Oct 13 2010
The Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech), a research institute of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), today launch the Nanotechnology in Manufacturing Initiative (NiMI). Supported by International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and SPRING Singapore, this initiative explores nano-materials for industry applications and addresses challenges in the adoption of nanotechnology for manufacturing.
To date, 13 companies: 3M; CEL Coatings; Gaia Science; Haruna (S); K-Solar 3G Technologies; Pidilite Innovation Centre; PJI Contract; Shimadzu (Asia Pacific); Sunny Instruments Singapore; Toray Industries Inc; TÜV SÜD PSB; Vestas Technology R&D and Wangi Industrial (Annex 2) are participating in the initiative.
Importance of Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology, which involves techniques to observe, manufacture, manipulate, evaluate and characterise particles to create new materials, enhanced functionalities and nano-products, revolutionises the way we make things. Impacting a myriad of industries from aerospace, automotive, chemical, energy and environment, food, information and communication, medicine and health care, security and transportation, nanotechnology offers many possibilities. It provides cheaper and cleaner energy, cleaner water, lighter and stronger materials, faster, more powerful and energy-efficient computer, exponential increase in information storage capacity, self-cleaning surface and reduction or elimination of pollution.
Market Potential and Challenges
Estimates of the global nanotechnology market in 2010 range from about US$ 15.7 billion to US$ 1 trillion. By 2015, the market worth is estimated to be more than US$ 2.4 trillion (Source: Nanotechnology: A Realistic Market Assessment; 1 July 2010; BCC Research). This underscores the importance of raising awareness of nanotechnology in Singapore, equipping the industry with the skill sets and know-how to handle the special instruments and adhere to the Environment, Health and Safety regulations. In the Nanotechnology in Manufacturing Roundtable Discussion in April 2010, participants from the manufacturing industry have highlighted the technological and engineering issues relating to scalability, quality and reliability of adopting nanotechnology in manufacturing, as well as the need for closer collaborations amongst the government, academic and industry players to bring down the high cost associated with nano-materials, special equipment and tooling.
Dr Lim Ser Yong, Executive Director of SIMTech, said, “SIMTech invests in this field of research for manufacturing enterprises to tap on the institute’s existing know-how and infrastructure resources to stretch their limited resources and sharpen their capabilities. This initiative enables industry to partner with SIMTech in innovative R&D to develop value-added nano-materials and manufacturing processes to cope with nanotechnology in manufacturing to develop feasible and optimised high performance products with enhanced functionalities. The collaboration among government agencies, research institutes and industry in lowering the R&D development cost for industry accelerates the adoption of nanotechnology. Industry can then explore new grounds and venture into high-value and high-tech manufacturing, an avenue to grow and diversify the local manufacturing industry.”
SIMTech has integrated nanotechnology in its research activities in manufacturing technologies. These encompass machining, joining, forming, and surface functionalities, as well as characterisation. Some examples are laser fabrication and nanobump arrays, lead-free nanofillers solder composite, powder injection moulding with nano-size fillers, superhard nanocomposite Physical Vapour Deposition coating and photocatalytic Titanium Dioxide nanoparticles coating.
PJI Contract Pte Ltd, a leading specialist in surface protection coatings for oil and gas and the pharmaceutical industries, licensed the SIMTech water soluble Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticle self-cleaning technology. The company has invested to commercialise the technology for functional application. One of SIMTech’s researchers is seconded to assist PJI Contract in the production of the TiO2solution.