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SIBT & SSHT Return in August 2023 to Promote Smart Industry Exchange

12 July, 2023/in Events/by Editor

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Shanghai Intelligent Building Technology (SIBT), Shanghai Smart Home Technology (SSHT) and the Shanghai Smart Office Technology (SSOT) zone will take place from 29 – 31 August 2023 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.

SIBT and SSHT will be run under the themes of “Smart connection” and “Smart frontier”, and will aim to promote synergy and cooperation between smart industries and ultimately push the boundaries of what is possible with smart technology. The fairs will integrate different sectors including smart real estate, smart facility management, smart communities, smart hotels and smart campuses, and facilitate a wide range of business opportunities.

China’s “14th Five-Year Plan” promotes the use of networked technologies, encouraging the development of smart cities and related infrastructure. For example, the country launched a pilot program in 19 regions to accelerate the use of the next generation of information technology. These include the Internet of Things (IoT), big data and artificial intelligence (AI) for security monitoring, community services and elderly care. To enhance the residential experience, the program also supports the integration of smart home systems that connect with ancillary building facilities, property management services, community information systems and social services.

Lucia Wong, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd said: “The building industry is now deeply integrated with the new generation of information technology, connecting all corners of the industry. This can enhance the quality and efficiency of its development as well as achieve green and low-carbon transformation. SIBT and SSHT will therefore continue to provide an open business platform as cross-industry cooperation emerges as a major trend for the future landscape of intelligent buildings.”

In line with market development, SIBT and SSHT will create synergies and encourage exchange between smart industries. At the same time, different forums and seminars will be offered to explore industry trends in various sectors such smart communities, smart facility management, intelligent buildings, smart homes and more. Highlights include:

SIBT will partner with Meadin, a media platform specialised in space utilisation within commercial areas to hold the Meadin Smart Hotel Development Forum, which will discuss the Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) as well as smart development and its applications within hotels. Topics include: “Empowering Hotel Digitalisation with AIoT for Cost Efficiencies” and “Analysis of Smart Hotel Trends”.
The “14th Five-Year Plan” aims for greater technological adoption in teaching environments including the construction of smart campuses, which will introduce additional opportunities within the educational sector. SIBT will invite experts to share related experiences in a smart campus-themed forum, such as the integration of information technology and education as well as trends in building smart campuses.
Organised by China Smart Home Industry Alliance (CSHIA), the CSHIA East China Summit – Smart Home Integration Innovation Forum 2023 will cooperate with leading smart home companies to explore the current trends about the integration of smart technologies across various contexts.
With the rise of living standards across China, the home theatre market is expanding with the introduction of many new technologies for interconnected smart home devices. The SSHT Home Audio-Visual Entertainment Innovative Integration Forum will highlight the future trends in home theatre consumption, as well as installation solutions for home audio-visual entertainment.
The OffiSmart Summit will explore multiple topics including digitalisation, workplace flexibility, Generation Z office habits, environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) and virtual offices in the Metaverse. The summit aims to uncover new business opportunities and discuss smart office solutions that meet changing workplace demands. In cooperation with Tongji University and DISCIEN, the event will also cover facility management in properties and commercial spaces, cloud-based meetings and other hot issues.

Parking China will once again be held concurrently with SIBT, SSHT and the SSOT zone. Teaming up with the China Urban Parking Industry Association, the fair will organise the China Urban Industry Integration Development Summit. The programme plans to gather industry experts, supervisors and leading company representatives to exchange ideas about the latest parking policies as well as urban parking planning and construction. To keep up with the rapid development of new energy and connected vehicles, the event will also explore a selection of battery charging and swapping technologies, and present insights on these topics from leading academics and government representatives.

IOI Properties Singapore Cements Sustainability & Connectivity Credentials for IOI Central Boulevard Towers Development

11 July, 2023/in Awards, News/by Editor

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IOI Properties Singapore has achieved the prestigious WiredScore Platinum certification, an accolade for excellence in digital connectivity and future-ready buildings, for IOI Central Boulevard Towers. The WiredScore Platinum Certification, the highest award from WiredScore, is given to the most outstanding buildings around the world.

