The Singapore Engineer October 2023 by The Singapore Engineer

THE MAGAZINE OF THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, SINGAPORE

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023 | MCI (P) 033/03/2023

EV battery testing and disassembly line launched

PLUS

SUSTAINABILITY: Reimagining mature industrial estates DECARBONISATION: Fewer than 50% of organisaƟons expect to meet decarbonisaƟon targets by 2030 DIGITALISATION: Measurement soŌware is criƟcal in Wi-Fi 7 tesƟng

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CONTENTS FEATURES

COVER STORY 18 EV baƩery tesƟng and disassembly line launched Improvements will be made to current prac ces as well as to the assessment of the performance and physical condi on of ba eries.

SUSTAINABILITY 20 Reimagining mature industrial estates Innova ve green solu ons are among the ideas studied by JTC.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 24 RecogniƟon for achievements in energy and greenhouse gas management Winners receive Awards at the Na onal Energy Eﬃciency Conference 2023.

DECARBONISATION

28 Fewer than 50% of organisaƟons expect to meet decarbonisaƟon targets by 2030 A new report measures the current state of infrastructure transi on.

President Mr Dalson Chung Chief Editor T Bhaskaran t_b_n8@yahoo.com

Publica ons Manager Desmond Teo desmond@iesnet.org.sg Publica ons Execu ve Nuraini Ahmad nuraini@iesnet.org.sg

Editorial Panel Dr Chandra Segaran Dr Ang Keng Been Mr Jaime Vega BauƟsta Jr Dr Victor Sim Mr Soon Ren Jun Dr Alexander Wiegand Media Representa ve MulƟmedia CommunicaƟons (2000) Pte Ltd sales@mulƟmediacomms.sg

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

Design & layout by 2EZ Asia Pte Ltd Cover designed by Irin Kuah Cover images by A*STAR Published by The InsƟtuƟon of Engineers, Singapore 70 Bukit Tinggi Road, Singapore 289758 Tel: 6469 5000 I Fax: 6467 1108 Printed in Singapore

www.ies.org.sg

CYBERSECURITY 32 Are we smart enough for smart ciƟes? The vast opportuni es oﬀered by connected networks come with an increasing vulnerability to cybera acks.

DIGITALISATION 34 Measurement soŌware is criƟcal in Wi-Fi 7 tesƟng It will ensure regulatory compliance and high performance of wireless solu ons.

HYDROGEN RESEARCH

37 Tests confirm key milestone success of project The breakthrough is another step towards enabling the use of hydrogen as an avia on fuel.

PROJECT APPLICATION 38 Switchgear modernisaƟon enables enhanced reliability for chemical plant in Korea Adop on of a future-proof technical solu on ensures high up me and therefore high produc vity.

REGULAR SECTIONS 04 IES UPDATE 10 NEWS & EVENTS 39 PRODUCTS & SOLUTIONS

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.

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

IES UPDATE

IES IS NOW EV-FRIENDLY!

The IES Building at 70 Bukit Tinggi Road.

Electric Vehicle (EV) owners can now make full use of the EV charging sta ons located in Basement 1 Carpark (Lots 18 & 19) at the IES premises. The latest inia ve in the IES Green Plan 2030, the installa on of Volt EV charging sta ons represents a move towards sustainability and convenience for members and the public. The Volt EV charging sta ons oﬀer two sets of 22 kW AC chargers that will enable EV owners to conveniently, and with peace of mind, charge their vehicles, during their visit to the ins tu on to a end events and conferences or pursue daily ac vi es. Users are advised to download the Volt EV Charging App on Google Play Store or Apple App Store before using the sta ons. “IES is proud to complete the installa on of the Volt EV charging sta ons at our premises with the support of Keppel Energy-as-aService. This checks oﬀ another key target set in the IES Green Plan 2030 – to support the goal set in the Singapore Green Plan 2030 of deploying 60,000 EV charging 04

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

The charging staƟons are located in B1 Carpark, Lots 18 & 19.

points na onwide by 2030, under the Energy Reset pillar. We hope more organisa ons will join us in making eﬀorts to ramp up EV charging infrastructure as, together, we can accelerate the drive towards a sustainable and smart energy future,” said IES President Dalson Chung. Partnering with Volt EV Charging

(Volt Singapore), the installa on of the EV charging sta ons serves as a testament to IES’ dedica on to innova on, sustainability and the advancement of engineering solu ons. It marks a milestone in the journey towards a more sustainable transporta on ecosystem, reinforcing the ins tu on’s role as an advocate for social responsibility and engineering excellence.

THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, SINGAPORE IS NOW EV FRIENDLY! LOCATE THE CHARGER

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Refer to the Volt EV Charging App for prevailing charging rates. Standard parking fee applies.

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THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

IES UPDATE

INTER-PROFESSIONAL GAMES 2023 The Inter-Professional Games (IPG) 2023 began on 16 September 2023. Back on the playing field a er a hiatus of three years, IES had a friendly face-oﬀ with five professional bodies – Singapore Ins tute of Architects (SIA), Singapore Medical Associa on (SMA), Singapore Ins tute of Surveyors and Valuers (SISV), Ins tute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA), and the Law Society of Singapore (LSS) – in Badminton, Chess, Bowling, Golf, Basketball and Table Tennis.

BADMINTON On 1 and 15 October 2023, IES competed in the Inter-Professional Games (IPG) 2023 (Badminton) tournament, against industry partners SISV, SMA, ISCA, LSS and SIA, clinching the tle of 2nd Runner-Up!

Say hello to our IES Badminton representaƟves!

Congratula ons to The Law Society of Singapore for winning the tle of Badminton Champion! Badminton Day 1 & 2 Results • Champion: LSS • 1st Runner-Up: ISCA • 2nd Runner-Up: IES • 3rd Runner-Up: SMA • 4th and 5th Runner-Up: SIA and SISV

Day 2 Scoreboard

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

Thank you to our industry partners for the friendly game!

Women representaƟves from opposing teams baƩle it out during the IPG 2023 – Badminton tournament.

IES UPDATE

IES RepresentaƟves playing against Doctors from Singapore Medical AssociaƟon (SMA).

CHESS On 1 October, IES competed against the Doctors and Accountants from SMA and ISCA, respecƟvely, in intense Chess games, at Toa Payoh West Community Club. Checkmate! CongratulaƟons to The Law Society of Singapore for clinching the Ɵtle of Chess Champion! • Champion: LSS • 1st Runner-Up: SMA • 2nd Runner-Up: ISCA • 3rd Runner-Up: IES More updates will be provided, later, on the outcomes of the Golf, Basketball and Table Tennis games in IPG 2023.

IES RepresentaƟves playing against Accountants from the InsƟtute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA).

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

IES UPDATE

IES PLANTS 50 TREES ON MASS TREE PLANTING DAY AS PART OF THE ONEMILLIONTREES MOVEMENT The latest iniƟaƟve under the IES Green Plan 2030 – the IES Mass Tree PlanƟng Day – took place early in the morning of 28 October at Tampines Eco Green.

Shahul, planted the ceremonial tree – the Knema furfuracea (a.k.a Wild Nutmeg) – a naƟve tree that grows up to 25 m tall.

Guests walked away with the OneMillionTrees bucket hat and badge pin afterwards, gifted generously by NParks. IES is

Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister and CoordinaƟng Minister for Economic Policies and IES DisƟnguished Honorary Patron was the Guest-of-Honour. Championed by IES’ very own Young Engineers CommiƩee, in partnership with NaƟonal Parks Board (NParks), guests delighted in the opportunity to roll up their sleeves to plant 50 trees by the footpath along Tampines Eco Green. Over 100 engineers and guests were present. For many of the guests, it was the first Ɵme they were picking up shovels. IES President Dalson Chung, together with DPM Heng Swee Keat, Emeritus President Prof Yeoh Lean Weng and Chair of the IES Young Engineers CommiƩee, Mr Syafiq

Infographic on the ceremonial tree. Image: NParks. 08

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

Watering the Wild Nutmeg tree. From leŌ, IES Emeritus President Prof Yeoh Lean Weng, IES President Dalson Chung, Chair of the YEC and Student Chapter Mr Syafiq Shahul and DPM Heng Swee Keat.

Pictured with DPM Heng Swee Keat are members of the IES Young Engineers CommiƩee (YEC), Chair of the YEC and Student Chapter Mr Syafiq Shahul, IES President Dalson Chung and IES Emeritus President Prof Yeoh Lean Weng.

IES UPDATE

tremendously honoured and thanks DPM Heng Swee Keat, and everyone involved in the event that contributes towards achieving a sustainable and green Singapore!

• The OneMillionTrees movement is a nationwide effort to plant a million trees across Singapore by 2030, bringing the number of trees in Singapore to more than 8 million. This movement is a key

part of NParks’ City in Nature vision, a key pillar of the Singapore Green Plan 2030. To know more, log on to https://www.nparks. gov.sg/treessg/one-million-treesmovement

Group photo of guests at the IES Mass Tree PlanƟng Day.

Thank you to the NParks team for partnering IES on this memorable occasion!

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

NEWS & EVENTS

CDL celebrates 60 Diamond Years City Developments Limited (CDL) recently marked its 60th Anniversary with a Diamond Jubilee Celebra on. Held at Orchard Hotel Singapore, the event was graced by Guest-of-Honour, Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Minister for Finance Mr Lawrence Wong, and a ended by 600 guests, including government oﬃcials, ambassadors, foreign dignitaries, business partners, industry representa ves, as well as CDL’s directors, management and staﬀ. The celebra on commemorated CDL’s remarkable growth from just eight employees in 1963 to a global real estate company with over 8,000 employees worldwide and flying the Singapore flag high with a global presence in over 20 countries. Over the past six decades, CDL has transformed from an unprofitable company into a global industry forerunner, growing its assets from SGD 18 million in 1972 to SGD 31 billion and redefining skylines with iconic skyscrapers and over 50,000 luxurious homes. Together with its hospitality arm, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Limited (M&C), the Group has grown from one hotel to over 155 hotels today. In the last decade, CDL embarked on a journey of renewal and transforma on, with a strategic diversifica on push to build its overseas property development and asset management pla orms, and now has a presence in Australia, China, Japan, the UK, the US and Vietnam. Beyond geographical growth, the Group has also expanded into new asset classes, including rental apartments, student accommoda on, workers’ dormitories and business parks, and is also steadily growing its fund management business. Reflec ng on the Group’s achievements, CDL Execu ve Chairman Mr Kwek Leng Beng expressed his pride at being closely involved in the company’s growth journey, ever since he and his late father, Hong Leong Group Founder, Mr 10

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

Guest-of-Honour, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Mr Lawrence Wong (7th from leŌ) joined CDL ExecuƟve Chairman Mr Kwek Leng Beng (6th from leŌ), CDL Group CEO Mr Sherman Kwek (5th from leŌ) and members of the CDL Board of Directors and Key Management team, onstage, to launch CDL’s Diamond Jubilee CelebraƟon.

Kwek Hong Png, took the plunge to acquire a block of CDL shares from a group of professional architects – a worthy, calculated risk that determined the future of the CDL Group. “From a home-based Group, we grew beyond Singapore’s shores to the region and further onto the global stage, opera ng businesses across five con nents. Three genera ons of blood and sweat, 60 years of glory and honour. We are humbled and grateful to have grown and prospered, marked by our numerous achievements. CDL will con nue our endeavours and remain dedicated and commi ed to serving Singapore, our stakeholders and our customers in Singapore and around the globe. In the years to come, I would like CDL to have more presence in many parts of the world. I think there are opportunies, but all we need to do is to grab them and ride the storm,” Mr Kwek noted. To honour his steadfast devo on to the company, Mr Kwek was presented with a token of apprecia on by CDL Group Chief Execu ve Oﬃcer

(Group CEO) Mr Sherman Kwek and Group General Manager Mr Chia Ngiang Hong. Painted by Spanish ar st Sergi Cadenas, the exclusive art piece tled ‘Las ng Legacies’ depicts the three genera ons of the Kwek leadership and signifies the family’s entrepreneurial spirit and legacy over the past 60 years. CDL Group CEO Mr Sherman Kwek also took to the stage to deliver his tribute message to the past and present visionary leaders of CDL, such as the late Mr Kwek Hong Png, the current Execu ve Chairman, Mr Kwek Leng Beng, and the late Deputy Chairman, Mr Kwek Leng Joo. He recalled the start of his own leadership journey in January 2018 when he took over as the CEO and introduced the Group’s GET (Growth, Enhancement and Transforma on) strategy which con nues to form the blueprint for the Group’s ac vi es. He also elaborated on the importance of upholding the core values of CDL, which are collabora on, integrity and innova on. Emphasising the importance of teamwork, he added, “We must

NEWS & EVENTS

CDL has a presence in over 20 countries, globally. Pictured here is St Katharine Docks, a landmark waterfront estate in London, that the Group acquired in March 2023.

never rest on our laurels and should always strive for conƟnuous improvement. People are the most important asset in any organisaƟon, and I would like to thank all my colleagues for their passion, dedicaƟon and support, that has given us so much to be proud of. When the various business units work together as one, in a cohesive manner, that is when we can truly deliver the best outcomes for CDL and for our customers.” In celebraƟon of its 60th Anniversary, CDL has been working closely with the NaƟonal Council of Social Service (NCSS) to set up a new wellness centre for children and families, which will be housed at its City Square Mall, as well as raising funds for the Community Chest. The 14,400 ŌР Family Wellness Square @ City Square Mall will serve as an important community support facility, with tailored programmes and care catered for the well-being of children and families. CDL is also supporƟng other community iniƟaƟves, including the ongoing partnership with the NaƟonal Parks Board (NParks) on the CDL Green Gallery and Garden

Republic Plaza, CDL’s flagship Group A commercial property in the heart of Raﬄes Place, Singapore.

