Technologies that are Shaping the Future of the Construction Site

/in , , /by
Reading Time: 3 minutes
autodesk info graphic Article and infographic contributed by Autodesk.

Technology is dramatically transforming the construction industry, with professional-grade wearables and new survey methodologies, making construction sites safer and even accessible from remote locations.

Here’s a quick look at three technological breakthroughs that you may see on construction sites in the near future.

1. A smart badge that provides a real time view of the construction site

Workers can use the call button on the B3 Badge to request for help in emergency situations. (Image Credit: Redpoint Smart Badge and Asset Tags)

Workers can use the call button on the B3 Badge to request for help in emergency situations. (Image Credit: Redpoint Smart Badge and Asset Tags)

Imagine sitting a few hundred kilometres away from the construction site and having detailed visibility into workforce activity. Innovations like Redpoint Positioning’s compact and wearable B3 Workforce Safety Badge makes this possible.

This badge is equipped with an Indoor GPS platform that allows contractors to view and record workforce activities from remote locations. As an early Autodesk Forge partner, Redpoint Positioning leverages the Forge Platform’s APIs to monitor and record real time job site activities directly within BIM 360. Contractors can use this real time data to alert workers with a loud alarm if they enter danger zones or areas with electrical hazards.

Screen Shot 2016-09-27 at 6.26.20 pm

The DAQRI smart helmet’s anti-reflective, scratch resistant face shield replaces safety glasses, and workers can use in-built USB ports to power additional equipment like flashlights. (Image Credit: DAQRI Products)

2. Smart helmets that provide in-depth information on construction sites
Hard hats and safety glasses are essential on construction sites, but they aren’t exactly high-tech. DAQRI, an LA based AR company has designed an “Industrial Augmented Reality (AR) Helmet” that features thermal imaging, head tracking, motion sensing, pattern recognition and much more. In contrast to an ordinary hard hat, the DAQRI helmet does much more than just protecting your head. Its in-built cameras and sensors provide workers with detailed real-time information about their surroundings. For instance, when a worker glances at a pressure gauge, the helmet can alert him if it displays a reading outside the expected range. Overheated panels and instruments can also be easily detected by thermal imaging tools and sensors, thus helping prevent accidents on the construction site.

3. Getting a bird’s eye view of projects with drones

Some contractors are already piloting drones to conduct site surveys, but what’s even more exciting is the potential to turn the footage captured by these unmanned aerial vehicles into actionable and relevant intelligence for businesses.

Contractors can use this Dashboard to view real time updates captured by the EVO3, hence getting a glimpse of work that’s ahead, on time or behind schedule. (Image Credit: Skycatch)

Contractors can use this Dashboard to view real time updates captured by the EVO3, hence getting a glimpse of work that’s ahead, on time or behind schedule. (Image Credit: Skycatch)

Skycatch’s EVO3, for example, not only takes off and lands on its own, but also provides workers with a Dashboard interface to overlay aerial footage over construction plans and detect changes in progress, all from the sky and in real-time. Don’t want to invest in buying your own fleet? SkyCatch is also bringing the “sharing economy” ethos to drones with a new service called Workmode that helps companies find and hire unmanned aerial vehicles for mapping jobs, surveying, and other work.

Less Dust, More Data
From drones to sensors and every gadget in between, it’s plain to see why construction sites across the world are focusing on technology. While contractors are unlikely to go hi-tech overnight, the benefits of capturing data and leveraging it for greater planning and worker safety are simply undeniable.

 

JCBFleet Stands Ready to Assist After Disaster Relief Tender Success

/in , /by
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Leading construction equipment manufacturer JCB has won a tender to help with future disaster relief efforts in the Philippines.

Leading construction equipment manufacturer JCB has won a tender to help with future disaster relief efforts in the Philippines.

Leading construction equipment manufacturer JCB has won a tender for more than 40 machines to help with future disaster relief efforts in the Philippines. Up to nine tropical storms hit the islands every year and after Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which killed more than 6,300 people, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) acted to ensure damage following future typhoons could be dealt with swiftly by ordering a fleet of high-powered machines.