This achievement is a testament to IOI Central Boulevard Towers’ digitally connected space, forward-thinking design, and ability to support the future technological needs of its tenants. The building is the first in the Central Business District (CBD) to achieve the Platinum certification after meeting exceptional standards for the quality of its wired infrastructure, resilience, and wireless network.

In further recognition of the developments’ excellence, the premium Grade A office building has scored a hat-trick with three prestigious awards at the Asia Pacific Property Awards 2023/2024. It has been conferred with the highest industry honour of 5-Stars in the Best Mixed Use Development (Singapore), Best Commercial High Rise Development (Singapore), and Best Mixed Use Architecture (Singapore) categories. The Asia Pacific Property Awards are seen as a mark of excellence for the highest levels of achievement by companies in the property industry and are judged by more than 70 industry experts.

Karen Lau, Head of Business, IOI Properties Singapore, said: “For our teams’ vision and dedication to creating future-ready spaces to be recognised by both the Asia Pacific Property Awards as well as WiredScore, is a fantastic achievement. Our IOI Central Boulevard Towers development is designed not just for today’s modern workforce, but also for the workforce of tomorrow. For environmentally-conscious and innovative businesses looking for state-of-the-art spaces, the development truly ticks all these boxes.”

Thomasin Crowley, Global Director of APAC at WiredScore, said: “IOI Central Boulevard Towers’ WiredScore Platinum certification is a well-deserved recognition of their commitment to providing a best-in-class internet and mobile experience within their property, delivering seamless digital connectivity solutions that meet the highest standards of performance and resiliency for the modern-day tenant. The development’s physical infrastructure for telecommunications is world-class.”

In addition to its newly achieved WiredScore Platinum Certification, the development is also Green Mark Platinum Certified, a mark of sustainable building design awarded to projects that demonstrate 30% energy and water savings, as well as environmentally sustainable building practices and innovative green features.

IOI Properties Group views sustainability as a transgenerational mission, striving to uphold the principles of sustainability amongst its employees, customers, and communities. Built with sustainable materials, energy-efficient lighting and cooling systems, as well as water-efficient appliances, the result reduces an estimated of over 4,146 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.

Leisure spaces and greenery are integrated throughout the development, with more than 120,000 square feet of green landscaping, including Central Green – Marina Bay’s largest urban sky park and a 200-metre jogging track. These create spaces for tenants to relax, unwind, and reconnect, prioritising wellness in the workplace.

Ideally situated in the Central Business District, IOI Central Boulevard Towers has unmatched connectivity with seamless access to Downtown MRT station, through an underground linkway, as well as sheltered connections to Marina Bay, Raffles Place, and Shenton Way stations. With dedicated bicycle parking lots and end-of-trip facilities – including changing and shower areas, IOI Central Boulevard Towers offers tenants a greener commute to work that supports the reduction of its carbon footprint.

World Architecture Festival 2023 returns to Singapore

10 July, 2023/in Architecture, Events/by Editor

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After almost 10 years of taking place in Europe, World Architecture Festival (WAF) will be returning to Singapore for its 16th edition. WAF will once again be taking place at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre at Marina Bay Sands from 29 November to 1 December 2023.

WAF provides a platform for the world architecture community to meet, celebrate, exchange ideas, and set the future agenda. World Architecture Festival will be partnering with Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau (SECB), under Singapore Tourism Board (STB), as their destination partner, creating an enhanced experience for all attending delegates visiting from across the globe.

Paul Finch, WAF’s Programme Director, said: “We are delighted to be back in Singapore where our festival took place between 2012 and 2015. The urban planning, architecture and landscape initiatives continue to inspire international interest, and we are certain that our delegates will enjoy the location and its offerings in the same way they enjoy WAF.”