City Fund, as well as partnering with MigrantWell Singapore to enhance the wellbeing and health of our migrant workers. CDL will also be expanding the Singapore Sustainability Academy (SSA) in City Square Mall with a new annexe. SSA is the first ground-up iniƟaƟve and zero-energy facility in Singapore dedicated to capacity building and thought leadership for climate acƟon and sustainable development. A partnership involving

six government agencies and 15 founding industry and NGO partners, it was designed and built by CDL in 2017. It has since hosted 870 sustainability-related events, as at 1H 2023, with over 30,500 in-person aƩendees and parƟcipants from over 25 countries joining virtually. All images by City Developments Limited THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

NEWS & EVENTS

Mitsubishi Electric Asia partners with Evercomm to help decarbonise manufacturing in Asia Mitsubishi Electric Asia has announced an ESG-driven partnership with Evercomm, Singapore. This collabora on is created to overcome barriers to adop ng intelligent manufacturing ini a ves across the Asia-Pacific region with emerging technology for low-carbon manufacturing. The top three barriers to adop ng intelligent manufacturing ini aves in Asia-Pacific are employee resistance to technology adop on, lack of requisite skills, and the need for defini ons of the value of smart manufacturing. Manufacturing industries face heightened pressure from growing carbon tax regulaons, requiring greater vendor authen city and governmental compliance on CO emissions related to energy use and industrial processes. This partnership responds to the pressure of this compe ve landscape. Mitsubishi Electric and Evercomm bring innova ve manufacturing solu ons explicitly designed for heavy and automated industry sectors, to assess and reduce CO emissions more eﬃciently. “Data transparency to verify business prac ces is an industry impera ve today – especially when carbon repor ng and accountability stakes are high in Asia for manufacturers and all sectors. Our technology supports industries to shi toward lower-carbon prac ces,” said Chen Chiu-Hao (Ted), CEO of Evercomm, Singapore. This collabora on underpins Singapore’s target of net-zero emissions by 2050. “Ahead of COP 28, we want to lead the charge in transforming the manufacturing sector. By marrying automa on exper se with precision in carbon emission verifica on, we are poised to redefine smart manufacturing prac ces in the region,” said Kunihiko Seki, Managing Director of Mitsubishi Electric Asia. 12

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

At the event held to announce the partnership between Mitsubishi Electric Asia and Evercomm, Singapore, are, from le to right, Mr Kunihiko Seki, Corporate Execu ve and Chief Representa ve, Asia Pacific Region of Mitsubishi Electric Corpora on, Managing Director of Mitsubishi Electric Asia Pte Ltd; Ms Toshie Takeuchi, Execu ve Oﬃcer, Group President, Factory Automa on Systems Group, Mitsubishi Electric Corpora on; Mr Ted Chen, CEO of Evercomm Singapore Pte Ltd; and Mr Hiroyuki Tominaga, General Manager, Solu on Business Development Project, Fukuyama Works, Mitsubishi Electric Corpora on.

Through this partnership, Evercomm and Mitsubishi Electric will offer solu ons integra ng Evercomm’s so ware and Mitsubishi Electric’s products, to realise carbon neutrality for customers. The companies plan to consolidate manufacturing site data on CO emissions and reduc ons collected by Mitsubishi Electric’s SCADA into Evercomm’s management so ware. This consolida on will offer industries carbon reduc on, with transparency and more efficiency. Using this proprietary so ware is said to increase data authen city by up to 90%, increase produc vity in carbon accoun ng by up to 80%, reduce external assurance me by up to 60%, and thereby reduce third-party verifica on costs.

Six industry benefits from this partnership • Carbon Emission Verifica on: The pla orm focuses on verifying carbon emissions, a crucial step in accurately assessing an organisaon’s environmental impact. This verifica on process ensures that reported emissions data is reliable

and can be used for decision-making and repor ng. • Carbon Footprint Management: The pla orm aims to help businesses and organisa ons be er understand and quan fy their carbon footprint. This involves tracking and measuring greenhouse gas emissions from various ac vi es and opera ons, including energy consump on and transporta on. • Automa on: This partnership oﬀers automa on solu ons to simplify the process of carbon footprint disclosure. It reduces the administra ve burden of collec ng and repor ng emissions data and provides emerging tech accuracy. • Net-Zero Planning: This partnership will support businesses in achieving net-zero carbon emissions, including the provision of planning and management tools to help organisa ons reduce their carbon footprint and transi on to carbon-neutral opera ons. • Digital Transforma on: Technology speeds up how organisa ons report their sustainability eﬀorts. This can make it easier for businesses to

NEWS & EVENTS

integrate environmental considera ons into their overall strategy. • Regulatory Compliance: Accurate carbon emissions data is o en required for compliance with environmental regula ons and repor ng requirements. Mitsubishi Electric Asia has pioneered the development of carbon-neutral and energy-saving management systems within factory automa on, robo cs and industrial technology. These are engineered to reduce energy consump on and op mise operaonal eﬃciency while minimising environmental impact. The company’s proven solu ons bring robust exper se to this partnership in advancing sustainable manufacturing and industrial prac ces. Mitsubishi Electric has pledged to achieve net zero greenhouse gas

emissions in their en re value chain by 2051, and zero greenhouse gas emissions from factories and oﬃces by 2031. The company already offers clients the capacity to monitor energy usage be er and implement AI-driven automa on of processes. With this partnership with Evercomm, Mitsubishi Electric can now allow industries more eﬀec ve ways to be ESG-compliant, help their clients improve their digital automa on and energy monitoring, and now include greenhouse gas monitoring, thereby reducing costs.

Evercomm Evercomm is a so ware company suppor ng businesses in their journey towards net zero. Its proprietary carbon accounting pla orm tracks, measures, and analyses CO emissions from industries such as water and waste

produc on, transla ng them into carbon emission values as per the ISO 14064-1 Standard. All the data undergoes third-party verifica on, ensuring the integrity of its carbon accoun ng reports. Headquartered in Singapore, Evercomm collaborates with the United Na ons and government agencies in Singapore.

Mitsubishi Electric Asia Mitsubishi Electric Asia is a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Electric Corporaon, a world-leading manufacturer of products, ranging from home electronics, industrial and factory automa on systems, semiconductors and devices, public u lity systems, and defence and space systems. Established in Singapore in 1977, Mitsubishi Electric Asia has provided reliable, high-quality products to homes, businesses and industries in Asia Pacific.

BOGE Compressors takes over INMATEC GaseTechnologie As of 1 August 2023, BOGE has taken over INMATEC GaseTechnologie GmbH & Co KG, one of the leading manufacturers of nitrogen and oxygen generators. This acquisi on sees BOGE, the compressed air specialist, con nue to grow and expand its product por olio. In the future, customers will be able to choose from an even wider range of nitrogen and oxygen generators from BOGE. INMATEC manufactures and installs systems globally and will remain an independent business unit, located in Herrsching, Germany, and will con nue to trade under the name INMATEC.

with its premium products. By significantly expanding our product por olio, we will become a one-stop shop, oﬀering our customers high quality complete solu ons ‘Made in Germany’,” said Olaf Hoppe, Managing Director of BOGE. Together with INMATEC nitrogen and oxygen generators, BOGE will now be able to cater more individually to requests from customers of both companies, from a range of industries in the food & beverage, pharmaceu cals,

plas cs, mining, chemicals, pulp & paper, waste-water treatment, laser cu ng, metalworking, packaging and healthcare sectors, among others. “For BOGE, this is a resolute connua on of our growth strategy. As well as a wider product range, customers will benefit from advanced cataly c processes for nitrogen genera on, which can reduce energy costs by 50%,” said Nalin Amunugama, General Manager of BOGE Kompressoren Asia Pacific.

With its takeover of INMATEC, BOGE will be even more versale in the future. The expanded product por olio means it will be able to cater to more diverse and industry-specific requests. This will make the family business in Bielefeld, Germany, even more compe ve. “We have high quality standards, which INMATEC fulfils

With the acquisiƟon of INMATEC, BOGE will conƟnue to grow and expand its product porƞolio.

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

NEWS & EVENTS

Senoko Energy launches SolarShare 2.0 Senoko Energy recently announced the launch of SolarShare 2.0 – the first commercially available peer-topeer grid scale trading pla orm for solar energy in Singapore. Following the successful launch of the pilot project back in 2020, SolarShare 2.0 is expected to enable businesses and households in Singapore to be powered, at scale, with renewable energy.

and households on their green energy journey by enabling them to use clean solar energy from fellow Senoko Energy customers. By enabling consumers to measure and trace their carbon footprint, they will not only be able to be er understand how they can be more eﬃcient but, importantly, be able to take charge of their energy consump on.”

In line with the government’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, SolarShare 2.0 seeks to enable customers enjoy sustainable green energy 24/7, in the future, when green energy imports and ba ery storage become available.

Mr Chong further added, “With this ini a ve, we are also looking to encourage property owners with roo op space to install solar panels. By contribu ng excess energy to the grid, that can be shared with the community, Singaporeans can do their part to help strengthen Singapore’s energy security.”

With this innova ve peer-to-peer trading pla orm, businesses and households will be able to buy and sell their own solar energy at their preferred price, making it more accessible and aﬀordable. Senoko customers will be able to buy energy matched to specific solar generators, or from a community pool of excess solar energy. Another key feature of SolarShare 2.0 is that it allows businesses and households to track the source, me and price of solar energy over the grid, as well as measure and trace their energy consump on every half hour. This transparency enables businesses and households to monitor their energy usage and make informed decisions to further reduce their carbon footprint. Mr Eric Maka, President & CEO of Senoko Energy, said, “SolarShare 2.0 is one of our key decarbonisa on ini a ves, along with our recent partnership with City Energy to jointly study the technical and commercial feasibility of the import and supply of hydrogen. These ini a ves demonstrate Senoko’s strong commitment to playing our part to help Singapore achieve its net zero vision.” Mr James Chong, Senior Vice President, Commercial of Senoko Energy, said, “SolarShare 2.0 has been designed to empower businesses 14

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

Mr Steve Hoy, CEO of Enosi, an Australian energy traceability com-

pany, said, “SolarShare 2.0 allows everyone to become an ac ve par cipant in the green energy revolu on. The pla orm’s intui veness paves the way for businesses and households to take intelligent decisions, enhance their energy eﬃciency, and reduce carbon footprint as well as overall costs. Our customers in Australia are already benefi ng from access to solar energy for households, and be er returns from roo op solar investment for businesses. Enosi looks forward to collabora ng with Senoko and leveraging our combined knowledge of energy distribu on and traceability on the path to a zero-carbon energy future.” SolarShare 2.0 is available exclusively to all Senoko Energy’s business and household customers from 1 November 2023.

