WACKER Opens Second Sales Office in Vietnam

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The new showroom will demonstrate construction applications that support the development and use of modern construction solutions in Vietnam.

The new showroom will demonstrate construction applications that support the development and use of modern construction solutions in Vietnam.

WACKER, the Munich-based chemical company, is strengthening its presence in Vietnam by opening a second sales office, but this time in the north of the country. The new office in Hanoi will cater to the needs of customers and partners in the fast-growing northern region.

Focusing on WACKER’s silicone and polymer products, the new office will support customers not only in construction, decorative coatings, adhesives, and electronics, but also textiles, chemicals and the rubber industry. Additionally, WACKER is opening a dry-mix mortar showroom in Ho Chi Minh City in cooperation with COSIC (the Ho Chi Minh City Construction Service and Information Center).

The new showroom – or “Application House” – will demonstrate a range of construction applications that support the development and professional application of modern construction solutions in Vietnam. The decision to open a sales office in Hanoi reflects the rapid growth of Vietnam’s economy in the north, where the construction sector is expanding especially strongly.

“With the government boosting the economy in the north, we want to provide our customers and partners there with tailor-made solutions that perfectly match their requirements,” explained Patrick de Wolf, managing director of WACKER South East Asia. Vinh Long Bui, who has been active for WACKER in North Vietnam for several years, will head the new office.

As the construction industry across Vietnam is growing at such a fast pace, WACKER has additionally decided to open a dry-mix mortars showroom in Ho Chi Minh City, the so-called “Application House.” The new facility will take account of regional raw materials and rising building standards in Vietnam. “The facility will help us not only to transfer our extensive expertise in sustainable building materials, but also to increase awareness of the advantages and market prospects of construction chemicals,” stressed Long Nguyen, technical manager for Construction Polymers at WACKER.

Located at the COSIC building in Ho Chi Minh City, the new showroom will offer opportunities for conducting indoor and outdoor application tests on polymer powders, dispersions and construction silicones – with applications ranging from skim coats, tile adhesives and self-leveling flooring compounds to water-proofing membranes, silicone sealants and adhesives. The “Application House” will host training courses for customers, end users and students. Its goal is to introduce and promote high-quality, efficient construction materials and techniques in Vietnam.

In total, WACKER now has 27 sales offices in Asia, with seven of them located in South East Asia: Bangkok (Thailand), Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Jakarta (Indonesia), Manila (the Philippines), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Singapore, which also is the company’s regional headquarters.

FINALCAD Secures $20 Million Series B

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The construction industry, currently a $9.5 trillion market expected to nearly double by 2030, is among the least digitised industries

The construction industry, currently a $9.5 trillion market expected to nearly double by 2030, is among the least digitised industries

FINALCAD, a global leader in mobile construction apps and predictive analytics for the field, today announced that it has raised $20 million in Series B round led by Serena Capital, Caphorn Invest and Aster Capital. Investment will fuel international business growth, expansion into new sectors and advanced research and development.

 

The construction industry, currently a $9.5 trillion market expected to nearly double by 2030*, is among the least digitised industries**. “In five years, FINALCAD has responded to tremendous demand for mobile apps for the field, in Europe, Asia and Americas.” said Jimmy Louchart, co-founder and CEO of FINALCAD. “With this new round of funding, FINALCAD is poised to scale for this growing demand happening within a growing global market.”

 

FINALCAD is planning to use the funding for international business development, as well as expanding new sectors such as civil infrastructures and energy.

 

New funding will also fuel research and development for furthering advanced fields: smart data analytics, artificial intelligence for objects recognition, augmented reality linked to BIM models, digitisation of lean construction processes, and open API interoperability.

 

Launched 5 years ago, FINALCAD has seen rapid growth*** globally with more than 10,000 projects delivered to date in 30 countries, totalling more than 20 million jobsite observations and nearly 10 million photos. FINALCAD is used by global contractors such as Bouygues, Daewoo Engineering & Construction, Eiffage, Fujita Corporation, Shimizu Corporation, Takenaka Corporation, VINCI, infrastructure operators like RATP Group, as well as architects, and owners, such as Capitaland and Swire Properties. FINALCAD’s customers improve quality on their projects, save time and budget costs.

