SMART SUSTAINABILITY
Ensuring efficient use of energy and water Mr Eric Lai, Regional Managing Director, Industry – APAC & Country Director for Singapore at Grundfos, a global leader in advanced pump solutions and water technology, explains how some of the major industrial challenges can be addressed, in this interview with ‘The Singapore Engineer’. The Singapore Engineer (TSE): What are the challenges and barriers faced by Singapore’s industries, particularly the SMEs, in their efforts to achieve sustainable operations?
term. Also, as adoption of such intelligent technology becomes more widespread, we can expect the cost associated to continue to decline and the technology to become more accessible.
Grundfos Smart Serv app, customers can locate the nearest service provider and raise a request easily through filling an online form and including a picture of the pump or system.
Mr Eric Lai (EL): Businesses are increasingly realising the importance of transitioning into the digital era, especially as operating sustainably is demanded by everyone, from governments to consumers. However, when it comes to embracing sustainability across their operations, one of the key barriers, especially for SMEs, is cost. To move Singapore’s industries towards ‘Factories of the Future’ – where new digital technology and innovations in operations are incorporated to improve cost efficiency, energy and water efficiency, productivity, and quality – businesses need to reassess their processes and identify and implement these new technologies and innovations, which require a commitment of resources and investment.
TSE: What are some opportunities for solution providers in the increasingly digitalised and disruptive manufacturing environment?
Lastly, we will see greater demand for pre-emptive and predictive maintenance in water infrastructure, saving precious time, energy, and costs. Through the Internet of Things, advanced real-time data collection and sensors, water networks can access information that allows them to operate in a more predictive manner, reducing downtime and avoiding serious business and environmental consequences.
While the initial cost can be seen as a barrier for some, the long-term benefits that come with embracing digitalisation goes beyond just achieving sustainability goals. Intelligent technology has the capability of aligning productivity with sustainability for industries. Automation and data exchange help to create productivity gains for the manufacturing sector, across the value chain, while saving resources by limiting material wastage and overproduction. This is in line with the circular economy model that encourages using less, more wisely. This, in turn, drives greater cost savings across operations, substantiating the investment in the long28
Mr Eric Lai
THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER February 2022
EL: As we see the manufacturing environment shift considerably towards digitalisation, the goal for solution providers, like Grundfos, is to help businesses effectively adopt sustainable solutions and develop tailored solutions that can create real value. How can the water industry create solutions that not only benefit businesses, customers, and the environment, but also achieve optimum management and bolster resilience for water systems in the region? As discussed above, sustainability will continue to drive more energy-efficient solutions that tap into new and innovative technology. However, digitalisation does not stop at the product level. An efficient water system goes beyond individual components working in silos, and so solution providers need to deliver solutions that consider the entire system and how it can work together cohesively to ensure the optimisation of resources. With increased digitalisation, solution providers will also have the opportunity to meet customer needs for prompt, efficient service, as it will minimise downtime and keep any negative impact to business continuity to a minimum. This means finding new ways to connect with customers effectively and efficiently. For example, through the
TSE: What are among the technologies and solutions that Grundfos offers, that could contribute towards achieving sustainability in manufacturing? EL: Sustainability is a very important part of Grundfos’ DNA. We do business in an environmentally sustainable way and create sustainable solutions, embracing the UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 on Clean Water and Sanitation and Sustainable Development Goal 13 on Climate action. We aim to create cleaner technologies and solutions which limit water consumption, improve efficiency, enable consumers to reduce their water and energy consumption, and increase the reuse of resources. One of the key offerings that focuses on developing innovative and smart solutions is Grundfos’ iSOLUTIONS range of products, which leverage intelligent technology to deliver optimal performance, greater energy efficiency and reliability.
