BuildTech Asia is getting ready for its eight edition from 22 to 24 October 2018 at the Singapore Expo Hall 3 and Max Atria. It will showcase the latest industry technologies and smart solutions to promote productivity, use of resources and smart solutions to enhance the digital transformation in the built environment (BE) sector.

Various solutions will be displayed across five exhibit profiles: BuildCon (onsite construction machinery and equipment); BuildPro (productive technologies); BuildMat (building materials and architectural solutions); BuildFin (quality finishes); and BuildFM (facilities management) – it is a new segment for BuildTech Asia 2018.

This year’s BuildTech Asia is expected to attract the biggest gathering since its inception, featuring more productive technologies from 200 international and regional brands covering over 10 000 sq m floor space, as well as close to 10,000 high-level attendees from Singapore and its neighbouring countries.

The event is organised by Sphere Exhibits Pte Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings Ltd (SPH) and supported by Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and key BE stakeholders.

International exhibitor participation at BuildTech Asia has reportedly increased over the years. According to the organiser, exhibitors from Australia, Austria, Italy, Turkey, Japan, Korea, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore have confirmed their participation this year.

“In keeping with the times, it is essential for the construction sector to keep up with relevant cutting-edge technologies, which will empower professionals to remain productive and profitable within the construction value chain,” said Chua Wee Phong, chairman of Sphere Exhibits Pte Ltd. “We aim to continue growing the presence of BuildTech Asia in the region and be the leading platform for industry practitioners, technology experts and distributors to network, share insights and be updated on the latest construction technologies and solutions to succeed in today’s built environment sector.”

Transforming Singapore’s built environment sector

Aside from the staple exhibits in construction machinery, equipment, materials and architectural solutions, BuildTech Asia will continue to showcase the latest smart construction and productive technologies to address the challenges of building and construction across different vertical industries. This is in line with the Construction Industry Transformation Map (ITM), which was launched by BCA at the Singapore Construction Productivity Week in October last year.

The Construction ITM envisions an advanced and integrated sector with widespread adoption of leading technologies, led by progressive and collaborative firms well poised to capture business opportunities, and supported by a skilled and competent workforce offering good jobs for Singaporeans.

Earlier this year, Singapore’s Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for National Development, Desmond Lee, announced that plans are afoot to raise the capabilities of local construction players by roping in industry and the research community to help transform the BE sector through research funds and helping local firms to internationalise.

The ways to transform the BE sector include:

a. Implementing new technologies like Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA), by shifting labour-intensive construction processes to controlled factory environment, where quality building components are prefabricated before onsite assembly;

b. Adoption of Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD) to connect stakeholders across the project delivery and building lifecycle by sharing accurate and timely digital information through Building Information Modelling (BIM), Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) and other digital solutions, together with collaborative working approaches and integrated platforms;

c. Helping construction firms to build up capabilities through the use of resources and facilitate healthier and sustainable competition via procurement framework; and

d. Future-proof construction industry professionals by building strong competency in DfMA, IDD and green buildings.

Co-located conferences

Three co-located conferences will take place at the BuildTech Asia:

1. Built Environment Summit 2018, entitled ‘Transformation of Construction SMEs’. It is organised by the Singapore Contractors Association Ltd (SCAL), which will provide insights from industry leaders on overcoming challenges for transformation, and on digital transformation of the construction industry using IDD.

2. Build Smart Conference 2018, organised by BCA. Called ‘Unlocking Innovation through Digital Transformation’, the conference will provide a platform for practitioners from different disciplines to gain insights on technological advancement and best practices in IDD. International and local experts will be sharing their experiences on topics such as application of digitalisation through exemplary international and local IDD projects that enhance construction productivity.

3. Facilities Management Conference, organised by the Singapore Institute of Building Limited (SIBL) and Sphere Exhibits. It is a two-day programme entitled ‘Smart FM – The Next Wave of Integrated Digital Delivery’, which aims to promote productivity and the use of resources and smart innovation to manage the transformation into ‘Industry 4.0’. This is in line with the recently launched Real Estate (RE) Industry Transformation Map (ITM). SIBL and Sphere will be bringing in industry opinion leaders to share their FM innovative technology and best practices across the BE sector and will enable local FM professionals to be future-ready in leading the digital transformation in BE.

For more information: www.buildtechasia.com

For detailed programmes and activities at BuildTech Asia, click here.

To register in advance (free for trade visitors): www.buildtechasia.com/pre-register