Poh Chi Chuan, STB’s Executive Director for Exhibitions & Conferences, said: “We are delighted that World Architecture Festival is returning to Singapore in November this year. WAF’s return reflects the industry’s confidence in Singapore as the preferred destination for business events and a gateway to the fast-growing Asia Pacific. We look forward to the continued success of WAF in Singapore, where entrepreneurs and forward-thinking professionals from around the world meet to break new ground in architecture and design across industries.”

The festival includes the largest live-judged architectural awards programme in the world, dedicated to celebrating excellence via live presentations to an audience of high-profile delegates and international juries. Previous winners from Singapore include Kampung Admiralty by WOHA Architects and Oasis Terraces by Serie + Multiply Architects. See all the WAF Singapore winners and finalists here.

Alongside the live judging sits a thematic conference programme, an exhibition of the latest products and technologies, a gallery of all shortlisted schemes and a host of fringe and networking events taking place across Singapore.

In conjunction with the World Architecture Festival sits its sister event, Inside World Festival of Interiors. Inside is a feast of creativity, inspiration and knowledge for the interiors industry consisting of its own awards programme and keynote talks on the main stage of the festival.

Aedas Creates Revolutionary Campus in Wuhan, China

7 July, 2023/in Design, News/by Editor

Reading Time: 4 minutes

In the ‘City of University’, Aedas Executive Director Kelvin Hu has led the team to create a world-leading campus in Wuhan. The project is located adjacent to the Huazhong Ketaicheng, offering a cradle to cultivate the next generation in an all-rounded learning environment. Kelvin says, ‘To maximise the learning efficiency, the design integrates the key elements to equip the students’ academic studies, presentation ability and social skills. The campus connects to the community seamlessly, providing a comprehensive environment for the youths to grow with knowledge and interpersonal skills.’

A cradle for science innovations

Through the metaphor of breeding knowledge for generations to come, the campus is an interconnected space positioned as the ‘origin of technology’, with different parts of it representing a section of a vibrantly growing plant, together forming a thriving ecosystem of knowledge. Starting from the gate, the main school campus can be found to signify ‘A Bud of the Future’ as an integral part of the system where growth happens.

Moving inward, high-end ecological residential towers are placed along the ‘City Vine’, providing modern residences suitable for contemporary living. The ‘City Forest’ is placed at the northernmost of the plot to include technology headquarters as a stage to cater for the technology elites. With a clear layout stitching various functions, the design also offers a seamless connection to the surrounding community, nurturing the next generation to innovatively create and develop in technological aspects within the well-planned environment.

A stage for the students to shine

The cascading terraces embrace the greenery and sports ground in a U-shaped academic building to form an enclosed courtyard. With such a design, a theatre-like environment is mimicked with the athletic tracks acting like a stage and the academic building acting like a theatre’s seating area. It symbolises how the vision of the school is to serve as a platform for students to thrive and shine with their talents, preparing them towards a path to becoming a high-tech elite.

An enclosed spacious courtyard is created, providing a humane ambience while the classrooms are filled with natural sunlight to offer the students pleasant conditions to learn and recreate. The northwestern side of the athletic tracks opens up and forms a dialogue with the local urban context, showcasing a friendly interface facing the community.

The stadium and canteen are placed underneath the elevated sports ground, creating more public areas for greenery and social gatherings. The multi-function hall is placed above the sports ground, as a connector between the school and community. The glass curtain wall of the stadium injects an urban street view into the interiors, forming a placemaking hub for the city.

An energetic campus for collaboration

With efficient layout and spatial planning, the design creates two open communal spaces for collaboration. One of them closely connects to the academic buildings, while another one merges with the recreational amenities and fronts the community. The spaces create a social hub for the students to equip their communication skills and enhance their social understanding of the urban context and local culture.

The courtyard brings greenery into the interiors, further extending the biophilic vibrancy to the permeable terraces. The integration of nature creates a lush outdoor environment for students to interact after classes. The shared spaces seamlessly connect with the elevated sports ground, creating vertical multi-functional areas for the campus.

Facing the community, the public realm provides amenities like the stadium and library, serving the public as a recreational urban oasis. With well-planned circulation, both communal spaces are lined with privacy to ensure the students’ safety, creating a safe co-working environment for the student body and the public alike. Utilising the urban interface, the campus includes comfortable pick-up zones for parents.

