, the facility started opera ons in December 2022 and is the fastest in the world of its size to be deployed. This claim is based on independent assurance provider DNV’s global database of 4,210 ESS projects totalling 32 GWh and publicly available informa on as of early January 2023, for a comparable size u lity-scale ESS (same or higher ra ng and same design).

The event was officiated by Guest of Honour, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and

Industry, Dr Tan See Leng; together with Chief Execu ve of EMA, Mr Ngiam Shih Chun; and CEO, Singapore & Southeast Asia of Sembcorp Industries, Mr Koh Chiap Khiong.

The u lity-scale ESS has a maximum storage capacity of 285 megawa hours (MWh) and can meet the electricity needs of around 24,000 four-room HDB households for one day, in a single discharge. This figure is based on the average household electricity consump on of a 4-room HDB household in 2019.

The rapid response me of the ESS, enabling it to store and supply power, in a ma er of milliseconds, is essen al in mi ga ng solar intermi ency, caused by changing weather condi ons that characterise Singapore’s tropical climate. The ESS can also provide reserves to the

power grid, which frees up power genera on plants to generate more electricity to meet demand, when needed.

Mr Ngiam Shih Chun, Chief Execuve of the Energy Market Authority, said, “Energy Storage Systems such as the Sembcorp ESS will play a signi fi cant part in suppor ng Singapore’s transi on towards cleaner energy sources. This largescale ESS marks the achievement of Singapore’s 200 MWh energy storage target, ahead of me. It will complement our efforts to maximise solar adop on by storing and delivering energy, given the intermi ent nature of solar power. The ESS will also enhance our power grid stability and resilience, by managing mismatches between electricity demand and supply.”

Mr Wong Kim Yin, Group President

Commissioned in six months, the Sembcorp ESS is Southeast Asia’s largest ESS and is the fastest in the world of its size to be deployed. It spans across two hectares of land in the Banyan and Sakra region on Jurong Island. Image: Sembcorp Industries.

& CEO of Sembcorp Industries, said, “ESS is rapidly growing in demand, to support power system reliability, especially for the integra on of intermi ent renewable energy. Sembcorp already operates one of

the largest fleets of ESS in the UK. This 285 MWh ESS is the largest in Southeast Asia. At 709 MWh, Sembcorp is now one of Asia’s largest and fastest-growing ESS operators with strong technical capabili es.”

DETAILS OF THE SEMBCORP ESS PROJECT

Energy management system and SCADA pla orm

TThe Sembcorp ESS uses the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisi on (SCADA) pla orm, from Envision, which offers monitoring and control of the ESS, from the site level down to each ba ery unit and auxiliary equipment. Key performance indicators, event alarms and data analysis are used to track the overall performance of the system, in real- me. This improves the efficiency of daily opera ons and maintenance.

Envision’s Energy Management System (EMS) enables the monitoring and control of the power at the ESS. The EMS controls and monitors the accuracy, speed, and stability of the ba ery output, ensuring maximum power per-

formance to meet the dispatching requirements of the grid. Envision’s intelligent liquid cooling technology will also work with the ba ery design to increase the energy density and reduce energy consump on of the ESS.

Temperature control system

The Sembcorp ESS uses a decentralised temperature control system, from Huawei, which maintains the ba eries’ temperature difference within a narrow range. This increases the ba ery lifespan and ensures a stable power output.

There are several levels of ac ve and passive safety protec on features in the ba ery system. This includes distributed temperature, as well as humidity and smoke sensors to detect

Fast response ba eries to maintain grid reliability

The Sembcorp ESS is an integrated system comprising more than 800 large-scale ba ery units. It uses lithium iron phosphate ba eries with high energy density, fast response me and high round-trip efficiency, to maximise energy storage, making them suitable for maintaining grid stability. A central control system manages the batteries’ charge and discharge cycles according to the grid’s supply and demand. The integrated system also includes the liquid cooling systems or built-in air condi oning systems to maintain op mal opera ng temperatures. Live monitoring, through extensive use of intelligent sensors, security cameras and dashboards, tracks the key performance indicators to ensure safe, reliable and op mal performance.

EMA’s Accelera ng Energy Storage for Singapore (ACCESS) programme facilitates ESS adop on in Singapore by promo ng use cases and business models with industry partners and other government agencies.

hazardous substances and raise alarms in the event of adverse opera ng condi ons.

Project management

China Energy Engineering Group Shanxi Electric Power Engineering Co Ltd (SEPEC) oversaw the engineering, procurement, construc on, infrastructure works, manpower training, installa on and commissioning of the Sembcorp ESS.

The SEPEC team adhered to stringent requirements for project safety. The team developed a detailed construc on network plan and established processes to ensure construc on operaons progressed on me while reducing poten al construc on safety hazards and quality risks onsite.

The ESS is an integrated system comprising more than 800 large-scale ba ery units and includes liquid cooling systems or built-in air condi oning systems to maintain op mal opera ng temperatures. Image: Sembcorp Industries.

New Shaw Tower achieves BCA Green Mark Pla num (Super Low Energy) cer fica on

The building has been recognised for its green building features and digital connec vity as well as for ensuring the health and wellbeing of occupants and visitors.

Shaw Tower has received a series of accolades that cer fy the building as one of Singapore’s most advanced, sustainable and healthy workplaces. These include the Building and Construc on Authority (BCA) Green Mark Pla num (Super Low Energy) cer fica on, under the latest 2021 criteria – the first grade A commercial building in Singapore to achieve this. In addi on, as an industry’s first for a commercial building, the development has also been awarded three addi onal badges – the Health and Wellbeing (Hw), Intelligence (In) and Maintainability (Mt) badges.

Eighty percent of new developments, by gross floor area (GFA), will have to be BCA Green Mark Pla num (Super Low Energy)-cerfied, from 2030, under the Singapore Green Building Masterplan announced in 2021.

As the first grade A commercial building to achieve the higher standards required, Shaw Tower, which is under construc on, will exemplify how future workplaces in Singapore can be greener and healthier, from design and construc on through to comple on and beyond.

Key features of the new Shaw Tower

• Superior energy efficiency: The new Shaw Tower will achieve more than 60% energy savings above that s pulated in the 2005 building codes. This will be achieved by u lising an advanced hybrid air-condi oning system, smart Internet of Things (IoT) ligh ng and tenant power management strategies. These will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the building and thereby help in the transi on towards a carbon zero industry.

• Genera on of renewable energy: Roo op solar photovoltaic panels along with a wind turbine will generate renewable energy, further reducing the carbon footprint of the building.

• Employment of smart technologies: Shaw Tower will use smart facili es management systems powered by an IoT ecosystem to monitor and automa cally adjust Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and ligh ng levels, for op mal energy efficiency and thermal comfort. It will also capture building occupancy and space u lisa on data, to op mise workplace strategies.

• Crea ng a healthier environment for tenants: High performance air filtra on and sterilisa on systems will clean the air throughout the tower, to promote be er air circula on for human health. This is supported by IAQ monitoring systems and controls that respond automa cally to changes in air quality, due to shi ing occupancy levels or other factors.

Occupants and visitors can also take advantage of ameni es such as a gymnasium, end-of-trip facili es suppor ng healthier travel op ons and 15,700 of retail and

dining op ons including a roo op restaurant.

Raising the bar on the future of work

In addi on to the BCA Green Mark Pla num (Super Low Energy) accolade, the new Shaw Tower has also been recognised as:

• The first building under development in Singapore and Asia to obtain the WiredScore Pla num award – the highest ra ng available – for its digital connec vity standards as a future-ready workplace suppor ng tech-centric ways of working.

• Singapore’s first high-rise grade A commercial building under development to be pre-cer fied WELL v2 Core Gold, by the Interna onal WELL Building Ins tute (IWBI), for ensuring the health and wellbeing of tenants and visitors.

• An ABC Waters Cer fied Project, by PUB, Singapore’s Na onal Water Agency, for its lush green cascading gardens capping the podium sec on and the two sky terraces, at the top and midpoint of the tower, providing biophilic spaces, further enhancing the health and wellbeing of future occupants and visitors.

An aerial view of Shaw Tower which overlooks Beach Road and the Ophir-Rochor Corridor. Ar st’s impression. Image: Shaw Towers Realty Pte Ltd.

Commencement

In late December 2022, producon began at the world’s first fully integrated facility for making carbon-neutral, synthe c fuels. The Haru Oni plant, near the city of Punta Arenas in southern Chile, combines wind power, water, and CO to make e-methanol and ul mately electricity-based carbon-neutral gasoline.

Siemens Energy designed and led the system integra on of HIF Global’s pilot plant in collabora on with Porsche and other partners.

The start of produc on of the first eFuels is a key step forward in decarbonising the transporta on sector, especially those segments in the sector that are difficult or impossible to electrify, like marine and avia on, or internal combuson engine cars that are s ll in use.

Siemens Energy Managing Board Member, Anne-Laure de Chammard, stated, “The Haru Oni project aims to demonstrate that eFuels can be brought to market in large quanes and at compe ve prices. It lays the founda on for bringing green energy to areas that are s ll heavily dependent on fossil fuels. This is key to achieving the climate goals of the transporta on sector. The knowledge gained from this project will also help develop climate-friendly solu ons for many other applica ons.”

The plant is located in Magallanes province in Chile’s southern Patagonia region. As the co-developer and systems integrator, Siemens Energy has played a major role in designing this lighthouse project.

Hydrogen, the basis of the fuel synthesis process, is produced in an electrolyser from Siemens Energy. The wind turbine came from Siemens Gamesa. The project’s big challenge was to combine process steps for making synthe c fuels,

that had previously only been tested individually, and to coordinate them in a produc on chain for the first me, in an efficient and trouble-free way. That integra on is the basis for the ramp-up for eFuel produc on.

The system is expected to produce 130,000 litres of eFuel per year, by 2023. A er the pilot phase, the first scaling will take the project in Chile up to a projected 55 million litres per year by the middle of the decade. Around two years later, the capacity is expected to be 550 million litres per year.

The project is tapping Patagonia’s vast poten al of renewable energy to assist the hydrogen economy, and thus the energy transi on in Europe and around the world. The windy region offers as much as 6,000 full load hours of opera on for genera ng green electricity –around three mes the amount available in Europe.

Wind power is stored in liquid energy carriers, using the power-to-X process. The liquids are easy to transport out of a region with lots

of renewable energy to places that need the energy.

Haru Oni is doing pioneering work here and may serve as a role model for many other regions around the world. It enjoys support from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Ac on. In 2020, Haru Oni became the first hydrogen project to be funded as part of Germany’s na onal hydrogen strategy.

The project is the first to apply the Clean Energy Cer fica on solu on developed by the TÜV SÜD tes ng NGO and the German Energy Agency (DENA), in collabora on with Siemens Energy. That digital cer ficate provides fake-proof documenta on that a product has earned the right to be called ‘green’.

For a product to receive the cer ficate, the carbon footprint is documented for the first me across the en re produc on chain. In the case of eFuels, that means from the wind turbine to filling the tank. The cer fied e-gasoline from the Chilean plant will meet the EU’s requirements for sustainable fuels.

