NISHIMATSU CONSTRUCTION SINGAPORE

NISHIMATSU CONSTRUCTION SINGAPORE

Successfully building a better future www.nishimatsu.co.jp/eng

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RIGHT ON TRACK Nishimatsu Construction’s reputation in Japan has translated successfully into Singapore as the innovative infrastructural expert continues to play a pivotal role in the country’s rail transit evolution Writer: Matthew Staff Project Manager: Tom Cullum

TBM fabrication

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ishimatsu Construction is one of the most renowned players in an industry that has proved so lucrative across Asia for the past century, and its 142 years of unparalleled experience in its native Japan is now proving invaluable to Singapore’s rail transit system.

Entering the city-state’s sector in 1980, the business’s reputation preceded itself following a host of successful civil engineering, building and infrastructural works carried out in Japan, and the subsequent 35 years has seen Nishimatsu replicate such a cachet in Singapore by involving itself in some of the country’s most prominent developments and structures.

Striking an initial balance across buildings and infrastructure, more recent trends and fluctuations has seen attentions focus more extensively on the latter, and for every stage of Singapore’s rail transit evolution, Nishimatsu has been right in the thick of the action; epitomised by the work currently being carried out on the Gardens By The Bay Station – as a joint venture with Bachy Soletanche Singapore – and its associated tunnels for the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL).

Ultimately though, the Company’s involvement in such high profile and nationally significant projects is a culmination of more than a century’s worth of renowned portfolio works and subsequently unrivalled expertise and experience in the construction domain.

“I would say from my internal perspective and from external feedback we have received, that we differentiate ourselves by our very strong engineering team who are very hands on and are always coming up with new and innovative solutions,” says the Company’s Assistant General Manager, Lim Wee Beng. “Not only is our technical knowledge very strong, the local and Japanese staff in the organisation are also very well

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An aerial view of the project’s launch shaft excavation

integrated allowing the organisation to draw the strengths from each culture in our continual quest to improve on our past results.”

Thomson-East Coast Line

Having been involved since the very first stage of Singapore’s rail transit programme, it may seem like Nishimatsu is a given ever-present across each new line’s construction and each new station’s development, but - just like all other prospective market players - the Company is required to pre-qualify and tender for each new project.

However, having such vast knowledge of the infrastructure by now, and in creating such a wealth of experience across all previous stages has given Nishimatsu a good track record in competing for projects, such as the Thomson-East Coast Line for the Land Transport Authority (LTA).

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Thomson-East Coast Line The Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) is a 43 kilometre underground train line that is expected to be fully completed in 2024. The MRT line will have 31 stations and seven interchange stations which will link to all the other rail lines. Commuters can start enjoying the TEL from 2019 when three stations from Woodlands North to Woodlands South will be completed. The second stretch of six stations from Springleaf to Caldecott will be completed in 2020, while the third stretch from Mount Pleasant to Gardens will complete in 2021. Commuters along the east coast can look forward to using the TEL in 2023 and 2024 when more stations are completed. The stations from Tanjong Rhu to Bayshore will complete in 2023, while Bedok South and Sungei Bedok will complete in 2024.

– Land Transport Authority (LTA)

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ver the past 40 years, Soon Li Heng (SLH) has evolved and strengthened its presence in the construction industry as one of the leading and award-winning earthworks sub-contractors, specialising in complex and deep basement excavation for building and civil engineering projects in Singapore. Through the Company’s unique marketing strategy, reinforced by its extensive experience, expertise and ability to perform and comply with the stringent requirements of both its clients and the authorities, SLH has been able to secure a steady pipeline of notable and iconic projects. Some of the Company’s most recent projects include: Contract

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T228, the construction of gardens by the Bay Station and tunnels for Thomson Line; and Contract T307, the construction of Marine Parade Station and tunnels for Thomson East Coast Line.

Recognising the market demand for sustainable construction materials, SLH’s ECO Engineering division has diversified into green practices through the recycling of concrete aggregates from construction and demolition projects. This means concrete waste materials from construction debris meant for disposal can now be processed and reused for the construction of nonstructural elements such as roads, drains and ramps.

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SLH has amassed an impressive track record and strives to deliver excellence in workplace health and safety. The Company has been bizSAFE star certified since 2012 and bizSAFE partner certified since 2014, as well as achieving the bizSAFE enterprise exemplary and champion award.

Additionally, SLH has been recognised

by WSH council for demonstrating commendable WSH performance through the implementation of excellent risk management plans.

T +65 6288 1983 E contact@slh.com.sg

www.slh.com.sg

Soon Li Heng Civil Engineering specialises in general earthwork and deep basement excavation for building and civil engineering construction in: -

Commercial Projects Infrastructure Projects Institutional Projects Industrial Projects Reclamation Projects Residential Projects

Address: 11 Defu Lane 6, Singapore 539370 Tel: (+65) 6288 1983 Fax: (+65) 6288 1984 Email: contact@slh.com.sg www.slh.com.sg

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“This is a public project which goes through an open tender process. The LTA will then pre-qualify contractors for the various projects,” Lim explains.

“So for each stage, we have to submit our pre-qualification packages before tendering for those contracts.

“One major item looked at by the LTA though is track record, and having such a lengthy track record in Singapore serves us well.”