The AFP awarded its tender to JCB and it will take delivery of 3CX and 1CX backhoe loaders and VM115 soil compactors. A JCB JS205 tracked excavator and a 540-170 Loadall telescopic handler are also part of the order. The fleet will also be put to work on rural development projects when not deployed on disaster relief work.

 

The order was secured by JCB SEA and ICON Equipment, JCB’s construction equipment dealer in the Philippines, in the face of fierce competition. The machines will be deployed in September.

Tom Cornell, Managing Director JCB Southeast Asia, said: “The Armed Forces of the Philippines need machines to clear debris after natural disasters, and at other times, for basic infrastructure development in local communities. JCB’s range of machines performs at the highest level in the toughest of environments and is ideally placed to handle the wide variety of tasks faced in the Philippines.”

ICON Equipment will also provide the training and service back up for the machines. Fernando L. Imperial, President of ICON Equipment, said: “The AFP tender was hard fought in the face of some tough competition from other global manufacturers. The teamwork between JCB SEA and local knowledge of ICON Equipment was crucial to the successful outcome. JCB equipment and the service back-up provided by ICON is well respected in the Philippines and this order highlights the fact at the highest level.”

The versatile backhoes – which have a front shovel and rear excavator – will be used to clear debris on roads and tracks after a disaster. The soil compactors will compact tracks after a disaster and ensure drainage of surface water that would otherwise cause tyres to get stuck in mud.

While the JS205 tracked excavator will be used for dismantling damaged properties, the lifting capabilities of 540-170 telescopic handler could prove vital to saving lives, gently removing rubble from collapsed buildings when a typhoon strikes.

When Typhoon Haiyan hit in 2013, JCB Chairman Lord Bamford donated three high-powered JCB 3CX backhoe loaders worth more than $500,000 to help deal with the aftermath. In 2006 JCB sent a fleet of 3CX backhoe loaders to the Philippines after Typhoon Reming hit the Bicol region, destroying much of the infrastructure.

SUEZ launches AQUADVANCED(R) Urban Drainage, an innovative waste and storm water solution

/in , , , /by
Reading Time: 2 minutes
spring-rain-2-1427535-640x960

Stormwater is responsible for 50% of the pollution flowing into rivers and beaches in urban areas.

Faced with urban population growth, global warming and changing regulations, optimising the performance of sewer and stormwater networks is a priority for local authorities. Responding to this challenge, SUEZ is launching AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage[1], a digital solution that allows local authorities to monitor in real time their sewer and stormwater networks to mitigate the risk of flooding and to control the quality of discharges into the natural environment.

Optimising The Performance Of Sewer And Stormwater Networks: A Challenge For Local Authorities

Rising urbanisation and the increase of impermeable surfaces in urban areas have reduced the natural infiltration of stormwater into the soil to 15%. The remaining 85% flows on the surface, collecting the residues deposited on roofs and roads (fuel, heavy metals, plastics, etc.). Local authorities are faced with the challenge of collecting these polluted waters in the sewerage networks, and of treating them later into wastewater treatment plants to reduce the risks of severe flooding, human and material damage and pollution of the natural ecosystem. Stormwater is responsible for 50% of the pollution flowing into rivers and beaches in urban areas.

AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage To Better Manage Sewer And Stormwater Systems, Prevent Flooding And Preserve The Quality Of The Receiving Water Bodies

In response to these challenges, SUEZ is launching AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage, a digital solution that helps local authorities to manage their sewer and stormwater systems. The tool allows to choose the solution that best meets their needs, from the monitoring of an environment (rivers, the sea, sewerage networks), to the anticipation of flooding events and pollution of the natural environment, and the predictive and dynamic management of the complete sewerage system.

AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage provides a global, real-time vision of the complete system, based on data from sensors installed both in the network and in the environment (rivers, watercourses, etc.) and on short-term weather forecasts. By centralising and analysing all these data, the software solution can anticipate the hydraulic performance of the network (saturated storage capacities, volumes to be treated, etc.) or of the natural ecosystem (risk of pollution or overflowing watercourses). For certain sewerage systems, the tool can also calculate the best control strategy, and automatically and remotely monitor the system’s facilities (storage reservoirs, pumping stations, etc.).

AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage anticipates the risk of untreated wastewater overflowing into the natural ecosystem, monitors the quality of discharge on a daily basis and helps to protect the environment. Deploying this system can cut the volumes of stormwater that flow into rivers or the sea by up to 45%.

Presented at the Singapore International Water Week (10-14 July), where it is currently being deployed, AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage has been already introduced in eight European cities, including Bordeaux, the Paris conurbation, Marseille and Barcelona.

Leader on the Smart Water market in Europe, SUEZ is complementing its offer to support local authorities in the sustainable management of resources with this management software dedicated to optimise sewer and stormwater networks’ performance. AQUADVANCED® Urban Drainage completes the existing software offer for the drinking water networks, named AQUADVANCED® Water Networks.

—

[1] AQUADVANCED® is a registered trademark or a trademark under pending application.

Xylem Expands Reliable Fire Protection Solutions Offering in Asia

/in , /by
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Local production of the A-C Fire Pump 8100 Series highlights Xylem’s increased focus in the region.

Local production of the A-C Fire Pump 8100 Series highlights Xylem’s increased focus in the region.

Xylem Inc., a global water technology company, is delivering on its commitment to meet the diverse water needs of Asia by manufacturing the A-C Fire Pump 8100 Series at its Calamba facility in the Philippines. This move addresses a critical need for a strong safety portfolio to support commercial and industrial applications in the region.

Assembled at Xylem’s only UL and FM-certified manufacturing facility outside the U.S., the A-C Fire Pump 8100 Series provides water to stand pipe, sprinkler, chemical mitigation and hydrant systems for fire suppression in industrial and commercial facilities, meeting both UL and FM global standards. With a greater awareness of the importance of UL-listed and FM-approved fire equipment in the region, fire consultants and other customers can now attend fire pump witness tests without having to travel too far. In addition, the broader product and service portfolio enables Xylem to streamline service capabilities for the Asian markets, which are expected to contribute 44 percent of new pump demand through to 2018**.

“There is a growing demand for safe and reliable fire pump solutions in the region,” said Ramesh Nuggihalli, Vice President and Managing Director, Xylem Greater Asia. “Our expanded product portfolio in Asia reflects our commitment to meeting this demand, while supporting our customers with shorter lead times and local engineering and servicing capabilities.”

In addition to manufacturing Goulds Water Technology and Lowara branded pumps and booster systems in Calamba, local production of the A-C Fire Pump 8100 Series highlights Xylem’s increased focus in the region. The localization also enables Xylem to provide its Asian customers with embedded application support and service capabilities and gives the company the flexibility to meet unique market requirements with its manufacturing expertise in-region.

“Xylem’s local manufacturing capabilities coupled with our deep knowledge of the growing region, makes us well equipped to give our customers the quality products and customer support they seek,” said Nuggihalli.

The A-C Fire Pump 8100 Series range covers electric, engine-driven pumps supporting capacities up to 3,000 gallons per minute (681 cubic metres per hour).

 

**From “World Pumps” by the Freedonia Group Inc., published 2015.

Tuas Power Aids Businesses in Reducing Energy Expenses With Tuas Power Integrated Energy Management Solution

/in , , /by
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Dr. John Keung, Chief Executive Officer, BCA, was the Guest of Honour at the launch.

Dr. John Keung, Chief Executive Officer, BCA, was the Guest of Honour at the launch.

Tuas Power Generation Pte Ltd (Tuas Power), an energy solutions provider in the liberalised Singapore electricity market, recently announced the launch of Tuas Power Integrated Energy Management Solution (IEMS) for buildings and businesses.

The first of its kind launched by an electricity retailer, Tuas Power Supply (a subsidiary of Tuas Power Generation), Tuas Power IEMS provides an integrated suite of solutions tailored for building owners and tenants to better manage their energy consumption. With Tuas Power IEMS, building owners and businesses get an overview of their energy statistics, cost savings, and at the same time ensure that the building remains green and sustainable for the future.