Produc on starts at the world’s first industrial-scale facility for carbon-neutral fuel

of opera ons marks a milestone in decarbonising the transporta on sector.

Located near the city of Punta Arenas in southern Chile, the Haru Oni plant has been built to produce carbon-neutral gasoline.

Adop on of SS 554 improves the quality of air in air-condi oned environments

by IES-Standards Development Organisa on (IES-SDO)

Indoor air quality (IAQ) has become especially important since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The outbreak of COVID-19 impeded global ac vi es and interac on among people. Studies done in 2021, by Na onal University of Singapore (NUS) and World Health Organiza on (WHO) have shown that COVID-19 can be spread through airborne transmission, resul ng in rapid infec on in communi es. The studies also indicated that mi ga on measures, such as the wearing of face masks, are effec ve in reducing the number of infec ons.

Guidelines on IAQ, set by interna onal agencies, are paramount

in minimising the risk of adverse health effects. Occupants are also spending more me indoors as global warming has resulted in the dras c shi s in weather. Therefore, today, IAQ is playing an even more significant role in improving one’s standard of living.

Through the forma on of a working commi ee from the public and private sectors, the ‘SS 554 Code of prac ce for indoor air quality for air-condi oned buildings’ was developed, to provide valuable informa on, advice and guidance, on measures to improve the quality of

air in air-condi oned environments that will be acceptable to building occupants.

In se ng the standards for IAQ, SS 554 considers environmental factors including thermal, physical, chemical and biological factors. The standard provides limits for parameters that are indica ve of the quality of the indoor air, such as contaminants commonly found indoors. SS 554 further provides assurance to business owners and facili es managers who seek to engage contractors or service providers.

Tes ng and assessment of IAQ is essen al to ensuring high standards of hygiene and sanita

Government – Industry partnership

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of maintaining high standards of hygiene and sanita on, to safeguard public health. Since 30 July 2021, the Naonal Environment Agency (NEA) has rolled out baseline environmental sanita on (ES) standards for specific and higher-risk premises with vulnerable occupants and/or high foo all, such as childcare and learning centres. These premises are required to put in place good IAQ prac ces, with the aim to move towards a co-regulatory approach where all stakeholders take accountability and ownership of the ES standards within their respec ve premises. The managers of these specified premises are required to get accredited laboratories to conduct the periodic IAQ audits at least

once every three years, with the audits having to include measurements of the recommended IAQ parameters s pulated in SS 554.

Improving well-being

Adop ng SS 554 can significantly boost an organisa on’s profile and provide a compe ve edge within the industry.

Due to COVID-19, the concept of health has undergone a significant transforma on over the last two years, with the quality of life becoming the centre of a en on. Upstream and downstream ini a ves were rolled out by the authori es, as part of their efforts to combat the mental health impact of the pandemic on the Singapore popula on. It has been shown that by providing a conducive environment, with good IAQ, the physical and

Increasing compe ve advantage and revenue

Ecoliving System Pte Ltd is a Singapore company, founded in 2006, that provides technological solu ons for elimina ng hidden dangers such as pathogens and toxins in the air and water, and in the environment. Solu ons offered by the company are used by clients from the private and the public sectors, including Singapore General Hospital, Marina Bay Sands, and Scoot.

Since adop ng SS 554, Ecoliving System has had a compe ve advantage in iden fying issues and providing unique solu ons for relevant se ngs. In other words, the company can now offer stronger and be er air purifiers and sterilisers for high bacteria-count environments, and increase fresh air intake in environments with high carbon dioxide concentra ons.

With greater awareness and implementa on of SS 554, Ecoliving System has seen an increase in revenue of more than 10%.

Mr Steven Chan, Founder of Ecoliving System, said, “SS 554 is used in many areas such as post-renova on projects, new buildings, shopping malls and green building cer fica on schemes, as it fulfils the required parameters to evaluate good indoor environments. It is a standard that organisa ons will adopt and use.”

During the pandemic, Ecoliving System was able to implement relevant solu ons to assist other organisa ons in overcoming the sudden disrup on brought on by the pandemic. This has also elevated the organisa ons’ capabili es to accelerate business resump on to normalcy and allow more employees to return to their workplaces, with the gradual easing of the pandemic response measures imposed by the authori es.

“We believe that anything worth doing is worth doing right and worth doing big. That

social well-being of individuals can be improved.

Preparing for future disrup ons

While the world recovers from the damage wrought by the pandemic, which has set back economic growth on mul ple fronts, business owners, building managers, contractors and service providers can prepare their organisa ons for the next pandemic, by adop ng good prac ces and recommenda ons, as stated in SS 554, to ensure business con nuity and resilience.

(For more informa on on how your company can adopt standards, visit: h ps://www.enterprisesg.gov.sg/ Grow-Your-Business/boost-capabilies/quality-and-standards

To purchase Interna onal and Singapore standards online, visit: www.singaporestandardseshop.sg)

is why we chase the boldest of visions and that is to make a world that’s safer tomorrow than it is today. Through the assessments made, during the pandemic, of the tested parameters and poten al risk factors, my clients have a be er understanding of their environments and are aware of the overall cleanliness and hygiene of their indoor environments, and this enabled us to formulate ac on plans,” added Mr Chan.

“COVID-19 has brought greater awareness of the importance of maintaining good hygiene and cleanliness. Tes ng and treatment of offices and work areas have increased tremendously, especially in the childcare sector,” Mr Chan con nued.

Mr Steven Chan

Specifica on of residual current operated circuit breakers for modern applica ons

by Er. Lim Say Leong, Technical Director, Chint Global Interna onal Pte Ltd & Sunlight Electrical Pte Ltd and Convenor of WG for SS 97 (represen ng IES)

Singapore Standard SS 97 deals with residual current operated circuit breakers (RCCBs), formerly known as earth leakage circuit breakers (ELCBs).

It was first published in 1980 to allow the then Public Utilities Board to make it a Prescribed Article for use to mitigate the problem of electrical shock. The use of ELCBs was successful, which was evident from the sharp decline in electrical accidents. SS 97 was revised a few times to address the impact of tripping due to changing environments.

SS 97 is now due to be revised again and the work will be published as the fifth revision.

This article traces the changes and raises critical questions for future alignment of SS 97 with IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) Standards.

INTRODUCTION

In the 1970s, there were many accidents due to improper and deteriora ng electrical installa ons and appliances. ELCBs were then introduced. The ELCB was recognised for its ability to protect people from electrical shock which could be fatal. Besides protec ng people from the dangers of electrical shock, ELCB was recognised for its ability to provide protec on against fire due to the leakage of current in the milliamp range, if it goes unno ced over prolonged periods.

The first publica on on ELCBs was based on Bri sh Standards BS 4293. The first revision was made to align it with the specifica on, IEC 1008, and rename the circuit breaker as RCCB.

The second revision was made to keep abreast of the coordina on requirements for both discriminaon and back-up protec on. The upstream and downstream RCCBs are coordinated for proper discrimina on. The other aspect of coordina on was to look into the back-up protec on of the RCCB, par cularly

with the upstream BS 3036 rewireable fuse provided by the u lity, or the BS 88 cartridge fuse provided by public or private developers. Requirements for coordina on tes ng under short-circuit condi ons and currents were specified.

With the rampant use of electronic controls for home appliances, such as blenders, cookers etc and ligh ng devices such as compact fluorescent lamps etc, tripping of RCCBs became a nuisance to many people, as there were no real faults to clear. Hence, the third revision

was made, based on studies of the various types of lamps in the market. Electrical surge tests, consis ng of surge currents and ring-wave currents, were introduced. Type A RCCB was introduced to allow for leakage current due to pulsa ng d.c. waveshapes, caused by the many diode and thyristor components of electronic controls.

Time-delay or selec ve type controls, that can enhance discrimina on between upstream and downstream RCCBs, were introduced in the fourth revision which is the current edi on.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SINGAPORE STANDARDS AND IEC STANDARDS

Tripping me

In each revision of the SS 97, every innova ve development and mitiga on method in IEC was adopted, except that while IEC 61008 s pulates a tripping me of 300 ms for a rated tripping current of 30 mA, in SS 97, the tripping me is 100 ms for a rated tripping current of 30 mA. This holis c requirement is based on studies conducted by the late Professor Chao Tzee Cheng, the renowned Forensic Pathologist, on vic ms of, and circumstances leading to, accidents caused by electrical shock and electrocu on.

In the 1980s, Prof Chao was the Deputy Chairman of the Home Safety Commi ee, under the Na onal Safety Commi ee. He met Professor Biegelmeier, Chairman of IEC TC 64, who was responsible for wiring rules and a study on the effects of the passage of electrical current through human bodies, under IEC 479. Both Professors have explained to the Technical Commi ee (TC) responsible for SS 97, the differences between tropical countries and temperate European countries, in terms of the environmental condi ons and the behaviour of people.

In terms of environmental differences, tropical countries like Singapore have higher humidity when compared to the temperate European countries. In terms of behavioural differences, in tropical countries, people generally move

around the home barefooted on cold cement floors, and o en, a er washing hands and without drying them, they touch equipment and switches on the walls.

Professor Biegelmaier has con nued his study, using his own body and those of his research students who volunteered. This has ‘sharpened the curve’ and deepened the understanding of the effects of the passage of current through the human body.

The study, which also included the study of dead bodies of human beings and animals, has led to the early version of IEC 479.

Exclusion of 3-pole type of RCCB

In view of the earthing system allowed in SS CP 5 and now in SS 638, i.e. the TT and TN-S system, the use of RCCBs, also as a means of isola on, would mean a conflict, in that the neutral cannot be disconnected. Hence, the decision was to exclude the 3-pole type of RCCBs.

With the recent request from WG members revising the SS CP 88 Part 3, the revision exercise for the SS 97 would need to consider if 3-pole

RCCBs should be included, as it may be useful for connec ng on-shore power supply to on-board power supply in marine applica ons such as in yachts.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGERS

With a poten al increase in the use of electric vehicles (EVs), installaon of EV chargers, as specified in SS TR 25, will see more types of RCCBs being used. The selec on of different RCCBs would depend on the type of power conversion, where leakage currents will depend on the presence of pulsa ng DC, high frequency, DC, etc.

MEETING NEW CHALLENGES

The writer looks towards a clear objec ve which is to align SS 97 to IEC 61008, without compromising on requirements that would jeopardise or adversely affect the supplementary protec on against electrical shock.

(The writer invites feedback from fellow engineers, as the Working Group commences an in-depth study of the documents and situa ons.)

RCCBs for different applica ons.

Pilot plant built to recycle lithium-ion ba ery waste

The plant will seek to op mise the extrac on of valuable metals for reuse.

Following a successful proof-of-concept to recycle spent lithium-ion ba eries using reagent extracted from fruit peel waste, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) is partnering Se-cure Waste Management Pte Ltd (SWM), a Singapore ba ery recycling and processing company, to scale up the technology in a pilot plant.

The pilot ba ery recycling plant has the capacity to process up to 2,000 litres of shredded, spent ba eries, mixed with fruit peel-derived solvents, for extrac on of electrode materials such as cobalt, lithium, nickel and manganese.