AcceleraƟng net zero work in Asia The Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC) has announced a new asset owners working group for Asia’s pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and insurers - to start in January 2024. The new AIGCC Asset Owners’ Working Group will meet the growing interest in net zero alignment from Asian sovereign wealth funds, pension funds and insurers. Asset owners across Asia are accelera ng their net zero alignment work, recognising that they cannot divest from climate risk. They are therefore increasingly seeking other ways to reduce their exposure to climate risks and posi on capital for the opportuni es worth trillions of dollars in Asia’s transi on to net zero emissions. Through the working group, asset owners will learn from experts

and best prac ce from regional and global peers about the many aspects of net zero inves ng, develop capacity to align investor por olios with the goals of the Paris Agreement, and build momentum for taking climate ac on to meet their fiduciary du es. The working group forum will have an emphasis on peer-topeer learning and knowledge sharing between asset owners who are opera ng in the dis ncve Asian markets. The launch of the new asset owner working group follows on from a special asset owner roundtable held in Tokyo, Japan. The roundtable was co-hosted by Nippon Life Insurance Company, Nissay Asset Management Corpora on and Genera on Investment Management. It was the fourth AIGCC roundtable for asset owners in Asia, who are increasingly commi ed to a net zero economy.

NEWS & EVENTS

ForƟnet to collaborate with the Centre for Strategic Infocomm Technologies For net, the global cybersecurity leader driving the convergence of networking and security, recently announced a partnership with the Centre for Strategic Infocomm Technologies (CSIT), a technical agency in the Ministry of Defence, Singapore, to strengthen Singapore’s cyber defence. By formalising this partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), CSIT will enhance its capabili es in several key areas: • Cyber Threat Intelligence Sharing: CSIT will benefit from ForGuard Labs’ extensive knowledge of emerging threats, including indicators of compromise, insights into malicious campaigns, informa on on new a ack vectors, and recommenda ons for defensive strategies. For Guard Labs is For net’s global threat intelligence and research team. This informa on sharing will empower CSIT to ac vely iden fy and respond to cyber threats. • Joint Inves ga ons: CSIT and Fortinet will collaborate on joint inves ga ons, pooling their resources and exper se to analyse and address cybersecurity incidents eﬀec vely. This will enhance CSIT’s speed and accuracy of incident response. • Telemetry Data U lisa on: The partnership includes the u lisa on of shared telemetry data. This data can provide valuable insights into ongoing cyber threats and trends, helping CSIT and For net develop proac ve security measures and help end-users to adapt to evolving threats. By partnering with CSIT, For net underscores its commitment to strengthening Singapore’s capability to eﬀec vely mi gate digital threats, aligning seamlessly with the na on’s security strategy. Ms Jess Ng, the Country Head for Singapore, and Brunei at For net, said, “The landscape of cybera acks is in a constant state of

From leŌ, Mr Darren Teo, Chief ExecuƟve, CSIT; Mr Ng Chad-Son, Deputy Secretary (Technology), MINDEF; Mr Tan Yi Zhao, Deputy Chief ExecuƟve, CSIT; Mr Derek Manky, Global VP, Threat Intelligence, ForƟnet; Mr Vishak Raman, Vice President, India, S.E.A, HK and ANZ, ForƟnet; and Ms Joyce Loh, Sales Director, Government and Healthcare, ForƟnet.

evolu on. The severity of these threats is amplified by the prolifera on of Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) and the exploita on of 5G networks, par cularly impac ng cri cal infrastructure and industries crucial to na on-states. Our collabora on with CSIT underscores our longstanding support of mission-cri cal public-private partnerships and commitment to sharing our extensive cybersecurity exper se to bolster Singapore’s

digital defences.” Mr Tan Yi Zhao, Deputy Chief Execu ve (Technology), CSIT, added, “Collabora on with strategic partners such as For net is key to for fying our country’s cyber defences. Our partnership with For net not only strengthens our collec ve eﬀorts to enhance Singapore’s cybersecurity but also underscores our commitment to staying ahead of evolving cyber threats.”

FuncƟonal safety in rail transportaƟon HIMA, a leading provider for safety-related automa on solu ons, hosted the APAC Users Conference (Rail), earlier this year. Held at HIMA’s Customer Soluons Center in Singapore, the Users Conference revolved around the company’s ‘#safetygoesdigital’ campaign, where par cipants explored digitalisa on, with added value, in the realm of railway func onal safety. The conference welcomed rail industry experts from 13 countries, and focused on three key pillars - No Safety Without Security, Enduring Compliance, and Streamline Engineering as a holis c approach to digitalising func onal safety. At the conference, panellists from Australia, Indonesia and the UK shared their perspec ves on the digitalisa on of railway sys-

tems in their home countries and their benefits. A major theme of the discussion was digitalisa on’s benefit to enhancing safety – where it allows train manufacturers to oﬀer new services such as remote monitoring, realme diagnos cs of rolling stock and preven ve maintenance. “Railway engineering systems have long lifecycles las ng several decades, and it is cri cal that their technological solu ons will be available over a long period of me. In this transi onal phase, future-proofing func onal safety in rail is paramount. Digitalisa on of projects across the region requires flexible safety solu ons that are not only easily programmable but feature standard interfaces and are modular,” said Mr Friedhelm Best, Vice President HIMA Asia Pacific.

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

NEWS & EVENTS

DeburringEXPO 2023 disƟnguished by high quality DeburringEXPO 2023, the 5th Leading Trade Fair for Deburring Technology and Precision Surface Finishing, was held from 10 to 12 October 2023, at the Karlsruhe Exhibi on Centre, Karlsruhe, Germany. More than 1200 visitors a ended this year’s event. The number of visitors was approximately 10% more than in 2021. For the majority of the 107 exhibi ng companies from 13 countries, this resulted in good contacts and new projects, and with good prospects for post-event business. The concurrent, bilingual (German and English) expert forum a racted 500 par cipants. Deburring and the produc on of precision surface finishes are just one aspect of surface treatment technology. But due to quality and cost considera ons, manufacturing companies are focusing on them to an ever greater extent. This is confirmed by the current challenges and projects brought along to this year’s DeburringEXPO by the visitors. The visitors came from 18 countries. Around 20% of them came from outside Germany. The largest percentage of visitors came from Germany, followed by Switzerland, Italy, Austria and Slovenia.

The automaƟon of deburring and surface finishing processes was one of the dominaƟng topics at this year’s DeburringEXPO. The exhibitors presented a variety of soluƟons in this area. Image: fairXperts GmbH & Co KG.

that we will exhibit again in 2025,” said Steﬀen Hedrich, Managing Director of Kempf GmbH. The high propor on of expert visitors represented sectors including machinery and systems manufacturing, metalworking and metal processing, medical and pharmaceu cals technology, tool and mould making, precision engineering and op cs, the automo ve industry, as well as aviaon and aerospace technology.

“The fact that par cipa on at the trade fair paid oﬀ for the exhibi ng companies is more important than the figures themselves,” said Hartmut Herdin, Managing Director of private trade fair promoters, fairXperts GmbH & Co KG, organisers of the event.

“We took over the business from another company that exhibited at the trade fair on a regular basis and were thus also on hand this year. We were surprised by the highly specific tasks and RFQs, and by the resul ng quality of our leads. I think we will exhibit again at the next DeburringEXPO,” said Shigeru Kajisaki, managing director of Yamazen Europe GmbH.

“Prac cally every visitor at DeburringEXPO comes to the trade fair with an ongoing problem for which they require a solu on. As a result, discussions go into great depth very quickly. We also presented a world’s first for deburring tasks which place stringent demands on chamfer quality, and it generated significantly be er feedback than I expected beforehand. For us, it is already clear

“DeburringEXPO is our most important trade fair. You do not have as many visitors as you do at the big metalworking events, but they all come with a specific task in mind. As a result, the success rate for good post-event business is significantly higher here than at other trade fairs. This is why we will definitely be back in 2025,” said Dieter Münz, Managing Director of

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

Ultratec Innova on GmbH. “During the three days at the trade fair, we were visited by exis ng customers with whom we were able to discuss new projects. On the other hand, we were also able to establish good new contacts. Our mee ngs frequently focused on reducing the number of manual processes, as well as simplifying and automa ng processing opera ons,” said Patrick Taschek, Sales and Project Engineer at Rösler Oberflächentechnik GmbH. The trend towards more automaon, which is, to some extent, due to the shortage of qualified personnel, was a dominant theme at this year’s DeburringEXPO. “The visitors came from various metalworking sectors with diﬀerent tasks for deburring and the producon of precision surface finishes. We observed that the requirements for automa on solu ons are becoming more demanding and that greater degrees of automa on are required,” said Jan-Niklas Merkel from the Technical Sales Department at SHL AG. The next DeburringEXPO will be held at the Karlsruhe Exhibi on Centre from 14 to 16 October 2025.

NEWS & EVENTS

Surge in bookings for EuroBLECH 2024 Stand alloca on is in full swing for next year’s global flagship event on sheet metal working. Pre-bookings have substan ally increased, and the show is now open to new exhibitor enquiries. The previous EuroBLECH edi on in 2022, which marked a significant milestone in the recovery of the sheet metal industry, featured 1,300 exhibitors from 39 countries, over a net exhibi on space of 86,136 m . Despite mixed forecasts for the sheet metal working industry, re-bookings for EuroBLECH 2024 have hit new heights. Fi een months ahead of show opening, 80% of available stand space in the nine exhibi on halls had already been reserved, and the show team is now embarking on the task of alloca ng space for the new exhibitor bookings. EuroBLECH 2024, the 27th Internaonal Sheet Metal Working Technology Exhibi on will take place from 22 to 25 October 2024, at the Hanover Exhibi on Grounds in Germany. Known as the leading event for everyone involved in sheet metal working, it provides a marketplace for suppliers who wish to market their latest technological advancements to a global audience of industry experts and stakeholders. “The economic outlook for companies in the sheet metal working industry is challenging, yet promising. Placing their technology and exper se at the forefront of the sheet metal working sector and marke ng themselves as a thought leader, is the best op on to secure crucial business in future,” said Ms Evelyn Warwick, Exhibi on Director of EuroBLECH, on behalf of show organiser, RX. “In addi on, sheet metal producers are looking into more resourceful ways to tackle fluctua ng prices for energy and raw materials, rapidly changing consumer markets, and stricter government regula ons to lessen the industry’s carbon footprint. For tech suppliers oﬀering innova ve tools, equipment, so ware, and solu ons, this means

a substan al window of opportunity. Par cipa ng at EuroBLECH 2024 will help them capitalise on the current and future demand,” added Ms Warwick. With 80% of EuroBLECH visitors involved in purchasing decisions and nearly every second visitor a ending with the inten on to invest, exhibitors can expect four days of face-to-face business discussion with key contacts from global companies looking to source sheet metal working solu ons. The provisional exhibitor line-up features leading interna onal brands as well as promising start-ups from 32 countries. Fi een technology sectors across nine exhibi on halls cover the en re supply chain in the manufacturing of sheet metal prototypes, industrial components and consumer parts. This includes machines, tools and IT solu ons for cu ng,

punching and forming, joining, welding and fastening, surface treatment and finishing, process control and quality assurance, machine elements and components, CAD/CAM/CIM systems, warehouse and factory equipment, material recycling, and other solu ons related to the processing of metal sheets, tubes, profiles, plas c hybrids and other structures. EuroBLECH 2024 takes place in Halls 11 to 17, 26 and 27 of the Hanover Exhibi on Grounds in Germany. The halls are being allocated by technology sectors as per the exhibi on profile. New since EuroBLECH 2022 is the hos ng of joining technology as well as surface and tool technology in Hall 26, while, previously, they were located in Hall 13. More informa on on EuroBLECH 2024 can be obtained from www. euroblech.com.

An exhibit at EuroBLECH 2022.

Visitors at the previous ediƟon of the event, in 2022. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

COVER STORY

EV baƩery tesƟng and disassembly line launched Improvements will be made to current pracƟces as well as to the assessment of the performance and physical condiƟon of baƩeries. During the Industrial Transformaon Asia-Pacific (ITAP) 2023 event, the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) announced a new Electric Vehicle (EV) Ba ery Tes ng and Disassembly Line. This is part of wider eﬀorts by A*STAR’s research ins tutes, such as the Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre (ARTC), Singapore Ins tute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech), Ins tute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Na onal Metrology Centre (NMC), and Ins tute of High Performance Compu ng (IHPC), to work with partners in building a circular economy for ba eries, through the development of key remanufacturing processes and systems solu ons. The line, located within A*STAR’s ARTC, leverages Industry 4.0 technologies including automa on, robo cs, intelligent vision inspecons and diagnos cs, to improve current prac ces of disassembling EV ba ery packs, which can be dangerous, tedious and labour-intensive. The line will also be used to assess the performance and physical condi on of ba eries, such as the extent to which they have been subjected to wear and tear. With the electrifica on of transporta on, re red EV ba eries are expected to pile up, increasing the need for eﬀec ve solu ons to manage them sustainably. Improper disposal of ba eries can pose threats to human health and the environment, and there is also a growing demand for the raw materials used in ba ery manufacturing. Recycling allows the recovery of materials for the manufacturing of new ba eries. Re red ba eries may also retain some useful life that can be repurposed for less demanding applica ons before they are recycled. 18

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

Pack InspecƟon and Disassembly StaƟon within the EV BaƩery TesƟng and Disassembly Line at A*STAR’s Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre (ARTC). Image: A*STAR.