In line with Building and Construction Authority’s 3rd Green Building Masterplan, Tuas Power IEMS will pave the way for businesses to monitor their energy consumption online, allowing for better control over energy usage. Tuas Power IEMS will ensure that both building owners and tenants are accountable for their energy use, which will promote change in consumption habits and increase in energy efficiency. Usage patterns containing real-time data will easily be available and will help both parties understand their usage patterns and identify possible cost savings areas. Many renowned buildings and developers had embarked on this solution as part of ensuring their building remains green and sustainable for the future.

Dr. John Keung, Chief Executive Officer, Building and Construction Authority, was present at the launch as the Guest of Honour, and felt that Tuas Power’s latest initiative is a good step towards helping building owners manage costs and improve energy efficiency.

“The third Green Building Masterplan was developed to engage building tenants and occupants more actively to drive energy consumption behavioural change,” Dr. Keung said. “Tuas Power’s Integrated Energy Management Solution for buildings and businesses facilitates tenants to better understand their energy usage pattern, thereby empowering them to make better decisions and adopt greener practices.”

Automated Meter Reading (AMR) Solution, Building Management Solution and CusCare App

The CusCare app condenses data into simple charts and statistics.

The CusCare app condenses data into simple charts and statistics.

Together with Tuas Power’s consultation expertise, the IEMS will consist of three main areas: Automated Meter Reading (AMR) Solution, Building Management Solution and CusCare App. With the AMR solution, businesses will be able to monitor their energy consumption through real-time, half- hourly data, allowing for better control over electricity usage.

Jointly developed with NEC Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Tuas Power’s AMR solution automatically collects energy consumption data from electricity meters, and simultaneously transmits this data for accessing through the TPS AMR Portal. This enables building owners to identify areas to increase energy efficiency, which in turn works to achieve a smaller carbon footprint.

The Building Management Solution in Tuas Power IEMS is a way of ensuring good energy management. With proven track records of handling more than 630 buildings since 2003, Tuas Power has professional and in-house capabilities to handle the management of tenants’ electricity accounts, meters, billing and collection, electricity management duties, on behalf of landlords. The solution helps building owners manage and integrate their tenant’s electricity accounts in an organised and systematic approach.

Rounding up these solutions in a convenient way is the mobile CusCare App – designed to give users a quick overview of their energy spend on a digital platform. Using this app, data is condensed into simple charts and statistics, yielding insightful information about energy consumption patterns, and leaving room for building owners and tenants to make informed business decisions on conserving energy.

“In keeping with the Building and Construction Authority’s vision to establish a future-ready built environment for Singapore, Tuas Power is committed to energy sustainability and continually strives to develop solutions and adopt technologies to aid building owners, along with their respective tenants to manage electricity consumption. Our goal is to help all involved monitor their energy usage, and provide solutions to make sustainable energy a reality,” said Mr. Michael Wong, General Manager, Tuas Power Supply.

Trimble Introduces Three Enhanced Tekla Software Solutions

/in , , /by
Reading Time: 3 minutes
The solutions provide enhanced collaboration and workflow efficiency.

The solutions provide enhanced collaboration and workflow efficiency.

Trimble introduced today three new software versions of its Building Information Modeling (BIM) and analysis & design solutions for engineering and construction – Tekla Structures 2016, Tekla Structural Designer 2016 and Tekla Tedds 2016.

The solutions provide enhanced collaboration and workflow efficiency for structural steel and precast concrete designers, detailers and fabricators, concrete contractors, general contractors and structural engineers.

Tekla Structures 2016: New User Interface and Advanced Information Utilisation
Tekla Structures, the most advanced BIM software, makes accurate, constructible modeling of any steel or concrete structure possible. The new software version provides even more efficient modeling, allowing increased productivity by avoiding costly errors more easily in the fabrication and construction phases. The software is available and supported in 17 languages. Korean is also now available with this release.

The new Tekla Structures user interface offers a smooth user experience and shorter learning curve with several features that make modeling easier and accelerate the design process. The customisable menus and easily recognisable icons allow users to save time, improving modeling efficiency, while the consistent colours help them immediately spot what they are looking for in the models.