The scien sts from the NTU Singapore-CEA Alliance for Research in Circular Economy (SCARCE), who developed the technology of using fruit peel waste to tackle ba ery waste, is also looking at using other types of biomass waste.

A key feature of the pilot plant is its modular design which allows it to be easily configured for op mal reac on condi ons to extract different types of metals.

Currently, less than 5% of spent lithium-ion ba eries are recycled globally and the volume of these spent ba eries is projected to reach 11 million tonnes by 2030. Technologies, such as this, could meet the urgent need for a recycling solu on that is environmentally benign and can be easily scaled up, according to the scien sts from SCARCE.

Located at Neythal Road off Pioneer Road North, the pilot plant has been opera onal since the last quarter of 2022. Over the course of this year, the NTU and SWM team will work to op mise processes to maximise the extrac on yield of valuable metals from ba ery waste for reuse on a pre-commercial scale.

They will also evaluate the plant’s technical performance and economic viability, with the goal of commercialising the technology.

Associate Professor Dalton Tay from the NTU School of Materials Science and Engineering and Cluster Director of the Energy Research Ins tute @ NTU (ERIAN) said, “With the prolifera on of mobility devices and portable electronics, the model of extrac ng raw materials from the earth, using them, then discarding them is clearly unsustainable. Instead of relying on conven onal mining of resources, we need to look at recovering and reusing the precious metals from our electronic waste. This integrated lithium-ion ba ery recycling pilot plant serves as an important engineering platform that takes us one step closer. Thanks to the support of NTUi ve, NTU’s innova on and enterprise arm, we are able to work with SWM to take our technology from lab to industry, bridging the gap in the innova on con nuum and paving the way towards its commercialisa on.”

“The use of biowastes such as fruit peel discards to close the loop on lithium-ion ba eries is also a unique value proposi on for poten al carbon offse ng and crea on of new distribu on networks for green commodi es. This homegrown effort enables us to make great strides towards a new and green circular economy in tackling bio- and electronic waste,” he added.

Mr Vince Goh, Managing Director, Se-cure Waste Management, said, “Our collabora on with Assoc Prof Tay and the se ng up of the pilot plant allow the seed of local innovaon to grow and eventually flourish. This also provides SWM a closedloop solu on beyond processing ba eries while enabling a greener and cleaner recycling process for

resource sustainability. SWM and NTU will evaluate the commercial feasibility of NTU’s technology at a meaningful scale. In combina on with our upstream core exper se in robo cs-enabled electronic vehicle ba ery discharging and dismantling, as well as ba ery processing, SWM offers a systema c management of e-waste for the en re cradle-to-cradle process.”

Professor Madhavi Srinivasan, Execu ve Director, NTU Sustainability Office and SCARCE Co-Director, said, “This collabora on between NTU and SWM is part of NTU’s commitment to build a sustainable tomorrow, and fosters outcomes that address industry and societal needs outlined in NTU2025, the university’s five-year strategic plan. It is also in line with Singapore’s Zero Waste Masterplan which charts the strategies towards a sustainable, resource-efficient, and climate-resilient na on.”

The fruit peel technology to recycle ba ery waste, developed by SCARCE, is supported by Singapore’s Na onal Research Foundaon and the Na onal Environment Agency (NEA), under the Closing the Waste Loop Funding Ini a ve. Such efforts are also aligned with NEA’s Environmental Services Industry Transforma on Map (ES ITM) 2025 in harnessing opportunies in environmental sustainability, and to pre-posi on companies like SWM for emerging opportuni es in growth areas such as electric vehicle ba eries recycling.

Using biomass waste to replace strong chemicals

In 2020, an NTU team led by Associate Professor Dalton Tay and Professor Madhavi Srinivasan successfully extracted over 90% (in weight) of the precious metals found in processed lithium-ion ba ery waste,

in the lab, using orange peel waste, and made new ba eries with these recovered metals.

This method of using fruit peel waste in place of conven onal strong chemicals and acids to extract precious metals from ba ery waste is called hydro-organic-metallurgy.

The scien sts have since successfully replicated their success in the lab using other types of fruit peel waste – such as from pineapples, pears, and lemons – before working with local e-waste recycling company Se-cure Waste Management (SWM) to scale up this technology. The scien sts are now looking into the possibility of using other types of biomass waste.

In this new pilot plant, the process starts with SWM shredding and crushing spent lithium-ion batteries to form a crushed material, from which plas cs and metals like copper, aluminium and iron, are separated. On average, the company processes 18 tonnes of spent lithium-ion ba eries every day.

The final product, called black mass, contains the precious metals

– cobalt, lithium, nickel, and manganese – to be extracted for reuse. Black mass is poured into the pilot plant and dissolved in chemical concoc ons derived from fruit peel wastes that have been oven-dried and ground into powder. These concoc ons, which the scien sts have filed a patent for, are designed to leach out precious metals over low heat.

Fruit peel is rich in sugars, naturally occurring antioxidants such as flavonoids and phenolic acids, and organic acids – all of which

will enhance the dissolution and recovery of metals from the battery waste.

The precious metals are then precipitated into metal salts that can then be used to assemble new lithium-ion ba eries.

Earlier, the NTU scien sts demonstrated that lithium-ion ba eries made from recovered metals have a charge capacity similar to commercial ba eries.

From le , Associate Professor Dalton Tay, NTU School of Materials Science and Engineering and Cluster Director of the Energy Research Ins tute @ NTU (ERIAN); Professor Madhavi Srinivasan, Execu ve Director, NTU Sustainability Office and SCARCE Co-Director; and Mr Vince Goh, Managing Director, Secure Waste Management. Following a successful proof-of-concept to recycle spent lithium-ion ba eries using reagent extracted from fruit peel waste, NTU Singapore is partnering Se-cure Waste Management Pte Ltd (SWM) to scale up the technology in a pilot plant.

Through the pilot plant, precious metals found in spent lithium-ion ba eries are precipitated into metal salts which can then be used to assemble new lithium-ion ba eries.

All images by NTU Singapore

Breakthrough technology transforms waste plas c bo les into polymers for lithium-ion ba eries

The success of the study will lead to a scaling up of the technology.

A team of A*STAR scien sts has successfully upcycled waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plas c into polymer electrolytes which are key components for safer lithium-ion ba eries (LiBs).

The study is the first known report of a working lithium-ion ba ery assembled using polymers upcycled from PET plas cs which are used to make plas c bo les. The report was published in Journal of Materials Chemistry A, in November 2022.

Plas c waste is a moun ng problem in the world today and it is set to grow bigger, with the rising demand for plas cs. Around 460 million tons of plas cs were produced globally in 2019, but only 9% is recycled, with the remainder either being incinerated or disposed of in landfills and in the environment [1]

Plas c waste is conven onally recycled through mechanical and chemical processes which have their drawbacks. With mechanical recycling, only a small propor on of recycled PET can eventually be used, as their physical proper es degrade with each round of recycling, due to polymer chain cleavage. Chemical recycling involves high energy usage, requires purified monomers and can be more costly compared to using virgin polymers.

“Upcycling waste plas cs is a new strategy to give these ubiquitous, yet commonly discarded, materials a new lease of life, to transform them into value-added new products for novel applica ons.

PET plas cs offer great poten al for upcycling due to their well-established, exis ng waste collecon infrastructure and rela vely

uncomplicated waste streams,” said Dr Derrick Fam, Deputy Head of the Polymer Composites department at A*STAR’s Ins tute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), who led this study together with Dr Jason Lim, Deputy Head of the So Materials department at IMRE.

“There is a rise in demand for sustainably-sourced materials for lithium-ion ba eries due to greater electrifica on. However, the use of waste PET plas cs as a resource for polymer electrolytes has never been achieved ll now. This represents our first a empt to upcycle waste PET plas cs for this applicaon,” said Dr Lim.

Unlocking the poten al of PET

Amongst the different types of plas cs in use today, PET has one

The team behind the successful study: Standing, from le , Dr Jason Lim, Dr Derrick Fam, Dr Warintorn Thitsartarn, Dr Ding Ning and Ms Chien Sheau Wei. Seated, from le , Ms Loh Wei Wei, Dr Shermin Goh, Ms Tan Ming Yan and Dr Dorsa Safanama.

of the highest produc on volumes, with 31 million tonnes produced in 2019 [2]

PET plas cs possess exis ng features that make them suitable to be upcycled into polymer electrolytes (PEs). They are made up of rigid terephthalate components which contribute to their excellent mechanical proper es and can be tapped on to enhance the PEs’ mechanical robustness which, in turn, facilitates device integra on and fabrica on.

In addi on, they possess easily breakable chemical bonds, which allows these polymers to be repurposed into new chemical building blocks, with ease. These can then be recons tuted into new polymers for fresh applica ons.

From bo les to ba eries

Waste PET bo les were used by the team to design polyurethane-based PEs. Compared to conven onal liquid electrolytes currently used in LiBs, PEs are promising alterna ve components in ba eries, that have the poten al to eliminate safety hazards such as the risks of electrolyte leakage, uncontrolled hea ng, volume expansion, dendrite growth and fire hazards.

A er assessing the viability of the PET-derived polymers as solid polymer electrolytes, the team further evaluated their ionic conduc vity and cycling performance when used as gel polymer electrolytes for LiBs.

Findings from the study showed the poten al of the polyurethanes derived from waste PET as polymer electrolytes for LiBs. They achieved a room temperature conduc vity of 10-4 S/cm as a gel polymer electrolyte (GPE), which is comparable to exis ng commercial systems containing liquid electrolytes. The team also successfully assembled a working LiB using these polymers, and showed that cells can be repeatedly charged and discharged up to 150 cycles. Their promising performance paves the way for a future powered by more sustainable energy, where PET plas c waste can be

transformed into PE materials for ba eries, crea ng a circular economy while comba ng the mounting plas c waste issue.

The team will also look to advance the technology for upcycling of waste plastics on a larger scale to create components for eco-friendly batteries. This initiative is in line with A*STAR’s efforts to develop sustainable solutions for energy efficiency and waste management.

References

[1] Global Plas cs Outlook, Organisaon for Economic Coopera on and Development (OECD), 2022.

[2] Sta sta: Produc on capacity of polyethylene terephthalate worldwide from 2014 to 2024, h ps://www. sta sta.com/sta s cs/242764/globalpolyethylene-terephthalate-producon-capacity/).

All images by A*STAR

The study, by the team of A*STAR scien sts, shows how waste PET bo les can be upcycled and transformed into polymer electrolytes for lithium-ion ba eries, and the resul ng benefits.

The outlook for industry in 2023

by Alex Teo, Vice President & Managing Director for

Southeast Asia, Siemens Digital Industries So ware

Over the past few years, the faster-than-expected pace of digital technology adop on has seen significant changes in the industrial sector. With a looming economic headwind on the horizon, the industries of the world can navigate through these challenges by riding three major trends – supply chain disrup on, sustainability and workforce turnover. Each of these challenges is connected and each offers an opportunity for innovaon and transforma on, especially considering advancements in digital technologies.