 

FINALCAD was built upon five founding pillars that are driving its design and worldwide, massive adoption:

 

  • #GLOBAL: available in 30 languages, FINALCAD is by far the mobile construction app that has the largest global footprint.
  • #MOBILE: FINALCAD is a mobile-first app developed natively on all major platforms (iOS, Android and Windows) for tablets and smartphones.
  • #BIM: FINALCAD is the only context-based mobile app enabling BIM on the field, integrated with BIM leading solution Autodesk Revit, and Open BIM standards.
  • #SMARTDATA: FINALCAD stands out with its data-driven features, from in-app suggestions of corrective actions to on-demand analytics reports.
  • #CONSTRUCTION: FINALCAD is designed by construction professionals for construction professionals. The team is composed of former site managers, engineers and architects that are dedicated to the digital transformation of the industry.

 

“Since our initial investment in FINALCAD, the company’s performance and ability to execute has exceeded our expectations” said Nicolas Louvet, Partner at Serena Capital. “Over the past two years, FINALCAD has delivered product innovation, field adoption, and significantly expanded the share of its international clients. This is why we decided to lead this second round of funding.”

 

“We reckon the construction industry is lagging behind in digitisation, with tremendous needs lying ahead. FINALCAD clearly embodies this huge opportunity. CapHorn Invest is committed to helping the company accelerate its growth taking advantage of the CapHorn Network of subscribers.” said Laurent Dumas-Crouzillac, Partner at Caphorn Invest.

 

“We were particularly impressed with the global mindset and international business development demonstrated by FINALCAD, especially in Europe and Asia. It will be a natural fit with the global coverage of Aster Capital’s team and investment portfolio,” said Jean-Marc Bally, Managing Partner at Aster Capital.

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*Global Construction 2030 Report, by Global Construction Perspectives and Oxford Economics.

**McKinsey Global Institute Industry Digitization Index

***FINALCAD has been ranked in the top tier of Deloitte’s Fast 500 EMEA and Fast 50 France rankings with a cumulated growth of 827 percent over four years.

GBCI Announces New Technology Organisation

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LEED-certified buildings can use arc to improve and benchmark against other certified buildings around them.

LEED-certified buildings can use arc to improve and benchmark against other certified buildings around them.

Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) announced a new technology organisation called arc during the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) International Summit held at the 2016 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo. Officially launching later in 2016, arc will further the performance of the green building industry and the built environment as a whole.

Scot Horst, USGBC’s chief product officer, has been named arc’s incoming CEO. He will transition from his role with USGBC and LEED at the end of 2016.

“As the leaders of the green building movement over the last two decades, USGBC and GBCI have gathered more green building data and its related business intelligence than any other organisation in the world,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “Through this data we have begun to measure, monitor and score building performance in real time. We developed arc as a way to provide new and more transparent ways to share this information.”

“Scot’s leadership of this new venture is a testament to his expertise and vision. He’s led LEED’s continued evolution through LEED 2009 and v4, its globalisation and its shift from a design tool to a performance metric. We welcome him to his new role,” continued Fedrizzi.

Arc is a state of the art platform that will allow any building to participate and immediately start measuring performance, make improvements and benchmark against itself. The goal of arc is to support the missions of USGBC and GBCI. LEED-certified buildings can use arc to improve and benchmark against other certified buildings around them. Buildings that have not certified yet will be able to use arc to make incremental sustainability improvements and eventually achieve LEED certification.

“The LEED rating system revolutionised the design, construction and operations of green buildings more than 16 years ago,” said Scot Horst, incoming CEO, arc. “Arc’s goal is to transform green performance technology and bring data, mobility and the most disruptive technologies available today to support a holistic approach to building our future. It will connect actions through a single platform that delivers a higher quality of life.”

The arc platform is a complement to LEED and other green building rating systems, standards, protocols and guidelines and allows buildings and spaces to connect to the built environment in a new way by comparing performance metrics and connecting them to green building strategies. Arc eliminates complexities and barriers to behavioural change.

