2 show daily
Day
Wednesday April 10, 2013 Day 1•April 9
No. Of Visitors (23% Overseas)
Event Highlights Held alongside MTA2013 is MetrologyAsia2013 MetrologyAsia2013 provides the following technologies: • Test and Measurements • Optical Test & Measurement Devices / Instruments • Optics & Photonics • Coordinate Measurement Equipment (Sensors & Scanners) • Material Testing • Monitoring Devices Venue: Hall 3 MTA2013 Capabilities Hub This designated area will showcase a cohort of enterprises that serve the precision engineering industry in sectors like: • Aerospace • Medical Technology • Oil & Gas • Complex Equipment Venue: Hall 4A
Conferences & Seminars icOPEN2013 International Conference on Optics in Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology April 9 – 11, 2013 Venue: Peridot 201/202 Foyer outside 201/202 (Free exhibition) Turn to page 7 for details. PE COI Annual Conference 2013: Technology Innovation & Supplier Development for the PE Industry April 11, 2013 Time: 0900 – 1700 hrs Venue: Peridot 205/206
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The 19th Edition
9 –12 April 2013 • Singapore Expo
MTA2013 Opens With Optimism For The Industry Singapore’s precision engineering sector has evolved from mass production of parts to greater involvement in product design and development. The continual evolution and growth of the industry will be key to the economic development of the country. By Wong Tsz Hin
M
TA2013 officially opened yesterday on April 9, 2013, with speeches by guest-of-honour Lee Yi Shyan, senior minister of state, Ministry of Trade & Industry and National Development, Dr Ricky Souw, chairman of Singapore Precision Engineering and Tooling Association (SPETA) and Stephen Tan, chief executive of Singapore Exhibition Services and president of Allworld Exhibitions Alliance. As Mr Tan has pointed out, manufacturing is a key driver of economic growth and development for many Asian countries. According to him, it is the economic backbone of Singapore, accounting for 20 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The industry also contributes about 24 percent and 27.2 percent to the GDP of Indonesia and Malaysia respectively. Emphasising on the significance of the manufacturing sector in Singapore, Mr Lee said that the industry contributes S$60.2 billion in value added and employs over 400,000 workers. Of which, the Precision Engineering (PE) industry accounts for S$8.8 billion of Singapore’s manufacturing value-added and employs close to a quarter of the country’s manufacturing workforce. “Singapore’s precision engineering industry has evolved significantly over the years,” he said. The industry has evolved from its initial traditional role as a supporting industry within the country to serve global markets from Singapore. He also highlighted
the growth of the complex equipment and component Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), using Heptagon Micro Optics, which has established its manufacturing facility for new wafer-level optics in Singapore, as an example. The precision modules and components industry segment has grown by three percent in 2012 due to higher production from optical instruments, photographic equipment and electronic connectors. The growing trend of the industry is the shift from an emphasis on mass production of simple parts to the design, development and production of technology-intensive precision components and complex equipments.
“For instance, Rohde & Schwarz, a leading manufacturer of test and measurement equipment for mobile radios and radio communications, announced a S$85 millioninvestment to intensify its manufacturing, headquarters, and research and development activities in Singapore,” he added. The new facility at Changi Business Park will be completed by the end of 2013 and will be the company’s first global hub outside of Germany. According to Mr Lee, one area with strong growth potential is additive manufacturing or 3D printing. The development of additive manufacturing will benefit the precision engineering industry, providing solutions for industry verticals, such as the aerospace,