The Singapore Engineer August 2019 by The Singapore Engineer

THE MAGAZINE OF THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, SINGAPORE

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER

www.ies.org.sg

August 2019 | MCI (P) 105/03/2019

COVER STORY: Singapore’s ﬁrst corporate laboratory in a university completes initial phase

PLUS

MANUFACTIRNG TECHNOLOGY: Deburring and cleaning plas c components with carbon dioxide snow MATERIAL HANDLING: Automated systems are gaining ground SMART MANUFACTURING: The tex le industry heads towards an exci ng future

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22nd October - 24th October Industrial Transformation Asia-Pacific (ITAP) Singapore Expo, 1 Expo Drive, Singapore 486150 Booth 2F25

CONTENTS FEATURES COVER STORY

28 Singapore’s first corporate laboratory in a university completes ini al phase Rolls-Royce and NTU Singapore extend their research partnership with the launch of Phase 2.

PROJECT APPLICATION

32 Ultrasonic cleaning system for diﬀerent glass types It ensures the quality of the precision components used in op cs and optoelectronics.

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING 35 The poten al to generate high economic value in ASEAN by 2025 The conclusions of a research project are presented.

President Prof Yeoh Lean Weng Chief Editor T Bhaskaran t_b_n8@yahoo.com

Publica ons Manager Desmond Teo desmond@iesnet.org.sg Publica ons Execu ve Queek Jiayu jiayu@iesnet.org.sg

Editorial Panel Dr Chandra Segaran Prof Simon Yu Dr Ang Keng Been Mr Gary Ong Dr Victor Sim Mr Syafiq Shahul Media Representa ve Mul Nine Corpora on Pte Ltd sales@mul 9.com.sg

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

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

www.ies.org.sg

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY 38 Deburring and cleaning plas c components with carbon dioxide snow The single dry process is suitable for use on hard and bri le plas cs.

MATERIAL HANDLING 40 Automated systems are gaining ground They oﬀer benefits in terms of be er performance, ease of opera ons as well as safety and security.

SMART MANUFACTURING 42 The tex le industry heads towards an exci ng future New mechanical and chemical processes, the Internet of Things and Ar ficial Intelligence are making an impact.

40 REGULAR SECTIONS 04 INDUSTRY NEWS 24 EVENTS 45 IES UPDATE

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 August 2019

INDUSTRY NEWS

SINGAPORE SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION SIGNS MOUS WITH SUTD AND NUS government convened to foster collabora ve research and deepen industry-academia es.

SSIA signs MoU with SUTD. Mr Ang Wee Seng, Execu ve Director, SSIA (le ) with Prof Yeo Kiat Seng, Associate Provost of Research & Interna onal Rela ons, SUTD.

The MoU was signed by Prof Yeo Kiat Seng, Associate Provost of Research & Interna onal Rela ons, SUTD and Mr Ang Wee Seng, Execu ve Director of SSIA. Under the MoU, SUTD and SSIA will jointly work towards the research and development of the world’s first AI-driven Integrated Circuit (IC) design internet pla orm where exis ng Intellectual Property (IP) can be shared and traded, new IPs can be jointly created and op mised as well as new products and applica ons can be produced more reliably, cheaply and quickly. This partnership will also allow for a world-first endeavour - the use of Blockchain technology to protect the usage of semiconductor IPs. “This collabora ve research will build on SUTD’s research exper se and SSIA’s industry know-how as we strive to devise the world’s first AI-driven Integrated Circuit design internet pla orm. The rich technological exchange will fuel the development of such innova ve technologies to stay ahead of industry transforma on and enable our leap towards greater connec vity, speed and capacity”, said Prof Yeo Kiat Seng. The signing of the MoU between NUS and SSIA took place at NUS Museum. It was signed by Prof Wei Kwok Kee, Dean of NUS SCALE and Mr Ang Wee Seng. The MoU coverage is focused on promo ng thought leadership in lifelong learning and talent development for semiconductor industry professionals. NUS and SSIA will collaborate on ini a ves and projects that will enable semiconductor industry professionals to stay relevant with the right knowledge and skills.

SSIA signs MoU with NUS. Prof Wei Kwok Kee, Dean, NUS SCALE (le ) with Mr Ang Wee Seng, Execu ve Director, SSIA.

Singapore Semiconductor Industry Associa on (SSIA) signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) recently, one with Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and the other with the Na onal University of Singapore’s School of Con nuing And Lifelong Educa on (NUS-SCALE), to strengthen its collabora on with the two universi es. SSIA is the voice of Singapore’s semiconductor industry and is commi ed to suppor ng this important sector in Singapore, in order to facilitate substan al growth of the whole semiconductor industry in the country. The signing of the MoU between SUTD and SSIA took place at SUTD’s annual Fostering Industrial Research Success Together (FIRST) Industry Workshop, where stakeholders from industry, academia and the 04

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

“In a world where technological disrup on is now the norm, our workforce has to embrace lifelong learning to remain relevant and compe ve. As a champion of con nuous and lifelong learning, we are ready to help prepare businesses for Industry 4.0 through our contemporary and engaging educa on and training programmes. Thus, we are proud to partner the SSIA to enhance the capabili es of Singapore’s semiconductor industry, and propel it into the future with confidence”, said Prof Wei Kwok Kee. Commen ng on the two collabora ons, Mr Ang Wee Seng, SSIA Execu ve Director, said, “While the semiconductor industry in Singapore and the region is facing the recent economic challenge as well as the transforma on to Industry 4.0, innova on and talent will be the two key pillars to grow the industry. Signing MoUs with the two universi es will enable us to help our peers embrace innova ons and develop the right talents for the future”.

INDUSTRY NEWS

HACKATHON ORGANISED BY INFINEON AND LG DEBUTS IN SINGAPORE Driven by the shared goal of crea ng a smarter and more connected world, Infineon Technologies and LG Electronics (LG) recently hosted the inaugural ‘Infineon LG </> Make Hackathon’ on breakthrough Internet of Things (IoT) solu ons, in Singapore. The aim of the hackathon is to empower seasoned start-ups and student entrepreneurs to create new technological solu ons for IoT, that will run on the LG webOS open source pla orm, with Infineon’s microelectronics capabili es such as intelligence, power eﬃciency, security, and sensing. Working closely together, Infineon and LG provided interested innovators with technology guidance, as well as special access to products and so ware to help the shortlisted teams develop and showcase proofs-ofconcepts to a panel of judges at the Infineon Asia Pacific oﬃce in Singapore.

A er presenta on of the awards are, in the front row, third from le , First Prize Winner, Marsha A Chin (GoReMas Enterprise) and second from right, Second Prize Winner, Daniel Vong (Wangi Lai PLT). Also in the front row are, second from le , Ms Helen Choi (LG Electronics) and in the centre, Mr Chua Chee Seong (Infineon).

“This hackathon is about a shared community of innovators driven by a common desire to use leadingedge technologies to build a be er future for all. We are delighted to be a strategic partner of LG in nurturing innova on in a globally connected ecosystem. Together, we can make life easier, safer and greener in tomorrow’s connected world”, said Mr Chua Chee Seong, President and Managing Director, Infineon Asia Pacific. “Our goal is to build and grow a global webOS community where developers may leverage a wide range of webOS func onali es such as AI, connec vity and IoT in their collabora ve work to produce innova ve solu ons and services that together shape an even be er life for all”, said Dr I P Park, President and CTO of LG Electronics. “LG is excited to be a co-host of this event with Infineon, and wishes it will be a beginning in crea ng the future of IoT together”, Dr Park added. GoReMas Enterprise from Malaysia and Wangi Lai PLT, also from Malaysia, were awarded the top and second prizes, respec vely, for their innova ve solu ons which impressed the judges. GoReMas Enterprise’s prototype, Floodsensed, is an IoT flood monitoring system with alerts via social media such as Facebook, Slack, Telegram (with images and loca on maps), and YouTube Live Streaming. The equipment gathers rain volumes, water levels, temperature, and barometric pressure from device gateways and nodes, then sends the data to the Floodsensed IoT pla orm that comes with dashboard visualisa on for users. Wangi Lai PLT’s BAWA Cane is a clip-on module for exis ng white canes, that helps the blind and visually impaired iden fy and avoid obstacles with shared insights and foresight, through data analy cs. 06

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

Mr Chua Chee Seong, President and Managing Director, Infineon Asia Pacific, speaking at the opening of Infineon LG </> Make Hackathon.

The winners were selected by a panel of judges from LG and Infineon, based on criteria ranging from problem iden fica on, concept development and innova on, to ease of implementa on, stability and presenta on. They topped a pool of 14 start-ups and student entrepreneurs from countries such as China, India, Malaysia, Ukraine, and Singapore. The first and second prize winners received SGD 5,000 and SGD 3,000, respec vely.

Infineon Infineon Technologies AG is a world leader in semiconductor solu ons that make life easier, safer and greener. The company has about 40,100 employees worldwide.

LG Electronics LG Electronics Inc is a global innovator in technology and manufacturing with opera ons in 140 loca ons and a workforce of over 70,000 around the world. LG is composed of five companies - Home Appliance & Air Solu on, Home Entertainment, Mobile Communica ons, Vehicle Component Solu ons, and Business Solu ons.

INDUSTRY NEWS

ASCENDAS SINGBRIDGE TO DEVELOP SMART URBAN CO INNOVATION LAB Ascendas-Singbridge Group (ASB), supported by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Enterprise Singapore, announced the forma on of a Smart Urban Co-Innova on Lab, the first developer-led lab in Southeast Asia. Slated to be launched later this year, the lab will facilitate and support at least 30 coinnova on projects within the next three years. The Smart Urban Co-Innova on Lab will support industry players and technology providersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; eďŹ&#x20AC;orts to innovate in Singapore to seize regional business opportuni es. The lab will focus on building capabili es in the four key areas: intelligent estates, smart mobility, digital wellness, and agritech. Led by ASB, the lab will provide a pla orm for industry players to share problem statements and collaborate

with technology players to co-develop and trial new and innova ve solu ons for commercialisa on, in Singapore as well as overseas. The lab will roll out various programmes such as call-forproposals, pilot tests, workshops and boot camps. IMDA will con nue to work closely with the industry and other government agencies to support the development and trials of innova ve technology and solu ons through upcoming technology calls. To help Singapore enterprises innovate and interna onalise, Enterprise Singapore will connect both local and overseas end-users and relevant technology solu on providers, including SMEs and startups, to the lab.

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

INDUSTRY NEWS

KEYSIGHT WORLD SINGAPORE 2019

PRESENTS NEW SOLUTIONS AND INNOVATIONS Keysight Technologies Inc, a leading technology company that helps enterprises, service providers, and governments accelerate innova on to connect and secure the world, showcased solu ons at Keysight World Singapore, the company’s largest annual event in Singapore, which was held recently.

(QoS) and quality-of-experience (QoE). With its automated loca on mapping feature, it is ideal for performing measurements rela ng to 5G NR networks, both outdoors and in busy and crowded indoor spaces, while being simultaneously used as a regular mobile phone.

In 2019 and beyond, 5G-enabled technologies have the poten al to create major global technology shi s, leading to huge poten al for industries worldwide. However, before this poten al can be harnessed, the technologies must first be thoroughly tested. Keysight recognises and addresses these cri cal tes ng needs by delivering solu ons and insights in electronic design, test, manufacturing, and op misa on. “In today’s global economy, success demands an integrated and agile approach to innova on. Delivering the next big thing requires the perfect blend of inspira on, technology, solu ons, and partners from around the world”, stated Donna Majcen, Vice President of Global Marke ng at Keysight.

The Keysight M9384B VXG Microwave Signal Generator.

“That is the driving idea behind Keysight World. It brings together Keysight thought leaders, technological advances, breakthrough design/test/op misa on strategies, and leading-edge solu ons on a global scale to inspire, enable, and accelerate the realisa on of innova on”, she added.

5G test solu ons In this current era of 5G and satellite communica ons, complex test set-ups and path losses in over-the-air test environments are crucial concerns for the commercial and aerospace defence industries. Keysight recognises this need and has developed the M9384B VXG Microwave Signal Generator - said to be the first-of-its-kind globally. M9384B delivers an op mised 5G NR test system setup by leveraging dual-channel 44 GHz vector signal genera on, with up to 2 GHz RF modula on bandwidth. Other key benefits of this product include low OTA test system path loss and an accelerated product development through integra on with Keysight’s PathWave Signal Genera on So ware. When it comes to performing in-building field measurements where accuracy of the measurement loca on is crucial, field technicians, engineers and managers o en spend more me manually adding markers on floorplans than on the actual troubleshoo ng. Addressing this issue, Keysight oﬀers Nemo Handy, an Android-based handheld drive test tool that allows users to eﬃciently obtain wireless diagnos cs informa on of air interface and mobile applica on quality-of-service 10

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

Keysight has announced the Automo ve Cybersecurity Program, a comprehensive solu on that consists of integrated hardware, so ware, and services.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Automo ve cybersecurity There are more connected cars in produc on and on the road, than ever before, and these provide fer le ground for hackers to exploit poten al vulnerabili es from inside or outside the vehicle. Keysight recognises that automo ve cybersecurity needs to be part of product development from the beginning, throughout the development life cycle, as well as post-sales. To address this need, Keysight has announced the Automo ve Cybersecurity Program, a comprehensive solu on that consists of integrated hardware, so ware, and services. Func ons include connec ng to the device under test (DUT) via all relevant interfaces (for example, Wi-Fi, cellular, Bluetooth, USB), a ack simula on, reports on vulnerability, DUT-specific regression tes ng and enterprise-level management of tes ng.

requirements in the DDR5 design specifica on, while providing the lowest noise and ji er floor to allow the most accurate measurement with the highest margins.