All-told, the TEL accounts for 43 kilometres of development, bridging the Thomson Line and Eastern Region Line, and also incorporating 31 new stations into the existing network. A further seven interchange stations will also link to the East-West Line, the North-South Line, the Circle Line and the Downtown Line; Nishimatsu having played a pivotal role across each as part of numerous successful joint ventures.

“Our niche as a Company and our intention is to have continual involvement in all the infrastructure and rail transit projects in Singapore as we progress. There are plans by the Singapore government to double the existing length of the transit system by 2030 which ties in well with our goals,” Lim continues. “Currently, the East Coast Line is up for tender and extensions across other Lines are coming up as well.

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Diaphragm wall for Gardens by the Bay Station by joint venture partner, Bachy Soletanche Singapore

“So, for us, we want to continue our track record and continue working on all these projects as a continuation of our involvement in rail transit so far. It helps keep us in the spotlight.”

Improved standards

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With the TEL set for commuter usage by 2021, such long-spanning works are a testament to the extensive levels of planning involved across each facet and the faith that the LTA has in Nishimatsu to carry out the projects to such high and modern standards.

Also involved in a series of tunnelling and complementary infrastructural works in the country, the Company is by no means a one-trick pony though; boasting a host of specialties that bridge all aspects of construction and civil engineering through the implementation of innovative solutions.

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We pride ourselves on our innovation and have introduced quite a few firsts to Singapore, including introducing the first earth pressure balance machine (EPBM) in Singapore for the rail transit works, back when EPBM was not the common accepted norm

“We pride ourselves on our innovation and have introduced quite a few firsts to Singapore, including introducing the first earth pressure balance machine (EPBM) in Singapore for the rail transit works, back when EPBM was not the common accepted norm,” Lim notes.

Some of the Nishimatsu introductions are now common place in Singapore’s

construction arena years later, emphasising the role the Company has played beyond the bounds of its own track record, and the business is now working hard to adhere to two more hot topics in order to make itself even more attractive as a contractor proposition moving forward.

Lim continues: “We have seen an improvement in the construction

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Together with Bachy Soletanche, Nishimatsu has put itself in the Singapore spotlight

industry over the years compared against the time when we entered the Singapore construction industry in the 80s. This is particularly so in terms of safety standards.

“From even 10 years ago, safety requirements are more stringent today and this is joined by the second big trend which is productivity.”

To combat both, the focus for Nishimatsu, and the industry at large, has been on improving the levels of skills entering the sector; capitalising on a more experienced and knowledgeable labour force at ground level to improve levels of safety and productivity in the final construct.

Skilled team and productivity drive

While necessary, this isn’t to say that identifying and introducing a more skilled workforce is an easy task. One of the major challenges encountered

by Nishimatsu has been at human resource level in recent years.

However, this has largely been offset through the balance of nationalities evident under the Company’s employment; bridging the best from a

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Aerial view of Gardens by the Bay Station: November, 2014

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local and expat perspective.

Adding a wealth of experience – including some workers with more than 30 years in the sector to their name – to the mixing pot, Nishimatsu has a team to be proud of despite the inevitable and ongoing difficulties from a retention point of view. But, as Lim enthuses, the Company has a pulling factor that makes it an employer of choice just as much as a contractor of choice.

“We try to employ as many locals as possible in line with the Singapore Government’s direction. Wherever we can fill a position from the local talent pool, then it is our philosophy not to look further afield at that point,” he affirms. “It is also important not just to look at our HR policy in terms of hiring, but to also look after the welfare of our staff and the wider concerns of Nishimatsu’s people.”

A further advantage of instilling a more skilled team at the business end of projects such as the TEL is the ability to trial new and improved techniques, methodologies and systems. This is now being seen along the flagship development with a new category of highly skilled craftsmen for reinforcement concrete (SCRC) being brought in from overseas to once again enhance productivity for the structure itself, and to ensure an improved sense of sustainability for the inevitable role that Nishimatsu will play in the rail transit system’s evolution to come.

This is also a strong statement of Nishimatsu’s commitment to both the LTA and Singapore Government’s drive for productivity.

Lim concludes: “In three years time, I’d say that we will have achieved the basic structure completion on our Gardens By The Bay Station and Tunnels project and hope to have two or three other projects ongoing.

“There are a lot in the pipeline in Singapore and it is our aim to be involved across all stages when they are released in the future.”

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Corrosion prevention Cathodic protection Tidal zone protection Corrosion monitoring Earth & lighting protection Omni Engineering & Trading Pte Ltd 18 Boon Lay Way #07-105, Tradehub21, Singapore 609966 Tel: +(65) 6444 0669 Fax: +(65) 6272 3955 www.omnieng.com.sg

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We specialize in civil engineering, general building & alteration and additional works.

Email: aloft@aloft-builders.com.sg Tel: (65) 6848 4554 Fax: (65) 6848 1054 Aloft Builders Pte Ltd 37 Lorong 23 Geylang #07-06 Yu Li Industrial Building Singapore 388371

Engineering the Present for the Future

Tunnel precast segmental lining casting yard

Drilling rig for directional grouting

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Nishimatsu Construction Singapore 70 Bendemeer Road #05-04 Luzerne Singapore 339940 T: +65 6298 0566 | F: +65 6291 1449

www.nishimatsu.co.jp/eng