The new version also introduces more efficient utilisation of model information. Finding possible flaws during the design phase when they are simpler to fix compared to rework on the construction site can bring savings. Creating repetitive fabrication information, such as concrete covers for precast elements, can be automated for increased productivity. With Tekla Structures 2016, collaboration has become easier and more reliable with its advanced functionalities such as Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) file change management.

Modelling made easy with Tekla.

Modelling made easy with Tekla.

When another discipline working on the construction project makes changes, Tekla Structures users can now see what has changed in the IFC reference model. In addition, visualisation and traceability improvements in Tekla Model Sharing leverage collaboration through sophisticated change management. The tool allows team members to work on the same model from any location or time zone to deliver projects faster and with more flexibility. The changes list allows for filtering and searching for specific ones.

“Many of the new features and improvements have been developed to address our customers’ requests. For example, drawing production is faster with functionality improvements and a 2D library that allows users to pick details for their drawings from a collection of ready-made 2D details, such as bolts, instead of drawing them. Reusing customer-specific 2D details saves even more time,” said Risto Räty, general manager of Trimble Buildings Structures Division.

Tekla Structural Designer 2016: Enhanced Collaboration
Tekla Structural Designer 2016 is an engineering tool for analyzing and designing buildings efficiently. The new version features major performance enhancements in both modeling and processing time when analysing and designing structures, and can now easily handle even larger and more demanding models.

The software release expands its seismic design capabilities with additional structural design and detailing checks for concrete structures to U.S. codes, enabling use in higher classified earthquake regions. Designing pad and strip foundations to a range of international codes within the same model environment is now possible.

The new version also allows design of steel and concrete buildings to Indian codes. Tekla Structural Designer 2016 joins open BIM workflows with IFC compatibility, enabling smoother processes and reduces manual work. The users can share and review their designs with other project disciplines even at a very early stage of the Design-Build-Operate (DBO) workflow.

Tekla Structures makes accurate, constructible modeling of any steel or concrete structure possible.

Tekla Structures makes accurate, constructible modeling of any steel or concrete structure possible.

Tekla Tedds 2016: New Options and More Flexibility
The new version of Tekla Tedds – a solution for automating repetitive structural calculations – has been enhanced by providing additional features requested by its users. New options bring more flexibility and choices for the analysis and design of retaining walls, foundations and steel and concrete beams to both the U.S. building codes and Eurocodes.

The comprehensive calculations make work easy and fast, enabling users to avoid human errors when working with load combinations. Document templates that can be matched to company standards including custom layouts and logos save time and improve presentation.

Tekla Structures 2016, Tekla Structural Designer 2016 and Tekla Tedds 2016 are available now. To download, visit:

Tekla Structures:
www.teklastructures.com

Tekla Structural Designer:
http://url.tekla.com/TeklaStructuralDesigner2016DownloadNow

Tekla Tedds:
http://url.tekla.com/TeklaTedds2016DownloadNow

For more Information on Tekla software, visit www.tekla.com

REC invests S$200 million to automate and upgrade technology over the next three years

/in , , , /by
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Minister Iswaran on a tour of REC’s global HQ and manufacturing facility in Tuas, Singapore.

Minister Iswaran on a tour of REC’s global HQ and manufacturing facility in Tuas, Singapore.

As escalating climate change remains the biggest challenge today and the nascent renewable energy sector picks up speed, REC, a global provider of solar energy solutions, has announced a total investment of S$ 250 million in automation, technology upgrade and research and development (R&D) efforts to unleash the full potential of solar as a source of renewable energy.

At its manufacturing facility in Tuas and in the presence of Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry), S Iswaran, this morning, REC unveiled plans to invest S$200 million in Singapore that will further increase its productivity and efficiency through automation and technology upgrading.

This will fully convert all 1.3 GW of REC’s solar modules capacity in Singapore to TwinPeak production. These panels yield the highest energy efficiencies as compared to any other multi-crystalline panels that are mass-produced today. Committed to its vision that every person benefits from electricity generated directly from the sun, REC’s move to expand its capacity and technology with sustainable, reliable and high performing products is closely aligned with the Singapore government’s plans to grow the cleantech sector.