Network visibility Today’s network and security opera ons teams are faced with increasing data volumes and velocity. To manage the security and monitoring of these highly distributed environments eﬀec vely is a challenge. Vision X from Ixia, a Keysight Business, provides the solu on to this challenge. By ac ng as an access point between the data on the network and the security and monitoring tools, Vision X extracts data from the network and as a broker, it distributes the relevant data to the relevant tools - thus aﬀording businesses visibility and security coverage to business assets.

Data centres and telecommunica ons Today’s electronic and communica ons systems have become more complex, requiring next-genera on test and measurement. Design cycles are shorter and compliance is more diﬃcult to test and acquire, as the limits of exis ng technology are reached. In terabit and op cal research, achieving next-genera on technology breakthroughs can be diﬃcult with limited test equipment to verify designs. Keysight’s UXR-Series real- me oscilloscopes solve these pain points by providing customers with low-noise floor and high ver cal resolu on, to ensure measurements are not impacted by oscilloscope noise and signals are represented accurately. As a result, eye diagrams are significantly more open, and true margins and performance can be determined.

The UXR0134A Infiniium UXR-Series 13 GHz, 4 channel oscilloscope.

As the speed of double date rate (DDR) technology increases, engineers face new design and valida on challenges. Design error margins decrease, and signal integrity becomes challenging to maintain. Keysight’s DDR5 tes ng solu on addresses these issues, oﬀering a comprehensive solu on approach which includes a new receiver, transmi er, and protocol test solu ons. This will impart the ability to perform all test

UXR1104A Infiniium UXR-Series 110 GHz, 4 channel oscilloscope. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

INDUSTRY NEWS

HELPING ORGANISATIONS TAKE THE FIRST STEPS TOWARDS IIOT Schneider Electric, a leader in digital transforma on of energy management and automa on, recently had its Smart Factory in Batam, Indonesia, designated as an Advanced 4th Industrial Revolu on (4IR) Lighthouse by the World Economic Forum at its 13th Annual Mee ng of the New Champions (AMNC).

needs. Using Manufacturing Control Tower dashboards, plant managers can make be er decisions and shorten reac on mes to issue instruc ons to the manufacturing shop floor. The Batam plant has, thus far, seen a reducon of 17% in man-hours spent on maintenance and 46% in waste material produced.

The Batam site is the third of the company’s factories to receive recogni on as a Lighthouse, joining its Le Vaudreuil site in France and its Wuhan site in China, which were designated, respec vely, as a Lighthouse site and a Developing Lighthouse site, in 2018.

“Empowering local competencies and nurturing talents are also key success factors in the Batam factory’s digital transforma on. The Schneider Electric team in Batam has successfully designed, developed, tested and deployed several digital solu ons across the company’s global manufacturing network. Moreover, since 2017, Schneider Electric has provided voca onal students and Batam Polytechnic students opportuni es to par cipate in developing Batam’s smart factory applica ons through its Digital Internship Program”, said Mr Denoly.

According to the forum, Schneider Electric’s Batam Smart Factory reflects Schneider Electric’s success in adop ng 4IR technologies at scale and the impact the company has achieved to-date. Being part of the global Lighthouse network means Schneider Electric will be able to share knowledge and best prac ces with peers and engage in new forms of collabora on, something it already does with its own Smart Factory Program.

Batam Smart Factory Schneider Electric’s Smart Factory in Batam has deployed a wide range of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies including smart sensors, alarm predic on management, site benchmarking, and Augmented Reality, to create an empowered workforce that has visibility into opera ons, maintenance, and energy use. With the goal to reduce maintenance costs, while increasing overall equipment eﬃciency, the factory has so far reported a 44% reduc on in machine down me in one year. In addi on, the factory leverages IT/OT convergence by using digital tools for planning and scheduling management, that provide an end-to-end view of demand, aligns all partners, and engages all workers, resul ng in a 40% improvement in on- me delivery. Mr Xavier Denoly, Country President, Schneider Electric Indonesia said, “We strongly believe in the value of smart factories and ensure our own factories are equipped with the latest IIoT technologies to spearhead the new Industry 4.0 era. Our smart factory in Batam is a test bed for machine learning, AI, predic ve and digital maintenance, connected machines and processes. The integra on of big data, cloud and IIoT technology will pave the way for organisa ons in Asia to work towards their smart factory vision, becoming more energy-eﬃcient and sustainable in the long term”. The smart factory in Batam deploys EcoStruxure Machine - one of the solu ons under EcoStruxure, Schneider Electric’s IoT-enabled, plug-and-play, open, interoperable architecture and pla orm - that provides real- me tracking of the performance of its opera ons and be er visibility of machine performance and preven ve maintenance 12

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

More than 150 customers and partners from Indonesia, China, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar and Middle East have visited the Batam Smart Factory. To-date, Schneider Electric has launched nine Smart Factories - in the US, Mexico, China, France, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines. These factories are core to the company’s Tailored Sustainable Connected 4.0 supply chain digital transforma on, where Schneider Electric leverages digi sa on through its EcoStruxure pla orm and architecture across its supply chain opera ons to deliver end-to-end integra on and visibility, in order to enhance performance.

Manufacturing opera ons in Batam Schneider Electric Manufacturing Batam is located at Batamindo Industrial Park. The company is part of PT Schneider Electric Indonesia which started opera ons in August 1991, with 242 employees, over an area of 10,450 m2. Schneider Electric Manufacturing Batam runs three plants that produce electromechanical, electronic and sensor equipment. The equipment is produced for the local market and is also exported to Europe and the Asia Pacific region. The three plants are cer fied to interna onal standards ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 and ISO 50001. The Product Electromechanic Plant has an area of 10,300 m2 and more than 1,000 employees. It produces about 4,000 types of electromechanical equipment such as contactors, MCBs, push bu ons, light pilots, tower lights, rota on lights, voice alarms, and relays. The Product Electronic Plant has an area of 11,000 m2 and about 800 employees. It produces about 2,500 types of electronic equipment such as variable speed drives, HMI panels, and electronic relays.

INDUSTRY NEWS

The Sensors Plant has an area of 10,300 m2 and about 700 employees. It produces about 3,000 types of sensor equipment, such as induc ve sensors, photoelectric sensors and limit switches. Mr Sirichai Chongchintaraksa, VP Supply Chain Performance East Asia Japan Pacific, Schneider Electric said, “We understand that it is not easy for organisa ons to take the first step towards IIoT. However, our Batam Smart Factory can serve as an example of best prac ces and of the benefits of digi sing energy management and automa on in the manufacturing industry, and help organisa ons to get started on their digi sa on journey”.

EcoStruxure Schneider Electric’s Smart Factory Program is built on its EcoStruxure pla orm which comprises connected products, edge control, and applica ons, analy cs and digital services, to help decision-makers and managers digi se opera ons quickly, cost-eﬀec vely, and with fast returns on investment.

Schneider Electric Schneider Electric combines energy technologies, real- me automa on, so ware and services, into integrated solu ons for homes, buildings, data centres, infrastructure and industries.

Schneider Electric launches new digital ecosystem At Hannover Messe 2019, Schneider Electric announced the launch of Schneider Electric Exchange, said to be the world’s first cross-industry open ecosystem dedicated to solving real-world sustainability and efficiency challenges. Schneider Electric Exchange is empowering a diverse community of solvers to create and scale business solu ons and seize new market value. As digi sa on revolu onises the way we work and interact, energy fundamentally becomes more distributed. With Schneider Electric Exchange, individuals gain entry to a vast network of technical tools and resources to develop, share, and sell digital and IoT innova ons. With Schneider Electric Exchange, it is possible to do the following: • Gain access to a vast library of resources such as APIs, analy cs, and data sets to improve digital offers. • Leverage digital tools and exper se to scale solu ons and speed up me to market. • Collaborate through a powerful cloud-based pla orm to share insights and designs, and effec vely manage and complete projects.

Mr Xavier Denoly, Country President Schneider Electric Indonesia (centre), together with Mr Sirichai Chongchintaraksa, VP Supply Chain Performance East Asia Japan & Pacific - Global Supply Chain, Schneider Electric (le ) and Mr Fadli Hamsani, Digital Transforma on Senior Manager, Schneider Electric Manufacturing Batam (right).

The Minimum Viable Product (MVP), first released in private beta mode in April 2018, then opened to a broader customer base in November. The pla orm is poised for strong growth and already boosts a global footprint in Europe (35%), APAC (35%), and the Americas (20%).

Schneider Electric’s smart factory in Batam has deployed a wide range of Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) technologies and introduced digital tools such as Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

INDUSTRY NEWS

A*STAR & SURBANA JURONG TO COLLABORATE

ON DIGITAL SOLUTIONS FOR SMART CITIES The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and urban and infrastructure consultancy Surbana Jurong have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to co-develop digital solu ons for the planning, design and maintenance of smart ci es, with a focus on commercialisa on. Under the MoU, A*STAR and Surbana Jurong will jointly develop advanced digital capabili es for three key areas: • Planning of ci es, residen al towns and industrial parks. • Design and simula on of buildings. • Services for eﬃcient and sustainable opera ons and maintenance.

At the signing of the MoU are, in the front row, from le , Professor Tan Sze Wee, Execu ve Director, Science and Engineering Research Council, A*STAR; and Mr Chong Lit Cheong, Group Chief Corporate Officer, Surbana Jurong. In the back row are, from le , Mr Frederick Chew, Chief Execu ve Officer, A*STAR; Ms Chan Lai Fung, Chairman, A*STAR; Mr Liew Mun Leong, Chairman, Surbana Jurong; and Mr Wong Heang Fine, Group Chief Execu ve Officer, Surbana Jurong.

Examples of possible applica ons include the development of advanced modelling systems to improve the process of urban planning of smart ci es, as well as the crea on of technologies for tes ng and inspec on in facili es management. Surbana Jurong’s adop on of these advanced digital technologies would support its efforts to provide bestin-class consultancy solu ons across the value chain, including facili es and asset management services, thus strengthening its end-to-end service delivery and compe veness, par cularly in overseas markets. As part of the commercialisa on partnership, Surbana Jurong will incorporate, into its service offerings, technologies commercialised by A*STAR’s SME and startup licensees. Surbana Jurong will also expose local companies in its supply chain to overseas markets for new business opportuni es, including in the 40 countries in which the company has an exis ng market presence. The upcoming Surbana Jurong Campus will also serve as a test-bed for new technologies, in partnership with A*STAR, SMEs and startups. “Moving forward, A*STAR will enhance our support for large local enterprises such as Surbana Jurong, so as to enhance their global compe veness through leveraging technology. The fact that local SMEs can benefit from this new partnership is a very important outcome”, said Mr Frederick Chew, Chief Execu ve Officer, A*STAR. Mr Wong Heang Fine, Group Chief Execu ve Officer, Surbana Jurong added, “With the emphasis placed on 14

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

developing smart urban ci es, it is crucial for Surbana Jurong to be equipped with the latest and most advanced digital technologies to be er serve our clients in this area. We have focused strongly in recent years to adopt digital technologies and see good poten al in further digitalising our solu ons for the planning and design of smart ci es. Our compe ve advantage lies in our ability to deliver consultancy solu ons across the full value chain including facili es and asset management. We are confident that our collabora on with A*STAR will help us develop even more compe ve, value-adding and cost-eﬀec ve solu ons in urban and industrial planning, as well as facili es management, for our clients”.

The Surbana Jurong Campus The 68,915 m2 Surbana Jurong Campus will be built in Jurong Innova on District (JID), a vibrant ecosystem of enterprises in advanced manufacturing, urban solu ons and smart logis cs. The campus can accommodate up to 4,000 employees and is expected to be completed by 2021. JID is master planned and developed by JTC. Designed by Safdie Surbana Jurong, a collabora on between Safdie Architects and Surbana Jurong, the campus will serve to demonstrate what a sustainable, people-centric and future-ready workplace would look like. Created by the renowned architect, Moshe Safdie, the new headquarters embodies the character of Singapore as a Garden City, by integra ng the structure harmoniously with the natural landscape.

INDUSTRY NEWS

A*STAR AND ST ENGINEERING SIGN MOU The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and ST Engineering have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to co-develop innova ve solu ons for smart ci es. This long-term partnership will focus on technology co-development, adop on and commercialisa on in four key areas - robo cs, smart mobility, smart communica ons and healthtech. Examples of technologies that will be covered include advanced material-handling robots for robo cs, allAt the signing of the MoU are, from le , Mr Frederick Chew, Chief Execu ve Officer, A*STAR; Professor Tan Sze weather autonomous Wee, Execu ve Director, Science and Engineering Research Council, A*STAR; Mr Harris Chan, Chief Digital Officer vehicles for smart mobility, and Chief Technology Officer, ST Engineering; and Mr Vincent Chong, President & CEO, ST Engineering. satellite communica ons and the Internet of Things for smart communica ons, as well as intelligent workflows and analy cs for healthtech. A*STAR will pull technological capabili es from across its research ins tutes to co-develop innova ve solu ons with ST Engineering. The partnership will drive new business outcomes in Singapore and in overseas markets for ST Engineering and its small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) partners. “A*STAR is commi ed to strengthening local enterprises such as ST Engineering, in par cular, to expand its overseas markets through digital innova on and deep tech. A*STAR has had a close partnership with ST Engineering since the early 2000s - today’s MoU serves to bring our partnership to the next level. I am confident that this collabora on will create new opportuni es within the local ecosystem in Singapore, and exci ng opportuni es for ST Engineering’s SME partners in overseas markets”, said Mr Frederick Chew, Chief Execu ve Officer, A*STAR. “This MoU with A*STAR serves as another collabora on pla orm for us to work with some of the best minds in research and engineering to create differen ated, commercially viable smart city solu ons that will further enhance our global compe veness. It also builds on our commitment to build a strong ecosystem involving our local enterprises so that collec vely and individually, we can make our mark globally for innova ve solu ons”, said Mr Vincent Chong, President & CEO, ST Engineering.