Arc was developed by GBCI, which is the only certification and credentialing body within the green business and sustainability industry to exclusively administer project certifications and professional credentials and certificates for various rating systems. Arc is an open platform built to integrate the current and future standards, guidelines, protocols and systems that enable a higher quality of life.

BEX Asia and MCE Asia 2016 Fulfil Industry’s Call for Climate Change Solutions

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As Southeast Asia’s leading green conventions, BEX and MCE Asia provided excellent touch points for industry stakeholders looking to gain a competitive edge.

As Southeast Asia’s leading green conventions, BEX and MCE Asia provided excellent touch points for industry stakeholders looking to gain a competitive edge.

Against a backdrop of heightened environmental sustainability and growing market demand for green events, exemplary trade shows Build Eco Xpo (BEX) Asia and Mostra Convegno Expocomfort (MCE) Asia 2016 concluded on a high note, bringing together a total of 11,976 visitors across 57 countries over three days from 7 to 9 September, 2016 – an 8 percent increase in participation from 2015.

Held during the Singapore Green Building Week, the ninth edition of BEX and second edition of MCE Asia played host to 450 exhibiting companies from 27 countries and regions, including China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Taiwan, and United States. 48 industry practitioners also shared insights on multiple verticals crucial to advancing the sustainability agenda at complementary seminars, Green View and MostraXchange. Topics discussed included renewable energy, green architectures, smart technologies and energy efficient solutions, as well as the often neglected heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

As Southeast Asia’s leading green conventions, BEX and MCE Asia provided excellent touch points for industry stakeholders looking to gain a competitive edge and stand out in an increasingly saturated market. Reed Exhibitions recognises this and with its refreshed Business Concierge programme, facilitated a total of 373 business meetings, with more than US$130 million expected in green building business transactions.

Louise Chua, Business Development Director and Project Director, Reed Exhibitions, the organiser for BEX and MCE Asia 2016, said, “In line with the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore’s recent efforts to encourage building users and owners to play a bigger role in the green building industry, we’re very proud to have created a platform through BEX and MCE Asia where the various stakeholders can come together to have a better understanding and awareness to transform spaces and buildings to be more environmentally-friendly.”

Echoing similar sentiments is returning BEX Asia exhibitor, Big Ass Solutions.David Williams, General Manager, Big Ass Solutions said, “BEX Asia was a great opportunity for us to highlight our energy efficient, smart building technologies like our fans and lighting to key stakeholders. We were able to build on existing business relationships, as well as forge new connections within the industry.”

The ninth edition of BEX and second edition of MCE Asia played host to 450 exhibiting companies from 27 countries and regions.

The ninth edition of BEX and second edition of MCE Asia played host to 450 exhibiting companies from 27 countries and regions.

In the same vein, returning exhibitor, Florence Chan, Managing Director of Camfil said “Speaking at the Green View seminar allowed us to go beyond our product offerings and sustain discussions on issues that plague the region such as the recurring haze situation, which emphasizes the importance of having not just timely and efficient solutions, but innovative ones.”

Over at MCE Asia, the spotlight continues to be shone on how buildings’ cooling systems need to be improved and properly maintained to achieve energy efficiency. Said Markus Yang, CEO of Eura Drives, “With a focus on all things related to the HVAC-R sector, MCE Asia provides a much needed sharing platform for knowledge and expertise on heating and cooling systems.

Added Daniel Testar, Chief Representative, Reflex Winkelmann, “As the only edition in Asia, MCE Asia presents us with a unique launch pad to position ourselves in key Asian markets and reach out to stakeholders in the tropical belt region.”

BEX Asia and MCE Asia are the anchor events of the Singapore Green Building Week, alongside the International Green Building Conference (IGBC) organized by the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore (BCA). The next editions of BEX Asia and MCE Asia will be held from 13 to 15 September, 2017.

More information about the Singapore Green Building Week, International Green Building Conference, BEX and MCE Asia 2016 is available at www.sgbw.com.sg, www.bex-asia.com and www.mcexpocomfort-asia.com.