Both repurposing and recycling pathways require the disassembly of EV ba ery packs. Manual disassembly is a labour-intensive process as these packs come in diverse shapes and sizes, as well as physical and performance condi ons. It can take more than seven hours to manually disassemble a ba ery pack which consists of numerous modules that need to be disassembled further into individual cells. A ba ery pack is also typically held together by mul ple fasteners of varying types, o en numbering in the hundreds, that need to be removed during disassembly. Addi onally, human operators are required to come into physical contact with EV ba ery packs, including their high voltage cables and wiring which operate at voltages ranging from 400 to 800 volts. Even when discharged, these packs can s ll hold residual power that poses risks to human beings – in some

cases, up to 10% of their charge capacity. Automa ng parts of the disassembly process, such as visual inspec on and the unbol ng of fasteners, can reduce human exposure to high-voltage situa ons and speed up the process by an es mated 50%. The line will also feature technologies for faster and more accurate measurements of ba eries’ State-of-Health (SOH) which is an indicator of the ba eries’ remaining useful life and how this compares with the original capacity or performance capabili es. Current industry-accepted SOH measurements require the EV ba ery pack to undergo a complete charge and discharge cycle at a slow fixed rate, taking up to seven hours typically. Under the current line, A*STAR’s ARTC is now able to quickly determine the SOH in 30 minutes at the ba ery cell level. It will look to scale this up to the ba ery module

COVER STORY

level, to simultaneously evaluate the condi on of both individual cells and module, and to be er understand a module’s overall health. A*STAR’s ARTC worked with knowledge partner, McKinsey & Company, on prac cal applica ons of Industry 4.0 technologies on the line, aiming to improve industry safety standards for handling high voltage ba ery packs, increase produc vity in high mix and low volume scenarios, and standardise the handling of EV ba eries. This includes using augmented reality (AR) to guide employees in a stepby-step fashion, for tes ng and disassembly processes; an energy management system to op mise energy usage of the line; and a modular set-up, supported by automated guided vehicles (AGVs), to increase the flexibility of the line in adap ng to changes in tes ng and disassembly needs. For example, a user of the line can easily increase its capacity in ba ery pack inspecon, by increasing the number of sta ons that can check the physical condi ons of these packs. “A*STAR’s launch of the EV Battery Tes ng and Disassembly Line marks a significant milestone in our commitment to building a circular economy for ba eries. This will set the founda on for important research and transla onal work in the remanufacturing and recycling of ba eries. The new pla orm will use Industry 4.0 technologies for safe and eﬃcient management of EV ba eries, and we are excited to work with like-minded partners like McKinsey & Company on this development journey. We hope this novel approach will spur the industry to develop more applica ons for managing re red EV ba eries,” said Dr David Low, CEO, ARTC, A*STAR. “As electric vehicle (EV) adop on surges in the region, we need to be innova ve in scaling digital solu ons to be er manage endof-life (EOL) EV ba eries. Together with A*STAR ARTC via McKinsey’s Innova on and Learning Center, we introduced the EV Ba ery Tes ng and Disassembly Line, through which we are able to determine diﬀerent methods to enhance bat-

Set up of the EV BaƩery TesƟng and Disassembly Line at ARTC.

tery circularity. Furthermore, the EV Ba ery Tes ng and Disassembly Line is also able to tackle cri cal issues in process eﬃciency, safety, and standards compliance. This ongoing partnership enables us to con nue being changemakers in new technology development and capability building, which in return will contribute to the local and regional economy,” said Mr Kaushik Das, Managing Partner, Southeast Asia, McKinsey & Company.

StaƟon 2: Module Discharging and Disassembly

To further develop technologies for commercial deployment, A*STAR will partner ba ery recyclers that are looking to disassemble significant volumes of EV ba ery packs at the end of their useful lives, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that plan to develop new technology oﬀerings for the growing end-of-life ba ery market.

• Disassembling of module to cells, a er safety tes ng and discharging.

The EV Ba ery Tes ng and Disassembly Line features three diﬀerent sta ons, and a digital twin which shows a virtual representa on of the pla orm, to enable realme monitoring.

StaƟon 1: Pack InspecƟon and Disassembly To disassemble EV baƩery packs • Checking ba ery packs’ physical condi on, for example, the wear and tear. • Automated unbol ng on ba ery packs. • Removing and disconnec ng wiring within ba ery packs, assisted by AR.

To discharge module and disassemble module to cells • Assessing ba ery modules’ physical condi on for safe disassembly. • Discharging ba ery module before disassembling. •Monitoring energy usage and poten al energy recovered from discharging.

• Automated transfer of ba ery cells from Sta on 2 to Sta on 3 via AGV.

StaƟon 3: Rapid Cell Grading

To determine State of Health (SOH) measurements and the next steps • Rapid assessment of State of Health (SOH) of ba ery cell. • Smart tracking of waste generated from disassembly of ba ery packs. • Monitoring overall carbon emissions across the line and gathering data to guide process towards achieving net zero.

Digital Twin of Line To enable digitalisaƟon of the line and its operaƟons at various stages • Valida ng and improving layout and processes through physicsbased modelling, and re-op mising line capacity.

• Removal of busbars and metal brackets, assisted by AR.

• Digitalising opera ons for realme visibility, such as energy consump on and overall equipment eﬀec veness.

• Automated transfer of ba ery module to Sta on 2 via AGV.

• Planning and scheduling jobs for mely comple on. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

SUSTAINABILITY

Reimagining mature industrial estates InnovaƟve green soluƟons are among the ideas studied by JTC. Bold visions for the future of Singapore’s mature industrial estates have emerged from JTC’s ‘Reimagining Singapore’s Industrial Landscape’ ideas compe on. The ini a ve invited architectural, planning, and design professionals to submit innova ve blue-sky ideas for the Yishun and Kallang-Kolam Ayer industrial estates, with the goal of transforming them into sustainable and vibrant communi es. The proposals comprised a range of cu ng-edge approaches to urban planning and design, that oﬀer a glimpse into the exci ng possibilies for mee ng the evolving needs of a more sustainable manufacturing landscape. OpƟmisaƟon through mulƟ-funcƟonal spaces Characterised by predominantly single-use and low-density developments, both Yishun and Kallang-Kolam Ayer estates present opportuni es for space op misaon and enhancements through the integra on of industrial and non-industrial uses. New mixed-use urban models, building typologies and modular developments were proposed to create vibrant manufacturing landscapes that will func on as a rac ve work environments for young talents. The proposal for transparent factories would allow the public to obtain a more immersive visitor experience, viewing labs and produc on facili es first-hand, and will also serve as an avenue to promote industrial tourism. Assessing the poten al of such models and typologies serves as a per nent step towards creating more sustainable and vibrant workspaces that meet the needs of Singapore’s growing popula on, while also addressing the pressing issue of land scarcity. Planning for the future of industry and manufacturing As industrialists increasingly adopt 20

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

automa on and digitalisa on, an exci ng opportunity is presented, to explore new planning paradigms that help JTC’s estates remain adapve to emerging trends and future technologies. The ideas explored how Yishun and Kallang-Kolam Ayer industrial estates could adopt the concepts and principles of Industry 4.0 and 5.0 by be er synergising human and machine work ecosystems. This included integra ng technologies such as autonomous ground vehicles and sensor-laden collabora ve robots that can work alongside humans to create more eﬃcient and sustainable produc on processes in the estates. Repurposing industrial buildings for new use The adap ve reuse of exis ng industrial buildings presents a sustainable alterna ve to demoli on and new construc on, as it can reduce waste and conserve resources. It also preserves the heritage of the estate while integra ng it with the larger community. Several proposals explored the repurposing of key buildings that exhibit cultural and historical values. For example, in Yishun, the exis ng row of JTC’s fla ed factories facing Sungei Simpang Kiri has been iden fied for rejuvena on and repurposing as a riverfront SOHO. Another proposal explored the transforma on of JTC’s Terraced Factories at Kallang Way 5 into an ‘Innova on Ground’, a co-working and living space for the community. AcƟvaƟng green and blue networks As a fundamental pillar of JTC’s work, sustainability is a crucial considera on in the development of each estate. Building on the exis ng waterways, the proposals present ways to ac vate the area’s green and blue networks to seamlessly connect the industrial estates with the surrounding residen al neighbourhoods. The compe on also served to explore ways to enhance

biodiversity and harmonise nature with urban infrastructure. These networks incorporate urban greening strategies and biophilic building designs, and leverage the waterways, including Kallang River, Pelton Canal and Sungei Simpang Kiri, for recrea on, and as an alterna ve mode of transport. The integra on of green and blue networks can provide a range of benefits, including improving air quality, promo ng biodiversity and mi ga ng the Urban Heat Island Eﬀect for the community. Ms Tang Hsiao Ling, Director of Urban Planning & Architecture Division, JTC, said, “With Singapore’s limited land, it is cri cal for JTC to con nuously look at new ways to op mise industrial land. In master planning industrial estates, we also need to ensure the planning and development of such infrastructure remain agile and are sustainable over the long haul, while marrying the needs of diﬀerent industries and their surrounding communies. The bold concepts put forth for Yishun and Kallang-Kolam Ayer industrial estates are inspiring in envisioning how the future of mature industrial estates may look like. These are places where the urban ecosystem melds with nature, where businesses unite for synergised growth, and where people forge connec ons that ignite innova on and a sense of community.” A total of 26 proposals were submi ed for the compe on, out of which seven were shortlisted. The shortlisted proposals were exhibited at the URA centre recently, as part of Archifest, an annual fes val organised by the Singapore Ins tute of Architects. JTC will review proposals received from the compe on and iden fy suitable ideas to help in the future planning of Yishun and Kallang-Kolam Ayer, as well as other mature industrial estates in Singapore.

SUSTAINABILITY

Proposals for ‘Reimagining Singapore’s Industrial Landscape’ Ideas CompeƟƟon • OpƟmisaƟon through mulƟ-funcƟonal spaces Broadway Malyan’s ‘Singapore Makers Land’ explores the introducon of transparent factories, where the ground floor spaces of industrial developments are made more porous to engage the public. Showrooms and product galleries oﬀer a more immersive visitor experience, allowing the public to interact with innova ve produc on processes and even customise their own designs and products. On top of the factory, large green public spaces are introduced to bring public interac on closer to the buildings, to promote be er integra on of spaces. • Planning for the future of industry and manufacturing In Broadway Malyan’s ‘Singapore Makers Land’, The Summit is a unique space where humans and robots interact seamlessly, with machinery being just as much of an inhabitant as the workers around whom the factory is designed. U lising automa on, these robots complement human opera ons and act as a ‘tag team’, enabling the Kallang-Kolam Ayer industrial estate to be transformed to cater to high-tech industries.

ArƟst’s impression of the underground gallery space of a transparent factory at Kallang-Kolam Ayer industrial estate. Image: Broadway Malyan.

ArƟst’s impression of ‘The Summit’, a space at the western edge of the Kallang estate. Image: Broadway Malyan.