Breeding for the future

The school’s vision aims to create personalised education to activate the students’ potential with a blended teaching model. To stimulate curiosity and to include outdoor interactive learning zones, the adaptive design includes science parks, botanical gardens, badminton and table tennis fields, a multimedia learning centre and extra-curricular corners. It is bound to provide an all-rounded campus to support and nurture students in a comprehensive way.

Kelvin shares, ‘We have designed an integrated campus, adding another institution landmark to the district through a hybrid of technology and ecology. The Wuhan Central China Science & Ecological City Primary School project will be the birthplace of fostering and advocating innovation and critical thinking. Connecting with the community, the campus is set to spread knowledge and vibrancy to the surroundings.’

Cosentino & Expormim: A perfect pairing for a Singapore showcase

6 July, 2023/in Events/by Editor

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Cosentino is delighted to host the Cosentino & Expormim exhibition in Singapore. Running from 6 to 12 July 2023, the exhibition will see the Cosentino City Singapore showroom decked out with the leading Spanish furniture brand’s latest and greatest pieces, most of which are crafted using Cosentino’s ultra-compact stone Dekton®, showcasing the best of both architectural surfaces and furniture worlds.

Brought together by their shared values and Spanish heritage, Cosentino and Expormim started their collaboration in 2016, when the furniture brand started incorporating Dekton® into its table collections. The collaboration has expanded Expormim’s technical abilities, as well as the finishing options and distinguishability of its products, as well as showcasing Dekton®’s versatility beyond the architectural application – a match made in design heaven that has taken the value of designs for both brands to a new height.

Today, Cosentino’s offering includes the Dekton® Slim collection as a slimmer, more lightweight finishing option while many of Expormim’s offerings include custom Dekton® finishes. Some of the star products that will be displayed at the Cosentino & Expormim showcase include the Talo tables by Altherr Désile Park, Grada tables by Lievore Altherr Molina, and Atrivm tables by Manel Molina. These tables feature beloved Dekton® colours, including Danae, Kelya, Albarium, Argentium, Umber and Micron. Expormim also offers customisation with other Dekton® colours.

These tables will be displayed together with Expormim’s latest seating collection, including Norm Architects’ Cask outdoor collection debuted in Milan Design Week earlier this year, which together will create cosy ensembles to cater to our contemporary lifestyle.

“We have a shared origin, Spain, the same global vocation with deep Mediterranean roots and a clear commitment to tradition and sustainability. We will celebrate our collaboration with new exhibition spaces, events and some other surprises in Singapore,” says Expormim of the collaboration.

The exhibition runs from 6 to 12 July 2023 at #01-16/17 Marina One West Tower, 5 Straits View, Singapore 018935.

77% of Southeast Asia’s Construction Businesses Committed to Integrating Data into Operations

5 July, 2023/in News/by Editor

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Procore Technologies, Inc., a global provider of construction management software recently released its annual construction industry benchmark report ‘How We Build Now: Technology Trends Shaping and Shifting Construction – Southeast Asia 2023’.

This year, the report surveyed construction decision-makers across Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The report reveals insights into the construction industry’s overall sentiment, current challenges and opportunities for businesses, how businesses are managing risks to protect their bottom line, and the level of digital maturity and adoption of construction technologies. The following types of construction businesses took part in the survey:

Gap in the confidence and ability to harness data in construction

According to Procore’s research, construction professionals are increasingly aware of the role of technology and data in their businesses but are still hesitant about their data strategy. Southeast Asia construction professionals who responded to the research unanimously agreed (99%) that better data management can bring benefits to their businesses. Respondents also estimated that on average, 22% of total project spend could be saved through more efficient data management.

However, despite a high awareness of how data can be used to their advantage, only 6% of companies surveyed in Southeast Asia have laid the foundation for a data strategy. Additionally, although 77% are planning to design and implement a data strategy over the next 12 months, more than half of these companies (52%) are only somewhat confident in their ability to do so.