Laguarda.Low Architects Designs Luxury Retail Centre In China

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Thaihot Plaza is orientated to various transit modes and is conveniently located near a growing residential and commercial district.

Thaihot Plaza is orientated to various transit modes and is conveniently located near a growing residential and commercial district.

Laguarda.Low Architects has designed a new retail development in central Fuzhou, China. Located at a major intersection in central Fuzhou, Thaihot Plaza is a striking, new 1.4 million-square-foot retail centre consisting of a six-storey luxury shopping mall to the south, and a large public plaza with three levels of outdoor shops and restaurants to the north.

“We are excited and honoured to have designed this destination retail and commercial complex. In this large-scale project, we sought to create a luxurious yet inviting environment, offering convenience, comfort, and lifestyle amenities for shoppers and visitors alike,” said John Low, Principal at Laguarda.Low Architects.

Thaihot Plaza is orientated to various transit modes and is conveniently located near a growing residential and commercial district, where shoppers will arrive either by foot or automobile. Amenities at the complex include a fully automated fountain with synchronized lighting and music for special water shows, an IMAX theatre and a variety of restaurant options.

The mall's interior.

The mall’s interior.

The indoor and outdoor programmes complement each other and offer a range of environments for a modern and sophisticated shopping experience.   The outdoor plaza serves as the central social space of the development. Three levels of shops and restaurants surround the expansive open-air space with views of the surrounding city. Contiguous glass storefronts, wide stairs with integrated lighting, and a large LED display above the mall entrance promote activity throughout the space and create a dynamic environment.

A curvilinear skylight with horizontal and vertical glazed surfaces covers the grand atrium of the indoor mall and fills the all six levels with natural light throughout the day. Above the transparent and delicate glass volume, a dynamic metal skin wraps the building. Top grade natural and manufactured materials were used in both the interior and exterior of the mixed-use complex, creating an environment of luxury experience for shoppers. Granite stone paving and facades, aluminium framed storefronts with glass canopies, glass and stainless steel railings, and red clay tile and zinc are woven into a beautiful and unique design aesthetic.

CDL’S Forest Woods Receives Strong Interest Ahead of Launch

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There were large crowds at the Forest Woods show flat preview that started on 24 September.

There were large crowds at the Forest Woods show flat preview that started on 24 September.

Forest Woods by City Developments Limited (CDL) and joint venture partners, Hong Leong Holdings Limited and TID Pte Ltd, has received keen interest since its show flat preview began on 24 September. There were strong enquiries for this highly anticipated new condominium in Serangoon Central which is expected to be launched next week.

Forest Woods comprises seven 12-storey blocks, most of which are within the one-kilometre radius of Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School (Primary) and Yangzheng Primary School, making it a major draw for families with children. Other schools in the vicinity include: Cedar Primary School, CHIJ Our Lady of Good Counsel, Maris Stella High School, St. Gabriel’s Primary School, St. Gabriel’s Secondary School, Stamford American International School, Xinghua Primary School, Zhonghua Primary School and Zhonghua Secondary School.

The project offers one-bedroom with study to four-bedroom apartments, and single-storey five- bedroom penthouses. Unit sizes range from 506 square feet (sq ft) for a one-bedroom with study to 2,185 square feet for the largest penthouse unit. Apartments are attractively priced from S$688,000 for a one-bedroom with study unit, S$838,000 for a two-bedroom, S$1.1 million for a three-bedroom, and S$1.65 million for a four-bedroom.

Flexible Layout and Finishes for Different Lifestyles

An illustration of a 3-bedroom unit at Forest Woods.

An illustration of a 3-bedroom unit at Forest Woods.

Catering to varied lifestyle requirements, select units offer the option to customise rooms with flexible layout and configurations. For example, the Open Study concept is suitable for parents who wish to supervise their children from any part of the home. The Ensuite Study concept is ideal for working professionals who prefer to work in the comfort and privacy of his or her expanded bedroom. For fashionistas who need space for their trove of beloved items, they may opt for the Walk-in Wardrobe concept.

