Changing the Way We Build

16 events planned for the SCPW to cultivate a strong productivity mind-set among the industry and students

Singapore, 13 September 2016 – Construction site productivity, measured by the amount of floor area completed per man-day, has been improving steadily by an average of 1.3% per year since 2009. To meet the national productivity target, there is a need to further boost productivity in the built environment sector.

• 2. To help the built environment sector achieve a quantum leap in productivity, the sixth Singapore Construction Productivity Week (SCPW), themed ‘Transforming the Way We Build through Innovation’, will facilitate discussions on the latest industry developments, innovative solutions to drive construction productivity, and how we can change the way we build through innovation.

• 3. The SCPW organised by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) with Sphere Exhibits as the strategic partner, will be held from 18 to 21 October 2016. Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister for National Development and Second Minister for Finance will be the Guest-of-Honour of the SCPW opening ceremony.

• 4.“The next phase of advancement in the built environment sector will require changing the way we build. We need to move the built environment sector towards wider adoption of the Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) approach, which means moving as much on-site construction works to off-site factory prefabrication as possible. By doing so, we can reduce our reliance on labour through higher degree of automation, minimise the impact on the surrounding neighbourhood, reduce wastage of resources during construction, as well as create more conducive and safer workplaces. The quality of our buildings and infrastructures will also improve as we move towards more prefabrication,” said Dr John Keung, CEO of BCA.
• 5.“The advancement in technology will also help attract more locals to the built environment sector to build up a strong local core and lead the transformation of the sector. Through platforms such as the SCPW, we want to help our firms build up their engineering capability and develop niche expertise, which will enhance their competitiveness locally and in overseas markets,” added Dr Keung.
• 6.The key events of this year’s SCPW will focus on how the built environment sector can achieve more significant productivity improvements through the DfMA approach, raising the quality of the workforce and improving integration in the construction value chain. These events include:
• A two-day Build Smart Conference which provides a platform for industry practitioners to gain insights into overseas and local productive technologies, processes and concepts, case studies, as well as exemplary projects.
• The BuildTech Asia organised by Sphere Exhibits where some 150 local and international firms will be exhibiting the latest productive technologies including Building-IoT, building materials, architectural and quality solutions, as well as construction machinery and equipment. The tradeshow will for the first time include an agency pavilion to showcase how government agencies in Singapore have taken the lead in adopting game-changing technologies in their projects.
• A new Experiential Workshop will be organised as an experience sharing session which will include site visits to local projects adopting game changing technologies.
• The Skilled Builders Project for industry practitioners to display their skills in handling high impact productive technologies using mass engineered timber - cross laminated timber (CLT) and glued laminated timber (Glulam).
• 7.Mr Chua Wee Phong, Chairman of Sphere Exhibits Pte Ltd, said: “Technology has significantly impacted the built environment sector in Singapore and around the region. Over the years we have strengthened our partnership with BCA to assist companies in this industry to keep abreast of the latest developments in productive technologies through the deployment of smart building materials and turnkey solutions. We are pleased to reintroduce architectural solutions and a showcase of quality finishes this year. To further equip the industry, we are proud to be the first to introduce a segment of Building-IoT as well as a dedicated conference to further to assist industry practitioners to cope in an increasingly complex and interconnected environment whilst developing their expertise.”
• 8.In addition, the Singapore Contractors Association Ltd (SCAL) will be holding its inaugural Productivity and Innovation Awards (PIA) 2016 as part of this year’s SCPW. This is an industry initiative to raise productivity in the built environment sector through a ground-up approach for innovative ideas. The competition will provide a platform for companies to step up productivity efforts through the involvement of all levels of staff to propose projects, products or process changes that will result in significant improvements in their work. BCA and the Housing and Development Board (HDB) which supports the PIA, will select the top few innovative ideas to be showcased for public voting at the BuildTech Asia 2016. Winners will receive prizes during the SCAL Conference.
• 9.Besides engaging industry professionals, students from Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) will be participating in workshops, tours and competitions as part of the SCPW to learn concepts on construction productivity and compete using their skills and knowledge of productive technologies.
• 10.Prior to the start of the week’s activities, BCA will convene the fourth International Panel of Experts (IPE) meeting on construction productivity and prefabrication technology. The meeting will involve 13 prominent local professionals and nine overseas experts from the United States, United Kingdom, Denmark, Hong Kong, Switzerland and Netherlands who are highly regarded in various disciplines and DfMA technologies. They will share their insights, review existing productivity initiatives and discuss ways to further improve productivity in Singapore's built environment sector.
• 11.Please refer to Annex A or visit www.scpw.sg for more information on the SCPW.
• 12.Please visit www.buildtechasia.com/register to pre-register as a visitor to BuildTech Asia and its associated activities.