Rimini Street expands Asia-Pacific opera ons

Rimini Street Inc, a global provider of enterprise so ware products and services, a leading third-party support provider for Oracle and SAP so ware products, and a Salesforce partner, recently announced its further opera onal expansion in the Asia-Pacific region, including addi onal investment in leadership, sales and service Mr Andrew Seow delivery capabili es in the Southeast Asia and Greater China regions. The investment is being made to meet the needs of the company’s growing client base and support the increasing interest and demand for the company’s por olio of premium-level enterprise so ware support services in the region. To serve its growing list of clients in the Asia-Pacific region, Rimini Street currently has offices in Hong Kong, Osaka, Seoul, Taipei and Tokyo, three loca ons across Australia, and a recently opened office in Auckland, New Zealand. In addi on, the company has now opened a new office in Singapore to serve Southeast Asia. The company also launched a new subsidiary, Rimini Street Singapore Pte Ltd, and announced the appointment of Mr Andrew Seow as Regional Director for Southeast Asia and Greater China. Mr Seow will be based in the newly opened Singapore office.

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

INDUSTRY NEWS

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION LAUNCHES CONNECTED SERVICES EXPERIENCE CENTRE IN SINGAPORE Rockwell Automa on, a leading, US-based interna onal company dedicated to industrial automa on and informaon solu ons, recently announced the oﬃcial opening of its new Connected Services Experience Centre (CSEC). The centre is said to be the first-of-its-kind in Singapore to fully demonstrate the integra on of key technology pla orms for IT-OT convergence, enabling customers touring the centre to understand the benefits of the Connected Enterprise and the posi ve impact that it can have on their business. The centre also illustrates how solu ons and services oﬀered by Rockwell Automa on are en rely scalable and can be tailored to the business needs of customers. “The manufacturing sector is Singapore’s largest industry and is subject to external forces not only from across the region, but globally as well. We believe that embarking on the journey of digitalisa on and the Connected Enterprise is key for businesses to realise their full poten al. It allows them to take control of their future and grow their capabili es to adapt to industry challenges and opportuni es that may be coming their way”, said Inbavanan Rathinam, Senior Director, Asia Pacific, Customer Support & Maintenance, Systems & Solu ons Business, Rockwell Automa on. “Our new Connected Services Experience Centre enables us to show, rather than tell, how our technology can help to bridge the gap between tradi onal plant floor technologies (OT level) and enterprise level demands (IT level). Using our technical exper se and industry know-how, we can demonstrate how we can help our customers to maximise performance, advance innova on and crucially, drive growth”, he added.

Rockwell Automa on’s new Connected Services Experience Centre demonstrates the integra on of key technology pla orms for IT-OT convergence, enabling customers touring the centre to understand the benefits of the Connected Enterprise.

Visitors to the Connected Services Experience Centre can experience, first-hand, the synergy of key technology pla orms such as Network, Cybersecurity, Industrial Data Centre, Machine Learning as well as AR and VR. The centre complements Rockwell Automa on’s exis ng Factory Floor and Customer Experience Centre oﬀerings, allowing visitors to experience The Connected Enterprise journey in its en rety. “The Connected Services Experience Centre is a first for Singapore and an important addi on to our oﬀerings for customers across the Asia Pacific region. The pursuit of the Connected Enterprise is an ongoing process, u lising both innova on and tailored solu ons that streamline industry processes and by immersing customers in the possibili es, we can work together to accelerate their journey towards digitalisa on”, said John Wa s, Marketing Director, Asia Pacific, Rockwell Automa on.

OPENTEXT AUTOMATES INVOICING FOR OIL REFINER OpenText, a global leader in Enterprise Informa on Management (EIM), recently announced that Rosne Deutschland GmbH, Germany’s third largest crude oil refiner and a major wholesaler of petroleum products, has deployed OpenText Business Network solu ons to help accelerate invoicing automa on. OpenText B2B Managed Services and OpenText Ac ve Invoices with Compliance enable Rosne Deutschland to quickly deliver electronic invoices to customers in mul ple countries, assis ng in compliance with local legal and technical requirements. The solu on seamlessly integrates with SAP S/4HANA, the cloud-based ERP pla orm Rosne Deutschland is implemen ng to digitally transform its core business processes. With OpenText cloud-based Ac ve Invoices with Compliance, Rosne Deutschland can now consolidate both structured and unstructured data from across applica ons to help create accurate and complete invoices. The solu on validates informa on consistency and assists the company to manage digital signatures and archive invoices according to specific regula ons. OpenText hosts Rosne Deutschland electronic invoicing on OpenText Trading Grid, a leading cloud-based B2B integra on pla orm currently serving more than 800,000 businesses. Rosne Deutschland suppliers already u lising Trading Grid can more easily connect to the company’s new digital invoicing system. OpenText B2B Managed Services professionals integrate and communicate with customers and manage the invoicing process, reducing me and resources required by Rosne Deutschland and its customers.

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

INDUSTRY NEWS

EVONIK COMMISSIONS SECOND COMPLEX FOR

METAMINO PRODUCTION IN SINGAPORE On 18 June 2019, and following the scheduled two-year construc on period, Evonik, a world leader in speciality chemicals, officially commissioned its second complex for the produc on of MetAMINO (DL-Methionine) and strategically important precursors, in Singapore. Officia ng the Opening Ceremony as Guest-of-Honour was Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Heng Swee Keat. “Our methionine complex on Jurong Island, which we commissioned in late 2014, has been a real success story. Now, we want to con nue the success story with this second plant”, said Mr Chris an Kullmann, Chairman of the Execu ve Board of Evonik, during the opening fes vi es. Each plant has an annual produc on capacity of 150,000 metric tons of DL-Methionine, eleva ng Evonik’s annual global capacity to approximately 730,000 metric tons. The new complex has been modelled on the successful exis ng plant and has been constructed right next to it. “Synergies from the infrastructure that we set up in 2014, the complete backward integra on of both plants into the precursor products, and the joint opera on of the en re complex will bring about significant structural efficiency gains”, added Mr Kullmann.

region”, added Mr Peter Meinshausen, Regional President Evonik Asia Pacific South. Evonik’s Animal Nutri on business line has over 60 years of experience in the manufacture of essen al amino acids and provides customers in more than 100 countries with solu ons for efficient and sustainable animal nutri on. By extending its product range to include addi onal innova ve and sustainable solu ons in feed addi ves, and digital so ware concepts for efficient farm management, Evonik is making a substan al contribu on to a holis c approach to healthy animal nutri on and sustainable animal husbandry, while crea ng added value for its customers. The scien fically proven products and services offered by Evonik in the animal nutri on sector play a key role worldwide in the manufacture of healthy and affordable foods, while preserving natural resources, and help to reduce the industry’s ecological footprint. Evonik is commi ed to applying scien fic concepts and solu ons to solve the food challenges the world is set to face in the upcoming years.

In total, Evonik has invested more than EUR 500,000,000 and created more than 100 jobs in the new complex. Evonik produces MetAMINO in world-scale plants, in Antwerp (Belgium), Wesseling (near Cologne, Germany), Mobile (Alabama, USA), and in Singapore. This global produc on network ensures the highest supply security for its customers. As Mr Johann-Caspar Gammelin, Chairman of the Board of Management of Evonik Nutri on & Care GmbH, explained, the demand for the methionine amino acid for animal nutri on in Asia con nues to show strong growth. “On the one hand, the growing consumer aﬄuence in Asia supports the increasing demand for animal protein. On the other, producers are increasingly focusing on more sustainable produc on of meat, eggs, milk, and fish. We are proud that our MetAMINO plays a key role in suppor ng these eﬀorts”, said Mr Gammelin. “Evonik’s commitment to Singapore has a long and good tradi on. With this addi onal facility on Jurong Island, we will further strengthen our compe ve posi on as a market leader in the 18

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

Evonik has oﬃcially commissioned its second complex for the produc on of MetAMINO (DL-Methionine) on Jurong Island.

INDUSTRY NEWS

NTU DEVELOPS TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN 3D PRINT A BATHROOM WITHIN 12 HOURS Researchers from NTU have developed the capability to 3D-print an unfurnished bathroom in less than a day. A er prin ng, the bathroom is furnished with toilet fi ngs to become a pre-fabricated unit, ready for use in construc on projects. This also includes ceramic led walls and flooring, as well as concealed drains and piping. This could poten ally help firms build prefabricated bathroom units (PBU) about 30 per cent faster and lighter than current PBUs. In the past four years, the research team focused on developing a special concrete mix which is fluid enough to flow through the hoses and print nozzle, yet can harden fast enough so that the next layer is able to be printed on it. On top of ensuring a consistent print quality, the final product also had to be as strong as conven onal concrete. The prin ng process takes half the me needed in the construc on of a conven onal bathroom unit that uses concrete cas ng. This innova on was developed by a joint research team led by Assoc Prof Tan Ming Jen from NTU’s Singapore Centre for 3D Prin ng, in partnership with Sembcorp Design and Construc on, and Sembcorp Architects & Engineers. It aims to improve produc vity for Singapore’s building and construc on industry through the use of digital and robo c fabrica on methods to reduce skilled labour and manpower requirements.

workers can be redeployed to do higher-level tasks. This approach improves the safety of the workplace, since robots are doing the construc on of the bathroom unit,” he explained. Er. Lie Liong Tjen, the team lead from Sembcorp, further noted that the 3D prin ng technology enabled the use of curvilinear profiles rather than rec linear forms in design and construc on. To save material and achieve weight savings of up to 30 per cent, the walls of the PBU were printed in a W-la ce shape, which lent addi onal strength to the final structure. The research team printed and ou i ed two PBUs. One measuring 1.62m (L) x 1.5m (W) x 2.8m (H) was printed in just 9 hours while the second PBU measuring 2m (L) x 2.6m (W) x 2.8m (H) was printed in 12 hours. The larger 3D-printed PBU has already undergone stringent industry tests, with the results showing that it has met the required strength and robustness as spelt out in Singapore Standard SS492: 2001. It is currently undergoing water absorp on and fire resistance tests as part of the requirements under the Building Innova on Panel’s PBU acceptance framework. Moving forward, the team is looking forward to ge ng the required approvals for trials from BCA and to commercialise the technology through licensing or a spin-oﬀ company.

3D-prin ng a bathroom unit could help manufacturers halve their produc on me while lowering transport costs, carbon emissions and materials wastage. Also, less space is required to create and store the same number of PBUs in land-scarce Singapore, said Assoc Prof Tan. “By being able to printon-demand, companies can save on their inventory costs as well as manpower costs, as they don’t have to hold as much stock and their

The walls of the prefabricated bathroom unit were printed in a W-la ce shape, lending addi onal strength to the final structure. A er the accelerated prin ng process, the fi ngs, ling and finishing will typically take another five days. Photo: Screengrab from YouTube/NTU. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

INDUSTRY NEWS

GREENING SINGAPORE’S

ROADS ON THE MOVE Asia’s first green-roofed bus ini a ve was launched on 5 May 2019 at the Singapore Garden Fes val Hor culture Show. This involved the fi ng of a locally-developed, soilless roof system atop 10 SBS Transit buses, which have been plying Singapore’s roads for the past three months. According to the joint press statement issued by GWS Living Art, Moove Media, NParks, Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) and Temasek Founda on, the ini a ve seeks to tap on the crea vity of young innovators to further extend greenery to improve public places and the quality of life. It was also to raise awareness on the possibili es of mobile, green innova on.

of the buses, and a reduc on in the fuel consump on used for air-condi oning. Findings from the study will be shared with interested par es. “While the impact of greenery on buildings has been well documented, much less is known about the eﬀects of greenery on moving vehicles … We certainly hope that our study can provide the hard figures for mobile gardens as well as other innova ons to improve our built environment,” said Dr Tan Chun Liang, who is from the NUS and was the expert advisor on the study.

The buses were deployed on several routes, including through the CBD and along Orchard Road. The mobile green roofs they carried were made up of hardy plants adapted to the local climate, chosen for their resistance to windy and dry condi ons. Instead of conven onal soil, the plants were secured using GWS’ proprietary Gaiamat, a lightweight, proprietary mat system used for skyrise greenery that is cleaner, easier to maintain and more economical than other conven onal green roof systems which are primarily soil-based. A study was also conducted to confirm that green roofs will lead to a drop in temperature within the interior

The mobile green roof, as installed on one of the 10 buses. Photo: Facebook/Singapore Green Building Council

MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SINGAPORE AS NANJING DEEPENS INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABLE URBAN MANAGEMENT EFFORTS Singapore companies can look forward to more partnership opportuni es with Nanjing in innova on and sustainable urban management as the city increases its focus on sustainable living.

tech companies, talents and residents. Singapore’s investments here have grown in the past five years, reaching USD 1.89 billion in 2018.

At the 7th Singapore-Nanjing Coopera on Panel (SNCP) mee ng in May, Singapore companies signed six MOUs for their business deals in areas such as water technology, cybersecurity, innova on, logis cs and medicine.