“It is clear from our research that while construction professionals in the region have a strong understanding that data and analytical insights can help drive better business outcomes and protect their businesses, many struggle with developing clear data strategies,” said Tom Karemacher, head of the region, Asia Pacific, Procore.

“While software vendors undoubtedly play a critical role in assisting construction businesses in this transformative journey, more can be done. Software vendors will need to clearly demonstrate the returns on investment, thereby justifying the indispensability of construction technology and data management. This will help drive the adoption of innovative solutions within construction that unlocks unparalleled value for the industry.”

Construction professionals continue to show interest in adopting technology

Despite the challenges in harnessing data, construction professionals in the region remain committed to embarking on their digital transformation journey. Respondents cited improved cost management (42%), reduced reliance on human labour (39%), resource efficiency through fewer errors or less rework (38%), improved build quality (38%), and improved ability to handle more projects (38%) as the benefits of technology adoption.

Correspondingly, more than three-quarters of businesses surveyed (77%) revealed that they are looking to increase their spending on construction technologies as a proportion of their annual budget. Interestingly, younger businesses that are aged below 10 years were found to be more likely to embrace technology (81%), as compared to established businesses over 10 to 20 years (71%) and those over 20 years (68%).

Of the technologies that will be the biggest drivers of change in the next three years, construction management platforms take the lead (55%), followed by payments technologies (38%), pre-fabrication (34%), big data (33%), and next-generation BIM (30%).

Optimism across the Southeast Asia Construction Industry

Overall, there is optimism among the construction industry professionals surveyed. Industry confidence for Singapore this year stands at 90% confident, where 50% were very confident, and 40% were somewhat confident. In 2022, we received a 93% confidence rate where 45% were very confident, 48% were somewhat confident).

When polled on the construction industry outlook in Southeast Asia, 88% of respondents expressed confidence in the industry’s market conditions over the next 12 months. Driving this optimism was expectations for the increase in both the number (73%) and value of projects (71%) over the same period.

Respondents are also placing a larger emphasis on risk management to protect their bottom line. Almost four in 10 respondents (39%) are rethinking contracting models to protect margins or considering new payment methods, such as early payments at reduced margins (37%). A focus on risk management has become more important, especially in light of persistent challenges such as the increased cost of raw materials and equipment (44%) and winning competitive bids and tenders at a sustainable margin (32%), as revealed by respondents.

“The How We Build Now report was developed as a research tool to reflect on the issues impacting the industry at a moment in time. Through this report, we hope to inspire new conversations and share how construction leaders are bridging the gap between challenges and solutions,” concluded Karemacher. Additional highlights from the report include:

Wait-and-see approach to technology adoption: 40% of respondents reported that they prefer to wait until technologies are more established and proven before adopting them.
Time spent on rework: On average, 1 in 5 project hours remain wasted on rework, hindering productivity where time could be spent more efficiently.
Workplace diversity and inclusion in construction needs to improve: Currently, women make up a minority of the construction workforce, particularly in executive (25%), site manager (24%) and team leader (27%) roles.
More emphasis on sustainability is needed: Only 51% of respondents believe that the construction industry needs to do more to adopt more environmentally friendly and sustainable building practices.

Click here to download How We Build Now: Technology Trends Shaping and Shifting Construction – Southeast Asia 2023.

Carbon Neutrality to Be Key Focus of Eco Expo Asia 2023

4 July, 2023/in Events/by Editor

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Eco Expo Asia 2023 will take place from 26 – 29 October 2023 at the AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong. The last day of the exhibition on 29 October 2023 will be open to the public and online Click2Match business matching services and will run until 6 November 2023.

With the governments in Hong Kong and Mainland China aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and 2060 respectively, this year’s fair will explore the green innovations that will turn these ambitions into reality. In the lead-up to the show, a networking luncheon was held on 11 April 2023, which gathered more than 80 industry leaders, professionals, international businesses and government representatives.