The Singapore government has recently announced about S$900 million of R&D budget in Urban Solutions and Sustainability, one of four key technology domains to be funded under the national Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2020 Plan. This RIE initiative, amounting to S$19 billion, maps out the focus for Singapore’s R&D efforts for the next five years.

Said Steve O’Neil, CEO, REC, “With such a strong commitment to cleantech innovation, Singapore is the ideal location for REC to channel new innovations and push the boundaries for solar solutions. We are very excited to share our roadmap for advancements in solar energy production as we dedicate resources for research and development into our game-changing TwinPeak solar panels.”

Minister Iswaran speaking with a REC employee.

Minister Iswaran speaking with a REC employee.

Lauded for its high performance, the high power 120-cell module, Twin Peak, was launched by REC last year. Developed based on Passivated Emitter Rear Cell (PERC) technology and half-cut cells, TwinPeak solar panels convert more sunlight into electricity as compared to standard modules, effectively allowing customers to derive the most energy and value out of their installations.

For commercial, industrial and residential entities in Singapore, this is of extreme importance, given the limited rooftop space. Putting it into context, REC’s recent 2.2MW TwinPeak installation in Singapore is able to generate an additional 157MWh of clean energy annually as compared to standard panels.

The additional clean energy produced by TwinPeak panels can power up to 38 HDB 5-room flats yearly or the equivalent of 1,088 light bulbs. Similarly, it is also able to mitigate an additional 80 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually – the amount that takes the planting of 3,200 new trees to offset.

REC also announced today, an investment of S$50 million in the development of a novel solar panel with 350 watt power, over the next five years. In partnership with the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) at the National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore’s flagship solar energy laboratory, this technological breakthrough will generate 1.35 times more energy, at a comparable cost and size to standard multi-crystalline modules.

Said Prof. Armin Aberle, CEO, SERIS, “Collaborations between university institutes and industry are very beneficial for growing the solar sector, especially when it comes to developing and commercialising new technologies. With REC on board to further the green agenda in Singapore and the region, we believe this will stimulate other companies to follow suit and enhance their R&D investments to address the issues of climate change and dwindling resources.”

The Minister visited the Cells and Modules production.

The Minister visited the Cells and Modules production.

Added O’Neil, “REC constantly strengthens its position as a leader in terms of solar panel reliability, performance and cost. With SERIS’ support, we’re in a good position to ride on market opportunities where growth prospects remain positive.”

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was also signed between REC and SERIS.

“We warmly welcome REC’s S$200 million solar manufacturing expansion, which will further strengthen Singapore’s cleantech industry ecosystem. The investment is testament to the competitiveness of Singapore’s advanced manufacturing sector in terms of engineering talent, automation expertise and supplier base,” said Yeoh Keat Chuan, Managing Director, Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). “REC’s S$50 million R&D collaboration with SERIS will accelerate the commercialisation of innovative solar technologies in Singapore,” he added.

Green Building Developments Gets Boost from Carrier Singapore’s and Toshiba’s Newest Variable Refrigerant Flow System

/in , , /by
Reading Time: 4 minutes
The SMMS-e is the next-gen model of the Toshiba VRF system.

The SMMS-e is the next-gen model of the Toshiba VRF system.

Carrier Singapore Pte Ltd. (Carrier Singapore) announced today the launch of the Toshiba Super Modular Multi System-e (SMMS-e), a next-generation variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system that combines industry-leading energy efficiency with expanded capacity loads and a smaller modular footprint.

 

The SMMS-e is the next gen model of the Toshiba VRF system and boasts a number of industry-leading system enhancements, including an expanded single outdoor unit capacity, as well as an expanded combination capacity.

 

An ideal system to support green building development, the SMMS is designed to help meet increased demand for high-efficiency building systems that use less energy and lower the overall carbon footprint of buildings. Driven by high-volume compressors and Toshiba’s high-performance inverter, the product is said to be one of the most energy efficient in the industry.

The SMMS-e has a single unit outdoor capacity of up to 22HP, which enables building owners to save on the footprint occupied by each system – with a reduced number of combined modular units necessary to obtain a high capacity.