The project’s next phase of development will focus on crea ng an innova on ecosystem centred on AI and water technology R&D. Singapore and Nanjing companies can also leverage SNEHTI as a pla orm to test-bed ideas and develop new solu ons in sustainable urban management.

The visi ng delega on was led by Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Dr Koh Poh Koon, who is also Co-Chairman of the SNCP. “The economic rela ons between Singapore and Nanjing have expanded beyond infrastructure development to include other aspects such as services and knowledge exchange. Building on the strong founda on developed, we see great poten al for our companies to foster deeper collabora ons … (and the) Singapore Nanjing Eco Hi-Tech Island (SNEHTI) will con nue to be a key pla orm to drive such eﬀorts,” he said. The SNEHTI has achieved good progress over the past 10 years, focusing on urban infrastructure development to a ract high-

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

Furthermore, Sembcorp Development’s Interna onal Water Hub will be completed this year, which will provide more test-bedding facili es and opportuni es for Singapore and interna onal companies to develop and pilot innova ve water solu ons in Nanjing. The Ac on Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE), partnering its Nanjing counterparts, have also set up the ACE SingaporeNanjing Interna onal Centre on SNEHTI. The centre provides co-working spaces and business support services such as market advisory, mentorship programmes and networking opportuni es to Singapore and foreign startups looking to expand into the city.

INDUSTRY NEWS

I BUILD ON EXPERIENCE I see the possibilities my career can bring. Because a career in the built environment is one that can create direct yet far-reaching impact. At BCA, my work on policy measures help to drive change in the built environment sector and make a positive difference. We constantly shape the landscape to prepare for the future of Singapore, rally the built environment sector to achieve farreaching goals beyond today, and improve the living environment for Singaporeans from all walks of life. Be part of this transformation, and join us for a fun and meaningful career. Find out more about our career opportunities at www.bca.gov.sg

Lim Yong Xian Senior Engineer

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

INDUSTRY NEWS

MPA LAUNCHES NEW ROUND THE CLOCK

MARITIME CYBERSECURITY CENTRE Mr Niam Chiang Meng, Chairman of the Mari me and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), opened the Mari me Cybersecurity Opera ons Centre (MSOC) on 16 May 2019. The MSOC will be operated by ST Engineering at its Ang Mo Kio hub. The centre conducts round-the-clock monitoring and correla on of data ac vi es across all mari me Cri cal Informa on Infrastructure (CII). It will have the capability to detect and monitor cyber-a acks by analysing ac vi es in the IT environment and respond to cybersecurity incidents using available technology solu ons. The objec ve of MSOC is to strengthen Singapore’s mari me cybersecurity posture through early detec on, monitoring, analysis and response to poten al cybera acks on mari me CIIs. This allows MPA to work closely with CIIs to ensure the protec on of mari me CIIs and inves gate any cybersecurity threat or incident. MPA will also build key data linkages between MSOC and its Port Opera ons Control Centre in order to respond to cyber incidents in a more holis c and mely manner.

“Cyber threats come in many forms and have been rising steadily across the globe. As the world’s busiest transhipment hub, it is important that we safeguard our mari me and port cri cal infrastructure to prevent a major disrup on to port opera ons and delivery of services, said Mr Niam. Beyond the MSOC, MPA has also put in place other ini a ves to strengthen the cybersecurity readiness of the mari me sector. To be er equip mari me professionals with the relevant cybersecurity skills, MPA has collaborated with Singapore Shipping Associa on and Singapore Polytechnic to develop a new training course for mari me personnel to enhance their knowledge in managing cyber threats and challenges. This will be rolled out in first half of next year. MPA has also collaborated with the Singapore Mari me Ins tute and local ins tutes of higher learning to embark on a Mari me Cybersecurity Research programme. This programme will focus on the protec on of shipboard systems to mi gate cyber threats with the growing digitalisa on on board ships.

SEMBCORP MARINE COMPLETES WORLD’S BIGGEST AND STRONGEST SEMI SUBMERSIBLE CRANE VESSEL With a 220-metre by 102-metre reinforced deck area, the Sleipnir is the world’s largest crane vessel. Armed with two revolving cranes for offshore oil, gas and renewable energy installa on and decommissioning jobs, it was recently completed by Sembcorp Marine for Dutch firm Heerema Marine Contractors. Named a er the Norse god Odin’s eight-legged stallion, the semi-submersible crane vessel (SSCV)’s cranes can reach up to 135 metres in height and can li loads of up to 20,000 tonnes in tandem. No other exis ng crane vessel has this capability. According to Sembcorp Marine, Sleipnir can accommodate 400 persons and will be deployed globally for installing and removing jackets, topsides, deep-water founda ons, moorings and other offshore structures. With its single-li capability catering to larger integrated structures than previously possible, Sleipnir will minimise offshore assembly work and raise opera onal efficiency to a new level, while not compromising the flexibility and robustness of tradi onal installa on methodologies. The vessel further stands out as the world’s first crane vessel with dual-fuel engines running on marine gas oil and liquefied natural gas. Coupled with an IMO- and US Coast Guardapproved ballast water management system, Sleipnir will

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

operate sustainably across all environmental jurisdic ons. Speaking at Sleipnir’s christening in Tuas Boulevard Yard, Mr Pieter Heerema, Chairman of the Board at Heerema Marine Contractors, said: “Sembcorp Marine in Singapore was chosen to build Sleipnir for their professionalism and dedica on to the project. The excellent coopera on between Heerema and Sembcorp Marine ensured that the project was executed smoothly, on budget and according to the best possible safety and quality standards.” At its peak, the construc on of Sleipnir involved up to 3,700 workers in a single shi . The project had a Lost Time Injury Rate (LTIR) of 0.35 per million man hours worked, which Sembcorp Marine President & CEO Mr Wong Weng Sun a ributed to the Group’s strong safety Sleipnir, the world’s largest and strongest semicommitment. submersible crane vessel. Photo: Sembcorp Marine

Advancing BIM through Digital Twins

October 21 – 24,2019

Marina Bay Sands

The Year in Infrastructure Conference is a global event for leading executives in the world of infrastructure design, construction and operations. Don’t miss this opportunity to network with your peers in Singapore and hear how projects are Advancing BIM through Digital Twins. You will hear keynotes and technology updates, participate in industry forums and Digital Advancement Academies.

Singapore

#YII2019

Learn the latest advancements in design, engineering, construction, and operations. Meet the ﬁnalists behind some of the most innovative projects around the world. The Year in Infrastructure Awards is an exciting and well-regarded global competition that recognizes the “going digital” advancements in 18 infrastructure categories, including Digital Cities, Project Delivery and Reality Modeling.

Early bird discount until August 31. Register today at yii.bentley.com

EVENTS

DEBURRINGEXPO 2019

2019 TO BE HELD IN OCTOBER Many industrial sectors are currently undergoing future-oriented change. There can be no ques on that characteris cs such as burr-free parts, surface finish and cleanliness have a decisive influence on component quality. As an interna onal trade fair for deburring technologies and precision surface finishing, DeburringEXPO presents products and solu ons in a concentrated and comprehensive fashion. DeburringEXPO 2019, the 3rd trade fair in the series on deburring technologies and precision surface finishing, will take place at the Karlsruhe Exhibi on Centre, Germany, from 8 to 10 October 2019. The automo ve industry, avia on and aerospace, machinery manufacturing, medical engineering, metrology, precision engineering, sensor technology, tool and mould making, the automo ve supplier industry and other sectors, are in the midst of significant change. As different as the challenges may be, one aspect is becoming quite clear. The quality of components is determined to an ever greater extent by freedom from burrs and a requirements-oriented surface finish. The execu on of produc on steps for deburring, rounding and the produc on of precision surface finishes is thus becoming an increasingly decisive compe ve factor. “Amongst other things this is made apparent by the fact that, as opposed to earlier strategies, manufacturing businesses now concern themselves with these tasks and look for appropriate solu ons already during the product development phase”, said Mr Hartmut Herdin, Managing Director of fairXperts GmbH & Co KG and promoter of DeburringEXPO. DeburrignEXPO facilitates targeted and efficient comparisons of various technologies and performance levels within a focused framework. At the end of June 2019, 155 exhibitors from 12 countries, including nearly all of the market and technology leaders, had already booked their booth floor space at DeburringEXPO 2019. The event will present concentrated and comprehensive offerings in the fields of deburring, rounding and the produc on of precision surface finishes. Amongst other features, these offerings include innova ve solu ons which permit effec ve deburring and cleaning of components in a single process, for example. Technologies will also be presented with which components can be manufactured en rely burr-free, as well as solu ons for the automa on and digitalisa on of deburring and surface finishing processes.

Improved func oning Component and applica on-specific surface finishing requirements vary greatly from industry to industry. For example, the automo ve industry and its suppliers are looking for solu ons that can further reduce emissions and 24

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

Abrasive flow machining (AFM), also known as flow grinding, is used on conven onal as well as addi vely manufactured components for deburring and the produc on of precision surface finishes. Image by fairXperts.

increase the performance of internal combus on engines - whether they are used alone or in combina on with electric motors in hybrid vehicles. On the other hand, they require burr-free components for electric drives, where even the smallest amount of produc on residues can lead to malfunc ons or short-circui ng. Other areas in which burr-free components are absolutely essen al for flawless opera on include everything from driver assistance systems to autonomous driving. Stricter requirements for surface quality are the result of the trend towards ever stronger and lighter materials, as well as increasingly high-performance power trains in the avia on and aerospace industry. Manufacturers of technical medical products are faced with new challenges, due to the new MDR (Medical Device Regula on) which becomes binding on 25 May 2020 a er a three-year transi on period. For the first me ever, par cles are iden fied in the regula on, which can be caused, for example, by burrs. Reliably deburred workpieces are a basic prerequisite where increasingly stringent par culate cleanliness requirements have to be met, for example, for precision parts in the PCB supplier sector, for measuring technology and in the op cs industry. Regardless of the industry sector, the quality of downstream processes such as joining, sealing, coa ng and assembly can usually be assured only with the help of burr-free, appropriately finished surfaces. DeburringEXPO also addresses the issues of post-processing for addi vely manufactured parts. This involves the removal of support structures and residual powder, as well as smoothing and polishing rough, porous surfaces and prepara on for subsequent heat treatment or coa ng.

Bilingual Expert Forum DeburringEXPO oﬀers a great deal of knowledge and know-how with its supplementary programme which includes a three-day expert forum. More informa on can be obtained from www.deburringexpo.com.

EVENTS

EXHIBITION ON CLEANING OF INDUSTRIAL PARTS TO BE HELD IN OCTOBER 2019 Properly cleaned parts and components are a basic requirement in every branch of industry today, in order to ensure the integrity of downstream processes and troublefree product func onality. parts2clean 2019, to be held in Stu gart, Germany, from 22 to 24 October 2019, will highlight various op ons for op mising processes. Special displays and a forum programme will also provide a endees with valuable informa on and exper se at the leading interna onal trade fair for industrial parts and surface cleaning. Users of industrial cleaning technology are facing major changes and new challenges. This applies to a variety of sectors, including the automo ve industry, mechanical engineering, medical technology, avia on, electronics, precision engineering and micromechanics, op cs and semiconductor suppliers. Manufacturers are looking for ways to remove not only par culate residues, but also surface films. At the same me, new materials and manufacturing technologies, such as addi ve manufacturing, as well as ever-smaller produc on runs, and not least, the move towards electric power in the automo ve industry, are all driving the need for specialised cleaning solu ons. “The exhibitors at parts2clean will be showing how industrial users can solve new problems and meet the changing needs of their customers”, said Mr Olaf Daebler, Global Director of parts2clean at Deutsche Messe, the event’s organiser. “They will be showcasing solu ons for improved energy and resource eﬃciency, increased cost-eﬀec veness and flexibility, as well as the automa on of parts cleaning and its integra on into networked processes”, he added.

Suppor ng programme Key topics covering the present and future scenarios for industrial parts and surface cleaning will be addressed in an informa ve suppor ng programme consis ng of dedicated displays and forums. “Demand for automated robo c solu ons from the industrial parts cleaning sector has grown rapidly in recent years, both in Europe and other regions, especially Asia”, said Mr Peter Pühringer, Division Manager at Stäubli Robo cs. “In order to meet the special requirements of the parts cleaning sector, we recently modified our standard robot programme specifically to handle applica ons in parts cleaning”, he added.

for cleaning chemistry and processes, technology for measuring, tes ng and processing lines and customised process control for adap ve cleaning processes. “The aim of this ini a ve is to provide a star ng point for discussions about adap ve process solu ons that self-adjust to the condi on of the parts and the degree of cleanliness required. This involves the op misa on of exis ng processes and the development of new, problem-solving solu ons”, said Dr Lothar Schulze, a member of the FiT Excecu ve Board. The special ‘Process flow in parts cleaning, including cleanliness checks’ display, to be staged in conjunc on with the CEC (Cleaning Excellence Center), will enable visitors to track the various stages of the parts-cleaning opera on. A er deburring, the parts are cleaned in a clean-room environment, and then transferred to a Class ISO 7-compliant clean room for final cleanliness checks, using a clean-room-compa ble transfer cart to avoid contamina on. Specialists in industrial cleanliness will be giving visitors guided tours of this special showcase on all three days of the show.