Home owners of all units are given a choice of either a warm or cool colour scheme for the finishes, accompanied with the finest in branded kitchen appliances from Bosch and bathroom fittings from Grohe.

Making Life Better With Smart Home Technology
Forest Woods leverages smart home technology to make life better in tangible yet subtle ways. All units will be equipped with:

  • Smart Home Center Lite to easily control smart devices and sensors installed
  • Smart Door Sensor to monitor the opening of doors for added security
  • Smart IP Camera to monitor what is happening at home when residents are away
  • Smart Lighting Control and Air Conditioner Control to automate lights and air-conditioning remotely.

When Forest Woods is completed, residents can also add on the Smart Digital Lock, Smart Wall Plug, Smart Smoke Sensor, Smart Multimedia, Smart Roller Blind, and Smart Motion Sensor, for an additional cost.

Mr Chia Ngiang Hong, CDL Group General Manager said, “For a few years, no project of this size was launched in the much sought-after Serangoon Central area. We have received strong interest for this highly-anticipated launch as Forest Woods comes across as a compelling purchase for new home buyers, upgraders and investors. It has an extremely prime location in a mature estate, very near the Serangoon MRT Interchange, bus interchange and Nex Shopping Mall, with easy access to amenities, expressways and many schools. Forest Woods also offers great value at attractive pricing, and several unique facilities. We expect a good take-up when sales commence.”

KONE Wins Order for Discovery Complex in Vietnam

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Discovery Complex is situated in the heart of Cau Giay District, Hanoi.

Discovery Complex is situated in the heart of Cau Giay District, Hanoi.

KONE, one of the global leaders in the elevator and escalator industry, has won an order to deliver 26 elevators to the Discovery Complex, a mixed-use development, in Hanoi, Vietnam. This prestigious development is considered to be the new highlight of modernity and sustainability.

Built upon 1.02 hectares of land, Discovery Complex is situated in the heart of Cau Giay District, Hanoi. Developed by Kinh Do TCI Group, the development consists of a 50-story residential tower, 43-story grade-A office tower and 8-story retail podium once completed in 2018.

Discovery Complex reserves four storeys to create a green zone for its residents and through adopting a smart and sophisticated design, it allows air and sunlight circulation in each apartment makes it a good living environment for its residents. It also boasts of facilities such as a swimming pool, a professionally operated gym and fitness centre, spa and kindergarten.

KONE will be delivering 22 energy-efficient KONE MiniSpaceTM elevators, three KONE scenic elevators, one KONE TransysTM freight elevator and KONE PolarisTM Destination Control Systems. 12 of the KONE MiniSpaceTM elevators boasts of a travel speed of up to 5m/s and all 26 elevators are connected to the KONE E-LinkTM remote monitoring solution that provides real-time information and statistical reports on equipment performance, as well as facilitates rapid resolution deployment to ensure operational quality.

“We are very honoured to be a part of this major development in Hanoi. Sustainability is key element in the designing of Discovery Complex and KONE energy-efficient elevators will contribute towards creating an eco-friendly environment while providing a smooth people flow experience for its residents, tenants and visitors,” says Nguyen Van Vu, Managing Director of KONE Vietnam.

“Discovery Complex is a unique development in Hanoi and we want to partner with an experienced and reputable elevator supplier. We are impressed with KONE’s innovative solutions for high-rise buildings and we have the confidence that KONE people flow solutions will enhance the experience that one will have at Discovery Complex,” says Le Van Hung, Executive Vice President of Servico Cau Giay.

Building Internet of Things (B-IoT) Asia Conference to be unveiled during BuildTech Asia 2016

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Organised by Sphere Exhibits, the 6th edition of BuildTech Asia 2016 takes place between 18 and 20 October 2016 at Singapore EXPO and aims to provide new insights on smart building and construction technologies in the built environment sector. The 3-day event programme includes an exhibition, guided tours, conferences, workshops, productivity awards and networking opportunities.

A special feature and conference on Building Internet of Things (IoT) forms part of a series of smart technologies which will be unveiled at BuildTech Asia this year through a trade exhibition as well as a fully focused two-day trade conference . Today, technology is being incorporated into architecture, construction as well as the materials of a building. The inaugural B-IoT Asia conference and exhibition will educate participants as to the best practices  for, and how to apply, internet of things technology into construction and building.