Partial load performance for higher energy efficiency
SMMS-e is the only product in the heating, ventilating and cooling industry that has obtained a European Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (ESEER) of at least 7.0 for all available chassis options – both on a stand-alone and combination basis. It has also achieved one of the highest-class nominal efficiency ratios in the industry: 6.39 for EER with the 8HP module.

Incorporated in Toshiba’s new VRF system design are three cutting-edge technologies that deliver industry-leading energy-efficient performance:

  • Compressor: Application of a diamond-like carbon coating to the rotary vane of the DC twin rotary compressor successfully reduces friction and provides an expanded RPS range from 15RPS to 115RPS, while ensuring reliable operation.
  • Heat Exchanger: The new and enhanced heat exchanger design improves overall heat exchange efficiency by using a smaller tube diameter to reduce the pitch of the tubes, increasing the number of tube rows.
  • Accumulator: The new refrigerant system is designed with a modified outlet tube, which improves refrigerant circulation and capacity.

High-volume single outdoor unit modules rated as one of the industry’s best
Toshiba 3The expanded capacities on both the standalone (22HP) and combination bases (60HP) enable the reduction in the number of outdoor unit modules and the labour hours required for piping, wiring and hoisting of units onto the top of the building for installation.

Toshiba’s standalone model has one of the smallest footprints among models of the same class in the industry. The two-propeller fan system was newly developed for the SMMS-e to minimise noise.

 

 

 

 

Easier service and maintenance

A contactless communication unit offers ease of service and maintenance.

A contactless communication unit offers ease of service and maintenance.

The SMMS-e is the first system in the industry to include a contactless communication unit as its standard equipment offering, designed for ease of service and maintenance. The SMMS-e is compatible with near field communication, a protocol for contactless communication between devices and smartphones. The SMMS Wave Tool application can be downloaded from a dedicated website and installed on the smartphone.

During installation and service, customers can obtain service and maintenance data such as system configuration and error code history through this application without removing the front panel of the outdoor unit. This feature can be used even when the outdoor unit is not connected to a power source. The data obtained via the SMMS Wave Tool may be sent via e-mail, which facilitates communication between on-premise personnel and colleagues in the office.

Expanded Flexibility in Piping Design
toshiba 2With the SMMS-e, up to 18 units of8HP module indoor units can now be connected. When the SMMS-e modules are used in combination, the number of connectable indoor units is also improved to 64 units.

The SMMS-e also features improvements on maximum piping length; the maximum pipe length between the outdoor unit and the farthest indoor unit is increased to 235 metres, while the maximum height difference between the indoor and outdoor units is extended to 40 metres, both of which are best in the industry. The piping length from the first branch joint to the farthest indoor unit is also extended to up to 90 metres. These enhancements provide the utmost flexibility in design and installation.

Carrier Singapore distributes Toshiba air conditioning products in Singapore as part of a global alliance agreement between the two businesses. For more information, log on to www.carrier.com.sg.

New forward-thinking theme takes centre stage at 2016 Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition

/in , /by
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Highlights from the 2015 Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition. Image courtesy of GILE.

Highlights from the 2015 Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition. Image courtesy of GILE.

Set to take place from June 9 to 12, 2016, the 21st edition of the Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition – Asia’s most influential and comprehensive lighting and LED event – will be held at the China Import and Export Fair Complex in Guangzhou, China.

This year, participants can expect a forward-thinking theme: Titled as “THINKLIGHT: A new dimension”, the theme will be at the heart of the exhibition, and promotes out-of-the-box thinking to manage shifting market dynamics.

Referencing the 2016 show’s theme, Ms Lucia Wong, Deputy General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Ltd, expressed, “In the Internet Plus era, the lighting industry is evolving with opportunities abound. Smart lighting has become a vital element in IoT-enabled homes as lighting plays a larger role in appliances, heating systems and metering. Such advancements in lighting technologies not only serve to enhance functionality and efficiency, but also to enable diversified applications to optimise living comfort. The fair continues to be a trusted platform for showcasing innovative technologies and encouraging industry players to think unconventionally from technical, market and design perspectives.”