Industry Forum One of the highlights will again be the three-day parts2clean Industry Forum. “For visitors from Germany and around the world, the forum is highly valued as a source of informa on on stateof-the-art advances in parts and surface cleaning, thanks to a strong lineup of contribu ng speakers”, said Mr Daebler. Top experts from industry and the R&D community will be sharing knowledge and exper se in talks on the following topics - cleaning processes, upstream and downstream processes, analy cs and metrology, digi sa on and automa on, field reports and examples of best prac ce from various sectors, as well as future scenarios. The future of industrial parts and surface cleaning is also the subject of the session organised by FiT under the tle ‘QSREIN 4.0 - process solu ons for parts cleaning in the future’.

The special presenta on ‘Parts Cleaning 4.0 in prac ce’ highlights this development. Live demonstra ons will show how easily process and equipment data can be made available, and how this data can be defined and edited for specific requirements and purposes. The special ‘QSREIN 4.0’ display staged by the German Industrial Parts Cleaning Associa on (FiT) will serve as a hub for exploring the future of industrial parts cleaning. Here exhibitors and users can get together to discuss forward-looking process solu ons for parts cleaning. The topics covered include new-genera on modules

parts2clean 2019 will highlight various op ons for op mising processes. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

EVENTS

EXHIBITION FOR THE SHEET METAL INDUSTRY

TO BE HELD IN OCTOBER 2020 EuroBLECH 2020, the 26th Interna onal Sheet Metal Working Technology Exhibi on, will be held from 27 to 30 October 2020, at the Hanover Exhibi on Grounds in Germany. The exhibi on will highlight digitalisa on of manufacturing processes, e-mobility and sustainable produc on, as well as innova ve materials. “At the last EuroBLECH, the degree of digitalisa on within the industry was already high. This was the star ng point for the future of smart sheet metal working. Now it is me to firmly establish and op mise these digital produc on processes and enhance their eﬃciency and flexibility”, said Ms Evelyn Warwick, EuroBLECH Exhibi on Director, on behalf of the organisers Mack Brooks Exhibi ons. “At EuroBLECH 2020, manufacturers of machines, IT systems and tools for sheet metal working have the possibility to present themselves to a global audience of visitors ready to invest. Visitors at the show are specifically looking for flexible and cost-eﬃcient solu ons in order to operate successfully in a compe ve environment”, she added.

Increase in exhibi on space “We have a strong demand for stand space and we are experiencing a high rebooking rate. The sheet metal working industry is in the process of dynamic development and innova ve technologies are playing an important role. Therefore, exhibi ng companies are interested in larger stand spaces this me, in order to present a lot of new machines. We are hence expec ng a further growth in exhibi on space for EuroBLECH 2020”, said Ms Warwick.

towards digitalisa on and Industry 4.0 in manufacturing was the predominant trend EuroBLECH 2018. In addi on to a record net exhibi on space, there was also an increase in interna onalisa on at EuroBLECH 2018, compared to the previous show - 58% of exhibitors at the show came from abroad, represen ng an increase of 4%. Exhibitors came mainly from Germany, Italy, China, Turkey, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Denmark, the USA and Austria. Around 49% of visitors travelled to Hanover from abroad to discover the latest solu ons in sheet metal working. The increase in interna onalisa on was 10%. Visitors came mainly from Germany Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, France, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, China, Russia and Turkey.

An exhibitor brochure with detailed informa on about the exhibi on, stand op ons and prices is now available from the organisers, in three languages. The detailed exhibi on profile, most important facts and figures, as well as relevant informa on for exhibi ng at EuroBLECH are also included.

Tradi onally, EuroBLECH a racts a high percentage of visitors with decision-making and buying capacity. At EuroBLECH 2018, 79% of visitors were decision makers or were involved in the buying process. Around 23,300 visitors came to the show with the definite inten on of buying.

The EuroBLECH exhibi on profile is clearly structured and covers the en re sheet metal working technology chain, consis ng of sheet metal, semi-finished and finished products, handling, separa on, forming, flexible sheet metal working, joining, welding, tube/sec on processing, surface treatment, processing of hybrid structures, tools, machine elements, quality control, CAD/CAM/CIM systems, factory equipment and R&D.

According to the exhibitor survey, the main reasons for exhibi ng were to a ract new customers and approach new markets. The large majority of exhibitors either fully or largely reached their target groups (more than 92%). Major target markets were the EU countries, in par cular Germany, followed by other European countries, Asia and North America. When asked about key future markets, exhibitors referred to Germany, the USA, China, Italy and Poland.

Posi ve response to previous event

Three quarters of all exhibitors already confirmed, at the last show, that they intended to exhibit again at EuroBLECH 2020.

EuroBLECH 2018, the previous event in the biennial series, was held from 23 to 26 October 2018. Held over 89,800 m2 of net exhibi on space, it a racted a total of 1,507 exhibitors from 40 countries, and more than 56,300 visitors from 105 countries. The general development 26

At EuroBLECH 2018, more than 92% of the exhibitors either fully or largely reached their target groups.

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

Further informa on on EuroBLECH 2020 is available directly from the organiser, Mack Brooks Exhibi ons, or from www.euroblech.com.

EVENTS

SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY MEET IDENTIFIES 5G AS A MAJOR REVENUE DRIVER The Singapore Semiconductor Industry Associa on (SSIA) held its annual ‘Singapore Semiconductor Industry Meet’ recently. Previously known as the Members Meet, the event this year was opened to all members of the semiconductor industry. At the event, speakers shared on how 5G can drive produc vity and innova on in the sector and how companies can leverage the emerging technology for business growth. The new 5G technology is the next genera on of mobile network technology and is expected to be the new enabler for many market segments, including mobile phones, automobiles, Virtual Reality, and IoT. This new technology is an cipated to be a major revenue driver for the semiconductor and electronics industry over the next few years. Over 160 representa ves from 80 companies a ended the event. Speakers at the event included industry experts on 5G, such as Dr Carlos Mazure, Chairman & Execu ve Director, SOI Industry Consor um, and Mr Gobinath Vanan of Na onal Instruments ASEAN & AANZ. Their presenta ons addressed the growth of 5G technologies and challenges to be overcome.

Mr Ang Wee Seng, Execu ve Director, SSIA, delivers his opening speech.

In his opening speech, Mr Ang Wee Seng, Executive Director, SSIA, said, “We have noticed that the impact of the US-China trade war is felt across the globe. The semiconductor industry here and in the region is not spared. Despite this, the industry is not slowing down in driving initiatives such as 5G technology to unlock business opportunities. Besides, SSIA has been launching different workforce development strategies which will help develop the talent pool for the ongoing industry transformation as well as the next economic upturn”. Under the workforce development ini a ves, SSIA has been giving talks at secondary schools to bring awareness of the semiconductor industry not only to young students but also to their parents and teachers. SSIA has also conducted relevant courses such as the Opera ons Excellence Course and Singapore Semiconductor Leadership Accelerator Program for industry peers. In line with the direc on to focus on workforce development, SSIA will be announcing more ini a ves in the coming months. “We are glad to see record a endance at our latest event, which shows that our peers are focusing on innova ng products and service oﬀerings amidst the challenging environment. SSIA will organise more ac vi es and ini a ves which are in line with the Industrial Transforma on Map (ITM) together with our industry partners and government agencies”, said Mr Ang.

Over 160 representa ves from 80 companies a ended the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Meet this year. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

COVER STORY

SINGAPORE’S FIRST CORPORATE LABORATORY IN A UNIVERSITY COMPLETES INITIAL PHASE Rolls-Royce and NTU Singapore extend their research partnership with the launch of Phase 2. Singapore’s first corporate laboratory in a university, the Rolls-Royce@ NTU Corporate Laboratory (Corp Lab) was jointly set up by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), Rolls-Royce and the Na onal Research Founda on (NRF), in 2013. It has successfully completed its first five years of research partnership and is now moving into its next phase with a joint investment of SGD 88 million. Held recently, the launch of Phase 2 was graced by Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Finance and Chairman of the Na onal Research Founda on.

At the launch of Phase 2 of the Rolls-Royce@NTU Corporate Laboratory are, from le , Professor Lam Khin Yong, Vice President (Research), NTU; Ms Chan Lai Fung, Permanent Secretary (Na onal Research & Development) and Chairman, A*STAR; Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Finance and Chairman, Na onal Research Founda on; Professor Subra Suresh, President, NTU; Dr Bicky Bhangu, President for South East Asia, Pacific and South Korea, Rolls-Royce; and Dr Dave Smith, Director of Central Technology, Rolls-Royce.

Rolls-Royce@NTU Corporate Laboratory The Corp Lab was the first to be supported under the Singapore public-private research and development (R&D) partnership between universi es and companies. In Phase 1, the Corp Lab managed 53 research projects in areas such as power electronics, data analy cs, and repair and manufacturing technologies. The research outcomes from these projects are now being used to help design and develop future power and propulsion systems and improve manufacturing opera ons in Singapore and in other global sites of Rolls-Royce.

The Corp Lab also developed digital solu ons using Ar ficial Intelligence (AI). This has led to a new virtual engine emulator that uses AI to analyse decades of engine design data to harvest new insights.

VIPs and invited guests witnessing a demonstra on on engine design using Ar ficial Intelligence and Virtual Reality technologies developed by the Rolls-Royce@NTU Corporate Laboratory.

This greatly reduces the design cycle me as the system can automa cally generate design op ons based on desired features, allowing engine designers to select promising candidates that can be further op mised to create future aircra engines.

Riding on the success of Phase 1, NTU and Rolls-Royce are renewing their partnership in the lab’s second phase, with 29 ambi ous projects focused on developing novel technologies that will power the future of aircra propulsion.

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COVER STORY

of industry’s needs with advanced research that creates new and innova ve solu ons that improve our world tomorrow”, he added.

Ramping up innova ons in electrifica on and digitalisa on The 29 new projects will make use of Industry 4.0 technologies - connec ng computers, machines and engines - and genera ng valuable data that will enhance design, manufacturing, maintenance, services, and opera ons.

Researchers at work in the Corp Lab.

“The Rolls-Royce@NTU Corporate Laboratory is a fine demonstra on of NTU scien sts working with industry to develop relevant solu ons to meet real-world issues. The first phase of research has met with remarkable success, yielding more than 50 research projects that can create significant impact in the aerospace industry. Building on that success, we are moving into the second phase with renewed commitment and new projects that will elevate our collabora on to the next level. We will build on various areas which are part of NTU’s core strengths, such as alterna ve energy storage solu ons, machine learning and AI, and big data analysis”, said Professor Subra Suresh, President, NTU. “The Corp Lab is an excellent example of the virtues of collaboration, as championed by Rolls-Royce; of seeking diversity to better understand problems when approached with different mindsets; and of harnessing the best ideas to come up with the best solutions. Conversely, it provides academic minds with a valuable window into industrial problems and the ability to work together for a common good. It provides a dynamic platform as we move towards a new way of learning and a new way of working”, said Dr Bicky Bhangu, President for South East Asia, Pacific and South Korea, Rolls-Royce. “The launch of Phase 2 of the Rolls-Royce@NTU Corporate Laboratory is testament to the good outcomes produced through academia-industry-government partnerships in corporate laboratories in our universi es. NTU researchers have worked alongside Rolls-Royce scien sts and engineers on R&D that has direct relevance to the avia on industry. The next stage of their partnership will build on the good progress made, and look into integra ng digital technologies and sustainable solu ons into flight systems and aerospace parts. I am excited as these new technologies have the poten al to transform the avia on industry”, said Professor Low Teck Seng, CEO, NRF. “By se ng up corporate laboratories in our universies, industry partners can tap the latest scien fic and technological resources of the universi es to develop new products and services while universi es stay abreast

For example, to predict an aircra ’s performance and its need for maintenance, projects will use AI and Data Science to process large amounts of data spanning product design specifica ons, material quality and durability, equipment degrada on and the environmental condi ons during opera on. This data-driven approach will streamline and op mise design and manufacturing processes, and ensure that the final products have high levels of safety and reliability. A key objec ve of the projects is to develop technologies that are eco-friendly, efficient, and sustainable. For example, efforts will be made to develop innova ve energy storage solu ons for hybrid-electric aircra . This will accelerate the adop on of alterna ve energy systems in the aerospace industry. To support manufacturing, the Corp Lab will focus on enhancing efficiency in some of the key manufacturing processes such as ‘vibratory finishing’ or ‘vibropolishing’ which is a mass finishing process used to deburr, burnish, clean, and brighten large quan es of rela vely small work pieces. It is exploring ways to combine vibropolishing with ‘vibropeening’ which is a process that hardens the surfaces of components, further increasing the material’s durability. The Corp Lab will also address challenges involved in 3D prin ng and addi ve manufacturing technologies, such as finishing and polishing processes for internal 3D-printed components. It aims to enhance and streamline manufacturing involving 3D prin ng, in order to open up more room for crea vity and innova on. Overall, the projects will address problems that are faced by the aerospace industry, under five key pillars: • Electrical • Manufacturing Technology • Advanced Repair and Materials • Data Analy cs and Complex Systems • Internet of Things Further, the Corp Lab provides an industry-driven platform for university students at all levels - doctoral, masters and undergraduate - to become next-generation engineers. In Phase 1, it has trained 40 PhD students and more than 200 masters and undergraduate students. All images by NTU Singapore THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

COVER STORY

Under Phase 1 of the Rolls-Royce@NTU Corporate Laboratory, a commercial oï¬&#x20AC;-the-shelf modular energy storage system demonstrator was delivered and successfully system tested. 30

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COVER STORY

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

PROJECT APPLICATION

ULTRASONIC CLEANING SYSTEM

FOR DIFFERENT GLASS TYPES by Doris Schulz It ensures the quality of the precision components used in op cs and optoelectronics. High component diversity, a range of dissimilar and o en very sensi ve glass types, widely diﬀering product dimensions plus high throughput targets call for the use of very complex ultrasonic cleaning equipment at Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH in Jena, Germany.

site, where the company was founded in 1846, is also the headquarters of the central service company for the produc on opera ons of the ZEISS Group. This ac vity includes the manufacture of op cal items. Here, more than 1,000 diﬀerent spherical and plane op cal components for the group’s diverse products are made from well over 100 diﬀerent glass types.