In its efforts to reach carbon neutrality by 2060, the Chinese government has promoted innovation across a whole host of different industries to achieve this result. In terms of energy, the country reached 152 million kilowatts of newly installed power generation capacity from renewables, accounting for 76.2% of the total in 2022.

A concerted global effort is underway to drive down carbon emissions and Eco Expo Asia 2023 will support this endeavour. The theme of this year’s exhibition is “Taking the Leap towards Carbon Neutrality”, which strives to once again bring together prominent brands, experts and academics under one roof, to showcase the latest green products and technologies, discuss the latest trends and formulate lasting solutions to respond to the climate crisis. The show is expected to feature products and solutions in the fields of green buildings and energy efficiency, green transportation, green finance and ESG-related services and more.

During last year’s show one of the exhibitors, Mr Frank Chau, Business Development Manager at Nishitani (Asia) Limited, said: “Eco Expo Asia provides a perfect platform for us to introduce our eco-friendly coatings to buyers from different sectors. We have established more than 100 new contacts with buyers from property management companies, universities, building contractors, engineers, interior designers and ESG consultants. Buyers’ responses are overwhelming. They are keen to know more about our coatings.”

Eco Expo Asia networking luncheon gathered renowned experts

The networking luncheon welcomed more than 80 guests including consul generals, representatives from various chambers of commerce, industry associations, multinational companies and small and medium-sized enterprises. There, they discussed the future development of the environmental protection industry and opportunities for local and overseas green businesses in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and Asia. Topics included the importance of achieving carbon neutrality and the sustainable transformation of the global economy, carbon credit trading as a means to reduce emissions, and more.

GEBT 2023 Concludes with Great Success, Creating New Business Opportunities

3 July, 2023/in Events, News/by Editor

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The 20th edition of Guangzhou Electrical Building Technology (GEBT) closed on 12 June 2023 at the China Import and Export Fair Complex. Alongside the concurrent Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition (GILE), the fairs hosted 3,318 exhibitors from 18 countries and regions, while visitors rose by 62% to 207,681. GEBT continues to provide a comprehensive platform for all participants to explore and promote the green development of the building industry.

Ms Lucia Wong, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd said: “During the four-day fair, we saw exhibitors and visitors engaging passionately in communication regarding the development of the industry, reducing carbon emissions and more of the latest trends. Many have high hopes for the building sector’s prospects. GEBT will continue to support all industry players towards a greener future.”

Industry leaders showcase cutting-edge products

This year’s GEBT embraced green and low-carbon development, covering products, technologies and solutions from four key sectors, namely home automation, intelligent building, smart audio & visual and smart energy-saving technologies. Participants gave high praise towards the scale and organisation of the fair and expressed a keen desire to return to Guangzhou next summer.

“GEBT has always been an important platform for us to promote our company’s vision and products. This is our fourth time exhibiting, and this year has had the best visitor flow so far. Many overseas buyers returned to China, and we were able to connect with some potential clients from India, Hungary, Thailand and more. They were all very interested in our home automation solutions. I believe the entire intelligent building industry will continue to develop, and I am confident that we can promote our products to the world through GEBT,” said Robert Yang, Manager of Business Development, ZF Electronics (Zhuhai) Co Ltd.

“I’m travelling to China to see new products for the Chinese lighting and building market as well as to see how these industries have changed over the last few years. My company has attended GEBT for many years, but for me personally, it is my first time visiting and my first time attending an exhibition. I’m very impressed by the amount of participants here, and it has set a high bar for other trade events I am attending in the future,” shared Andrea Falsarella, Lighting Production Manager, Teleco Automation S.r.l. (Italy).

50 presentations to promote cross-industry cooperation

Meanwhile, GEBT in collaboration with domestic and international partner organisations, invited a number of experts and scholars to deliver around 50 speeches on trending topics. Highlights included: “Heading to 2060 Carbon Neutrality Goal, A Future Empowered by Green Building Innovation in GBA”, “China (Guangzhou) Intelligent Integrators’ Conference 2023”, “Forum of 2023 KNX Home and Building Control Technology – The Development and Future of KNX Energy Efficiency and Management”, “Matter Makes Things Shine”, “Application of Digital Intelligence in GBA Hotel Industry Seminar 2023” and “The Future of Carbon Conversion in Smart Space”.

