Singapore (PRWEB UK) 16 November 2011
The Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech), a research institute of the [ Agency for Science, Technology and Analysis (A*STAR), is taking on the challenge of green manufacturing by spurring R&D collaborations on remanufacturing technologies with NTU and NUS as effectively as launching initiatives to grow eco-friendly industries .
Investing in ten New Projects in Remanufacturing Technologies
SIMTech is engaging with NUS and NTU on 10 new projects to jointly develop competitive remanufacturing technologies for Singapore?s manufacturing businesses. This is the 1st such instance of significant investment in remanufacturing projects by the Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) of A*STAR. The projects had been awarded by SERC in September 2011.
The projects address vital technologies for remanufacturing of combustion engines and automation equipment in the analysis of defective components, salvaging utilised components to functional requirements and enabling technologies that will make sure effective remanufacturing operations? from preparing and scheduling, component inventory forecasting to in-method job tracking.
Said Dr Raj Thampuran, Executive Director, SERC of A*STAR, ?Remanufacturing is a important market space that is below tapped by our neighborhood business. A*STAR?s investment in R&D of remanufacturing technologies will not only spur the growth of new industries, with firm foundations in these technologies, but also enhance the atmosphere by decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. We could nicely see the growth of more eco-friendly industries in Singapore in the near future.?
Three Joint Labs for Remanufacturing Technologies
SIMTech is also collaborating with NTU to establish three joint analysis labs to develop remanufacturing-related technologies in refurbishing and reliability assessment. Refurbishing technologies contain cleaning, cladding, welding, and surface remedy to recover the functionality of the parts to be remanufactured. Reliability assessment technologies evaluate the remanufacturability of the remanufactured parts and to assure their warranty. In addition to delivering cutting edge technologies, the joint-labs will also serve as platforms to nurture R&D manpower for the remanufacturing market, transforming into centres of excellence in the respective technical areas to benefit a lot more business sectors. The initial concentrate of the joint-labs will be in reliability, precision machining, and 3D additive manufacturing.
Provost of NTU, Professor Freddy Boey, said: ?The joint labs aim to come up with innovative manufacturing and industrial processes that are sustainable, effective and price-efficient ? aspects which are crucial to the industry of these days. Given NTU?s expertise and strengths in engineering and sustainable manufacturing, I am certain our most recent collaboration with SIMTech will be a resounding good results. This endeavour is also quite much in line with NTU?s five-year strategic plan, exactly where Sustainable Earth has been identified as the key research area in our efforts to scale new heights as a fantastic international university.?
Remanufacturing and Green Packaging Initiatives for Eco-friendly Industries
The Remanufacturing Initiative for business, supported by SPRING Singapore, aims to boost remanufacturers? competitiveness, create remanufacturing related capabilities in local companies and grow remanufacturers in Singapore. The initiative targeting at remanufacturers, precision engineering service providers, and organizations interested in venturing into remanufacturing collaborates closely with Caterpillar Reman Singapore to aid match and create relevant capabilities to support its local operation. Ten organizations from market are members of this initiative. The prospective value of outsourcing to nearby businesses is estimated to be worth over US$ 100 million per year.
On yet an additional front, to encourage environmentally friendly packaging, SIMTech is launching the Green Packaging Initiative to address the demand and technical challenges faced by goods packaging producers, food and beverage retailers, packaging designers and producers. SIMTech functions with MNCs, OEMs and SMEs to share understanding, create technical competency, innovate green packaging solutions and implement environmentally-friendly packaging by means of the use of renewable, recyclable or recycled content material supplies, the elimination of potentially toxic supplies, the use of renewable power sources and the use of production processes that optimise material, energy and water utilisation. To date, 10 businesses are participating in this initiative.
Dr Lim Ser Yong, Executive Director of SIMTech stated, ?In a time where environmental challenges have taken centre stage, businesses are in search of the know-how and the tools to incorporate sustainable manufacturing into current enterprise operations to minimize cost and environmental impact. With the launch of the Remanufacturing and Green Packaging Initiatives, firms have an added avenue to develop value-added products with manufacturing processes that are also far more environmentally friendly.?
Inaugural Conference on Sustainable Manufacturing
To develop higher market awareness and participation in sustainable manufacturing, SIMTech is organising the Sustainable Manufacturing Centre Annual Conference 2011 on 16 November 2011 at SIMTech. This conference focuses on market trends, value-creation and cost reduction by means of corporate sustainability policies, innovative waste reduction and recycling, and power efficiency in manufacturing. It brings together thought leaders to share techniques, practices and technologies that make organization far more environmentally-friendly.
About Remanufacturing
Remanufacturing is the method of creating a like new product from used items. The remanufacturing procedure entails dismantling, cleaning, salvaging, replacing worn components ahead of re-assembling and testing. A company can potentially save among 60% to 90% in terms of energy, materials, water and air pollutant emissions by remanufacturing an finish-of-life item, compared to manufacturing a new product. In addition, the approach retains a lot more than 80% of the item?s original value. This makes remanufacturing a green and high value-add market with huge growth potential. The international remanufacturing market place exceeds US$ 100 billion (APEX, 2007).With restricted organic resources, gaining new capabilities in remanufacturing opens a window of opportunity for high-margin enterprise growth in a quickly expanding market place.
About the Agency for Science, Technology and Analysis (A*STAR)