Disrup ons cause supply chain uncertainty

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in Asia con nue to see strong demand for trade supply. S ll, the difficul es of recent years, arising from a new phase of digisa on efforts, overflow of data and shortage of talent, have illustrated the limita ons of how companies try to understand and manage their supply chains. Despite the growing complexity and breadth of supply chains worldwide, many companies con nue to rely on rela vely simple means of tracking and managing these processes.

While working in the short term to reinforce these supply chains, companies in Southeast Asia, who want to be well-posi oned to reap the benefits, must also keep an eye on the future, ensuring they can obtain the materials and components needed to produce the next genera on of products. For example, the automo ve industry has been labouring under a persistent shortage of key electrical and electronic components that are crucial to the advanced features and func ons that today’s vehicle buyers de-

mand. Though the scarcity of these components has eased somewhat in the waning months of 2022, the demand for advanced vehicle features is expected to con nue growing and place addi onal pressure on the supply of these components. For instance, sourcing of raw materials for ba ery manufacturing may become the next great supply problem, as automakers bet big on electrifica on in 2023.

Emerging technologies like digital twins can model supply chains and business processes to help companies be er understand the complexi es of their value chains, and to see through the complexity to iden fy problems and prescribe solu ons. Hos ng the digital twin of supply chains and business processes within the industrial metaverse enables companies to harness the power of large-scale compu ng and in-depth visualisaons to analyse and interrogate these digital twins. Integra ng Ar ficial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) into the industrial metaverse pla orm will further enhance the value extracted from the digital twin models. When applied to supply chain management, AI/ML can quickly sort and organise the massive amounts of data that a modern global supply chain will produce, making it easier to focus on the most cri cal trends and pa erns within the gathered data.

To thrive and survive, there is a need to shorten me-to-market and also me-to-value. Cloudbased So ware as a Service (SaaS) adop on can equip businesses, especially small to medium-sized businesses, with the right capabilies at lower cost-of-ownership and shorter me-to-produc vity. Un-

Alex Teo

derstanding the benefits of cloud technology has helped businesses realise the importance of flexibility and agility, especially in emerging countries like Indonesia and Vietnam, where there is a growing interest in cloud adop on among manufacturers.

Technology enables new sustainability solu ons

The year 2023 will also be important in the pursuit of sustainability. As part of this pursuit, all companies and partners across the supply chain have the responsibility to become more efficient, more compe ve, and be er prepared for the future of their industries. Companies can adopt advanced digitalisa on technologies that will facilitate the analysis and characterisa on of current prac ces and improve their ability to develop sustainable solu ons.

For example, Nemo’s Garden, a startup focused on sustainable underwater cul va on of crops, has deployed Siemens’ Xcelerator por olio of so ware and services to shorten its innova on cycles and move more rapidly towards industrialisa on and scale.

In many ways, the challenges of becoming a more sustainable business e closely with those for construc ng and managing a global supply chain. As a result, sustainability programs can also benefit significantly from the power of AI and ML. For example, an AI/ML engine can help automate the aggrega on of all the informa on a company needs to generate collec ve intelligence without over-taxing employees with tedious informa on retrieval. This collec ve intelligence will

Digital transformation in supply chains, sustainability and the workforce present uncertainty and opportunity.

help a company make objec ve assessments about its sustainability performance and create solu ons to address areas where it may fall short.

Addi ve manufacturing can also help companies reduce waste materials that tradi onal manufacturing processes create. Cas ng and machining are common processes that produce waste. Switching to addi ve processes can significantly reduce the material cost of parts that were previously cast or machined, by elimina ng the need for moulds and the waste material produced in the subtrac ve machining process.

Digital solu ons aid workforce development

While advanced technologies like AI/ML are becoming essen al to industrial processes, they cannot replace humans, at the end of the day. Many companies will be managing a transi on in their workforce as they simultaneously work to address supply chain issues and sustainability programs. In gener-

al, 2023 will see a con nuance of recent trends in the employment market.

First, the most experienced employees at many companies are re ring or moving into new roles within or outside the company. As these employees leave, they take with them valuable knowledge and experience that, unless captured, will be lost.

Second, there is a shi in the skills or core competencies companies need, par cularly towards advanced so ware and electronics, driven by the changing nature of products in many industries. This shi is crea ng a skills gap between the exper se of the current workforce and the skills demanded to create the next genera on of products.

The third major workforce trend is the changing expecta ons and needs of prospec ve employees. Addressing this dynamic workforce market will require a nuanced approach. Simply inves ng in the digitalisa on of processes, without

inten on or strategy, risks leaving employees behind, as they a empt to learn new skills or adapt to new methods of comple ng tasks. It will be necessary for companies to strike a balance between modernising for the sake of a rac ng new talent and not aliena ng current employees. Technology that is intui ve and easy to learn will help both new and exis ng employees come up to speed more quickly.

An immersive training environment is also valuable. Technicians and manufacturing employees can benefit from virtual training sessions conducted in the metaverse, that offer a learning environment where mistakes are far less costly. AR and VR enable trainees to gain hands-on prac ce in virtual scenarios created in the metaverse, that are safe and easy to repeat for efficient training sessions. The industrial metaverse will change the way companies work, by crea ng a virtual space to work on real-world projects that are more collaborave, interac ve and immersive.

Deoleo pursues sustainability goals while driving opera onal efficiency

Siemens Digital Industries Soware recently announced that Deoleo, a leading, interna onal, olive oil processing and bo ling company, has implemented Opcenter so ware from the Siemens Xcelerator por olio of so ware and services to help drive its digital transforma on and build its sustainable future.

Founded in 1955 in Madrid, Spain, Deoleo owns brands such as Bertolli, Carapelli, Carbonell, Koiple and Figaro.

To increase its opera onal efficiency and improve transparency, the company is digitally transforming its business processes, from quality control and oil management to its research and development laboratory environment.

Working with Siemens partner, Sothis, Deoleo adopted Opcenter Execu on Process so ware to digitalise all warehouse management and quality control processes in a single tool, and Opcenter RD&L (Research, Development and Laboratory) so ware as its pla orm to streamline, op mise and align

all formulated product data management. Opcenter RD&L helps Deoleo align product designs and processes with quality and regulatory requirements. Integra ng and aligning R&D and manufacturing data and processes speeds up the transfer of final product designs to mainstream manufacturing.

Bo les of olive oil from Deoleo.

Top robo cs trends for 2023

The need to respond to labour shortages and technological developments is presenting new opportunities.

With the sale of robots hi ng record levels, ABB Robo cs has made several predic ons on key trends in robo cs automa on for 2023.

“The impact of global labour shortages is increasingly being felt by many businesses while they try to keep pace with customer demands. This, coupled with global uncertainty, disrupted supply chains and rising energy costs, as a result of world events in 2022, means more companies are looking to robo c automa on as a way of increasing flexibility, building resilience and making their opera ons more sustainable,” said Marc Segura, ABB Robo cs President.

Trend 1: Demand for robots will increase in response to global labour shortages, with robots taking on new tasks, as more companies look to reshore their opera ons.

The impact of labour shortages is already widely felt across all industries and will con nue into 2023, as the effects of ageing popula ons and a reluctance to take up low paid and unfulfilling employment increase. It is predicted that, by 2030, more than 85 million posi-

ons will be unfilled, hampering economic growth and presen ng companies with the need to find new ways to plug gaps in workforces.

Demand for robots will be par cularly strong in countries where companies are seeking to re- or near-shore their opera ons to help improve their supply chain resilience in the face of global events. In a survey of 1,610 US and European companies carried out by ABB Robo cs in 2022, 74% of European and 70% US businesses said they are planning to re- or near-shore their opera ons, with 75% of those respondents in Europe and 62% in the US indica ng they would be inves ng in robo c automa on in the next three years.

“While a en on has focused on the impact of automa on on jobs, robots will increasingly perform the dull, dirty and dangerous tasks that are no longer appealing, helping to solve the issue of global labour and skills shortages. The expanding capabili es of robots, including the development of collabora ve opons with larger payloads, such as ABB’s GoFa and SWIFTI cobots that can be deployed safely alongside

human workers, offer new possibili es for companies to both address skills gaps and make be er use of their exis ng workforces,” said Segura.

“We will also see robots taking on tasks in new sectors such as food service and healthcare, par cularly in laboratories and dispensaries. ABB robots are already in opera on, in the Haidilao restaurant chain, where the meal prep process has been automated, while at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in the US, ABB robots have revolu onised an body research by automa ng the tes ng process, increasing the number of tests done per day from 15 to 1000. We will see robots taking on more roles in similar se ngs in 2023 as labour shortages con nue to impact businesses,” he added.

Trend 2: AI and autonomous technology will make robots easier to use, integrate and access, enabling them to take on more tasks in new industries. While autonomous technologies con nue to make robots easier to program, operate and maintain, more companies will make their

ABB’s top robo cs trends for 2023.

first investments in robots or find ways to deploy them in new applica ons. The latest autonomous naviga on technology powering ABB’s range of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) is already enhancing produc vity, while making operaons more flexible and faster. Soluons like these enable manufacturers to move away from tradi onal produc on lines towards integrated scalable, modular produc on cells, while op mising the delivery of components across facili es.

Developments in Ar ficial Intelligence (AI) are powering autonomous grasping and posi oning, which will expand the range of tasks robots can perform. This greater use of AI in robo cs helps with tasks like screwdriving, which is already in opera on at ABB’s Robo cs Mega Factory in Shanghai. Here, AI-powered robots build new robot models. At the same me, con nued simplifica on of the so ware and controllers used to program robots will further reduce barriers to adop on, by removing the need for specialist exper se.

“As Ar ficial Intelligence in robotics develops, the concerns around complexity and capability that previously prevented companies from inves ng in robo c automa on, are being addressed. As capabili es develop further, robots will appear in greater numbers and in applica ons outside of the tradi onal manufacturing and distribu on environments such as electronics, healthcare, e-commerce, pharmaceu cals and food service,” said Segura.

In the near future, we will also see the crea on of connected digital networks, using open pla orms, to enable quick and easy integra on of robots, controllers and so ware, from different vendors. ABB’s OmniCore controllers are created to make robots more open and connected, which makes robots more accessible, enabling smaller companies and start-ups to embrace automa on.

Trend 3: More specialist partnerships between industry and

educators will help equip current and future workers with the skills to thrive in a new era of automa on. With more companies introducing robots, there is a growing need for workers to learn new skills that will enable them to thrive in an automated environment. Achieving this will need a joined up, mul -genera onal approach, from schools, colleges, and universi es, through to SMEs and suppor ng associaons, to provide training.

“The factories of the future will need workers who know how to apply automated technologies to perform tasks. As robots become more commonplace in factories, warehouses and other environments, there will be an increase in partnerships between robot vendors, manufacturers and educators, to ensure that people have the right skills for an automated future. There are already over 200 examples of ABB partnering with educators around the world, where our robots, RobotStudio simula on and programming so ware and AR and VR tools are used to teach students, of all ages, the skills needed to program and use robo c automa on,” said Segura.