Close coopera on between the ZEISS project team and the manufacturers of the cleaning and water treatment systems has led to a solu on that now serves as a pilot installa on for the en re group of companies.

Cleaning

Headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany, ZEISS is a leading interna onal technology enterprise opera ng in the fields of op cs and optoelectronics. The group develops, produces and distributes measuring products, microscopes, medical technology produces, eyeglass lenses, s ll and mo on picture camera lens systems, binoculars, and semiconductor manufacturing equipment. The Jena

“Depending on the op cal component, mul ple cleaning steps may be necessary, so a very high workload must be handled. In order to ensure this while con nuing to meet ZEISS’ environmental standards now and in the

One bo leneck in the manufacturing workflow, par cularly in core produc on, that is, the ac vity in which the geometry of each op cal part is generated, is parts cleaning.

The system cleans more than 1,000 diﬀerent spherical and plane op cal components made from well over 100 diﬀerent glass types. To handle the specified high throughput, the ultrasonic cleaning system comprises three automa c transfer devices. 32

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PROJECT APPLICATION

future, we replaced our 20-year-old cleaning system some me ago”, said Heinz Ackermann who, together with his colleague Benjamin Wagner, is responsible for the realisa on of a new ultrasonic cleaning and water recondi oning system. The contract for this project was awarded to UCM-AG of Switzerland, a member of the SBS Ecoclean Group (formerly Dürr Ecoclean), which had previously supplied several ultrasonic cleaning systems in use at Carl Zeiss Jena. It was the posi ve experience gained with this cleaning equipment, some of which has been in opera on for more than 15 years, that pped the scale in favour of its vendor. The responsibility for the water recondi oning system was placed in the hands of Enviro Falk GmbH.

laminar flow is installed. This prevents recontamina on of the product with airborne par cles. To reach the high specified throughput of 10,000 to 18,000 cleaned parts in two shi s per day, the system is equipped with three automa c transfer devices. These handle the movement and transfer of cleaning racks from the charging sta on to the last rinsing tank, operating each within a defined zone.

Throughput and cleaning performance The new ultrasonic cleaning system is intended to provide combina on processes comprising both solventand water-based steps, like its predecessor. Diﬀerent cleanliness standards have to be met, depending on the produc on opera on and the op cal part to be treated. Both ‘ready for inspec on’ and ‘ready for coa ng’ cleaning quality requirements have to be achieved. “Fulfilment of this requirement was demonstrated in the running process. This way, we have redundant backup capability for our en re cleaning process in the produc on line”, notes Benjamin Wagner.

At the immersion-type spray rinse tanks, the precision op cal components are sprayed oﬀ as they exit the bath for an improved rinsing result.

A further challenge lay in the fact that the glass types from which op cal components are made can be highly sensi ve to acids. These glass grades react quite strongly to the cleaning and rinsing media used in water-based cleaning. “We performed many trials, exposing the glasses to the surfactant media as well as to diverse water quali es, for example, de-ionised, osmo c or mixed water. We then examined them under 200x magnifica on to see whether surface defects had formed and to what extent abrasion had occurred”, adds Heinz Ackermann. These findings found their way into the design of the cleaning and water recondi oning system.

Flexible equipment design

The automa c transfer devices convey and reposi on the cleaning racks, each within a defined area. It was quite a challenge to program this func onality at the so ware level.

The fully enclosed cleaning system comprises 12 sta ons in total. In the first four tanks downstream of the loading sta on, solvent cleaning can be carried out. The next four tanks are for cleaning with aqueous solu ons. This sec on is followed by an immersion rinsing bath, two immersion spray rinse tanks (each with a li ing func on), as well as a fine-cleaning tank with li -out capability in which various water quali es can be used. All 12 tanks for the wet chemical treatment of op cal components are equipped with ultrasound devices. In the case of the last two cleaning tanks and the first rinsing tank, these operate with two frequencies that overlap in part. For drying, infrared dryers are used. The parts pass through them on powered conveyor belts before being transferred to the unloading sta on. In the zone of the last rinsing tank and the dryer, a clean room filter with

The operator display provides clear and unclu ered informa on on the equipment’s status. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

PROJECT APPLICATION

Complex cleaning processes Depending on their purpose, the op cal components vary in size from 1 mm to 320 mm. For cleaning, they are placed in product carriers of matching geometry. Up to three of them can be inserted into the cleaning rack, one above the other. To accommodate the given produc on step and a specific op cal part, more than 20 part-specific cleaning programs are currently stored in the system’s controller. These are ac vated either manually or by barcode scans. Each program defines the cleaning and rinsing tanks to be used, the dwell me of the part at each sta on, the ultrasound power and frequency etc.

“To this end, UCM and Enviro Falk cooperated perfectly. This certainly helped to ensure that we now have a cleaning system that delivers very good results with all optical components and is deemed a pilot solution within our group of companies”, said Heinz Ackermann. All images by ZEISS

“Realising these programs at the so ware level, with three automa c transfer units, was not an easy task for UCM. On the one hand, the sequence must be fast enough to achieve the specified throughput. Care had to be taken to avoid loss of me, even with programs comprising forward and reverse transfers or skipping of individual tanks. On the other hand, the target dwell mes in the water-based cleaning and rising tanks need to be accurately observed, and we are talking a minimum of 15 seconds here in the case of glass types sensi ve to acids”, said Benjamin Wagner. To ensure that the same water quality is available at all mes in every rinsing tank, the customer’s water recondioning system was integrated with the control so ware of the cleaning system as well.

The part-specific cleaning program can be selected manually or by barcode scan.

The fact that each transport rack can accommodate up to three product carriers contributes to the system’s high throughput. 34

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ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

THE POTENTIAL TO GENERATE HIGH ECONOMIC VALUE IN ASEAN BY 2025 The conclusions of a research project are presented. thyssenkrupp, a technology group with traditional strengths in materials, recently presented a white paper on the potential for additive manufacturing (AM) in the ASEAN region, following a comprehensive research undertaken by the company as a prelude to the official launch of its AM TechCenter Hub in Singapore. Titled ‘Addi ve Manufacturing: Adding Up Growth Opportuni es for ASEAN’, the white paper provides deep insights and perspec ves on the state of AM in the 10 member countries of ASEAN. The paper was developed by thyssenkrupp with the support and contribu on of a mul disciplinary team of experts and partners in Singapore, including the global industrial 3D prin ng leader EOS GmbH and the Na onal Addi ve Manufacturing Innova on Cluster (NAMIC). The research shared exci ng prospects for AM in the ASEAN region, where current penetra on is s ll rela vely low despite wider acceptance globally. The extensive study noted several key highlights: • AM penetra on in ASEAN today is small, accoun ng for only 5% to 7% of Asia’s total AM spend, es mated at USD 3.8 billion for 2019. • However, there is huge poten al for the ASEAN market, given its contribu on to the global manufacturing output. Manufacturing accounts for 20% of the region’s GDP, employs a workforce of nearly 50 million and is expected to grow at least three mes in the near future. • AM is es mated to generate around USD 100 billion of incremental value by 2025, impac ng ASEAN’s projected real GDP by 1.5% to 2%. • Opportunities via AM will enable the reduction of ASEAN’s import dependence with the potential to impact at least USD 30 billion to USD 50 billion, by manufacturing closer to consumption and reducing overall import dependence by up to 2% for the region. It can also contribute to sustainable development and improve ASEAN’s compe veness in already established global value chains across key sectors such as Automove, Electronics, and Chemicals, as well as accelerate the region’s growth in industries like Aerospace, Medical Devices, and Healthcare. AM would enable the ASEAN region to further advance its Industry 4.0 and skills development focus, and promote local entrepreneurship with the potential to create 3 million to 4 million additional AM jobs for the region by 2030.

AM TechCenter Hub The official launch of thyssenkrupp’s AM TechCenter Hub in Singapore was a ended by top execu ves from thyssenkrupp AG, representa ves from the Singapore Economic Development Board, and key business partners and customers of thyssenkrupp in Asia Pacific. The launch was formally marked by a signing ceremony presided over by Dr Donatus Kaufmann, Execu ve Board Member of thyssenkrupp AG, and Mr Lim Kok Kiang, Assistant Managing Director, EDB. The TechCenter Hub, supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), serves as the regional hub for the company’s exis ng TechCenter in Mülheim an der Ruhr in Germany. The Singapore Hub, along with the Mülheim TechCenter, will focus on innova ons around AM solu ons in metal and plas c technologies for customers in marine and offshore, automo ve, cement, chemical, mining and other heavy industries. ASEAN’s 10 member countries have varying degrees of AM adop on, with many of these focused on developing the infrastructure and skills to leverage on this disrup ve technology. Currently, Singapore has around 40% of the AM market in ASEAN, followed by Malaysia and Thailand with the next 40% of the market by value. Along with a be er understanding of AM, its use and commercial value, partnerships and collabora ons will be effec ve means to push for broader acceptance of the technology in the region.

From le , Mr Lim Kok Kiang, Assistant Managing Director, EDB and Dr Donatus Kaufmann, Execu ve Board Member of thyssenkrupp AG, a er signing the cer ficate of collabora on marking the launch of thyssenkrupp’s Addi ve Manufacturing TechCenter Hub in Singapore.

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ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

The State of Additive Manufacturing in ASEAN Today

1. Penetration in ASEAN is relatively small 5 - 7% of Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s AM spend at $3.8 billion for 2019 220 - 270 industrial printer installed base

2. Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand account for 80% 40% 40% 15% 5%

3. Immense talent driving local AM innovations

4. Huge potential for AM market in ASEAN 20% ASEAN GDP in manufacturing

Prosthetics

Farming Tools

50 million ASEAN regional manufacturing workforce

Public housing

Membrane

AM near term growth potential (in line with global average)

thyssenkrupp has recently produced a white paper on the poten al for addi ve manufacturing (AM) in the ASEAN region. 36

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ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

Opportunities Moving Forward

5. Five growth opportunities $100 billion in economic value and 3 - 4 million jobs for AM in ASEAN

Reducing Import dependence

Improving competitiveness of key sectors

6. Few barriers exist: Know-how: Many policymakers and business leaders are not fully aware on how to use AM, its eкеectiveness and creating commercial value Tech: Material costs and diversity, printing speed, build chamber size, stability and repeatability of the process, availability of standards and IP regulations

Empowering local entrepreneurs

Advancing Industrie 4.0 & skill development

Increasing sustainability through DfAM

7. Businesses and governments need to work together to unlock potential Regional roadmap for adoption and scale-up of AM ecosystem Government funding & support to build up AM infrastructure, policies and capabilities Extensive public-private partnerships with government, institutes, manufacturers and ecosystem experts

ASEAN is at a cross-roads as AM and the broader Fourth Industrial Revolution drives fundamental changes to the region's manufacturing competitiveness and its ecosystem.

The time to act is now!

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

DEBURRING AND CLEANING PLASTIC COMPONENTS WITH CARBON DIOXIDE SNOW The single dry process is suitable for use on hard and bri le plas cs. There are prac cally no limits to the use of plas cs today. From medical technology, through automo ve engineering and electronics, to household and leisure products, polymer all-rounders enable innova ve solu ons. However, regardless of whether components are injec on-moulded or mechanically processed, there are residues on the surface that have to be removed for high-quality further processing or to ensure that workpieces and components func on perfectly. When it comes to burrs and residues from processing media, the qua roClean technology from acp systems AG is an eﬀec ve and eﬃcient deburring and cleaning alterna ve for hard and bri le plas cs such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) and polyetheretherketone (PEEK).

Dry processing step The modular qua roClean system works with liquid carbon dioxide (CO2), which has a virtually unlimited shelf life and is generated as a by-product from chemical

processes as well as energy genera on from biomass. CO2 is an environmentally neutral, non-flammable and non-toxic gas. For the deburring and cleaning process, the carbon dioxide is fed through the non-wearing, two-component ring nozzle of the qua roClean system, expanding as it exits to form fine CO2 snow. This is then bundled by a jacketed jet of compressed air and accelerated to supersonic speed. When the non-abrasive jet of snow and compressed air impacts the surface to be processed, at a temperature of minus 78.5° C, there are thermal and mechanical effects, combined with sublima on and dissolu on. The thermal effect is par ally responsible for the deburring ac on. Shock cooling causes the burrs to become bri le. In addi on, the volume of the CO2 snow increases about 600 mes as it changes from a solid to a gaseous state, thus crea ng micro-pressure waves that spread at high speed. The resul ng force is sufficient to remove the burrs from the components. Combined, the four mechanisms of ac on also have an efficient and homogeneous cleaning effect. They remove par culate contaminants, for example, burrs, dust and par cles, equally reliably and consistently as filmic contaminants such as residues of separa ng agents and silicons. The deburring and cleaning process is so gentle on materials that it can even be used to clean delicate and finely-structured surfaces.

With the qua roClean technology, hard and bri le plas cs such as PEEK and PPS can be deburred and cleaned in a single process.

Detached burrs and contaminants are removed from the component surface by the aerodynamic force of the compressed air and transported away by a suc on unit integrated into the processing cell. Since CO2 sublimates instantly under atmospheric pressure, the components are dry at the end of the cleaning step and can be further processed or packaged straightaway.