Issued by the Building and Construction Authority and Singapore Press Holdings Limited (Co. Registration No. 198402868E)

For media enquiries, please contact:

Building and Construction Authority

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 18 – 21 October 2016, key events this year include the BuildTech Asia Exhibition, Build Smart Conference, Skilled Builders Project, inaugural SCAL Productivity Innovation Competition and Awards, Experiential Workshop, as well as the Productivity Workshop, Productivity Challenge and Productivity Race to engage tertiary students on construction productivity concepts. For more information, please visit www.scpw.sg

About BuildTech Asia 2016

Hosted by Building Construction Authority of Singapore (BCA), and held during the Singapore Construction Productivity Week (SCPW), BuildTech Asia 2016 is now into its 6th edition focuses on technologies that address the challenges of building and construction across different vertical industries. BuildTech Asia 2016 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 Building and Construction Authority

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) of Singapore champions the development of an excellent built environment for Singapore. BCA’s mission is to shape a safe, high quality, sustainable and friendly built environment, as these are four key elements where BCA has a significant influence. In doing so, it aims to differentiate Singapore’s built environment from those of other cities and contribute to a better quality of life for everyone in Singapore. Hence, its vision is to have "a future-ready built environment for Singapore". Together with its education arm, the BCA Academy of the Built Environment, BCA works closely with its industry partners to develop skills and expertise that help shape a future-ready built environment for Singapore. For more information, visit www.bca.gov.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, Sphere Exhibits delivers memorable and quality events that meet the objectives of its clientele and partners. For more information, please visit www.sphereexhibits.com.sg

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

ANNEX A: OVERVIEW OF SCPW 2016

‘Transforming the way we build through innovation’The Opening Ceremony of the 6^th SCPW will be held on18 October 2016, during which the BIM Awards (Project level) will be presented.

BuildTech Asia (BTA) 2016 is a three-day trade exhibition organised by Sphere Exhibits, a subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings. It is the region’s leading tradeshow that focuses on productive and smart technologies addressing the challenges across the value chain in the built environment sector in Asia. Guided tours at the BTA will be organised for industry leaders, public agencies and students from Institutes of Higher Learning.

• -The BCA Pavilion at the BTA will feature productive and innovative showcases that chart the latest developments in the transformation of the construction industry into one that is productive and innovative. This year, BCA will also be partnering other agencies to showcase government’s effort in driving productivity.

The Skilled Builders Project is a platformfor industry practitioners to display their skills in handling cross laminated timber (CLT) and glued laminated timber (Glulam).

The Build Smart Conference is a two-day conference which provides a platform to share ideas and technologies to advance construction productivity, targeted at industry practitioners. Topics on DfMA, lean construction and VDC/BIM will be covered.

The Experiential Workshop features an experience sharing session including site visits to local projects adopting game changing technologies.

TheProductivity Challenge & Productivity Race aim to engage Institutes of Higher Learning (IHL) students on construction productivity concepts.

The Productivity Guided Tours and Workshops are catered to reach out to the IHL students and lecturers to enhance their understanding on the built-environment industry.

International Building Information Modelling (BIM) Competition - A competition targeting the tertiary students to demonstrate their BIM skills under the mentorship of industry practitioners.

BIM Shoot-Out – A competition targeting IHL students to demonstrate their individual BIM modelling and documentation skills within a given time frame.

International Panel of Experts (IPE) Meeting on Construction Productivity and Prefabrication Technology comprising local and overseas experts to explore ways to further improve construction productivity in Singapore.

ANNEX B: HIGHLIGHTS AT BUILDTECH ASIA 2016

Productive technologies on show include BIM, Construction IT and DfMA.