A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY

According to ABB Robo cs, these three trends will prevail in 2023, as more companies look to automa on, to boost their produc vity, efficiency and resilience.

“Disrup on and uncertainty are forcing companies to think differently about the way they operate. Scalable, flexible and capable of handling an expanding range of tasks, robots offer an ideal way of coping with uncertainty, making businesses more resilient,” said Segura.

“At the same me, successful robo c automa on relies on combining the poten al of robots and people to achieve the best possible outcomes. As new technologies con nue to make robots easier to use and deploy, we see 2023 as a year of opportunity that will enable companies and their workforces to

reach new levels of produc vity, efficiency and flexibility,” he added.

ABB ROBOTICS

ABB Robo cs is one of the world’s leading robo cs and machine automa on suppliers, with a comprehensive and integrated por olio covering robots, AMRs and machine automa on soluons - designed and orchestrated by the company’s value-crea ng so ware. ABB Robo cs employs approximately 11,000 people at over 100 loca ons in more than 50 countries.

ABB Robo cs suppor ng Renault Group EV plant network

ABB is suppor ng the Renault Group by providing advanced robo cs technology to help automate the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer’s producon network across several key markets. ABB has delivered the majority of the 160 units of the large industrial robot por olio over the last 24 months.

ABB’s robo c automa on solu ons will help deliver increased capacity at Renault Group’s advanced e-motor assembly lines in Cléon and Douai France. At the company’s Douai facility, ABB technology will help manufacture the next genera on of electric vehicles with new advanced body-in-white facili es.

Apart from the large industrial robot por olio, ABB is providing SafeMove so ware which provides safety-rated supervision of robot mo on, enabling leaner automa on cells and closer collaboraon; integra on exper se for complex processes including motor windings, balancing and tes ng; and over 50 addi onal so ware applica ons from ABB’s extensive catalogue.

Is automa on a threat or boon to job security?

by Adam Sobieski, Regional

President APAC, Universal Robots

The impact of new technological developments is analysed.

ChatGPT is a new AI-powered phenomenon capable of interac ng and answering customer queries, copywri ng, debugging and even wri ng code. It is crea ng both awe and fear in the digital space. As the chatbot and other compe ng bots rise to the surface of media a en on and social conversa ons, we have to confront the elephant in the room – “would such AI threaten our jobs?”

On a parallel universe, the first adop on of industrial robots in the automobile sector in the early 1960s caused the same apprehension, that automa ng manufacturing processes may take human jobs away. The 1960s to 2000s was a popular period for industrial robots, gaining trac on among manufacturers to automate assembly and welding processes, ensuring human employees were safe from toxic fumes and elimina ng the risk of workplace injuries.

Fast forward to 2008. With the dull and dirty tasks shunned by human workers and the rising safety risks that tradi onal industrial robots poten ally pose, the advent of human-robot collabora on began, through the use of collabora ve robots or ‘cobots’, with machines and humans working hand in hand.

However, despite witnessing the many deployments of cobots on factory floors across various industries including automo ve and manufacturing, there is s ll a ny figment of misconcep on that cobots would steal jobs. This mirrors the same misguided no on that the likes of ChatGPT would replace or displace jobs.

The reality

In reality, automa on, such as that

achieved by the use of cobots, serves to boost workers’ poten al. According to a survey by BDO, 200 CFOs and Financial Directors found that one in five believe greater automa on will actually create jobs. Besides, the World Economic Forum es mated that at least 12 million more jobs will be created as a result of digital technologies, by 2025.

Cobot technology is seen as automa ng and suppor ng a broad range of tasks in an increasingly wide array of sectors. The monotonous and repe ve tasks in the factory can be performed by cobots, relieving human employees to explore be er career opportunies in areas such as management, engineering or more skilled assembly tasks. In addi on, employees willing to upskill themselves will find new roles where they can help maintain, install and use the new robo cs tools in their businesses.

Another a rac ve aspect of cobots is that they are highly versa le and can tackle a wide range of jobs, with simple adapta ons. Tradi-

Adam Sobieski

onal industrial robots were set to perform a single task. While it is feasible to change the func on of these robots, addi onal costs are required to hire an engineer to reprogram the robots. However, the ease of programming cobots allows operators with limited robo cs backgrounds to reprogram the cobot.

Automated solu ons like the use of cobots and language models like ChatGPT are not taking over human jobs. Instead, they are assis ng and augmen ng our efforts towards achieving improved produc vity and more profitable outcomes. Given how technologies have, over me, improved beyond our imagina on, there will be even bolder innova ons on the horizon. We need to dwell in the confidence that technology or robots can never replace our crea vity and cognive skills. Humans are set to work with robots, not be like robots. These advanced solu ons will be our ‘hammers and drills’ to build the next genera on of talents and solu ons.

A UR cobot, from Universal Robots, assis ng with welding applica ons in a factory, while a worker monitors the process.

Microso Vulnerabili es Report provides valuable informa on

BeyondTrust, a worldwide leader in intelligent iden ty and access security, has announced the release of the 2023 Microso Vulnerabilies Report. This report is the 10th anniversary edi on and covers a decade of vulnerability insights, providing valuable informa on to help organisa ons see into the past, present, and future, of the Microso vulnerability landscape. Produced annually by BeyondTrust, The Microso Vulnerabili es Report analyses data from security bulle ns publicly issued by Microso throughout the previous year.

Comprehensive report breaks down CVE and key shi s

This report dissects the 2022 Microso vulnerabili es data, highligh ng key shi s and trends since the inaugural report. The report spotlights some of the most significant CVEs (Common Vulnerabili es and Exposures) of 2022, and breaks down how they are exploited by a ackers and ways they can be prevented or mi gated.

Microso groups product vulnerabili es into the several categories. They are Remote Code Execu on, Eleva on of Privilege, Security Feature Bypass, Tampering, Informaon Disclosure, Denial of Service, and Spoofing. Once again, Eleva on of Privilege was the leading vulnerability category in 2022.

Highlights and key findings

In 2022, total Microso vulnerabili es rose to 1,292, hi ng an allme high since the report began 10 years ago. It is not just the number of vulnerabili es that should be of concern, but also the unique threat and impact posed by individual vulnerabili es.

• Eleva on of Privilege is the #1 vulnerability category for the third year running, accoun ng for

55% (715) of the total Microso vulnerabili es in 2022.

• Microso Azure and Dynamics 365 generate the biggest financial gains for Microso , as well as the biggest increase in the number of vulnerabili es.

• In 2022, 6.9% of Microso ’s vulnerabili es were rated as ‘cri cal,’ while in 2013, 44% of all Microso vulnerabili es were classified as ‘cri cal’.

• Azure and Dynamics 365 vulnerabili es skyrocketed by 159%, from 44 in 2021 to 114 in 2022.

• Microso Edge experienced 311 vulnerabili es last year, but none were cri cal.

• There were 513 Windows Vulnerabili es, 49 of which were cri cal.

• Microso Office experienced a five-year low of just 36 vulnerabili es.

• Windows Server vulnerabili es rose slightly to 552.

Within the report, a panel of some of the world’s leading cybersecurity experts weigh in on the report findings. They provide insights as we look forward to how the next decade in cyber threats, vulnerabilies and defences may unfold.

“Microso has a high volume of vulnerabili es that we have seen increase over the last 10 years of our research. This report outlines many of the risks, and highlights the importance of mely patching alongside the removal of excessive administra ve rights to mi gate the risks,” said James Maude, Lead Security Researcher at BeyondTrust.

The past 10 years have seen the number of Microso vulnerabili es increase across all categories, with Eleva on of Privilege vulnerabili es climbing 650%. Over that me, new Microso products have driven the overall increase in vulnerabilies, with Azure and Dynamics 365

vulnerabili es climbing by 159% –largely due to one product, Azure Site Recovery Suite – this past year alone.

If there is one beacon of light shining across the past 10 years of vulnerabili es, it is the fact that the fundamental ways to mi gate those risks have remained constant for well over a decade.

Least privilege enforcement has proven to be just as relevant to the cloud systems and IoT devices of today as it was to the legacy systems, some of which are s ll opera onal.

Protec ng endpoints with products, such as BeyondTrust’s Endpoint Privilege Management solu ons, can enable organisa ons to quickly achieve least privilege, while striking the right balance between security and produc vity.

Survey on iden ty and zero trust trends

BeyondTrust recently announced the release of a new global survey, ‘Iden ty Issues Impact Zero Trust Effec veness’. The survey’s research focused on understanding current iden ty and zero trust trends, adop on rates, incidents, solu ons, challenges and new areas of focus.

The research also inves gated the integra on requirements and techniques for zero trust solu ons and how they interact with other key business applica ons and systems.

The report reviewed key findings from a research survey that covered more than 300 par cipants, including security teams, IT professionals and execu ves, across five con nents.

Eleva on of Privilege is the top vulnerability category.

Celebra ng 100 years of cemented carbide

by Rickard Sundström, Department Manager, Sandvik Coromant

Tracing the history of this important material for producing metal-cu ng tools.

Many notable periods in history are characterised by the material of the me, such as the Stone Age, the Iron Age and so on. Labelling these periods, based on tool materials, demonstrates how integral they were to society as well as our human drive to constantly improve and find be er methods. The applica ons and sophis ca on of tools have changed significantly over the centuries, but they are s ll just as crucial to keeping our world running today.

First steps

The development of the first commercial steel alloy is o en credited to Robert Forester Mushet who discovered, in 1868, that adding tungsten to steel increased its hardness even a er air cooling. This finding formed the basis of alloy development, leading to the use of tool steels. In the early 1900s, forming and machining metals was s ll very much a skill. Highly skilled cra smen used tool steel as a cutng tool material.

But as demand for mass producon began to increase, par cularly with sectors, such as the automove sector, star ng to take off, it became clear that tool steel would not be able to keep up. Its limited heat resistance results in so ening at higher temperatures, par cularly at the cu er-workpiece interface, making high-speed cu ng difficult.

As a result, high speed steel was developed, containing more cobalt than tool steel. The addi onal cobalt gave high speed steel an improved hot hardness, enabling access to much higher cu ng

speeds. Faster cu ng led to a boost in produc vity, dropping overall

product cost and, ul mately, it was one of the factors that helped to make vehicles more accessible and affordable to the public.

Introducing cemented carbide

The success of high-speed steel led the industry to develop further, resul ng in the inven on of cemented carbide. On 30 March 1923, Karl Schröter, the then head of R&D at Osram filed the first patent ‘Gesinterte harte Metallegierung und Verfahren zu ihrer Herstellung’ (DE420689). The material was originally intended for drawing dies in the light bulb industry but, later, cemented carbide was developed and tested for cu ng tools. As such, it was introduced at an exhibi on in Leipzig in 1927. Fine carbide par cles are cemented into a composite with a metal binder to produce cemented carbide. The most common carbides include tungsten carbide (WC), tanium carbide (TiC) and tantalum carbide (TaC), with cobalt and nickel o en used as the binding metals.