Screenshot from Broadway Malyan’s ‘Singapore Makers Land’ proposal for Kallang-Kolam Ayer industrial estate. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

SUSTAINABILITY

• Repurposing industrial buildings for new use Arup’s ‘The IntersecƟons’ explores the adapƟve reuse of exisƟng developments along Sungei Simpang Kiri, including the row of JTC’s flatted factories, by repurposing them from industrial to residenƟal use. The adaptaƟon will involve changes to the structural works of the exisƟng development, in stages, and extensions along the canal to be developed into a riverfront SOHO. • AcƟvaƟon of green and blue networks ‘The IntersecƟons’ by Arup explores the acƟvaƟon of an extensive green and blue network that connects the Yishun Industrial Estate to surrounding neighbourhoods. The aim is to create an aƩracƟve ‘industry in nature’ that is ready for climate change. Here, urban greening plays a crucial role in achieving this goal, not only by creaƟng a vibrant green neighbourhood but also by miƟgaƟng the heat generated in the estate. Sungei Simpang Kiri is enhanced through the addiƟon of elements such as bridges, extended boardwalks, paths and a cycle track. The canal is transformed into a mix of tranquil and lively spaces, suitable for all types of acƟviƟes and uses. In WOHA’s ‘River, Island, Jungle’, 50% of the land in the Kallang-Kolam Ayer Industrial Estate is set aside to integrate as much green-

ery into the estate as possible, on the ground, mid-level and roof level, thereby bringing forest strata and biodiversity verƟcally upwards. The urban massing is designed in response to nature’s ways, incorporaƟng the forest floor, understorey layer, canopy layer and emergent layers, each

ArƟst’s impression of the phases of adapƟve reuse of developments along Sungei Simpang Kiri. Images: Arup.

ArƟst’s impression of Sungei Simpang Kiri at Yishun Industrial Estate. Image: Arup.

Screenshot from Arup’s ‘The IntersecƟon’ proposal for Yishun Industrial Estate. 22

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

with its own rich biodiversity. The proposal also explores the use of water transportaƟon as part of Singapore’s future mobility networks, with a W-line network for water-based personal mobility devices, water ferries and taxis, that run through the enƟre estate.

SUSTAINABILITY

ArƟst’s impression of enhanced green and blue networks at Kallang-Kolam Ayer Industrial Estate. Image: WOHA.

JTC introduces smart retail services in industrial estates JTC industrial estates will enable smart retail services, including food deliveries by robots, and payments through facial recogni on.

Blue-sky ideas for rejuvenaƟng mature estates.

‘Reimagining Singapore’s Industrial Landscape’ exhibiƟon at URA To explore ways to op mise land, create new spaces for growth industries, and devise conducive work environments, JTC called for a Request for Proposal and invited local and interna onal design professionals to submit concept proposals for the rejuvena on of two mature industrial estates – Yishun and Kallang-Kolam Ayer.

This exhibi on showcased the exci ng blue-sky ideas that reimagine what manufacturing in a city can be. The ideas presented diﬀerent visions and strategies for brownfield redevelopment and the benefits they bring, including improved connec vity within the estates, injec on of street life vibrancy, more greenery and biodiversity reintroduced into the urban fabric, as well as the crea on of spaces that foster a sense of community.

JTC’s autonomous food delivery robot service is the outcome of the integra on of mul ple building management systems such as those for gantry turns les and li s, with a food delivery applica on. Trialled in JTC Summit, JTC’s autonomous food delivery robot ‘Kopi’ is ini ated directly by customers, without any back-end interven on. The robot’s integra on with the building management systems allows for access to diﬀerent floors using the li s, as well as building security access clearance. Its loca on is also tracked and monitored in realme on JTC’s own in-house developed digital twin. JTC Summit has also enabled payments through facial recogni on at its canteen, allowing customers to make payments with a quick facial scan. Facial recogni on is also envisioned as a common iden fier for security access, retail, F&B and other ameni es, including smart lockers, in JTC’s smart industrial estates of the future.

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Recogni on for achievements in energy and greenhouse gas management Winners receive Awards at the Na onal Energy Efficiency Conference 2023. The Na onal Environment Agency (NEA) presented 18 companies, organisa ons and individuals with the Energy Efficiency Na onal Partnership (EENP) Awards 2023, under five categories. The Awards Ceremony took place on the first day of the Naonal Energy Efficiency Conference (NEEC) 2023, a two-day conference that was held at Marina Bay Sands from 4 to 5 October 2023.

Energy Efficiency Na onal Partnership Awards 2023 The EENP Awards recognise companies and individuals that have adopted a proac ve approach towards be er energy management. This year, the 12th edi on of the EENP Awards was expanded to recognise companies’ decarbonisaon efforts through not just energy efficiency but also in reducing emissions of other types of greenhouse gases ((GHGs). Eighteen companies and individuals received the EENP Awards 2023 across five categories – Excellence in Energy, GHG Management; Outstanding Small and Medium Enterprise (SME); Outstanding Energy, GHG Manager; Outstanding Energy Services Provider; and Best Prac ces. The Excellence in Energy, GHG Management Award saw six Award recipients this year – the highest number achieved since the EENP Awards began. Among them was Shell Singapore Pte Ltd. Committed to reducing its Refinery Energy Intensity Index by 8%, by 2030, Shell integrated its decarbonisa on strategies into all levels of its organisa onal and opera onal prac ces through its comprehensive energy and GHG management framework. Through these ini a ves and various energy efficiency improvement projects, Shell achieved a cumulave reduc on of 2,300 terajoules 24

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

(TJ) of energy and 200 kilotonnes (kt) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO e) in 2022. Among this year’s five Best Pracces Award recipients, Systems on Silicon Manufacturing Company (SSMC) undertook significant efforts to go beyond energy efficiency. SSMC pioneered a Plasma Scrubber Gas Abatement technology, significantly reducing its emission of high Global Warming Poten al (GWP) Perfluorocarbons (PFC) waste gas by up to 95%. This translates to a net abatement of approximately 87 kt CO e per year. Through enhancement of its scrubber system design, SSMC also improved PFC waste gas destrucon efficiency. This year also saw the highest number of Award recipients under the Outstanding SME Award category, since its incep on. Among the three recipients was Onn Wah Precision Engineering Pte Ltd, who took on several retrofits including replacing its fluorescent lights with more energy-efficient LED lights and improved the opera onal efficiency of its compressed air system. Onn Wah also installed an integrated Energy Monitoring Informa on System (EMIS) with over 100 sensors to monitor key uses of energy. Through these ini a ves, Onn Wah’s energy usage per revenue dollar fell 24%, from 2019 to 2022. Going beyond energy efficiency, Onn Wah also installed a 263 kilowa s peak (kWp) solar panel system on the roo op of its building. A key enabler for Onn Wah Precision Engineering Pte Ltd’s achievements was an energy assessment by the Energy Efficiency Technology Centre (EETC). The EETC, a collabora on between NEA and the Singapore Ins tute of Technology (SIT), provides affordable energy assessments to SMEs from the

manufacturing sector, so as to catalyse energy eﬃciency improvements. While providing energy assessment services, the EETC also trains a pipeline of engineering students and exis ng prac oners in industrial energy eﬃciency.

Excellence in Energy, Greenhouse Gas Management This Award recognises companies that have demonstrated a high level of commitment to excellence in energy and GHG management. The Award recipients are Abbot, Alcon Singapore Manufacturing Pte Ltd, Chevron Oronite Pte Ltd, Recki [Mead Johnson Nutri on (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd], and Shell Singapore Pte Ltd. Under this category, ST Engineering (Commercial and Defence Aerospace Business) received the ‘Excellence in Energy, Greenhouse Gas Management (Honourable Men on)’ Award.

Outstanding Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) This Award recognises SMEs (in manufacturing or industrial business ac vi es) that have demonstrated a high level of commitment to energy and GHG management. The Award recipients under this category are Onn Wah Precision Engineering Pte Ltd and PLC Industries Pte Ltd. Onn Wah Precision Engineering Pte Ltd Established in 1961, Onn Wah is a locally-owned precision engineering company. It specialises in manufacturing precision metal components u lising Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines that have high energy usage. In line with Singapore’s plan to decarbonise, Onn Wah embarked on its sustainability journey despite

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

its resource constraints as an SME. Onn Wah started off by conduc ng an energy assessment with the Energy Efficiency Technology Centre (EETC) in August 2021. Following EETC’s recommenda on, Onn Wah replaced all lights with LED lights, added mo on sensors to the lights in the stairwells and rec fied leaks in its compressed air system. To understand its energy usage pa ern, Onn Wah installed an Energy Monitoring Informa on System (EMIS) with 102 sensors on its distribu on boards. To further reduce energy usage, Onn Wah also installed 133 blackout and 84 heat rejec on solar films on its windows. Going beyond energy efficiency, Onn Wah installed a 263 kilowa s peak (kWp) solar panel system with more than 700 panels on the roo op of the building. As Onn Wah is s ll in the growth stage, the company tracks its energy consump on in terms of energy usage per revenue dollar (Wh/$). Onn Wah’s energy usage per revenue dollar decreased from 110 Wh/$ in 2019 to 84 Wh/$ in 2022. This represents a 23.8% reduc on in energy usage per revenue dollar. On top of implemen ng energy efficiency solu ons, Onn Wah has also enrolled its employees in sustainability courses which cover topics such as carbon repor ng and circular economy design. PLC Industries Pte Ltd Established in 1995, PLC Industries Pte Ltd is a precision engineering company with high precision machining capabili es, serving local and global clients in the photonics and op cs, imaging and laser industries. PLC is tapping on Schneider Electric’s SME Kickstarter Decarbonisaon Programme which is supported by Enterprise Singapore’s Enterprise Sustainability Programme, to measure and monitor its emissions, as well as to develop its decarbonisa on roadmap. PLC has set a goal to reduce 40% of its electricity consump on by 2030. PLC iden fies and implements energy projects, based on the suit-

ability of solu ons to reduce energy consump on, and to provide insights into its energy consump on and energy profile. Completed projects include: • Energy assessment with Energy Efficiency Technology Centre (EETC) to determine the company’s energy profile before implemen ng energy efficiency solu ons. • Replacement of 81 light bulbs with LED bulbs, which saved 119.8 kWh or 0.5 t CO e, in 2021. • Installa on of a 104 kWp solar panel system with 234 solar panels, genera ng 117,510 kWh of electricity in 2021. • Installa on of 14 energy sensors to monitor energy usage of 12 CNC machines and two compressors. • Installa on of a variable speed model compressor. To improve its energy and carbon abatement performance further, PLC is looking into replacing its current split unit air condi oners with four- and five- cks models, and installing more solar panels. Aside from implemen ng energy efficiency projects, PLC engages its staff on energy efficiency and carbon abatement ma ers, by monitoring energy consump on monthly and conduc ng reviews when required. PLC also ini ated the reskilling of its facili es managers, by enrolling them in the Professional Conversion Program (PCP) for Clean and Renewable Energy. Under this category, Progress Galvanizing Pte Ltd received the ‘Outstanding SME (Honourable Men on)’ Award.

Outstanding Energy, Greenhouse Gas Manager This Award recognises outstanding energy and GHG managers who have demonstrated leadership in driving energy eﬃciency improvement and decarbonisa on in their organisa ons. Under this category, the following individuals received the ‘Outstanding Energy, Greenhouse Gas Manager (Honourable Men on)’

Award – Mr Narasimhan Jeyakumar from SPH Jurong Property Pte Ltd, Mr Seah Xian Ming from Singapore Refining Company, and Mr Steven Toh from 3M Innova on (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

Outstanding Energy Services Provider The Award recognises companies whose services have led to outstanding improvement in energy performance and carbon abatement (if applicable), contribu ng to capability building in energy and carbon abatement. The Award recipient is G-Energy Global Pte Ltd. G-Energy Global Pte Ltd Headquartered in Singapore with subsidiaries in Southeast Asia countries, G-Energy Global Pte Ltd proposes sustainable solu ons most suited to the needs of clients’ projects. One of the key highlights of G-Energy’s achievements is the company’s work at SamWoh Smart Hub which is the first privately-owned posi ve energy building. At SamWoh Hub, innova ve soluons such as a Solar-Driven Digitally Controlled Chiller and Smart Fan Coil Units (FCU) were installed. At SamWoh Hub, Solar PV power is fed directly and u lised by the Solar-Driven Digitally Controlled Chiller. Even a er u lisa on by the chiller, if there is an excess of solar PV power, it is converted to AC and channelled to the building’s electricity grid. This technology helps to reduce energy loss (4% to 5%) from the conversion (DC to AC and AC to DC) of solar energy that is u lised for the chillers. It also reduces ini al investment on both solar inverters, circuit breakers and cables that channel the solar PV power to the building’s electricity grid. The Smart FCU operates at a high chilled water temperature of about 12° C, without adversely aﬀec ng the rela ve humidity in the space, while achieving good total system performance. The opera ng fan speed can be varied from 30% to 100%, with the help of the built-in smart controller. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

At SamWoh Hub, the design and installa on of the energy-eﬃcient equipment resulted in an es mated savings of 1,152 MWh (47.55%) in the total amount of energy used. The carbon abatement is es mated to be approximately 467.5 t CO annually. The installa on of the Solar-Driven Digitally Controlled Chiller and Smart FCU has contributed to total energy savings from the chiller plant and the airside equipment, of about 258 MWh (13.95%), which translates to a carbon abatement of approximately 104.7 t CO annually.