Highlighted exhibiting companies include:

• CS Global Group, who will exhibit mobile technology to improve productivity at construction sites; DiHUb, who are introducing a BIM library of real building materials;
• Allanamics International for their StatRapid materials that are designed to replace the heavy concrete blocks which are stacked to test for pile capability, with a faster, lighter version; Peikko Singapore will exhibit a large selection of concrete connections and composite structures;
• Synergix Technologies on their software that is a facial biometric device which links to a payroll module;
• Halfen-Moment will showcase their HS Protect, an air drying coating that protects building materials during construction and transportation.

Some key highlights on building materials and architectural solutions include access and automation systems, hardware and tools, electrical and safety elements, alongside landscape, roofing and façade materials. A dedicated showcase of quality finishes will be presented in a unique way that illustrates how, for example, architectural coverings, ceiling systems, doors and windows, lighting, walls, partitions and flooring systems can be applied.

Highlighted exhibiting companies include:

• Eastern Pretech, who will exhibit their precast pre-stressed hollow-core slab, which can be used for a wide range of applications requiring floor or roof systems in residential, institutional, commercial, industrial or construction projects.
• Splice Sleeve, for their butt-splicing reinforcing bars system which is used throughout the world for connection of rebars in the precast building method as well as for cast-in-place method. When tested with Splice Sleeves, full-size, precast column-beam members show if the connections are equal or superior in both structural strength and ductility to monolithically poured concrete columns.
• USG Boral will showcase their USG Boral Logix™ Integrated Ceiling System.

Key exhibitor highlights from on-site construction machinery and equipment are:

• Terra Lite which will be displaying their 1 tonne overhead travelling crane, which is powered by software based Intelligent control systems and its standard model comes with 18 intelligent features include anti-sway, anti-overload, anti-side pull.
• ACME Equipment Pte Ltd will showcase their VSE500 system which enhances productivity and improves efficiency. The VSE500 can mix and convey sand and/or mortar materials for hundreds of metres, allowing for the transfer of materials to locations that may have difficult access. Driven by an environmental friendly electrical motor, which produces no pollutants, the VSE500 features pneumatic conveying of materials which enables zero wastage of materials so that the construction site can be green and achieve productivity.
• Hebei Jinbiao Construction Materials (Singapore) Pte Ltd, a multimillion dollar Chinese manufacturer, provides products such as mesh fencing, noise reduction products and gabion to several government agencies in Singapore including HDB, LTA and URA.

BuildTech Asia 2016 has earned increased regional support this year from South East Asia’s building and construction sector. As in previous years, local and international associations have embraced the opportunity to collaborate with BuildTech Asia 2016 to network with industry colleagues in pursuit of their business goals. This year, the Association of Industrial Engineering and Management Industry of Indonesia (ISTMI); Association of Property and Facility Managers, Building Owners & Managers Association, Indonesia, Construction Industry Joint Council; The Institution of Engineers, Singapore ; Indonesia Engineers Association ; International Powered Access Federation; National Association of Indonesian Consultants ; Jakarta Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Malaysia Heavy Construction Equipment Owners Association; Master Builders Association of Malaysia, Renovation and Decoration Advisory Centre (RADAC); Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore; Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS); Singapore Contractors Association Ltd (SCAL); Singapore Cranes Association; Singapore Institute of Building Limited; Singapore Institute of Surveyors & Valuers; Singapore Institution of Safety Officers; Singapore Manufacturing Federation; Society of Project Managers Singapore, The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia, Vietnam Ceramic Association, Vietnam Electronic Industries Association, Vietnam Federation of Civil Engineers Association and Workplace Safety and Health Asia are supporting BuildTech Asia 2016.

Co-located Conferences & Activities at BuildTech Asia 2016:

• 1.Organised by Homdex and Sphere Exhibits in conjunction with BuildTech Asia 2016, the Building IoT Exhibition takes place from 18 – 20 October and will feature a dedicated pavilion consisting of companies showcasing IoT platforms, IoT applications, devices and services;
• 2.The B-IoT Asia Conference features local and international experts who discuss safety and security, big data and analytics, and how to use IoT to achieve operational efficiency in bulidings