Cost-eﬀec ve solu on that facilitates produc on integra on

The burrs on parts a er the injec on moulding process are removed reliably and reproducibly. 38

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The scalable qua roClean process can overcome space constraints and be eﬃciently adapted to diﬀerent component geometries, to enable par al or full-surface processing. Through trials in the technical centre of acp systems, the process parameters, such as volume flows for compressed air and CO2, jet zone and me, are precisely tailored to the respec ve applica on. These also take into account the material proper es and the burrs and contamina on to be removed. These parameters can be filed as part-specific cleaning programs in the system control.

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

Tailored to the respective deburring, cleanliness and cycle time specifications, acp systems develops customised plant concepts, based on standard modules which can be operated as stand-alone solutions, or integrated into the production line or networked production environment. The la er is made possible by the qua roClean system’s Industry 4.0 capability. The system can be easily integrated into and controlled by higher-level master computers via standardised interfaces. To ensure full documenta on and traceability, all process parameters are automa cally recorded and transferred to the host computer.

High-pressure waterjet deburring combined with low-pressure cleaning Reliably and reproducibly deburred and cleaned parts are crucial for the quality of subsequent processes such as bonding, sealing and assembly, as well as for proper functioning of the product. With EcoCvelox, a completely new system concept, Ecoclean has introduced a flexible, modular solution for cost-efficient, high-pressure waterjet deburring and cleaning in a single procedure. The process-dependent configurable and expandable machine with integrated linear transport system enables processing of parts with dimensions up to 200 mm x 200 mm x 200 mm and cycle times of only 15 seconds per palette in the so-called, one-piece flow.

Tailored to the specific requirements of deburring, cleanliness and cycle me specifica ons, customised system concepts are developed. Here the process is carried out simultaneously from above and below.

All images by acp systems AG

An integrated CAD / CAM interface allows for quick and easy programming of the highpressure deburring process - either with a single spindle or a high-pressure turret with up to five tools. In combination with an innovative system for parts handling, it ensures that process operations for new workpieces can be implemented in the shortest possible time. Component cleaning and drying can be carried out by means of injection flood washing, spraying, controlled rinsing and ultrasound, as well as high-speed blowing and vacuum drying. The system can be loaded automatically with a robot or portal system, as well as manually.

acp systems AG Founded in Stuttgart, Gemany, in 1997, acp systems AG is today one of the international leaders in efficient CO2 snow jet cleaning. The company’s patented quattroClean technology enables dry, material and resource-saving removal of particulate contaminants and filmtype residues from virtually all engineering materials. The dry process also opens up the opportunity to clean electronic and electromechanical components. The scalable and Industry 4.0-capable quattroClean process can be easily adapted to different component geometries for full-surface or partial cleaning, for example, where sealants and adhesives are applied or for welding, bonding, coating or assembly steps. Another core competence of acp is the automation of cleaning processes and their integration into linked production, assembly and coating lines.

EcoCvelox is a flexible, modular solu on for cost-eﬃcient, high-pressure waterjet deburring and cleaning through a single procedure. Image by Ecoclean GmbH.

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

MATERIAL HANDLING

AUTOMATED SYSTEMS ARE GAINING GROUND by Aaron Fan, Systems Consultant, Consoveyo Singapore They oﬀer benefits in terms of be er performance, ease of opera ons as well as safety and security. The material handling industry has come a long way since the days of manual or hand pallet trucks. Today’s modern material handling equipment and systems are fully automated with minimal human interven on, and some even u lise Ar ficial Intelligence (AI) to manage various tasks. The use of automated material handling systems is gaining momentum across all ASEAN countries. Popular automated solu ons include Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS), Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), order fulfilment systems (for example, sorta on and picking solu ons), and the latest trending solu on, Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR).

AUTOMATION AND TECHNOLOGY ENSURE BUSINESS GROWTH Across industries, automa on and technology are the key drivers behind the significant growth of numerous well-established companies. With improved supply chain strategies, companies can expect greater customer sa sfac on levels and higher customer reten on rates. The following few factors have also influenced the shi towards automa on:

Increase in throughput

Mr Aaron Fan

pacity to store two to three mes more products within the same footprint than if conven onal storage methods were in place.

Be er performance The eﬃciency and reliability of material handling systems o en determine the produc vity, accuracy, and traceability in a warehouse or fulfilment centre. Manufacturers want the ability to scale up and ship increased quan es of products to customers rela vely quickly. With automated material handling systems and technologies in place, warehouses and fulfilment centres will be able to do more with fewer resources, and see an increase of at least 10% to 40% in produc vity.

Ease of opera ons Automated systems ensure that opera ons are carried out with prac cally zero interrup ons. These automated machines are also more predictable, unlike their manual counterparts which require human operators. Furthermore, companies do not have to worry about a lack of human resources due to scheduling issues, or about human operators not being available round-the-clock, all of which might result in unexpected down me.

With solu ons like the ASRS, companies are able to store more within smaller warehouses. For example, ASRSequipped warehouses and fulfilment centres have the ca-

Safety and security

Solu ons like the ASRS allow warehouse operators to store more within smaller warehouses.

High speed mini load ASRS provide fast, eﬃcient storage and retrieval of containers or cases of smaller items.

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

Warehouses that handle special products such as those that require cold storage, chemicals, or even currency notes, present very harsh environments for employees. For example, cold storage warehouses operate at low

MATERIAL HANDLING

temperatures which are some mes as low as -28° C. Warehouses that store chemical products are typically hazardous environments, as the products are toxic, flammable, and corrosive. Automated solu ons help prevent safety hazards such as contamina on, spoilage, and combus on, and even security issues like the , as in the case of currency notes.

BENEFITTING FROM AUTOMATION The popularity of automated material handling systems can also be a ributed to a host of benefits that manufacturers reap from installing such systems. These benefits include: • Improved labour management. The moving of goods from one area to another is not a highly valued ac vity in most warehouses. With automated solu ons in place, employees can be redeployed to higher-value roles that require more specialised skills, knowledge, or ability to handle complex tasks. • Increase in worker sa sfac on. Employees are exposed to fewer safety and health risks, and manufacturers can expect lower employee turnover rates. • Increase in accuracy. Automa on makes tasks easier to complete, and reduces the risks of order inaccuracies.

• Increase in food safety. Specific to warehouses with cold storage facili es, food freshness, safety, and hygiene can be greatly improved as a result of automaon, due to the minimisa on of temperature varia ons and cross-contamina on. • Savings in energy cost. The elimina on of forkli s, and the reduced need for other manually operated equipment, can help to lower energy consump on. • Savings in long-term operation costs. Automated systems require less manpower, and advanced technologies typically provide significant return on investment (ROI).

AUTOMATION IN ASEAN ASEAN is home to more than 640 million people. Tradi onally, in highly populated countries where manual labour is abundant and cheap, automa on is thought to be robbing people of their jobs. However, with wages increasing in emerging economies, ageing workforces, and low unemployment rates, ASEAN countries have been rapidly integra ng automa on into manufacturing processes. Also, a new genera on of tech-savvy employees is demanding safer and be er work environments, causing companies to pay even more a en on to automa on. Rapid advancements in technology and increasing improvements in manufacturing techniques have also made automated material handling equipment more accessible - both in terms of availability and affordability - to the broader market. The investment costs associated with automated material handling solutions have decreased to a point where it is considered feasible and practical, making it easier for businesses to justify upgrades. In addi on, the cost of manual labour will rise with me, due to the increasing requirements for be er health and safety standards in work environments. For these reasons, businesses in ASEAN states are now quickly recognising that adop ng automa on makes good business sense. As manufacturers con nue to adopt modern technologies, the logis cs industry will see a higher level of acceptance for fully automated warehouses and fulfilment centres in the coming decade.

CONSOVEYO

AGVs increase eﬃciency, reduce costs, and they can be used in a wide variety of applica ons to transport various types of goods.

Consoveyo S A, from Porto, Portugal, is a system integrator for automa on projects in intralogis cs and a supplier of automated conveyor and storage systems. The por olio of integrated solu ons and services includes high-rack warehouses, distribu on centres, and order processing systems. The company specialises in in-house mechanics and hardware solu ons. Consoveyo has facili es in Portugal, Spain, Belgium, the Czech Republic, India, and Singapore. The company is part of the System Integra on Business Unit, under Business Area Logis cs Systems of Körber, an interna onal technology group.

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

SMART MANUFACTURING

THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY HEADS

TOWARDS AN EXCITING FUTURE by Sarah Begum, Technical Writer New mechanical and chemical processes, the Internet of Things and Ar ficial Intelligence are making an impact. Asia’s tex le industry is reasser ng its posi on in the global markets, accoun ng for a 46% share of the manufacturing pie. Popula on growth, rising disposable income levels, and rapid urbanisa on are key factors contribu ng to the rise. China, India, and Bangladesh are the largest producers of tex le raw materials, such as co on and silk. Not to be le behind, Indonesia’s tex le and apparel industry recorded the highest year-on-year growth at 19% in the first quarter of 2019, compared to 7.5% during the same period in 2018.

ing eﬃciency and lowering produc on costs to produce quality tex les.

Non-woven fabrics, also known as smart tex les, have also seen a growth in demand, for a wide range of applica ons such as in automobiles, and in the produc on of ma ress covers, tents, bags and apparel. The industry is forecas ng a 20% growth over the next decade as customers increasingly lean towards more sustainable, innova ve and safe products.

The need for sanitary hygiene prac ces is among the top concerns for technical tex le manufacturers. Approximately 100 million women worldwide are exposed to urinary tract infec ons and bacterial vaginosis, necessita ng the demand for undergarments that oﬀer eﬀec ve healthcare and health aid solu ons. This, in turn, is propelling the industry further into research and development, with interna onal and regional players compe ng in the marketplace.

As market trends con nue to accelerate, the industry con nues to grapple with many challenges - with increasing demand for greener produc on (zero discharge), digital connec vity and automa on. Tradi onal produc on processes are gradually being phased out by new and innova ve technologies focused on shortening the fashion cycle, with minimal environmental impact. Investments in research and development are focusing on how best to leverage technological solu ons that can reduce opera onal expenditure, maximise uptake and produc vity, and reduce overall consumer cost. Technologies such as Ar ficial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) are pushing the technical tex le industry towards the fi h industrial revolu on, combin-

Tradi onal produc on processes are being phased out in favour of smart tex le produc on. 42

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

Tex le produc on and its merger with innova ve technology has gone beyond adap ng to consumer demands and rising expecta ons. It has grown in its purpose, from providing apparels to products that add to healthier lifestyles and address the safety concerns of consumers.

The 3D approach

Bri sh company Tamicare developed the Cosyflex system to minimise the number of steps needed to integrate conduc ve elements required for 3D prin ng in clothing and tex les. The non-woven materials include natural rubber latex and viscose fibres, that account for elas city and biodegradability. Using a combina on of liquid polymers and tex le fibres, this fabricated tex le allows customisa on to suit consumer needs. By adding sustainable raw materials into the process, Cosyflex is paving the way for fast fashion and mass-automated produc on with minimal wastage, limi ng trimming and cu ng processes, and removing chemical hazards from fabric dyeing processes.

Non-woven materials like natural rubber latex and viscose fibres used in 3D tex le prin ng produce eco-friendly, biodegradable products.

SMART MANUFACTURING

Waterless dyeing

Clean and energy-eﬃcient

Tradi onal tex le dyes use between 95 l to 150 l of water for every 1 kg of coloured apparel, causing large amounts of toxic waste. The dye released into bodies of water not only kills marine life but also disrupts the ecosystem. Dutch company DyeCoo developed a process for dyeing cloth without water or drying, making the process both me-eﬃcient and cost-eﬀec ve. A single DyeCoo dyeing machine saves 32,000,000 l of water and about 176 t of processing chemicals each year, removing geographical restric ons in tex le manufacturing as water scarcity increases.

Like many other industries, air quality is a major concern for the tex le industry, due to the presence of moisture, dust par cles, oil and solid contaminants, that can adversely aﬀect air quality. In the clothing industry and manufacture of technical fabrics, compressed air is used as an energy source in the produc on processes. Most apparel manufacturers prefer oil-free screw or turbo technology due to their high produc vity for the opera on of air jet looms. For spinning, the preference is for low cost oil-injected screw compressors with downstream filtra on to get technically oil-free air with only 0.001mg/m3 residual oil, similar to that for oil-free compressed air genera on.

DyeCoo’s technology requires no water and also eliminates the use of other chemicals, apart from the coloured dye. Its highly pressurised mechanism uses recycled carbon dioxide (CO2) at its ‘supercri cal’ state – in which it acquires proper es midway between a liquid and a gas (at a temperature above 31.10° C and a pressure above 73.9 bar). The supercri cal CO2 allows the dye to dissolve easily and penetrate deep into the fibres without water or bonding chemicals to create vibrant colours. The CO2 then evaporates and 95% of it is recycled back in a closed loop cycle. Companies like Nike, Adidas, and Ikea are among the key brands working with DyeCoo to develop sustainable and innova ve methods to drive business growth.