In the same way that the introducon of high-speed steel revolu onised the manufacturing market, the inven on of cemented carbide allowed for even faster machining. Steel cu ng speeds of up to 150 metres per minute became possible, which is almost four mes faster than with high-speed steel. It is here that Sandvik began developing cemented carbide tools. The Sandvik Coromant brand name was established in 1942, with its sole aim to offer modern cu ng tools using cemented carbide as the base. Sandvik Coromant’s first cemented-carbide tools for metal cu ng were manufactured the following year, and as industrialisa on took off in the 50s and 60s, demand con nued to grow.

In 1969, Sandvik Coromant became the first in the world to offer ceramic-coated cemented carbide inserts. The ceramic ‘Gamma Coa ng’ greatly improved both the wear and heat resistance of the tools, increasing metal-cu ng performance by as much as 50%.

Carbide inserts

Rickard Sundström

Coromant con nued to develop its cemented carbide offering, developing new grades and drills for a variety of industries, with its GC 4225 cemented-carbide grade becoming the world’s best-selling grade in 2005.

Finite materials

But what about the future of cemented carbides? Central to the produc on of cemented carbides are metals like tungsten and cobalt, but these resources are in limited supply. Cobalt, for example, is a common component in lithium-ion ba eries, valuable in extending ba ery life. But soaring demand combined with mining challenges means we could see shortages as

soon as 2028.

To protect these finite resources, it is impera ve that manufacturers and suppliers play their part in working sustainably. This could be through repairing and refurbishing old tools to give them a second or even a third life. Tools that are completely unusable can be returned via buy-back programmes, with the scrap being recycled into new material. Here at Sandvik Coromant, we offer both services, with our latest line of steel turning grades containing at least 40% recycled material. Considering issues like supply and sustainability, right from the tool’s design, also helps to ensure that no more material is being used than necessary.

Looking ahead

The availability of the raw materials will be a factor in the future of cemented carbides. At Sandvik Coromant, con nuing to improve and make the most of sustainability schemes will be a focus. In par cular, the sor ng aspect of our recycling process is likely to be a key area of development as this is s ll a challenge in terms of the energy resources it demands.

Despite big leaps in innova on, older cu ng tool materials like high speed steel s ll play an important part in the overall market. It is clear that even in its 100th year, cemented carbide is s ll a vital cu ng tool material for many industries. But there is always room for improvement and as applica ons change and new ones arise, we will always be challenged to come up with new and be er solu ons.

Sandvik Coromant

Part of Sandvik, a global industrial engineering group, Sandvik Coromant is at the forefront of manufacturing tools, machining solu ons and knowledge for the metalworking industry. The company’s support for educa on, extensive R&D investment and strong customer partnerships enable the development of new machining technologies. Sandvik Coromant owns over 1700 patents worldwide, employs over 7,700 staff and is represented in 150 countries.

Sandvik’s metal powder webshop Osprey Online opens for business

Sandvik’s metal powder webshop, offering standardised alloys for addi ve manufacturing (AM) from stock, has officially opened for business. Inaugurated recently in a special edi on episode of the interac ve webinar series, ‘Addi ve By Sandvik: Material Ma ers’, the pla orm promises premium quality alloys, fast shipping and exper se, with every purchase.

As announced, Sandvik’s e-commerce solu on offering, Osprey metal powders op mised for AM, is now open to the public. Osprey Online ini ally offers -

tanium powders, maraging steel, and nickel-based superalloys, as well as stainless steels such as duplex and super duplex, austeni c, martensi c and precipita on hardening steels – all available through a hassle-free, on-demand pla orm accessible from any device, at any me. The webshop will service Europe as a first step, with addi onal markets being included shortly.

A 30-minute special edi on webinar episode was aired. It offered thousands of viewers insights into the pla orm and its alloys, from Sandvik’s experts

in metal powders and addi ve manufacturing.

Luke Harris, Sales Director at Sandvik Addi ve Manufacturing, said, “It was such a great honour to take part in this webinar, and to finally unveil Osprey Online in full. Ge ng to interact with the audience while presen ng this solu on and the ways in which it can make a true difference in our customers’ businesses, was so rewarding. Now we are eagerly an cipa ng feedback, to keep improving and remain the most customer-centric partner we can be.”

Unusable carbide inserts can be recycled into new material.

Efficient and sustainable parts cleaning for sophis cated high-tech components

Op mally adapted solu ons can meet the stricter requirements in numerous branches of industry.

Demands on the performance and reliability of components and parts have increased enormously and con nue to rise, par cularly in sectors such as the semiconductor supply industry, op cal and optoelectronic industry, and the medical device industry, as well as in the applica on of thin-film technology and vacuum, laser and analysis technologies.

Higher cleanliness requirements

When it comes to components for semiconductor produc on equipment, due to new developments in wafer steppers and scanners for EUV lithography, for instance, mechanical components are not only becoming more and more complex in shape but also heavier and larger. Today, the diameters of these workpieces can be anything from 1 mm to over 1 m in size, and this range is constantly increasing. At the same me, the diversity of materials used is also rising.

Added to this, specifica ons regarding par culate and film-type (chemical, organic and inorganic) cleanliness are becoming increasingly stringent. The situa on is similar for vacuum components used in UHV, XHV and UCV applica ons, such as those for high-power laser systems or high-tech measuring and analysis equipment.

In the case of precision op cs like mirrors, lenses, prisms and micro-op cal parts, more complex geometries and modified materials are also giving rise to new and challenging cleaning tasks. In coa ng technology, more efficient processes call for excep onally clean surfaces, regardless of whether parts such as machine tooling, automo ve components and op cal products are cleaned before or a er coa ng.

Needs-based defini on of cleanliness

For parts cleaning, this results in demanding tasks that span the en re manufacturing process. The cleanliness requirements vary, depending on the product, area of applica on and company concerned. As a rule, par culate cleanliness specifica ons – which extend into the nanometre range for precision and high purity applica ons – are defined by surface cleanliness classes (SCC).

The specifica ons for the required film-type chemical, organic and inorganic surface cleanliness are usually based on individual specifica ons or factory standards, for example, outgassing rates, which are evaluated by mass spectrometry. In order to solve these tasks in a needs-based, efficient and sustainable manner, comprehensive technological know-how is required as well as knowledge of the applica ons and respec ve physical rela onships.

Selec ng the right cleaning process and plant technology

Key criteria for selec ng the most suitable cleaning process and plant technology are the required level of cleanliness, the type of contaminaon to be removed, and the material and geometry of the respec ve component. Based on this, it is possible to determine which process steps, how many such steps, which cleaning medium and what mechanics, are necessary. Aspects such as the quality of the rinsing medium and the drying technology are included just as much in this considera on, as are cleanliness-compliant parts handling and the prevailing environmental condi ons, for instant connec on or integra on into a cleanroom.

If the standard ‘oil-free and greasefree’, such as Grade 4, is specified,

compact and cost-efficient full-vacuum single-chamber systems, whose system technology, media rou ng, media prepara on and design have been specially adapted for high-end cleaning applica ons, are supplied. These systems, which are operated with environmentally compa ble solvents or water-based cleaning agents, are capable of achieving consistent results that meet such requirements, even if it concerns geometrically complex components.

Process op ons that can be combined in almost any way, such as injec on flood washing, spray, high-pressure, immersion, ultrasonic, megasonic and plasma cleaning, as well as Ultrasonic Plus or Pulsated Pressure Cleaning (PPC), contribute to this. O en, a modified alcohol (par ally polar solvent) is used in these applica ons due to the plus points associated with the medium, such as its ability to clean different materials. The limit of what can be achieved with these systems is, for example, Grade 2. Especially when it comes to large parts, chamber cleaning systems offer advantages due to the process mechanics concentrated in the working chamber, for example PPC, ultrasonics or megasonics and injec on flood washing. In order to use these also to meet Grade 2 or corresponding cleanliness specificaons, double-chamber systems have been developed, that use aqueous media for cleaning. In addi on to the special high-purity features, completely separate circuits for cleaning and rinsing media ensure that the required cleaning result is achieved reliably and consistently.

If, for example, due to a wide variety of materials, high throughput requirements or cleanliness specificaons corresponding to Grade 1, cannot be met with a chamber sys-

The

Pressure Cleaning (PPC) process op on removes contaminants effec vely, even from the smallest cavi es,

tem, a mul -bath ultrasonic cleaning system is called for.

There are efficient solu ons in this area. Thanks to the electrical and control technology integrated into the modules for the process steps of cleaning, rinsing, drying, loading and unloading, as well as a flexible transport system, these can be easily adapted to the respec ve task and can also be extended, if necessary. Individually designed mul -bath ultrasonic cleaning systems are typically used in high-end applica ons, for example, in the semiconductor supply, laser and op cal industries.

Product-specific cleaning processes

The right system concept, in terms of cleanliness and cost-effec veness, is determined via cleaning trials with original components or test specimens. As a result,

product-specific cleaning processes and process parameters can be developed and then stored as programs in the system controller. This ensures that each part is cleaned with the validated process parameters to achieve the required level of cleanliness in a consistent and reproducible manner. Furthermore,

all relevant process parameters can be monitored, documented and transferred to higher level systems.

(More informa on can be obtained from www.ecoclean-group.net)

All images by Ecoclean

High-purity test centres with cleanrooms and the appropriate analysis equipment are available for developing processes and determining part-specific cleaning parameters.

In cases with a wide variety of materials, high throughput requirements and cleanliness specifica ons, mul -bath, ultrasonic cleaning systems are an op mum solu on.

The design and special high-purity features of the double-chamber system for aqueous media ensure that even large-sized components can be cleaned efficiently.

Pulsated

finest capillary structures and porous surfaces of complex components.

The design, workmanship and features of the cleaning systems prevent crosscontamina on and re-contamina on. They are designed for connec on or integra on into a cleanroom.

Global investments in engineering and R&D expected to grow

Digital engineering is at the front and centre of companies’ reinvented business models.

Businesses’ global investments in engineering, and in research and development in the engineering (ER&D) sector, are set to rise strongly over the next five years, expanding at a double-digit compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10%, up to 2026, despite currently uncertain economic condi ons, according to the latest research conducted by global consultancy, Bain & Company (Bain).

Investments in ER&D include expenses for research, product, engineering, content, technology, and so ware development, product tes ng, regulatory and clinical trials, and other ER&D-related costs.

A ramped-up pace of investment by industry in digital engineering and related capabili es, as businesses accelerate spending on digitalisa on, is central to the strong projected trend in overall investment. Digital investments are set to register a CAGR of 19% from 2022 to 2026 – almost double the overall investment growth rate for ER&D spending, Bain’s survey of more than 500 senior execu ves globally shows.

Bain’s findings, in its latest ‘Global Engineering and R&D report’, reveal that the majority of the senior execu ves surveyed plan to increase ER&D spending despite present economic upsets and turbulence. Industries s ll planning to increase such spending include automove and mobility, aerospace and defence, medical devices, advanced manufacturing and services, energy and natural resources, and telecommunica ons.

“Companies today view ER&D as a strategic capability that will determine their future success and shape new business models. Investments in ER&D not only improve products but also increasingly reinvent or disrupt parts of

the business,” said Daniel Suter, Partner, Zurich, Bain & Company.

