Spearheading Construction Productivity through Transformative Technologies and Materials at BuildTech Asia 2015

Breakthrough technologies, new initiatives and high-tech materials among highlights at this year's show

SINGAPORE, Nov. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- BuildTech Asia 2015, the region's leading trade show for the built environment, concluded after an immersive three-day showcase that explored the latest game-changing smart construction technologies and building materials from across the region. Organised by Sphere Exhibits and hosted by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), the annual trade show was held on 13-15 October, in conjunction with Singapore Construction Productivity Week (SCPW).

At the opening ceremony of SCPW, BCA announced SGD$2.6 million funding for research programmes to drive Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) across the sector and additional funding for Virtual Design and Construction (VDC). In line with this push towards technology adoption and Asia's growing demand for building and construction technology, BuildTech Asia 2015 displayed a myriad of technologies and materials to help industry stakeholders from across the value chain maintain their competitive edge through higher productivity.

Over 5,200 visitors from across the region were treated to an impressive array of advanced construction technologies and smart materials, brought to life through live demonstrations, product displays and workshops by close to 150 exhibiting brands. An international turnout of exhibitors, trade associations and business delegations from over 13 countries and regions including Austria, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam, visited BuildTech Asia 2015.

Mr. Chua Wee Phong, Chairman of Sphere Exhibits Pte Ltd, said: "We are pleased that the fifth edition of BuildTech Asia continues to see strong interest and support from exhibitors and visitors from all over Asia and the world. This year, BuildTech Asia introduced key productivity-enhancing technologies and materials to the built environment sector, and we hope that the increasing uptake of these technologies will spur the construction industry towards greater productivity."

Rolling out smart technologies and materials to the built environment sector

Several breakthrough technologies were introduced by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) to help Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the built environment sector enhance their productivity. One of these technologies is smart drones for safety management, introduced by Singapore-based drone developer Avetics. Drones reduce the need for workers to work at height and allow site surveys to be conducted in days compared to manual methods that take months.

The Foreign Construction Worker Directory System (FCWDS) was launched by Intercorp Solutions in partnership with Singapore Contractors Association Limited (SCAL) and supported by the Ministry of Manpower and IDA. The FCWDS is an online platform that supports the retention of skilled workers in the built environment sector and allows firms to better source workers with relevant skill sets.

Other key exhibits were the Drywall Prefabricated Bathroom Units (DPBU) displayed by Singapore construction and interior firm Tong Hai Yong and Eastern Pretech, a pioneer of PBU in Singapore; a series of innovative boom lifts capable of operating within tight space constraints showcased by Spiderlift Asia; and Concrete Canvas, a flexible fabric that hardens to form a concrete layer when hydrated, showcased by the Scott Vickers Group. Snorkel had also launched 'Snorkel Guard', a secondary guarding device for machine operators, as part of their ongoing continuous improvement initiatives for operator safety.

Advanced materials such as glued laminated timber (glulam), exhibited by Woodsfield Engineered Wood Systems and CW Construction Australia, and cross laminated timber (CLT) were among the highlights of this year's show. The Skilled Builders Project brought glulam and CLT live to the audience at BuildTech Asia, where visitors witnessed the construction of a mid-rise commercial building structural module on the show floor. The Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB), a statutory body responsible for the development of Malaysia's timber industry, conducted an educational session on glulam, sharing knowledge with industry stakeholders, buyers and sellers on the benefits and sustainability of glulam and its applications in construction.

Mrs. Mahsuri Mat Dris, Senior Deputy Director, Technical Support & Timber Engineering, Industry Development Division from the MTIB, said: "We are happy to be a part of BuildTech Asia this year. With its move towards smart construction technology for the built environment sector and regional outreach, BuildTech Asia has proven to be a fantastic platform for us to introduce glulam made from Malaysian hardwood to a wider audience. We are heartened by the visitors' interest in glulam and hope to be back next year to continue educating the industry on the advantages of using this innovative technology."