Best Prac ces This Award recognises corporate teams who have implemented energy eﬃciency and carbon abatement projects to improve the energy performance and reduc on of carbon emissions in facili es. The Award recipient is Systems on Silicon Manufacturing Company Pte Ltd. Systems on Silicon Manufacturing Company Pte Ltd Project Title: Perfluorocarbons (PFC) Gas Abatement in Semiconductor Manufacturing Plant Systems on Silicon Manufacturing Company Pte Ltd (SSMC) is a manufacturer of semiconductor wafers. With over 20 years of experience, SSMC has a growing por olio of

processes for producing wafers for automo ve, Internet of Things, secured connec vity, and portable & wearable applica ons. SSMC pioneered large-scale installa on of plasma gas abatement technology in Singapore. The project significantly reduces the release of the high Global Warming Poten al (GWP) air contaminant Perfluorocarbons (PFC) into the atmosphere, by up to 95%, through high temperature plasma scrubber technology. The SSMC project is unique for the following reasons: • It is the first me in Singapore that a plasma scrubber has been installed in a semiconductor manufacturing plant on a large scale. • The plasma scrubber treats high powder deposi on in the waste gas from the thin-film process. Before the installa on of the scrubber, the waste gas, containing high powder deposi on, frequently choked the waste gas pipeline and reactor chamber, causing low equipment up me. SSMC and the scrubber supplier team collaborated to improve the scrubber system design and successfully obtained a stable process that maintains high equipment up me and gas destruc on eﬃciency. SSMC believes in a con nuous reduc on of the carbon footprint.

Moving forward, SSMC is embarking on a roadmap to achieve net-zero carbon emission by 2035. Under this category, the following companies received the ‘Best Pracces (Honourable Men on)’ Award – Alcon Singapore Manufacturing Pte Ltd, ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, PCS Pte Ltd, and Shell Singapore Pte Ltd. Energy Efficiency Na onal Partnership Awards The Na onal Environment Agency (NEA), the Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Energy Market Authority (EMA) launched the Energy Efficiency Na onal Partnership (EENP) programme on 29 April 2010. The EENP programme is an ini a ve aimed at suppor ng companies in their energy efficiency and decarbonisa on efforts through providing networking opportuni es, resources and sharing of best prac ces, thereby enhancing their long-term business compe veness and reducing their carbon footprint. Under the EENP programme, the EENP Awards provide recogni on to companies that have adopted a proac ve approach towards be er energy and greenhouse gas management, and highlight their accomplishments which will serve as a resource guide that will benefit the industry.

Energy Efficiency Technology Centre (EETC) Since June 2020, the Energy Efficiency Technology Centre (EETC) – a collabora on between the Na onal Environment Agency (NEA) and the Singapore Ins tute of Technology (SIT) – has helped to catalyse energy efficiency improvements at Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through the provision of low-cost energy assessment services, and has trained a pipeline of engineering students and exis ng prac oners in industrial energy efficiency. To-date, 28 SMEs (covering 130 systems) and over 300 professionals and students have

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

benefi ed from EETC’s services and programmes.

Upcoming Training Centre and more support for SMEs By the third quarter of 2024, EETC’s new training centre is expected to be ready at SIT’s Punggol campus. The facility will further boost EETC’s training capabili es by providing a realis c simula on environment where students and professionals can acquire prac cal energy assessment skills for industry applica ons. The training centre will house six common industrial systems, such as compressed

air systems, boiler and steam systems, motor-driven systems, and pumps and piping systems. These systems will be used for prac cal training sessions under the Singapore Cer fied Energy Manager (SCEM) programme, as well as EETC’s Energy Efficiency Upskilling Programme (EEUP) for professionals, and student training prior to on-site work a achments. EETC also provides addi onal support to SMEs to tap on NEA’s Energy Efficiency Fund (E2F), by offering third-party assessment services for E2F, at a low cost.

DECARBONISATION

Fewer than 50% of organisaƟons expect to meet decarbonisaƟon targets by 2030 A new report measures the current state of infrastructure transiƟon. Siemens Smart Infrastructure has released key insights into the divisive nature of infrastructure transi on, in a new report, tled ‘Siemens Infrastructure Transi on Monitor 2023: The Great Divide on The Path to Net Zero’. For this report, ‘Infrastructure’ refers to any of the systems (e.g. electrical power systems), services (e.g. healthcare), buildings (e.g. a factory or oﬃce towers), and structures (e.g. railways) that are needed by industries, ci es and countries. Data from the report reveals that there is limited alignment on priori es and shows how best to progress towards a decarbonised and resource-efficient world. Whilst more than half of the people surveyed believe the infrastructure transi on is accelera ng in their region, a quarter of par cipants – senior execu ves from seven major industry groups – said that progress is ‘too slow’, while 29% believe progress is ‘coordinated’ and 31% describe it as ‘on target’. Data was collected through a global survey of 1,400 senior execu ves from 22 countries, as well as a series of in-depth interviews with leaders and experts. The guiding principles behind the research outlined in the report include the necessity of the infrastructure transi on to have a posi ve impact beyond decarbonisa on. Secondly, smarter infrastructure integra on is mandatory to eﬀect change. Finally, ac on must be undertaken urgently to avert disastrous global consequences.

Change not fast enough Despite the accelera on of the infrastructure transi on, faster progress is needed at the regional (country) level to support a low-carbon world. Energy is a key priority as almost three quarters of global greenhouse 28

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gas emissions come from producon, use and transporta on of energy. According to the report, less than 10% believe their region (or country) to be ‘advanced, fully integrated, full-scale’ on major energy goals of the transi on. According to McKinsey, to decarbonise the world’s energy system, an es mated USD 275 trillion would be required, to make deep changes to electrical power genera on, distribu on and consump on [1]. Regulatory authori es are seen as having the greatest responsibility (according to 31% of respondents), followed by the ul mate owners of assets, investors/shareholders (25%). Businesses (17%), poli cians (13%) and ci zens (13%) are all described as having some responsibility.

A compeƟƟve advantage In the fight against climate change, ci es have a major role to play. In the survey, half of respondents (51%) believe that being ahead in decarbonisa on is a compe ve advantage for a city. Decarbonising mobility, including public transport networks and commercial and private vehicles is a priority to reduce emissions. 45% of respondents feel their ci es have made progress to encourage the use of public transport. However, according to the report, 44% also believe that the priva sa on of public transport would speed up decarbonisa on. In terms of feasible mobility policies, 46% of execu ves believe that subsidies or taxes should be used to make electric cars cheaper than combus on engine vehicles. Currently, the lack of charging infrastructure was found to be the biggest barrier to widespread adop on of electric vehicles.

DecarbonisaƟon targets Businesses are under pressure to decarbonise their business models, assets and infrastructure. Accord-

ing to the report, nearly half have targets for Scope 1 and 2 emissions (47%). Only 40% think it is likely that they will meet their targets for the year ahead and just 44% expect to meet their 2030 targets. The report indicates a possible correla on between confidence in organisa onal growth prospects and confidence in decarbonisa on targets. Another key area of considera on for businesses is their buildings. Only 37% of respondents rated their organisa on as mature or advanced in improving the energy eﬃciency of facili es and buildings, and just 30% said the same for electrifica on and/or decarbonisa on of hea ng and cooling. There is, however, hope that businesses can leverage innova ve solu ons to enhance their performance and sustainability of their buildings, without extensive new construc on, but progress needs to be quicker.

Technology and digitalisaƟon The report indicates that technology and digitalisa on are key levers of a successful infrastructure transi on. This is expected to have the biggest impact on decarbonisa on, resource eﬃciency and wellbeing, over the next three years. Key technologies that could have the biggest posi ve impact include AI-driven predic ons and automaon, virtual and augmented reality, and 5G mobile networks. According to nearly half of the respondents, digitalisa on has significant or massive poten al to support progress in energy eﬃciency (48%), producvity (46%), and decarbonisa on (45%), within their organisa ons. References [1] h ps://www.mckinsey.com/ featured-insights/sustainable-inclusive-growth/chart-of-the-day/the-costwill-not-be-net-zero

DECARBONISATION

Infrastructure transiƟon goals for regions THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

DECARBONISATION

Infrastructure transiƟon goals for ciƟes 30

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

DECARBONISATION

Infrastructure transiƟon goals for industries THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

CYBERSECURITY

Are we smart enough for smart ci es? by Muhammad Yahya Patel, Lead Security Engineer at Check Point Software Technologies The vast opportuni es oﬀered by connected networks come with an increasing vulnerability to cybera acks. Smart ci es are becoming a reality rather than remaining a concept and integra ng technology into everyday infrastructure has become the norm. They present local authori es with a vast number of opportuni es, including data-driven decision-making, enhanced engagement between ci zens and government, and a reduced environmental footprint. Though, as with any new technologies, there are many risks to consider when becoming a smart city. Arguably, one of the biggest threats to smart ci es is their vulnerability to cybera acks. This is because the presence of large, connected networks gives cybercriminals more entry points than ever before and the perfect opportunity to jump from one exposed system to the next. While we should never let fear get in the way of innova on, it is essen al that we adequately prepare ourselves with robust security protocols.

What are the challenges facing smart ci es? Smart ci es face unique challenges when it comes to cybersecurity. Networks are used by public and private en es, people and thousands of IoT devices, each day. The massive amount of data exchanged across these networks requires a stringent security strategy. Some of the main challenges relate to the following: • Connected devices: A mul tude of IoT devices that control everything, from CCTV and traﬃc light management to organisa ons’ personal and financial data, could be connected to a network at any one me. In theory, this sounds ideal for seamless communica on and 32

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management, but in prac ce, it offers hackers thousands of poten al entry points to launch an a ack. • Automa on of infrastructure opera ons: Automa on brings many benefits for all kinds of opera ons in smart ci es, reducing the need for direct human control over such opera onal systems. The increase of sensors means more connec ons to monitor and manage. These could be seen as more targets to compromise through vulnerabili es. • Sub-standard data management processes: Data is at the heart of any smart city and is cri cal to everyday opera ons. However, many lack the correct processes to ensure this informa on is managed safely and securely. If a database is not policed correctly, it can be simple for hackers to target and compromise, which leads to sensi ve data being leaked or stolen. • Risks from the ICT supply chain and vendors: We know the risks posed by the supply chain and third par es. This was par cularly evident during the recent zero-day vulnerability found in file transfer so ware MOVEit, which was subsequently exploited as part of a large-scale ransomware a ack. Threat actors con nue to target the weakest links and therefore a acking smart infrastructure systems is bound to be a lucra ve op on for any cybercriminal. To combat this, it is key that we adopt and adhere to secure-by-design and default prac ces to minimise these risks. • Outdated technology: Many ci es have infrastructure and networks built on outdated technology, which leaves them suscep ble to

Mr Muhammad Yahya Patel

cybera acks. Ensuring systems are up-to-date, with the latest so ware updates and security patches, is paramount. Technology is central to the success of any smart city and having resilient systems should be a priority. • Ineﬃcient security: Linked directly to outdated technology, having ineﬃcient security protocols in place exposes smart ci es to malicious threats. This leaves ci zens and organisa ons vulnerable to data breaches, iden ty the and loss of sensi ve informa on. Protec ng exis ng infrastructure with robust security measures could prevent a poten ally disastrous breach. So, how do we ensure that the safety, security and privacy of those who live and work in smart ci es are not compromised?