_DSC9142Dedicated to make a difference to the future of the construction industry, some 6000 visitors will see over 100 exhibiting brands representing 15 countries from Austria, Australia, Canada, China, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea,Taiwan, USA and Vietnam will be showcasing smart building and construction technologies required to enhance productivity and efficiency in the built environment sector. More information may be found at www.buildtechasia.com.

Schneider Electric Launches “Light It Up” to Bring Electricity to Rural Communities in Asia

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Schneider Electric employees will distribute more than 1,800 units of the Mobiya solar lamps to rural communities in 12 countries across the region.

Schneider Electric employees will distribute more than 1,800 units of the Mobiya solar lamps in 12 countries across the region.

Schneider Electric, one of the world’s specialists in energy management and automation, recently announced the launch of “Light It Up”, its programme to bring access to electricity to rural communities across the Asia Pacific region. Schneider Electric believes that access to energy is a basic human right, and it is committed to put safe, reliable, efficient and sustainable energy within reach of a great many households, ensuring Life Is On for everyone, everywhere, and at every moment.

From mid-September to early November this year, Schneider Electric employees will distribute more than 1,800 units of the Mobiya solar lamps to rural communities in 12 countries across the region.

Economic and social development is largely driven by access to energy. However, around 1.3 billion people on this planet still lack access to modern energy today , while another one billion people have access to only unreliable electricity networks. A significant proportion of the world’s energy poor are living in Asia. In countries like Myanmar and Cambodia, the rural electrification rate can be as low as 18 percent.

Safe and Clean Access to Energy
Schneider Electric’s commitment to promote sustainable development and provide safe and clean access to energy is in its DNA. In the past six years, Schneider Electric has contributed to providing 5 million people with access to energy The goal is to reach 50 million people within the next 10 years.

With “Light It Up”, a corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, Schneider Electric employees, as well as sponsors from Schneider Electric’s partners and customers from 17 countries in Asia Pacific have bought and sponsored a total of over 1,800 Mobiya solar lamps.

These lamps will be distributed to rural communities across 12 countries: Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, connecting a total of over 1,300 families to electricity and lighting, and helping to improve living conditions for these communities.

HVACR/PS Southeast Asia 2016 Gains Support From Local and Regional Associations

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The ideal one-stop marketplace for the industrial sector in Southeast Asia, HVACR/PS Southeast Asia 2016 returns for its 5th edition in Indonesia from 23 to 25 November at the Jakarta International Expo. This year’s edition is set to be a comprehensive showcase of the best in-class technologies and solutions spanning the sectors of HVACR, pumps, valves, compressors, water and waste. This year, the HVACR/PS Southeast Asia team has achieved support from some of the regional industry’s best-known associations

Among the associations supporting the exhibition are:

  • Asia Air Movement and Control Association (ASIA AMCA)
  • ASHRAE Indonesia Chapter
  • Indonesian Association of Practitioners in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (APITU)
  • APTEK Indonesia
  • Building Owners and Managers Association Indonesia (BOMA)
  • Indonesian Food & Beverage Association (GAPMMI)
  • Indonesia Professional Engineer Association (PIPI)
HVACR/PS Southeast Asia 2016 is the ideal one-stop marketplace for the industrial sector.

HVACR/PS Southeast Asia 2016 is the ideal one-stop marketplace for the industrial sector.

An HVACR-focused conference co-organised by ASHRAE Indonesia Chapter will be held concurrently with the exhibition. The conference will feature renowned industry speakers speaking on the latest HVAC industry trends, applications of the HVAC industry, among other trending topics related to the industry.

Seminars conducted by other local industry associations will also be held alongside the exhibition. Key issues that are of forefront interest to the industry are expected to be presented by knowledge experts and key dignitaries. With support and endorsement from both local and regional associations, HVACR/PS Southeast Asia has achieved a higher level of recognition in its 5th edition.

To register as a visitor, click HERE.

For more information about this exhibition, click HERE.