ER&D is defined as the wide array of ac vi es aimed at developing new products and services and improving exis ng ones. Digital engineering refers to the discipline of developing new, connected, and digitally enabled products and services using technologies such as ar ficial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and cloud compu ng.

As spending soars, leadership teams are redoubling their efforts to achieve a solid return which is made more challenging in a recession.

During past recessions, such as the 2008-2009 global financial crisis, ER&D spending was more resilient than GDP growth, according to Bain’s research. And between 2014 and 2021, global ER&D spending grew nearly four mes faster than GDP. One explana on is that a large body of ER&D work typically spans longer me horizons and thus tends to be less fungible than other types of spending.

“Inves ng in ER&D during a downturn can help companies pull ahead in the innova on race. The recent large-scale layoffs in the technology sector also offer ER&D companies an opportunity to hire much-needed talent,” said Suter.

“The most successful companies use recession years to out-innovate compe tors by acquiring companies at lower mul ples, poaching cri cal talent, and inves ng in intellectual property and R&D,” he added.

Bridging the talent gap in ER&D Bain’s report showed that 73% of ER&D companies report talent gaps, and that divide will widen as baby boomers re re more quickly than new graduates fill their shoes,

and mid-career engineers transi on to non-engineering roles. Globally, the percentage of engineers quitng their jobs at engineering companies has risen to between 16% and 17%, up by nearly 2 percentage points from three years ago.

“The shortage of engineering talent is affec ng all geographies and is likely to con nue throughout the coming decade. Leading companies are realising that in a ght talent market, it is as important to improve the a rac veness of engineering roles as it is to scour the market for new pockets of labour,” said Suter.

Using digital ER&D to create value and improve outcomes for customers

Historically, companies have viewed ER&D as a core func on to make products be er and cheaper. Today, an emerging group of leaders are pu ng ER&D and new technologies at the centre of their businesses to innovate and reinvent business models. They are moving into outcome-based solu ons that allow customers to pay, based on agreed results, such as machine up me.

“The risk of technology-based disrup on adds urgency to the search for new sources of value crea on. Companies in ER&D-heavy industries that do not invest and innovate to improve the customer experience may find themselves rapidly sidelined by nimble rivals,” said Suter.

Nearly three-quarters of chief technology officers surveyed by Bain said that shortening me to market is a top priority for engineering departments, while 70% say incorpora ng novel technologies into products and services is a key priority.

Companies transi oning to new

business models have incorporated strategies such as investment in technology, e.g. a digital twin, to catch errors and reduce me to market; expanding the engineering team’s scope across product/ solu on lifecycle; deployment of cross-func onal teams that provide access to strategic assets such as technology exper se to all departments; shi from cyclical product development towards con nuous technology development; and establishing an ecosystem of partners to fuel innova on and broaden their capabili es.

Increase in outsourcing

Signalling a strategic shi , 60% of companies plan to increase ER&D outsourcing over the next three years, according to Bain’s survey. Historically, large companies have outsourced about 18% of ER&D work by value. That level is far lower than that in the IT services sector, which went through a similar transforma on in the

2000s and now outsources 46% of ac vi es.

In addi on to accelera ng innovaon, outsourcing and offshoring also help leadership teams address chronic talent shortages and moun ng cost pressure. Over 80% of the senior execu ves surveyed report talent gaps in areas requiring digital exper se, including data engineering, data analy cs, ar ficial intelligence, cybersecurity, IoT and connec vity, but also in other crucial areas such as systems engineering. Underscoring that trend, 73% of respondents said industry or technology exper se is the most important factor in selec ng an outsourcing partner. That compares with 59% of respondents who cited cost as the Number 1 factor.

ER&D outsourcing is growing in all areas of exper se covered by the survey, and the type of outsourced work is changing. Companies are also seeking new capabili es from service providers. In the past, demand focused primarily on me-

chanical and core engineering skills. Today, execu ves plan to invest significantly in digital engineering capabili es, par cularly cybersecurity, IoT, cloud, embedded so ware and data engineering and analy cs.

The use of ER&D service providers varies by industry. Bain’s research showed the sectors most inclined to increase outsourcing in the next three years are industrial manufacturing, automo ve, medical devices, energy, and aerospace and defence.

Finally, the types of projects are changing. Historically, large research organisa ons have mainly outsourced ac vi es like tes ng, valida on, and compliance while keeping core systems and products in-house. Now, the same companies are outsourcing a wider scope of ac vi es, such as the end-toend design of products or the development of key components, for example, combus on engines, tradi onally a vital capability of automo ve OEMs.

ESG ac vi es correlate to stronger financial performance

Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) ac vi es on sustainability, diversity and employee sa sfac on, correlate with stronger financial profitability and growth for private companies, according to a joint study by Bain & Company and business sustainability ra ngs provider, EcoVadis, released recently.

The study, tled ‘Do ESG Efforts Create Value?’ assessed how ESG ac vi es and outcomes have impacted 100,000 companies, 80% of which are private. This research provides new insights into the advantages of ESG performance for private companies and underlines the impera ve for private equity firms to factor ESG into their approach.

The research examined how

various aspects of ESG ac vi es revealed in EcoVadis scorecards – including implemen ng prac ces to reduce carbon and improve DEI, embedding sustainability into management processes and procuring sustainably – correlate with both ESG outcomes and financial performance. The findings show that, in addi on to benefi ng the planet and society, ESG ac vi es are associated with both stronger revenue growth and higher EBITDA margins.

Correla ons between ESG ac vi es and business results

• Companies with more women on the execu ve team have be er financial results.

• Renewable energy usage

correlates with higher EBITDA margins in carbon-intensive industries.

• Companies that focus on ethics, environmental and labour prac ces within their supply chains are more profitable.

• ESG leaders have higher employee sa sfac on. Companies with the most sa sfied employees grow faster and are more profitable. These findings emphasise the opportuni es for private companies to improve their ESG efforts, which currently lag those of public companies. Only 35% of large private companies achieve top scores for carbon management, compared to 53% of large public companies, the research found.

IES CELEBRATES SINGAPORE WORLD WATER DAY

On March 22, 2023, as part of Singapore’s World Water Day ac vi es, the IES Secretariat, together with IES Academy, (IESA), turned up in blue to remind ourselves and each other to use water wisely. Posters on water facts and ps on saving water have been placed in our washrooms and pantry to raise awareness amongst ourselves, as well as our visitors.

As part of our Eco-Office and IES Green Plan commitments, we are working towards reducing our aver-

age monthly water consump on by at least 2 per cent by 2024 (based on 2019 figures).

22 March is World Water Day. Observed since 1993, World Water Day highlights the importance of fresh water and sustainable management of water resources. For Singapore, a small island na on, water is a cri cal strategic resource and every effort has been made by PUB and its partners to protect our water security over the past 60 years.

Everyone has a part to play in ensuring the sustainable use and management of our water resources! In March, there were more than 200 ac vi es and deals happening na onwide as part of Singapore World Water Day.

ER. CHAN EWE JIN ELECTED AS DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF IES

IES is pleased to announce that Er. Chan Ewe Jin has been elected to the posi on of Deputy President.

Er. Chan currently serves as the Vice President of the Engineering Excellence Group, Chairman of the Standards Development Organisaon Steering Commi ee, Chairman of the Chartered Engineering Board, Co-Chair of IES-ACES Joint Registries Monitoring Commi ee and C&S RE/RTO Registry Joint Accredita on Commi ee, and Deputy Chair of the IES Awards Commi ee.

He has contributed to IES and the engineering community for the past twenty years in various other ca-

paci es, represen ng IES in various commi ees in the built environment industry, as well as serving on the Professional Engineers Board, Engineering Accredita on Board, Qualified Erosion Control Professional Registra on Panel, and the Council for Estate Agencies, among others.

He is currently the Managing Director of ECAS Consultants Pte Ltd, an engineering consultancy and construc on management firm that has been involved in many residenal and infrastructure projects all over Singapore.

The new appointment will take

effect a er the 2023 AGM. Er. Chan will subsequently take over as the 30th President of IES a er the 2024 AGM.

Er. Chan Ewe Jin

Staff from the IES Secretariat and IES Academy highlighted the need to use water wisely.

BOGE launches screw compressors in the 45 kW to 75 kW performance range

BOGE has released its new S-4 series of screw compressors in the 45 kW to 75 kW performance range. There are several benefits to customers, including efficient, quiet and reliable running to simplified servicing.

It is not only in foundries, the mining sector and the construc on industry, where dust and dirt can hamper even the best efforts to generate a reliable, con nuous supply of compressed air. Other areas, including the food and healthcare industry, also find themselves facing challenging condi ons. And this is where a compressor with a virtually maintenance-free, herme cally sealed, direct drive comes into its own. Wear and tear is minimised, which increases the device’s service life.

All the models in BOGE’s S-4 series have the ‘IntegrateDrive’ airend – including the new compressors with a performance range of 45 kW to 75 kW.

Energy-saving and efficient

As a leading compressor manufacturer, BOGE has, once again, expanded the fourth genera on of the S series, which now covers the en re 45 kW to 150 kW performance range. All models are characterised by quiet, reliable opera ons and have good efficiency values. The compressors generate high free air delivery at low specific power consump on. The energy use of the new 75 kW compressor has been reduced by over 12% compared with its predecessor, while the free air delivery has increased by almost 9%. The generously sized components reduce internal pressure losses, and with a footprint of just 1.20 m x 2.00 m, the housing of the new models is considerably smaller than for its older siblings. These new compressors come with high-performance, low-energy IE4 motors and permanent magnet motors fi ed as the industry standard.

Simple maintenance and low sound pressure level

The innova ve ver cal oil separaon concept ensures low residual oil content, minimal pressure losses and a long service life, while the internal cartridge is quick and easy to remove and replace. Maintenance takes place from two sides, with just a few simple movements – the intake filter is accessible, and both the oil and air coolers can easily be removed and cleaned.

These new models are characterised by their quiet running. The noise in the 45 kW performance class has been reduced by more than an extra 8 dB(A). The reduc on allows for greater flexibility because the compressor can now be used in more sensi ve environments.

With the latest models in the S-4 series, BOGE offers companies

with reduced compressed air demands, reliable, energy-efficient technology, even in situa ons where temperatures can exceed 40° C. For these cri cal installa on condi ons, BOGE’s high-temperature design provides improved cooling.

Trina Solar’s 210 mm N-Type i-TOPCon cells roll off produc on line

As 2022 drew to a close, Trina Solar’s 210 mm n-type i-TOPCon cells rolled off the produc on line at its 8 GW factory in Suqian, Jiangsu province, China. These n-type cells will be used to produce the new genera on Vertex N modules with power output up to 605 W and efficiency reaching 22.4%. Full-scale produc on will guarantee delivery while improving all-round compe veness and crea ng greater value for customers.

Benefi ng from the innova ve cell size and low-voltage, the Vertex N 605W modules are ideal for 104 m long trackers, with no wastage of space. Six to 12 more 605 W modules can be connected on the trackers, compared to the conven onal n-type 72-cell and 78-cell modules.