 

Expect innovative lighting-related equipment, components, technologies and applications under one roof
The event’s extensive product category coverage is unrivalled in terms of depth and breadth. As an integrated platform, the one-stop solutions exhibition facilitates sourcing by not only fostering business collaboration between exhibitors, but also by consolidating lighting-related equipment, components, technologies and applications into one location for buyers.

Highlights from the 2015 Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition. Image courtesy of GILE.

Highlights from the 2015 Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition. Image courtesy of GILE.

Influenced by the Industry 4.0 revolution, industrial lighting and LED plants are adopting increasingly automated manufacturing production processes. As such, more intelligent machinery is in demand. Related solutions to be displayed at the fair include:

Equipment & Component

  • Simulation, inspection, measurement, testing and evaluation equipment
  • Lighting accessories and electronic components
  • Components for LED packages (Wafers, phosphor, sealing materials, substrates)

The fair also aims to help industry players in the LED arena remain competitive in a challenging general lighting market. To do so, they must improve efficacy, reduce costs and increase colour consistency. Related exhibits this year include:

LED Technology

  • LED chips
  • LED packaging
  • Power supply and ICs (LED drivers, driver ICs, converters)
  • LED modules and light engines
Highlights from the 2015 Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition. Image courtesy of GILE.

Highlights from the 2015 Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition. Image courtesy of GILE.

Furthermore, various lighting solution exhibits will focus on the trending market topics of sustainability, quality of lights and smart controls. Related solutions to be showcased include:

Lighting Application

  • Residential lighting
  • Commercial lighting (Retail, office, hospitality, industrial)
  • Architectural, urban and transport lighting
  • Electric lights

Click HERE for visitor registration and exhibition information.

Bentley’s EADOC capital project management offering set to help Carollo Engineers reduce construction management costs

/in , /by
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Carollo Engineers and Bentley Systems have announced that Carollo has chosen Bentley’s EADOC cloud-based construction management software as its corporate standard for capital project management. Carollo Engineers will standardise on EADOC across its construction services teams, bringing cost savings to all of its projects and eliminating the inefficiencies of managing multiple legacy systems.

 

EADOC helps you manage design and construction documents. Image courtesy of Bentley.

EADOC helps you manage design and construction documents. Image courtesy of Bentley.

As a long-standing user of EADOC, Carollo Engineers has firsthand knowledge of the solution’s ability to help manage risks, track construction documents and communications, and control costs for construction managers at engineering/construction management firms or infrastructure owner organisations.

 

By standardising its construction management process on EADOC, Carollo will further improve the management of its construction teams using an automated workflow and also improve control of project finances, including budget, funding sources, contracts, and change orders. In addition, the ability to effectively and consistently manage its contractual deliverables with a detailed electronic construction record and audit trail will provide Carollo with the accountability it needs to resolve disputes quickly and streamline project and program execution.

EADOC is being supplied to Carollo through a corporate-wide subscription that is available for all projects, users, data storage, and technical support. As a result, Carollo Engineers’ project teams no longer need to procure individual subscriptions for their projects, which will reduce administrative costs and enable the company to standardise its construction services throughout the organisation.

Carollo Engineers Vice President Michael Warriner said, “Bentley’s EADOC gives us a competitive advantage by helping us deliver better projects with less risk and at a lower cost. Our new subscription will streamline EADOC’s availability among our teams and eliminate the administration cost of managing multiple, project-based subscriptions. Standardising our construction project management practice through EADOC will take the benefits we’ve seen on individual projects and extend them across our organisation.”

It's now easier to manage contracts and mitigate project risks. Image courtesy of Bentley.

It’s now easier to manage contracts and mitigate project risks. Image courtesy of Bentley.

Eric Law, Bentley Systems senior director, product management, and EADOC founder, said, “We thank Carollo Engineers, a leader in water engineering, for selecting our EADOC system as its preferred construction management solution. Carollo’s management team recognises the tremendous benefits that EADOC brings to its entire construction services practice, and we welcome the opportunity to help it realise the full potential of that advantage in its delivery of benchmark-setting, high-quality projects.”

For additional information about Bentley’s EADOC, visit www.bentley.com/EADOC