“I shared KNX’s progress in standardising home and building automation over the past 30 years. It is amazing that the conference room was filled by attentive audiences. GEBT is an important platform for KNX to promote our standards in the Chinese market. That’s why we have been cooperating with the fair for the last ten years, and we are committed to attending in future,” said Casto Canavate, Marketing Manager, KNX Association (Belgium).

“The speakers at China (Guangzhou) Intelligent Integrators’ Conference 2023 are all industry leaders, bringing an analysis of the current state of the industry, but also introducing us to hope that future market trends will produce more detailed and interconnected products. For example, products in fields such as lighting, curtains, audio and others will interact with each other. I think this forum is worth joining, and I hope the fair will organise more training sessions on related integration technologies in the future. If I have the time next year, I will definitely return to attend the forum,” said Zhaohui Wang, Sales Manager, Vantson Productions & Solutions (Tianjin, China).

The next editions of the Guangzhou Electrical Building Technology and Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition will be held from 9 – 12 June 2024. Both shows are part of Messe Frankfurt’s Light + Building Technology fairs headed by the biennial Light + Building event. The next edition will be held from 3 – 8 March 2024 in Frankfurt, Germany.

Southeast Asia’s First Electric Construction Machines from Volvo CE Arrive in Singapore

26 June, 2023/in News, Product, Sustainability/by Editor

Reading Time: 4 minutes

The first fully electric construction machines from Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) have arrived in Singapore and were formally launched for the Southeast Asia market at a gala event on 7 June 2023 on Sentosa island. More than 100 guests gathered to celebrate the landmark moment and see the exciting new technology up close. At the launch event for the first electric construction machines in Singapore were senior leaders from the country’s most important building and construction companies, as well as Volvo CE dealers from across the Southeast Asia region, and Volvo CE leadership from Asia. Tomas Kuta, President Region Asia for Volvo CE, kicked off the launch by sharing insight on the sustainability goals of Volvo CE.

“Our company wants to reach net-zero emissions by 2040, and as part of that and our commitment to science-based targets, we want to reduce emissions from our product line by 30% by 2030, as well as reducing emissions from our own operations by 50% in the same timeframe. For the Singapore construction equipment market – change starts here. Singapore is a natural market for electric construction machines with a strong focus on sustainability, efficiency, and safety in its construction industry. We are launching our first electric machines in Southeast Asia, and we believe it will act as a launchpad for further sales, both in Singapore and the wider regional market.”

Volvo CE aims to have 35% of the machines it sells powered by electromobility by 2030. It already has the widest range of electrically powered construction machinery available today. To begin in Singapore, the company has launched three models: the ECR25 Electric compact excavator, the L25 Electric compact wheel loader, and the EC55 Electric excavator.

Jenny Egermark, Chargé d’ Affaires a.i. at The Embassy of Sweden in Singapore, was among the VIPs at the event, and she paid tribute to Volvo CE’s ongoing drive for change: “I am delighted to see Volvo’s innovative Swedish construction machines launching in Singapore. They are excellent additions to Singapore’s robust construction industry. Both Sweden and Singapore have ambitious goals toward sustainability and reducing carbon emissions, and the launch of Volvo’s first electric construction machines brings us one step closer to achieving these common goals.”

EVs head off-road

Electric construction machines have the power to change the way construction sites and material handling industries are run. They offer the same productivity benefits as diesel equivalents but with less noise, fewer vibrations, and no exhaust fumes. They can help industries meet sustainability requirements or regulations. It also allows companies to use the machines in new locations, such as indoors, or in other sensitive environments.

In Singapore, the country has set ambitious targets to enable sustainability across the building and construction value chain through its Singapore Green Building Masterplan (SGBMP). This includes introducing mandatory sustainable construction practices. Using electric machines on construction projects will go some way toward helping contractors meet their sustainability objectives.