The S-3 and S-4 series of screw compressors developed by BOGE Kompressoren, a leading compressed air specialist, offer a solution for cost-effective operations in the textile industry. The oil-lubricated compressed air supplied reduces friction and prevents corrosion and wearing of actuators in machinery used for weaving and knitting, thereby increasing their lifespan. The integrated compressed air treatment systems can be equipped with advanced abilities to remove oil, water and dust particles completely for clean air production where necessary. BOGE’s oil-free air compressors have several advantages - they are clean, non-toxic and can transfer large amounts of energy at the same me. Oil-free air also means less expensive downstream air treatment. The company’s compressed air systems are also used for auto corners; pneuma c actuators in yarn and fabric producon, spinning and weaving; and control air for tex le machines and tools. Master controllers like the Airtelligence Plus can control up to six compressors with the same or diﬀerent outputs in a combined system, while the Airtelligence Provis 3.0 allows for the opera on of up to 16 compressors and 24 accessories.

Detec ng defects with AI DyeCoo’s waterless dyeing technology has been adopted by major brands around the world, like Nike, Adidas and Ikea.

By using recycled CO2 , DyeCoo’s technology eliminates the use of water in the tex le dyeing process.

The year 2019 began with a ‘bust’, when vehicles made by 19 diﬀerent automakers were recalled in March, due to defects found in airbags. Exploding airbags resulted

BOGE’s air compressors are used for auto corners and pneuma c actuators in yarn and fabric produc on, spinning and weaving. THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

SMART MANUFACTURING

in over 200 injuries and two deaths. Defects in airbags include tears, rips, holes, seams and s tching issues, that can o en be missed by the naked eye during manual inspec on. Automakers are turning more to AI to identify discrepancies in airbag products for greater safety, consistency and credibility. One such application, the ViDi Red-Analyze Tool created by Cognex Corp, is able to detect defects in airbags and other textiles. The tool employs deep learning image analysis to detect errors in manufactured textiles. Specifically designed for mass-automated factory production, the tool features four components - feature location & verification, defect detection & segmentation, object & scene classification, and text & character reading - to unmask faults in production. The ViDi Red-Analyze Tool is capable of building a reference model to train the software, based on a set of images showing the expected design output of a product’s fabric, such as weaving pattern, fabric properties, and colour - to identify the anomalies in the process, every step of the way.

A smarter and sustainable future Transparency and sustainability are the order of the day for tex le manufacturing processes, in terms of commercial and industrial applica ons. With greater focus on cost-eﬃciency, reduced wastage and minimal environmental impact, the produc on of sustainable fashion products will soon become the norm. While Asia’s technology is s ll in the early stages of Tex le 4.0, new ways are being explored in the area of control systems, to take predic ve tools to the next level. In fact, garments and apparel are incorpora ng smart wearables, and woven together, they create fabrics of context and connec ons to render more meaningful and useful data. Tex le manufacturers will have to adapt with oﬀerings of smarter

materials, that are ethically sourced and produced, bearing in mind that consumers are the ones who power the fashion industry and mee ng their expecta ons is the most eﬀec ve way towards a sustainable future for all.

HIMA presents solu on for reliable remote maintenance Germany-based HIMA Paul Hildebrandt GmbH (HIMA), a leading independent provider of smart safety solu ons for industrial applica ons, together with its strategic partner, genua GmbH, a specialist in the IT industry, have presented a solu on for remote maintenance in the industrial context. This remote maintenance solu on is said to fulfil the highest standards for safety and security, without any restric ons on scalability.

High demands on a secure maintenance solu on Th German Federal Oﬃce for Informa on Security (BSI), in its recommenda ons regarding cyber security (BSI-CS 108 | Version 2.0 | 07.2018), provides an overview of the general requirements for remote maintenance in industrial environments.

Secure protocols and top quality encoding The HIMA remote maintenance solu on makes use of secure protocols such as SSH, IPsec and SSL / TLS. With a symmetrical encoding process such as AES256, for example, top quality encoding comes into use as well. In addi on to the password, authen ca on of a user can also be established by a unique iden fier word generated with a Yubikey token in combina on with RSA encoding.

All from one source HIMA clients and new customers alike can easily implement a secure remote maintenance system which conforms to BSI requirements, with hardware, so ware and support - all from one source. Complexity is percep bly reduced. Investment security is assured by way of op onally extendible and complete IPv6 support and ongoing product upkeep. There are no restrictions on the secure integration of automation solutions from third-party suppliers. A central management system means that HIMA remote maintenance is easily scalable for large environments, too. The new HIMA solu on fulfils all requirements for secure remote maintenance in the industrial environment and conforms to the recommenda ons of the German Federal Oﬃce for Informa on Security.

The ViDi Red Analyze Tool employs deep learning image analysis to detect errors in manufactured tex les by comparing it to the expected design reference. 44

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

With the Rendezvous server, a dedicated server is installed as the central remote maintenance gateway in a predetermined demilitarised zone (DMZ). This solu on means that there can be no authorisa on for unilateral interven ons by the remote maintenance service to the client network. Users thus retain full control of maintenance accesses to the networks.

IES UPDATE

NATIONAL ENGINEERS DAY 2019 SHAPING THE FUTURE THROUGH ENGINEERING The 10th edi on of Na onal Engineers Day (NED) took place between 18 and 20 July 2019 at the Devan Nair Ins tute for Employment and Employability.

measuring background radia on in Singapore, in response to the topic “Radia on is Everywhere”.

Through its series of hands-on workshops, intriguing talks and exci ng exhibi ons, the largest youth carnival for engineering celebrated the achievements of engineers and highlighted the importance of STEM educa on to the field. Engaging the par cipants, which largely comprised students from secondary schools to universi es, were perennial crowd favourites such as the “Magineering” (Magic and Engineering) demonstra on, as well as the F1 in Schools Race Experience. Adding on to this were the microbit controller and Arduino workshops that added a prac cal dimension to the NED experience.

With a hiss of compressed gas, the model cars that the par cipants built during the F1 in Schools workshop race down the track!

Expert speakers also shared their insight on the role of engineering in areas such as sustainable building development and nuclear technology.

Engineering Innova on Challenge (EIC) 2019 Previously known as the Energy Innova on Challenge, EIC was rebranded as the Engineering Innova on Challenge this year to reflect its expansion to include engineering topics beyond energy. Co-organised with Science Centre Singapore and supported by MOE and the Na onal Research Founda on, EIC 2019 challenged students to design prototypes of aﬀordable, easy-to-use detectors capable of accurately and eﬀec vely

At the microbit controller workshop, students picked up hardware assembly and coding skills to create their own cloud-enabled LED lamp.

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

NUS a ained the Gold Award in the university category for the project tled “Anywear”, which helps the less able to dress themselves independently through clothing modifica on tailored specifically to their needs. Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Educa on, presented the EIC and ICC 2019 awards to the winning students at the NED 2019 prize presenta on ceremony, where he was guest-of-honour.

A team from Chindwin College, Myanmar, one of the overseas par cipants in EIC 2019, makes their presenta on to the judges.

A total of 93 teams across four categories entered the compe on, with overseas teams from the region also par cipa ng at the university level. These students embarked on their five-month experien al journey in March 2019 and went through a series of workshops, camps and clinics on topics ranging from introduc on to radia on to using laser machines. Under the guidance of professional engineering and business mentors, they gained hands-on experience in building prototypes of their inven on. A total of 40 teams made it to the final rounds of judging, where they had to display their projects during NED 2019 and pitch them to the judges making their rounds during the exhibi on. The four champion teams who eventually emerged were: Category 1 (Secondary Schools): School of Science and Technology, Singapore Category 2 (Junior Colleges): Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) Category 3 (Polytechnics & ITEs): ITE College West Category 4 (Local & Overseas Universi es): NUS

Na onal Engineering Career Progression Pathway for Technologists and Technicians On the same day, Mr Ong also witnessed the signing of an MOU for the new Na onal Engineering Career Progression Pathway for Technologists and Technicians. Together with 20 other signatories from the industry, public sector, and academia, IES will develop an engineering competency framework, training pedagogy, and assessment for technologists and technicians to progress to become Chartered Engineers. The pathway will recognise and build on the applied skills competencies of engineering professionals who have been through academic or non-academic route. It will facilitate their career progression towards Chartered Engineers by a ending modular skills-based programmes and accumula ng of relevant work experience. The first batch of Chartered Technologists and Chartered Technicians are expected to be registered by early 2020. “Technologists and technicians are key contributors in Singapore’s engineering ecosystem. However, tradi onal emphasis on academic qualifica ons has limited their career advancement … (The new pathway) will provide opportuni es for them to gain greater recogni on for their competencies and increase their job mobility,” said IES President Prof Yeoh Lean Weng.

In recogni on of their outstanding performance, the top prize winning teams from Categories 1 to 3 earned themselves a fully-sponsored overseas educa onal industry visit, while the second and third prize winners won cash prizes of $1,000 and $700 respec vely. The champions of Category 4 walked away with $8,000 in cash while the second and third and prize winners were awarded $5,000 and $3,000 respec vely.

Mr Ong, Prof Yeoh, and the Category 4 champions from NUS pose for a photo.

There was also a “Popularity Prize” worth $300 each across all four categories.

IES Innova on Challenge for the Community (ICC) 2018 Ter ary students also received awards for applying their engineering knowledge and crea vity to design userfriendly solu ons to enhance the quality of life of the elderly, handicapped, and the community-at-large. This year’s challenge received a total of 15 project submissions across two categories, with Nanyang Polytechnic clinching the Gold Award for the polytechnic and ITE category for AvTant, an app-based educa onal aid designed for hearing-impaired children to improve their pronuncia on and speaking skills through gamified exercises. 46

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

The MOU was signed between IES and 20 other signatories: BCA, ITE, LTA, the five polytechnics (Nanyang, Ngee Ann, Republic, Singapore, Temasek), NEA, NTUC, Public Service Division, PUB, SIT, Singapore Manufacturing Federa on, SUSS, Skillsfuture SG, SMRT Corpora on, Society of Floa ng Solu ons Singapore, ST Engineering, and Workforce Singapore.

IES UPDATE

Mr Tan Jui Kuan from Ngee Ann Polytechnic demonstrates to the audience how glass can be sha ered through the phenomena of resonance. The actual sha ering occurred in a shielded container.

NED par cipants trying their hand at the controls of a Formula One race car.

Engineering Innova on Challenge 2019 Results Category 1 (Secondary Schools) Posi on

School

Project Title

Champion

School of Science and Technology, Singapore

Development of a Photovoltaic Blue Light Delivery System for the Growth of Corals

1st Runner-up

Yuvabharathi Interna onal School

Infrared Assisted Irriga on System

2nd Runner-up

Dunman High School

Robopleco

Category 2 (Junior Colleges) Posi on

School

Project Title

Champion

Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

Tempo: A Biosensor – Integrated Mobile Applica on for Real-Time Pacing Feedback to Increase Training Eﬃciency and Reduce Overexer on and Casual es

1st Runner-up

Hwa Chong Ins tu on

Vehicooler

2nd Runner-up

St. Joseph’s Ins tu on

Cooking in the Sun

Category 3 (Polytechnics & Ins tutes of Technical Educa on) Champion

ITE College West

Self Build a Radia on Detector

1st Runner-up

Singapore Polytechnic

NEW-CLEAR and NEW-PLANT

2nd Runner-up

Temasek Polytechnic

Smart Radia on Detec on System

Category 4 (Local & Overseas Universi es) Champion

NUS

Project Rad-X

1st Runner-up

PSB Academy

Underground Latent Radia on Autobot (U.L.T.R.A)

2nd Runner-up

NTU

Autonomous Radia on-Mapping Robot

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT IES President Prof Yeoh Lean Weng was invited to address the gradua ng students of the NTU School of Civil and Environmental Engineering on 24 July 2019. There, he exhorted the engineering and mari me studies graduates to harness their knowledge to challenge the status quo, transform the economy, and improve our quality of life. He also encouraged them to contribute back to the ecosystem by taking up professional membership in their respec ve fields.

THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER August 2019

OBITUARY

ER. DR HIEW SIEW NAM IES FOUNDING HONORARY SECRETARY 1966 1968 IES PRESIDENT 1968 1970 Er. Dr Hiew Siew Nam, Founding Honorary Secretary and 2nd President of IES, passed away peacefully on 19 July 2019, aged 103. Throughout his career, which spanned more than 40 years, he made many meaningful contributions to the nation, and was instrumental in the founding of the Institution. At the Public Works Department (PWD), where he spent the majority of his working life (and eventually rose to become its Director in 1969), he was involved in areas such as sewerage and water works, the School and Hospital Building Programme, and the construction of Changi Airport. Deeply concerned about the welfare of local engineers, he was involved in efforts to set up a professional society for engineers in the late 1950s. This eventually became IES in 1966 in the wake of Singapore’s separation from Malaysia. Er. Dr Hiew was formally appointed as the Institution’s first Honorary Secretary at the inaugural meeting on 1 July 1966. He was subsequently voted as IES’ 2nd President in 1968, and was involved in the committee to draw up a draft Bill to legislate professional status for engineers and protect the practice. This resulted in the Professional Engineers Act of 1970, which outlined the framework, definitions, and terms of reference for the registration of professional engineers. Er. Dr Hiew was made head of the Professional Engineers Board, which was officially established in 1971 when the Act came into effect. In his later years, he also sat on the boards of several professional associations, government agencies, listed public and private sector companies, and educational institutions, such as the Board of Architects, JTC, Sembawang Shipyard, and Ngee Ann Polytechnic. The President, Council and Secretariat are deeply saddened to learn of his passing and offer their sincere condolences to his family.

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

IES 53rd Annual Dinner ––––––––––––– Inside Back Cover

Bentley Ins tute ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Page 23

IES Membership ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Page 17

Building and Construc on Authority ––––––––––– Page 21

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Singapore University of –––––––––––– Inside Front Cover Social Sciences

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