Media Release - Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology ...

Media Release: NR/14/2008
23 May 2008
SPRING and A*STAR launch $15 million Precision Engineering
Centre for SMEs to gain a foothold in new growth industries
• Centre offers suite of services in four critical areas of technology development,
manpower development, expert consultancy and R&D infrastructure that will benefit
precision engineering companies
1. A new Centre of Innovation has been set up to provide precision engineering
companies ready access to cutting edge technology, knowledge, and R&D infrastructure, to
give companies the leverage to create innovative niche technologies and seize new growth
opportunities.
2. A joint initiative by SPRING Singapore and the Agency for Science, Technology and
Research (A*STAR), the Precision Engineering Centre of Innovation (PE COI) will support
the PE industry in developing enabling technologies for innovations in material, product,
process, operational and business models. This will help PE companies seize new
opportunities in growth industries such as medical devices, oil and gas, aerospace,
automotive and semiconductor equipment. The Centre is hosted at A*STAR’s Singapore
Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech), a R&D leader in advanced manufacturing
technologies.
3. With an investment of $15 million to enhance its spectrum of technologies,
capabilities and R&D facilities for the first three years of operations (2007 – 2009), the
Centre aims to support the PE industry through 75 high-impact projects over the same
period. It offers the following suite of services:
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• Technology development - PE companies can tap on the expertise of SIMTech’s
team of 300 researchers to develop technological capabilities in process,
automation and manufacturing IT to create niche technologies that will expand
their market opportunities.
• Manpower development – PE companies can “skill up” their staff in advanced
manufacturing technologies to support the industry’s move towards higher-end
manufacturing. This is offered under the Singapore Workforce Skills
Qualifications System’s Specialist Diploma and supplemented with regular
SIMTech-organised technology seminars and workshops.
• Advice and consultancy – Expert services and resources will be available to help
with process troubleshooting, product design and engineering, technology
capability assessments, and testing and failure analysis.
• Facility and equipment sharing – PE companies will have easy access to the
comprehensive R&D infrastructure at SIMTech, which has state-of-the-art
processing equipment, diagnostic tools and reliability testing for developmental or
diagnostic activities.
4. Since it began operations in June 2007, the Centre has attracted strong industry
interest with 42 projects with PE companies. These are development projects in the areas of
processes, automation and manufacturing IT, resulting in high value-added growth to the
companies. Of these, 34 projects are carried out with 22 SMEs.
5. Dr Lim Ser Yong, Executive Director of SIMTech, said: ”As an R&D organisation with
a strong industry track record in providing advanced manufacturing technology, SIMTech is
well-positioned to provide enabling technologies for PE SMEs to innovate and venture into
growth industries.”
6. Alignment Tool is among the 22 pioneering SMEs that have successfully tapped the
PE COI to venture into new growth areas by developing methods in designing cutting tools.
Mr Roger Heng, Managing Director of Alignment Tool (S) Pte Ltd said: “The development
and manufacture of competitive cutters used to be a time-consuming process with many
trials and customer validations, particularly on the design and prediction of tool-life. With the
help of the PE COI, the company has successfully developed new methods for cutters
designed for free form machining that saves significant time. Alignment Tool is now
supplying these high value cutters to aerospace manufacturing companies. The innovation
has also led to new business opportunities for the company in industries where tooling
reliability is a critical competitive factor.”
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7. Another SME, Delta Optics Technologies, an optical mould inserts manufacturer,
worked with the PE COI to develop an innovative ultrasonic-assisted machining process to
speed up its manufacturing of high-precision mould inserts. “By working with the PE COI,
we have been able to cut down production time dramatically from six weeks to one day and
improve the moulding tool’s life by six times. The innovation has enabled Delta Optics to
successfully compete with companies in the US, Europe and Japan to supply high-precision
mould inserts for the manufacture of plastic optical components,” said Dr Liu Xiang Dong,
Technical Director, Delta Optics Technologies Pte Ltd.
8. The PE COI is an important part of A*STAR’s long-term plan to assist SMEs to scale
to the next level of competitiveness. It complements A*STAR’s core programme for SMEs,
called the Growing Enterprises with Technology Upgrade (GET-UP), that enables SMEs to
raise their capabilities by helping them develop their operation and technology roadmaps,
providing technical advice and secondment of A*STAR researchers. More than 200 SMEs
have benefited under GET-UP.
9. The PE COI is the third centre launched under SPRING’s Technology Innovation
Programme (TIP), which encourages SMEs to grow their businesses by adopting technology
to create high value products and services and compete effectively in the global market. Two
other COIs for SMEs in the food as well as marine and offshore industries were launched in
2007.
10. Besides the investment in the PE COI to help SMEs connect to technology expertise,
SPRING has other programs, such as the Semiconductor and MedTech Capability
Development Programs, to assist local PE SMEs to build up their capabilities to meet the
stringent demands of these two high precision sectors.
~~~ End of Media Release ~~~~
About SPRING Singapore
SPRING Singapore is the enterprise development agency for growing innovative companies and
fostering a competitive SME sector. We work with partners to help enterprises in financing,
capabilities and management development, technology and innovation, and access to markets. As
the national standards and accreditation body, SPRING also develops and promotes internationallyrecognised
standards and quality assurance to enhance competitiveness and facilitate trade.
For more information, please visit http://www.spring.gov.sg
About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research
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The Agency for Science, Technology and Research, or A*STAR, is Singapore’s lead agency for
fostering world class scientific research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based Singapore. It
actively nurtures public sector research and development in physical sciences and engineering and
biomedical sciences, with a particular focus on fields essential to Singapore’s manufacturing industry
and new growth industries.
A*STAR’s Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) promotes public sector research and
development in science and engineering with seven full fledged, advanced research institutes that
develop high-tech research in a wide range of fields including communications, data storage,
materials, chemicals, advanced computing, microelectronics and process manufacturing. Six of the
research institutes will be headquartered at the soon-to-be-opened Fusionopolis, Singapore’s iconic
hub for science and engineering research to tackle global technological challenges and create future
industries.
For more information, please visit http://www.a-star.edu.sg
About Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology
The Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) is a research institute of the Agency
for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). SIMTech develops high value manufacturing
technology and human capital to contribute to the competitiveness of the Singapore industry. It
collaborates with multinational and local companies in the precision engineering, electronics,
semiconductor, medical technology, aerospace, automotive, marine, logistics and other sectors
For more information, please visit http://www.SIMTech.a-star.edu.sg
For media enquiries, please contact:
Lee Swee Heng
SIMTech
T: 6793 8368
M: 9620 3902
Email: shlee@SIMTech.a-star.edu.sg
Goh Liyi
Manager, Corporate Communications
SPRING Singapore
T: 6279 3638
M: 9690 9087
E-mail: goh_liyi@spring.gov.sg
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