AM Muralidharan, Head of Productivity & Retail Development Asia, said: “Using Volvo CE electric machines offers all kinds of advantages to owners. Of course, it will boost the sustainability of their own operations, but it’s also about creating a nicer environment for the operator and others on site. The lack of engine noise and fumes removes a lot of the distraction that can come from working around equipment and allows much better focus on the job at hand. It’s also kinder to the local community.”

Technical details

The ECR25 Electric compact excavator is a 2.6-2.8 t capacity machine with a 22.3 kN breakout force. It is equipped with an onboard charger for general charging, an external quick charger (optional for indoor/outdoor specifications), and a 20-kWh battery array, allowing for 3 to 4 hours of work per charge.

The machine is equipped with an excavation bucket (0.074 m 3 ) with a quick coupler, a standard arm, spare piping, and a ROPS standard canopy. There is very little noise, resulting in a very low environmental impact on the operator, surrounding workers, and neighbours. Operator comfort is further improved because there are no fumes from the electric operating system. And unlike a diesel excavator, the ECR25 Electric consumes almost no energy while idling thanks to an inbuilt stop/start system, so it only consumes energy during the minutes it works. It has a slightly higher operating weight than its diesel equivalent but also delivers more continuous motor power.

The L25 Electric compact wheel loader features a 2.1 t payload, a maximum speed of 20kph, outstanding lifting height and 100% parallel movements. The machine comes with a 40kWh battery pack and is expected to deliver 6 to 8 hours of work per charge. Again, operator comfort is enhanced by near-silent operation, and there’s an automatic park brake with hill-hold functionality and a range of customisable work modes. Like its electric sibling, the ECR25 Electric, the L25 Electric has a slightly higher operating weight than its diesel equivalent, but then has a higher static tipping load too.

The EC55 Electric excavator is a 5.5-t electric machine built at the Volvo CE facility in China, which is currently the world’s largest market for e-mobility equipment. The EC55 Electric is based on its diesel-powered counterpart, the EC55D, but delivers even better performance and controllability, as well as quiet operations and zero emissions. Power comes from two lithium battery packs of 400 V that work continuously for 4 to 6 hours per charge.

Colliers Singapore Leads the Way Towards Sustainability and Inclusivity in the Built Environment

25 June, 2023/in News, Sustainability/by Editor

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Colliers unveiled its third annual Impact Report earlier this month, highlighting the progress made globally towards a more sustainable and inclusive future. The report showcases Colliers’ commitment to creating healthy buildings, fostering a sense of community, and promoting mental and physical well-being.

Key 2022 performance highlights include:

Globally, Colliers achieved a noteworthy 10.1% reduction in emissions compared to the previous year.
Colliers Singapore has already reached its 2022 objective by obtaining the WELL Health-Safety rating 215 million square feet of green-certified properties under management.
285 green certifications held by Colliers professionals.
50% of Colliers’ Singapore workforce are women

Colliers’ commitment to sustainability extends beyond reducing emissions. Colliers integrates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations as a standard approach to support occupiers throughout the real estate lifecycle. Colliers Singapore embraces these strategies and aligns them with the local context to deliver sustainable and inclusive solutions.

“In Colliers’ third annual Impact Report, we are proud to showcase our accomplishments in Singapore, where we have implemented groundbreaking strategies that foster a beneficial influence on our esteemed clientele, our dedicated workforce, and the environment,” expressed Bastiaan van Beijsterveldt, Managing Director Colliers Singapore. “Our unwavering dedication lies in expediting triumphs for our personnel, valued clients, and local communities.”

Colliers’ 2022 Global Impact Report adheres to rigorous reporting frameworks, including the Global Reporting Initiative, Sustainability Accounting Standards Board, and Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosure. This ensures strong governance of Colliers’ ESG programmes.

“We are on track to achieve our net zero and Science-Based Targets, both for ourselves and our clients,” stated Sean Drygas, Global Lead, ESG & Impact. “In addition to our focus on climate change, we prioritise diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as the promotion of health and wellbeing among our workforce and the buildings we manage.”