Building cyber resilience within smart ci es Research suggests that, by 2024, there will be over 1.3 billion wide-area network, smart city connec ons. The level of complexity within these digital infrastructures is only increasing, which means that digital services implemented by a government or organisa on are vulnerable to cybera acks. To realise their poten al, smart ci es need to find an eﬀec ve balance between managing risk and enabling growth. Building resilience to protect your city against these a acks is key, but how is this achieved? The star ng point should be developing a cybersecurity strategy that maps on to the broader objec ve of your smart city. This will help mi gate risks arising from the interconnectedness of city processes and systems. Part of any eﬀec ve strategy should

CYBERSECURITY

be the requirement to carry out an assessment of current data, systems and cyber defences, as this will help to give an idea of the current posture and quality of the infrastructure. Crea ng a formal rela onship between cybersecurity and the governance of data will also be extremely beneficial. This essen ally creates an agreed approach to cybersecurity, between all par es within a smart city, meaning that all stakeholders work together to ensure data is secure, across the networks over which it is being exchanged. The policies put in place will mature alongside a city’s cyber strategy and add transparency to processes. Finally, building strategic partnerships to help address the cybersecurity skills shortage is key to any successful security strategy. This is a good way to develop skills and increase your knowledge base which, in turn, bolsters the overall security posture and resilience. For example, recently, the CISA, NSA, FBI, NCSC-UK, ACSC, CCCS and NCSC-NZ

released a document with guidance on best prac ces for smart ci es. The aim is not only to protect these connected spaces from malicious threats but also to share exper se and educate us on the importance of cybersecurity within smart ci es.

Get smart and be proac ve It goes without saying that smart city technologies need to adopt a proac ve methodology to ensure that cybersecurity risks are at the forefront of planning and design of technologies. Being ‘secure by design’ is strongly recommended in conjunc on with a ‘defence in depth’ approach. There may be some legacy infrastructure connec ng to the smart infrastructure and this may require a redesign, to make sure secure connec vity and integra on are possible. Hackers will con nue to exploit vulnerabili es. An overwhelming number of cybera acks against businesses could be avoided if supply chain and third-party security is taken seriously. A ackers are excep onally quick to start exploit-

ing vulnerabili es in well-known products. Invest in the resources to help combat the everyday struggle of security patches and updates. You do not want to get caught out by the very thing you expect to protect your business. Underpinning the implementa on of smart city technology is opera onal resilience. To make sure organisa ons are well prepared, con ngencies are put in place for diﬀerent types of incidents, which could have opera onal impact or disrup on. Autonomous func onality and isola on tools should exist to help minimise these types of disrup on. Risk, privacy and legality all play an important role in smart ci es, making sure data being collected, stored and processed is in accordance with regula ons. It is cri cal that city leaders, developers and business owners do not see securing cyber risk within their smart city as a one- me objec ve. It is an ongoing, evolving process that could be the diﬀerence between a major breach and major growth.

New SASE offers faster internet security Check Point So ware Technologies Ltd recently announced the immediate availability of Quantum SASE, integra ng technologies from newly acquired Perimeter 81. This integrated offering addresses organisa ons’ needs for a unified user experience, simplified Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) management, and a fast, secure browsing experience. Quantum SASE enhances the company’s Infinity architecture with a unified SASE solu on offering faster internet security, full mesh Zero Trust Access, and secured SD-WAN with industry-leading threat preven on. The rise of hybrid work sees enterprises embracing mul ple cloud services, with 90% now opera ng in such se ngs. Organisa ons are moving from on-premises internet security to internet security delivered in the cloud. However, in

both cases all traﬃc is redirected into one loca on for inspec on, frustra ng users with latency. The Quantum SASE solu on solves the internet security latency problem with a hybrid approach that combines on-device protec on of direct internet access, with the ability to use cloud inspec on when needed. The result is 2x faster internet security when compared with other solu ons on the market, according to the company. Quantum SASE’s key features include Enhanced Internet Access, Zero Trust Access, Ease of Deployment, Op mised SD-WAN Performance and Unified Management.

Check Point So ware Technologies Ltd Check Point So ware Technologies Ltd is a leading provider

of cybersecurity solu ons to corporate enterprises and governments globally. Check Point Infinity’s por olio of solu ons protects enterprises and public organisa ons from 5th genera on cybera acks with a high catch rate of malware, ransomware and other threats. Infinity comprises four core pillars delivering security and threat preven on across enterprise environments – Check Point Harmony, for remote users; Check Point CloudGuard, to automa cally secure clouds; Check Point Quantum, to protect network perimeters and data centres, all controlled by a comprehensive, intui ve unified security management; and Check Point Horizon, a preven on-first security opera ons suite. Check Point protects over 100,000 organisaons of all sizes.

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

DIGITALISATION

Measurement soŌware is criƟcal in Wi-Fi 7 tesƟng by Andrew Herrera, Product Marketing Manager for RF Test Software, Keysight Technologies

Andrew Herrera

It will ensure regulatory compliance and high performance of wireless soluƟons. Can the world go a day without using wireless connec vity? Most people cannot, because much of our daily ac vi es depends on wireless solu ons. The world depends on wireless connec vity – for our jobs, educa on, daily communica ons etc. Advancements in wireless connec vity have helped advance other technologies, research and innova ve ideas. Wireless devices push technology forward in an evolving world. Today, there are high-performance, wireless solu ons, such as 5G and Wi-Fi 5, and some industries are using 802.11ax, also known as Wi-Fi 6. Advancements in wireless solu ons such as 6G, IEEE 802.11be and Wi-Fi 7, are con nuous and rapid. One would think that, with previous genera ons of wireless standards, since performance is improving, so would the ease of mee ng regulatory standards. It has been proven, however, that this is not the case. The performance of wireless solu ons is improving, but mee ng regulatory standards is becoming a challenge. To perform at a high capacity, users need to ensure they are tes ng with high-performance products that can meet new standards and regula ons. For Wi-Fi 7, this is no diﬀerent. First, let us understand what is new to the standard, the wireless signal challenges these new rules impose, and what type of test so ware would assist in resolving those challenges.

History of 802.11 Wireless local-area network (WLAN) products and systems began with 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11a standards, providing throughput 34

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enhancements over the original 802.11 standard, introduced in 1997. Wireless technology con nues to evolve, by integra ng the latest technologies to meet the requirements of new applica ons and the need for higher data rates. The goal is to improve spectrum u lisa on, throughput and user experience. The current WLAN standard, 802.11ax, is an evolu onary improvement to 802.11ac. It adds a significantly higher efficiency, capacity and coverage, for a be er user experience, especially for dense deployment scenarios in indoor and outdoor environments, such as stadiums, airports and shopping malls. Unlike 802.11ac, 802.11ax operates in 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz bands. It employs technology building blocks like orthogonal frequency division mul ple access (OFDMA) for high efficiency; 8x8 mul -user, mul ple-input and mulple-output (MU-MIMO) for high capacity; and uplink scheduling for increased capacity, efficiency and be er user experience. Other technologies, such as 1024 QAM modula on, improve throughput.

What is new to 802.11be While in the early development stage, 802.11be holds great promise. The many new features will significantly increase throughput and provide support for realme applica ons. These features include 320 MHz transmission bandwidth, use of 4096 QAM modula on and enhancements to MIMO with more spa al streams. Like 802.11ax, 802.11be will also operate in 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz frequency bands. These new features are a vast improvement over the previous genera on.

The new wireless local area network (WLAN) devices should be backward compa ble and coexist with legacy IEEE 802.11 devices opera ng in the same band. Table 1 compares key physical layer (PHY) technologies of 802.11n, ac, ax and be. However, with new features such as backward compa bility, co-existence and 4096 QAM modula on, there will be signal challenges in mee ng the regulatory standard. Let us take the 4096 QAM modula on, as an example. Compared to previous genera on 802.11ax, the QAM modula on is 3 dB more stringent than the error vector magnitude (EVM) requirement. The QAM modula on is -38 dB for 802.11be and -35 dB for 802.11ax. With a challenging EVM requirement, error contributors, such as noise, non-linearity of power amplifier, phase noise and more, will play a major role. These changes require high-performance signal analysis test so ware and equipment to meet a lower EVM floor analysis. EVM analysis and measurements are cri cal metrics used to evaluate signal quality. Measuring one signal with the right EVM can pose its own diﬃcul es. However, measuring mul ple signals simultaneously to demodulate and evaluate the EVM, along with reducing any error contributors, can pose a significant challenge, especially when pinpoin ng the loca on of an error. So ware plays a cri cal role in testing new standards such as Wi-Fi 7. As standards evolve, so do the tools used to measure and test. So ware is con nuing to make advancements to help improve wireless connec vity.

DIGITALISATION

Table 1: Physical layer (PHY) comparison between 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11ax and 802.11be.

Signal analysis test soŌware Measurement so ware for signal analysis, signal genera on and even automa on, provide a unique soluon to enable a specific result. It is important to choose so ware that enables a future-proof solu on. Designers can now gain an advantage over the latest wireless signals, with so ware for 802.11n/ ac/ax and 802.11be modula on analysis. So ware op ons provide an advanced troubleshoo ng and evalua on toolset, designed to handle the challenge of analysing legacy and new wireless signals, covering technologies, such as MU-MIMO and OFDMA, used in the latest standards. 802.11 standards are among over 75 signal and modula on types that a single so ware can support. The appropriate test so ware enables users to explore virtually every facet of a signal and op mise even the most advanced designs. The so ware helps engineers reduce complexity, as they assess design trade-oﬀs.

The history of wireless standards has shown there is no slowdown in improvements and performance. Reviewing the regula on standards and choosing so ware to help solve issues are important. Let us look at the new 4096 QAM modula on requirement for Wi-Fi 7.

multaneous traces, showing results such as EVM versus frequency or me, equaliser channel frequency response, common pilot error, and phase noise spectrum. The so ware can also assist with the new MIMO regula ons, such as on modula on quality measurement, because the IEEE 802.11 specifica on requires a spectral emission mask (SEM). SEM is mainly a measure of interference within the wireless band. The so ware can provide SEM measurements with a quick setup for 802.11be 40 MHz (shared), 160 MHz and 320 MHz bandwidths.

Phase noise is o en the dominant cause of EVM issues in OFDM systems. Vector signal analysis so ware enables users to characterise phase noise within the 802.11be demodula on measurement, using an OFDM channel called phase noise spectrum trace. This method evaluates signal quality and error vector measurements of transmitted signals. For all wireless standard formats, signal analysis so ware also records the error vector spectrum, error vector me, common pilot error, channel frequency response and more.

So ware solu ons are an all-important diagnos c tool for wireless connec vity tes ng, especially for Wi-Fi 7. The so ware enables more advanced tes ng features such as cross-correlated EVM (ccEVM), to improve EVM performance.

Figure 1 is an example of so ware applica on that allows engineers to view an unlimited number of si-

ccEVM is a technique used to extend the dynamic range of a receiver, for best EVM performance, THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

DIGITALISATION

with ccEVM, resul ng in a 6 dB EVM improvement to the 802.11be WLAN signal.

Conclusion We can con nue to go through all the features that so ware brings to a wireless connec vity tes ng world, but the list is extensive and the result is the same. So ware is cri cal in helping engineers test standards, such as for the Wi-Fi 7 solu on and any newly released wireless standards. High-performance solu ons enable easier tes ng and evalua on, to ensure wireless devices meet regula ons. So ware enables engineers to analyse, test and resolve cri cal issues in wireless connec vity. Society cannot go a day without wireless devices, because it is part of our daily life.

Figure 1: Example of soŌware applicaƟon for EVM analysis with phase noise tracing and other measurements.

Keysight collaborates with CTTL Keysight Technologies Inc has built the first MIMO over-theair (OTA) dynamic channel model test and user equipment (UE) performance valida on system with China Telecommunica on Technology Labs (CTTL), based on CTIA requirements for the 5G New Radio (NR) FR1 frequency band.

Figure 2: Cross-correlated EVM results (frame A) compared with EVM results from the individual receivers (frames B and C).

by using two receivers to capture and demodulate the same signal independently. This process also performs cross-correla on on the error vectors, to cancel out uncorrelated noise added by the receivers, resul ng in a much lower EVM. This method primarily causes the ccEVM value to contain the 36

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

noise from the device under test, or in the case of an amplifier, noise coming from the signal source and the device under test. Figure 2 is an example of ccEVM so ware applica on. In this example, engineers use a signal generator and two receivers along

UE suffers from performance degrada on in real-world use, due to various propaga on channel effects. These issues are addressed by op mising UE hardware and so ware design and valida ng them under real-world condi ons. To do this, design engineers need consistent, reliable, and repeatable digital twins that can emulate the real-world channel effects. Keysight and CTTL collaborated to meet this need by integrating the first CTIA-compliant MIMO OTA test system with a dynamic channel model valida on test. The new valida on tool is based on Keysight’s OTA Emula on Solu ons.

