SingEx Exhibitions and international partner Deutsche Messe present the second edition of Industrial Transformation ASIA-PACIFIC (ITAP), a HANNOVER MESSE event, on Oct. 22 to 24 at the Singapore EXPO & MAX Atria that will gather around 20,000 attendees from 350 companies in 30 countries to help them start, scale, and sustain their adoption of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) processes and solutions.

ITAP is Asia-Pacific’s leading trade event for “Industry 4.0” which is defined by global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company as “the next phase in the digitization of the manufacturing sector.” It brings together a self-contained ecosystem for end-to-end engagements among I4.0 practitioners, technology and solution providers, industrial companies, component manufacturers, software companies, manufacturing solutions suppliers, service companies and consultancies, and start-ups.

“We have listened closely to the needs of Asia-Pacific companies who are facing I4.0 disruption and we have curated content platforms this year to ensure that they find the right guidance to determine the best solutions customized for their needs. While the state of readiness is increasing, many companies lack the in-depth knowledge to get started, and for those who have started, going beyond the pilot stage remains a problem. Industrial Transformation will address these pain points and provide the catalyst for companies to find the right solutions with the right fit that align with their business objectives,” said Aloysius Arlando, chief executive officer (CEO) of SingEx Holdings.

This year’s ITAP, which is designed as a personalized learning journey for each attendee, serves as a community enabler connecting buyers to all aspects of their needs in their I4.0 journey — from learning and networking to sourcing, retrofitting, and implementing. The event will help attendees learn from industry giants who will present innovations, valuable insights, and case studies that will inspire practical engagement.

The show floor provides an immersive experience ranging from a Learning Lab, a Collaboration Lab, a Robotics Experimental Zone, a Research & Technology Zone, Sandboxes and Conferences, and Guided and Technical Tours. These curated content platforms located onsite as well as offsite provide interactions and discoveries that allow attendees to choose their relevant industry sectors and level of readiness in I4.0 adoption for effective engagement.

ITAP brings with it the reputation of HANNOVER MESSE as the world’s leading trade show for industrial technology, and the advantage of Germany’s expertise in advanced manufacturing. In a report, McKinsey cited Germany, along with the United States, as clear front-runners in I4.0 adoption.

“Today, manufacturers face very different challenges compared to only a few years ago. Together with the research and development (R&D) sector, suppliers of production, logistics and energy technologies have to adjust to meet these new demands,” said Dr. Jochen Köckler, CEO of Deutsche Messe. “Industrial Transformation ASIA-PACIFIC brings together users and providers of all sizes to actively shape this transformation in the key sectors of automation, industrial IT and software, energy, logistics, and additive manufacturing.” 

Partnerships to drive transformation forward

As a precursor to the main ITAP event, a media and industry engagement event was held at the German Ambassador to Singapore’s residence, His Excellency Dr. Ulrich Sante, who amplified the agenda of cross-border technology transfer among Germany, Asia and Singapore. He welcomed a German delegation led by Prime Minister of Lower Saxony Stephan Weil, leaders from government agencies, and key industry organizations for a media briefing and a fireside chat to address “Priorities for the Next Stage of Manufacturing Transformation in Asia.”

“Asia holds tremendous growth potential, and Singapore is fortunate to be strategically located at the heart of the region. This allows companies based in Singapore to capture new opportunities to grow. The advent of I4.0 will enable companies to capture such growth prospects in a faster, more efficient way. Through Industrial Transformation ASIA-PACIFIC, we hope to facilitate the exchange of ideas and information between manufacturers, suppliers and solution providers, to help them form the right partnerships to drive their company transformation forward,” said Lim Kok Kiang, assistant managing director, Singapore Economic Development Board.

Strong intergovernmental engagement in I4.0 adoption bodes well for ASEAN industry players that recognize the importance of the I4.0 agenda but do not know how to start. Industrial Transformation attracts industry leaders such as Fraunhofer Singapore, Siemens and Schneider Electric, who raise the bar in research and technology and are ahead of the curve in anticipating industry trends. They are among many outstanding organizations presenting solutions that answer the urgent needs of SMEs in Asia Pacific.

To sustain Singapore’s competitiveness in high-value manufacturing, R&D and innovation remain critical, said Professor Tan Sze Wee, executive director of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research’s (A*STAR) Science and Engineering Research Council.

“A*STAR works closely with industry players through public-private partnerships to help them transform digitally by adopting I4.0 technologies. Industrial Transformation ASIA-PACIFIC is a good opportunity for such engagements. This year, A*STAR will showcase new technologies for personalized manufacturing. As demand for customized products and services continues to grow, manufacturers have to be able to respond quickly,” Mr. Wee said.

A*STAR, in partnership with the Nanyang Technological University, manages the Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre (ARTC), Asia’s first center for test-bedding and developing manufacturing technologies.

Meanwhile, at this year’s Industrial Transformation ASIA PACIFIC, technology leader ABB will showcase its latest technologies and innovations for the digital transformation of cities, factories and industries.

Customized Industry 4.0 journey for attendees

Attendees begin their journey through the Gateway to I4.0, which contrasts old-technology exhibits versus the new to showcase the transformation and the outcomes of practical applications. Beginning with an understanding of I4.0 and its global implications and applications, attendees deepen their experience at displays by Nanyang Polytechnic and Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre before heading to a discussion area to address their needs and priorities.

When they exit the Gateway, there are various curated learning platforms on the show floor to help sharpen their focus and to add momentum to their learning:

*Over 50 Sandbox sessions provide practical learnings based on industry specific challenges. Topics to be presented include: A Holistic Solution for SME Enterprises on a I4.0 journey; Enabling Smooth Business Transition and Transformation; Practical Examples on using Location Tracking to Improve Manufacturing & Logistics Operations Efficiency; ASi-5 + IO-Link as a Perfect Combination in Industrial Communication.

*Dynamic Learning Lab with live demonstrations to highlight the capabilities and applications of autonomous solutions in Intralogistics

* A Research and Technology Zone to activate business collaborations through open innovations with technology providers and seekers, presented by Institutes of Higher Learning such as Nanyang Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic and TUM Asia

* Over 100 Guided Tours with 8 tracks covering 12 industries: Aerospace, Automotive, Food & Beverage, Infrastructure & Facilities/Urban Solutions, Logistics & Supply Chain, Oil & Gas/Energy, Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology, and Semiconductor/Electronics & Electrical

* Island-wide Technical Tours to leading R&D centres such as: ABB Customer Innovation Center; Advanced Remanufacturing & Technology Centre; Centre of Excellence for Testing; EOS Additive Manufacturing Centre; Flexspeed iSmart; Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence; Ngee Ann Polytechnic Centre of Innovation (EWTCOI) Additive Manufacturing Lab; SAP Leonardo Centre; SICK Technology and Innovation Lab; Siemens Advanced Manufacturing Transformation Center; Singapore Polytechnic Advanced Manufacturing Learning Journey; SMT i4.0 Smart Manufacturing Centre; Sodick Techno Center; Tranzplus Smart Manufacturing Centre

For more information on Industrial Transformation ASIA-PACIFIC 2019, log on to https://www.industrial-transformation.com/. — JOSIELYN LUNA-MANUEL, Special Features Editor

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