Fostering and reinforcing relationships on a knowledge-based platform

Besides exploring the latest technologies and materials, delegates and exhibitors fostered new business relationships as well as commercial partnerships on the show floor. Various industry players announced new initiatives and partnerships aimed at elevating construction productivity in Singapore and the region:

• FINALCAD announced a new partnership with leading construction and civil engineering contractor Woh Hup, marking its commitment to advancing the digital transition of the construction industry in Southeast Asia
• Local construction and civil engineering company Tiong Seng signed an MOU with international firm PERI, the world's largest formwork supplier, to build knowledge and skill-sets in advanced formwork technology
• Another MOU was signed between Tiong Seng and international software engineering corporation Tekla to develop a BIM Competency Centre for the study and development of new workflows and innovative uses of the Tekla platform in construction

The inaugural Workplace Health & Safety Conference, themed 'Zero in on Safety', attracted close to 100 industry stakeholders who came together from across the region for informative sessions on the latest trends and developments in construction safety.

Allan Low, EHS Manager from Teambuild Engineering & Construction and part of a delegation of eight attendees, said: "The conference sessions were both educational and enriching. We gained insights on the use of smart technologies in construction such as the use of 3D and BIM technology for construction safety. These are extremely relevant for firms as the adoption of technology to boost productivity continues to gain popularity industry-wide."

BuildTech Asia will return to the Singapore Expo in October 2016. Premium spaces are now available. Organisations which are keen to exhibit at BuildTech Asia 2016 are encouraged to reserve their spaces early.

For photo download, please visit: http://www.buildtechasia.com/photo-gallery

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About BuildTech Asia 2015

Hosted by Building Construction Authority of Singapore (BCA), and held during the Singapore Construction Productivity Week (SCPW), BuildTech Asia 2015 is now into its 5^th edition focuses on technologies that address the challenges of building and construction across different vertical industries. BuildTech Asia 2015 is 3-day trade event dedicated to make a difference to the future of the industry. For more information, please visit www.buildtechasia.com

About the Singapore Construction Productivity Week (SCPW)

Organised by the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore (BCA), the Singapore Construction Productivity Week (SCPW) is an industry hallmark event for developers, architects, consultants, builders and suppliers to exchange ideas on construction productivity, as well as share the latest developments in new productive technologies, best practices and success stories. Held from 13 - 16 October 2015, key events this year include the BuildTech Asia Exhibition, Build Smart Conference, Skilled Builders Project, Productivity Race and Building Information Modelling (BIM) Competition. For more information, please visit www.scpw.sg

About Sphere Exhibits Pte Ltd

A wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), Sphere Exhibits, which stands for "SPH Events, Roadshows and Exhibitions", aims to be the leading events company catering to a diverse mix of trade and consumer clientele. Backed by a committed and experienced team of professionals and SPH's comprehensive range of media platforms, Sphere Exhibits' shows, events and exhibitions centre on unique concepts that attract local audiences and regional participants. Among the 20 Sphere Exhibits' events are The IT Show, COMEX, Licence2Play, Asian Masters and Kidz Academy. Leveraging on its expertise in event conceptualisation, planning and execution.

About Singapore Press Holdings Ltd

Incorporated in 1984, main board-listed Singapore Press Holdings Ltd (SPH) is Asia's leading media organisation, engaging minds and enriching lives across multiple languages and platforms. SPH has 19 titles licensed under the Newspaper Printing and Presses Act, of which nine are daily newspapers across four languages. On an average day, 3.05 million individuals or 76 per cent of people above 15 years old, read one of SPH's news publications. Beyond print, SPH's suite of digital products includes online editions of newspapers and magazines, as well as mobile applications. Our online products enjoy 360 million page views with 23 million unique browsers every month. Other new media initiatives include AsiaOne, omy.sg, ST701, Stomp and SPH Razor. SPH has also ventured into book publishing, broadcasting, out-of-home advertising and properties. For more information, please visit www.sph.com.sg.