HYDROGEN RESEARCH

Tests confirm key milestone success of project The breakthrough is another step towards enabling the use of hydrogen as an aviaƟon fuel. Rolls-Royce recently announced that it has achieved a world industry first in its hydrogen research project. Both Rolls-Royce and its partner, easyJet, are commi ed to being at the forefront of the development of hydrogen combus on engine technology capable of powering a range of aircra , including those in the narrow-body market segment, from the mid-2030s onwards. Now, working with Loughborough University in the UK and the German Aerospace Centre Deutsches Zentrum für Lu -und Raumfahrt (DLR), Rolls-Royce has proven a cri cal engine technology that marks another significant step in the journey to enabling the use of hydrogen as an avia on fuel.

Hydrogen tesƟng at Loughborough University.

Tests on a full annular combustor of a Pearl 700 engine at DLR in Cologne running on 100% hydrogen have proven that the fuel can be combusted under condi ons that represent maximum take-oﬀ thrust. Key to that achievement has been the successful design of advanced fuel spray nozzles to control the combus on process. This involved overcoming significant engineering challenges as hydrogen burns far ho er and more rapidly than kerosene. The new nozzles were able to control the flame posi on using a new system that progressively mixes air with the hydrogen to manage the fuel’s reac vity. Rolls-Royce said that combustor operability and emissions were both in line with expecta ons. The individual nozzles were ini ally tested at intermediate pressure at Loughborough’s recently upgraded test facili es and at DLR Cologne before the final full-pressure combustor tests took place at DLR Cologne. Last year, easyJet and Rolls-Royce also set a world first by successfully running a modern aero engine, an AE2100, on green hydrogen at

Hydrogen tesƟng at DLR Cologne.

Boscombe Down, UK. These recent tests mean the combus on element of the hydrogen programme is now well understood, while work con nues on systems to deliver the fuel to the engine and integrate those systems with an engine. The technologies tested at Loughborough and DLR will now be incorporated into the learning from the Boscombe Down tests, as Rolls-Royce and easyJet prepare for the next stage of tes ng – a full gas hydrogen ground test on a Pearl engine. That will, in turn, lead to a full ground test on a Pearl engine using

liquid hydrogen – both easyJet and Rolls-Royce have a shared ambi on to then take the technology to flight. Rolls-Royce receives support for hydrogen research through the UK’s Aerospace Technology Ins tute HyEST programme, Germany’s LUFO 6 WOTAN programme, and the European Union’s Clean Aviaon CAVENDISH programme. Loughborough is a partner in HyEST and CAVENDISH. DLR is a partner in WOTAN and CAVENDISH. easyJet has provided investment to support the development of hydrogen combus on engine technology for narrow-body aircra . THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

PROJECT APPLICATION

Switchgear modernisaƟon enables enhanced reliability for chemical plant in Korea AdopƟon of a future-proof technical soluƟon ensures high upƟme and therefore high producƟvity. Thirty years a er it was constructed, global chemical company BASF decided to overhaul the electrical infrastructure at its facility in Yeosu in Korea. The aim of the investment was to improve produc on reliability in the Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate (MDI) zone at this site which is one of seven operated by BASF in Korea. To ensure reliable power at the site, BASF decided to invest in new medium-voltage (MV) switchgear. ABB’s local team of experts proposed a pragma c and sustainable solu on to further improve reliable opera ons by upgrading protec on and control with ABB’s protec on relays. A er reviewing the applica on requirements and needed performance of the new switchgear at the plant, ABB recommended the Relion 615 series protec on relays to further enhance electrical performance and up me at the plant. Designed as a future-proof technical solu on, ABB’s Relion protec on relays are a solu on for delivering high levels of reliability, providing safe and con nuous power to all electrical installa ons, and protec ng the assets against electrical incidents, to ensure the greatest possible up me and therefore produc vity. BASF Yeosu E&I Maintenance Team Head, Byeong-Soo Choi said, “BASF planned to replace the ageing electrical equipment and took this opportunity to replace third party protec on relays with ABB’s reliable relays, contribu ng to process stabilisa on.” He added, “A team of ABB experts has been available every step of the way to support us with any poten al problems and we look forward to our con nued work with ABB in the future as a trusted 38

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

BASF decided to overhaul the electrical infrastructure at its facility in Yeosu, Korea, 30 years aŌer it was constructed.

business partner.” The compact Relion 615 series protec on relays can be used in both u lity and industry power distribuon systems. The relay integrates protec on, control, monitoring and supervision, all in one device. The series oﬀers wide applica on coverage and an extensive range of func onality, with both advanced fast fault loca on of short circuits and earth faults, plus three-channel arc-fault protec on to increase personal safety. “ABB has been a trusted partner for BASF Korea for many years, having supplied the switchgear solu on for the Toluene Diisocyanate (TDI) produc on area at the factory. When BASF Korea needed to improve produc vity in the MDI area, we were very keen to extend our support to them. We teamed up with a local channel partner, Jung Engineering, and proposed ABB’s protec on relays. This solu on meant we could ensure enhanced electrical reliability of the installed switchgear in a cost-eﬀec ve way, which BASF was seeking,” said Chung-Won Lee, Marke ng and Sales Manager, Electrifica on Service, at ABB in Korea.

ABB recommended the installaƟon of its Relion 615 series protecƟon relays, to further enhance electrical performance and upƟme at the plant.

Yeosu is one of the largest industrial areas in Korea, accoun ng for half of Korea’s petrochemical produc on. The Yeosu Na onal Industrial Complex began opera on in 1979, and now includes 283 companies on a site spanning 23,502 million m . ABB is a global technology leader in electrifica on and automa on, enabling a more sustainable and resource-eﬃcient future. The company’s solu ons connect engineering know-how and so ware to op mise how things are manufactured, moved, powered and operated.

PRODUCTS & SOLUTIONS

Lendlease unveils Podium for Development Lendlease recently announced that it will be partnering with Surbana Jurong as the go-to-market partner, to deliver Podium for Development (P4D) – a transforma ve digital ecosystem that connects developers, designers and the supply chain, to deliver high construc on producvity and promote sustainable building prac ces. Tradi onally, the design process requires months of detailed design work and engineering, before the building can be drawn and documented in all its complexity. A er the back-and-forth communica on between the many par es involved in the design process, the plans are then tendered to find a builder. O en, a builder may suggest using diﬀerent materials or components that do not match the exact design intent. This can lead to addi onal me and money spent on redesigning to accommodate these changes, resul ng in wastage. Also, the inadequate communicaon and collabora on between stakeholders along the value chain creates design errors. By harnessing design automa on algorithms and computa onal capabili es within an open ecosystem, Lendlease aims to facilitate construc on using prefabricated components directly supplied by manufacturers. This approach promotes Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) which is more produc ve and sustainable than tradi onal methods of construc on.

Building from Reality With P4D, Lendlease seeks to collaborate with other developers globally and unify these fragmented nodes in the building process into an open digital pla orm that accelerates the en re process from design to supply, enabling DfMA. The pla orm uses advanced computa onal algorithms to match design requirements with the supplier-defined kit-of-parts, to generate building designs. These design models automa cally account for building

specifica ons under prevailing regula ons such as iden fied land-use, height restric ons and other planning parameters for residen al, industrial, commercial and, eventually, mixeduse development applica ons. P4D allows detailed building models to be automa cally generated, based on a menu of op ons which include the number of units for residen al developments, the desired floor-to-ceiling height and loading limit for industrial applica ons, and even the es mated cost of the project and meframe. More importantly, it can generate a building, based on the op mal components, fit for purpose, from suppliers. This provides confidence early in the design process, which ensures greater accuracies and certain es, right from the start.

CreaƟng an ecosystem to drive sustainable outcomes for everyone Lendlease is in advanced nego a ons with other developers and building authori es in Singapore and elsewhere on leveraging P4D to design and deliver projects in the future. The partnership with Surbana Jurong seeks to deliver this product – drawing on the rich experience and exper se of the wider Lendlease Digital ecosystem in Singapore, Silicon Valley, Sydney and Milan, and support by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) – to the global built environment sector. “As an industry, we need to be building be er at speed and in scale. Our ambi on for P4D is to re-imagine how we create by changing entrenched methodologies and behaviours. This is why we are working with like-minded partners such as Surbana Jurong and invi ng other developers and players in the built environment industry to join us in this journey as we promote best sustainable building prac ces that can be replicated and benefit other communi es globally,” said Bill Ruh, Chief Execu ve Oﬃcer, Lendlease Digital.

“As a mul disciplinary global urban and infrastructure consultancy, Surbana Jurong is heavily vested in smarter ways of designing and engineering that cut costs and me, and op mise precious resources. P4D gives architects, designers and suppliers greater control to drive higher produc vity in the built environment sector, as well as net zero and zero waste outcomes at the earliest stages of a project life cycle, to reduce embodied carbon levels,” said Yeo Choon Chong, ASEAN Chief Execu ve Officer, Surbana Jurong. “We are excited about the prospect of collabora ng with mul ple project stakeholders on the cloud at the design stage. This is the next big step for the industry to bring Singapore’s Built Environment Industry Transforma on Roadmap to life,” he added. “By genera ng a structural design in 15 to 20 minutes, instead of the months involved in design using current methods, P4D leverages what is replicable and repeatable in building design via computa onal algorithms and AI. With the possibility of 70% of the building design being automated by P4D, human designers can focus their energy and efforts on more complex and subjec ve aspects of crea vity,” said Richard Kuppusamy, Chief Product Officer, Podium.

Lendlease Lendlease is a globally integrated real estate group with opera ons in Australia, Asia, Europe and the United States. The group’s core capabili es are reflected in the opera ng segments of Investments, Development and Construc on.

Surbana Jurong Headquartered in Singapore, Surbana Jurong Group is a global urban, infrastructure and managed services consul ng firm, with a track record of over 70 years of successful project delivery. The group has a global talent pool of about 16,000, based in more than 120 oﬃces in over 40 countries. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER October 2023

PRODUCTS & SOLUTIONS

CoroCut 2 offers improved performance in par ng and grooving opera ons Cu ng tool and tooling system specialist, Sandvik Coromant, is upgrading its long-established CoroCut 1-2 par ng and grooving concept. Improved stability, greater flexibility and significant produc vity gains are just some of the benefits offered by the new CoroCut 2 system. CoroCut 1-2 has long been a cornerstone of par ng and grooving, and the concept’s versa lity and reliability have made it popular in many workshops. The concept is set to receive a major upgrade, which will see it renamed CoroCut 2. Explaining the concept of the new CoroCut 2, Jenny Claus, Product Manager Par ng and Grooving at Sandvik Coromant, said, “For a start, all the features and benefits you have come to expect from the exis ng concept – versa lity, cost-efficiency and secure machining – are s ll there. We work in close coopera on with our customers, sharing our knowledge while striving to listen and be a en ve to their needs and their construc ve viewpoints. The result has been overwhelmingly posi ve.” Stability is key when working with all par ng and grooving opera ons. The main challenge is to keep the insert in place, to minimise all forms of insert movement. The well-established rail interface, previously available on medium and large inserts, offers more precise insert posi oning and makes the insert resilient to any lateral forces exerted on it. This rail interface will now also be available on smaller insert sizes, guaranteeing stability in all opera ons.

The new CoroCut 2 system oﬀers many advantages.

CoroCut 2 par ng blades are upgraded with internal coolant and an improved clamping finger design, which oﬀers a higher clamping force and be er side stability – a welcome advantage when making chamfers before par ng oﬀ. Tool holders with precision coolant are updated with a screw clamp solu on which, combined with the rigid rail insert seat design, keeps insert movement to a minimum, without any loss of clamping force. Other important features included in the upgrade are new and updated grades and geometries, including the new first choice grade GC1225, a wiper design for all par ng geometries, and greatly enhanced edge line quality on all inserts. “What makes this solu on unique

is the in-house developed and patented produc on technology. With be er blank quality from our new produc on technology, we achieve less spreading of the edge line. This means we can have a lower tolerance and perform smaller edge rounding than before, with a longer, more predicable insert tool life, as a consequence,” said Fredrik Selin, Product Applica on Specialist at Sandvik Coromant. CoroCut 2 can be used in all types of par ng and grooving applica ons with cu ng depths suitable for double-edged inserts. The related CoroCut QD and CoroCut QF concepts are recommended for larger depths of cut, while CoroCut QI is the first choice for internal grooving and face grooving on small diameters.

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