As p-type PERC approaches its efficiency limits, it is cri cal that produc on of n-type cells, which began to be commercialised last year, be stepped up.

The module capacity of Trina Solar’s 210 mm n-type technology is expected to reach 30 GW this year.

The 210 mm technology leads the global applica on of 600 W+ modules in the p-type era, becoming an industry-wide global trend. In the new n-type era, 210 mm technology and n-type technology will work together to make the most of the advantages of the four keys that unlock low LCOE (Levelized Cost Of Energy), namely high power, high efficiency, high energy yield and high reliability.

BOGE’s S-4 series of screw compressors is now available in the 45 kW to 75 kW performance range. Image: BOGE.

Cooling solu on for high density compu ng environments in Asia

Ver v, a global provider of cri cal digital infrastructure and con nuity solu ons, recently unveiled the upgraded Ver v Liebert Air Handling Unit (AHU), a high-capacity, chilled water cooling solu on designed to support high-density compu ng environments, while offering a more energy-efficient approach to heat management. The Liebert AHU has a standard unit capacity of 300 kW and is now available throughout the Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia and India. The new Liebert AHU chilled water unit u lises water or air-side economisa on and high-efficiency electronically commutated (EC) fans, working with hot aisle containment to avoid the mixing of supply and return air. The Liebert AHU also operates at higher return air temperature and with higher chilled water temperature, increasing chiller efficiency. With its efficient components such as the EC

fan, pressure independent control valve and intelligent controller with mul ple remote temperature sensors, the Liebert AHU supplies proper airflow, temperature and humidity, for supported cri cal IT equipment.

The new model of Liebert AHU is completely chilled water-based and designed with a fan wall configura on that allows for a smoother supply air distribu on and higher efficiency hot aisle containment, compared to the previous model. It is designed to achieve a fan efficiency of up to 0.2 W/CMH. This model has a smaller unit depth, can be modularly installed and is easily serviceable.

The Liebert AHU adapts easily to a non-raised floor design, simplifying installa on, shortening deployment me and reducing associated costs, compared to raised floor systems. The Liebert AHU cools high-density servers through horizontal air

discharge, delivering an even airflow distribu on and uniform temperature across the data hall. The Liebert AHU also has provision for redundancy or future expansion, as it requires no clearance in between units and may be posi oned side by side, seamlessly. Each unit is built to last and CE Cer fied for safety and reliability. During maintenance, personnel can access the components from the corridor side. The Liebert AHU addresses customers’ needs for a highercapacity, yet compact, cooling solu on, as kW/rack demand con nues to increase and data centre space is limited, and operates efficiently to combat rising energy costs. Likewise, its modular installa on and non-raised floor applica on makes it an ideal choice for managers aiming to both reduce CAPEX and flexibly deploy cooling units as demand grows.

New feature to implement security strategies and prevent cybera acks

ManageEngine, the enterprise IT management division of Zoho Corpora on, has added a security and risk posture management dashboard to Log360, its unified security informa on and event management (SIEM) solu on with integrated DLP (Data Loss Prevenon) and CASB (Cloud Access Security Broker) capabili es. Enterprises across Singapore can leverage this new feature to implement proacve security strategies and prevent cybera acks before they occur.

Establishing a proac ve security strategy relies largely on assessing the risks of network pla orms con nuously. Risk assessment and management, if done right, strengthens enterprise security and thereby prevents hackers from intruding in the network. Compliance regula ons across regions require

enterprises from all industries and of all sizes to follow security best prac ces to harden their network infrastructures. AD (Ac ve Directory) is o en a primary target for adversaries. Con nuously assessing AD risks and enhancing its security posture are essen al to preven ng cybera acks.

Stolen or compromised creden als are a common a ack vector. Once an account within an organisa on is compromised, a ackers can get hold of other user accounts, move laterally through the network and access sensi ve data. This is where AD security hardening can help an organisa on ward off security threats related to sensi ve data.

The highlights of ManageEngine Log360’s security and risk posture management include:

• Visibility into AD infrastructure compliance with Microso security baselines.

• Accurate detec on of weak and risky AD infrastructure configura ons and comprehensive security and risk posture calcula ons.

• Con nuous assessments along with AD security posture recommenda ons to fix loopholes and reduce the risk of being a acked.

• A con nuous risk assessment and management dashboard that helps meet stringent compliance requirements.

Log360 also has extensive machine learning-based user and en ty behaviour analy cs that ac vely monitor user behaviour and iden ty compromise.

Aerotech releases new linear servo drives

Aerotech Inc, a global leader in precision mo on control and automa on, con nues to develop new products and features for the Automa on1 precision machine and mo on control pla orm. The latest addi ons include new servo motor drives with integrated mo on controllers and several advanced features.

The developments include:

• Servo drives with Integrated Mo on Controllers – The Automa on1-iXL2e is a compact, single axis, linear amplifier, servo drive and the Automa on1iXC6e is a high-powered, PWM servo motor drive. The iXL2e demonstrates in-posi on stability and small step size opera on and it generates a low amount of EMI noise. The iXC6e is for larger loads requiring high power output and it includes a 480 VAC (680 VDC bus voltage) op on.

• Automa on1 MachineApps

HMI Builder for Windows PCs

– With MachineApps, machine and system builders can create machine HMIs for each deployed Automa on1 mo on controller. New features include enhanced layout flexibility, with drag and drop controls, indicator lamps and be er state-machine control features. MachineApps enables

users to apply their own brand to their HMI. The bu on and indicator feature pairs with the AeroScript programming language so that users can develop library func ons that are accessible to operators via the push of a bu on.

• Gantry Configura on Support

– The Automa on1 mo on control pla orm makes it easier to configure cartesian direct-drive gantries. In the Automa on1 Device Catalog, users can configure a gantry to be controlled with either decoupling (linear, theta) control or current command coupling control and then added as a mechanical device that can be set up using the Machine Setup wizard. This learnable and repeatable process makes advanced gantry control techniques accessible to precision

Award-winning MAX digital solu on from TK Elevator

TK Elevator’s MAX digital solu on was honoured at Build4Asia Awards 2022 with the ‘Innova ve Smart Building Solu on’ tle.

As part of the company’s comprehensive suite of innova ve mobility solu ons, the MAX digital solu on connects elevators with sensors, devices and equipment on IoT pla orms, for real- me visibility and management of elevator opera ons and maintenance.

As smart buildings con nue to transform the way people and buildings interact, connected

elevators are becoming more crucial than ever, and TK Elevator’s MAX is making a difference in the fast-growing industry.

A key part of TK Elevator’s digital solu ons por olio, the MAX digital solu on is the company's answer to emerging needs in the market for data-driven elevator maintenance solu ons, based on its understanding of building opera ons, elevator technologies and digitalisa on.

The MAX digital solu on has the ability to offer opera onal benefits and cost-savings in the

machine builders.

• Improved Controller Features

– Automa on1 drive-based controllers can now be set up to use an analog input to control the velocity or current command of a drive, including velocity feedforward and accelera on feedforward. Automa on1 controllers now respond to streaming AeroScript commands in a first-in, first-out process called the Command Queue mode.

• Earlier Access to Features –Aerotech con nues to release beta features to the market so that customers can take an early look and provide feedback that influences the development of the features. Current beta features include Work Offsets, EtherCAT distributed clock and MachineApps touch factors.

long run. It can therefore assist building owners, developers and property managers in Asia Pacific to enhance their service levels.

In addi on to increasing elevator availability, by reducing out-ofservice situa ons through realme diagnos cs, MAX’s cloudbased, IoT capabili es enable the predic on of maintenance issues even before they occur, allowing for more streamlined opera ons and minimised elevator downmes, by empowering elevator engineers to replace key components or systems quickly.

Automa on 1 i-drives from Aerotech.

Cybersecurity products and services for opera onal technology environments

For net, a global cybersecurity leader driving the convergence of networking and security, recently announced new and enhanced products and services for opera onal technology (OT) environments, as an expansion of the Fortinet Security Fabric for OT. For net enables organisa ons to build a pla orm of integrated solu ons to effec vely mi gate cyber risk across OT and IT environments.

As more industrial environments increase connec vity with external and internal applica ons, devices and corporate IT networks, the a ack surface grows exponen ally, exposing cri cal OT assets to advanced and destruc ve threats.

The 2022 For net State of Opera onal Technology and Cybersecurity Report found that 93% of organisa ons had one or more security intrusions in the past year, with 61% of intrusions affec ng OT systems. Organisa ons must priori se securing their OT environments by integra ng tools and prac ces to help alleviate security risks that may arise from lack of visibility and real- me response.

Securing OT environments

Highligh ng its commitment to OT security, For net has released new and enhanced products and services to help organisa ons better protect their OT environments. For net’s OT solu ons are na vely integrated across the For net Security Fabric to seamlessly enable IT/OT convergence and connec vity. This helps to improve visibility and real- me response across the en re a ack surface, and empowers security opera ons centre

(SOC) teams to become more efficient and effec ve in their response, across factories, plants, remote loca ons and vehicles. New specialised products include:

• For Gate 70F Rugged NextGenera on Firewall (NGFW) which is the latest addi on to For net’s rugged por olio designed for harsh environments and features a new compact design with converged networking and security capabili es on a single processor.

• For Deceptor, For net’s decep on technology, for early breach detec on and a ack isola on, now available as For Deceptor Rugged 100G, for harsh industrial environments.

• For PAM Privileged Access Management for Secure Remote Access which covers both IT and OT ecosystems.

New enhancements enable SOC teams to respond faster, in OT and IT environments.

• For SIEM unified security analy cs dashboards now include event correla on and mapping of security events according to the Purdue Model. They also include built-in parsers for OT security solu ons, a MITRE ATT&CK for the ICS (industrial control system) dashboard, for OT-specific threat analysis and support for datadiode technologies.

• For SOAR now offers features to reduce alert fa gue and enable security automa on and orchestra on across IT and OT environments. Features include IT/OT dashboards mapped according to the Purdue Model hierarchy, OT-specific

playbooks for threat remedia on, MITRE ATT&CK for ICS, for threat analysis, and enhanced integra on and connectors for OT threat intelligence.

• For Guard Industrial Security Service now includes more than 2,000 applica on control signatures for OT applica ons and protocols that support deep packet inspec on. The service also includes intrusion preven on signatures for over 500 known ICS vulnerabili es, so that vulnerable assets can be virtually patched using For Gate’s next-genera on intrusion preven on system.

New OT specialised assessments and readiness services to stay ahead of threats include:

• For net Cyber Threat Assessment Program (CTAP) for OT, which validates OT network security effec veness and applica on flows, and includes expert guidance, enabling organisa ons to improve the security posture of their OT environments.

• OT Tabletop Exercises for OT Security Teams, led by For Guard Incident Response team facilitators with exper se in threat analysis, mi ga on and incident response. The exercises help OT security teams iden fy security gaps, through real-world OT a ack scenarios to test an organisa on’s incident response plan.

An integrated approach

This announcement builds on For net’s long- me support for OT customers, with solu ons specifically designed for cyber-physical security as part of the For net Security Fabric for OT.