Singapore

Singapore is less a destination than a decision point. It is a free port with virtually no import duty on industrial goods, one of the most efficient container terminals in the world, and the regional headquarters location for a great many companies whose plants are actually in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam or Thailand. So a large share of EMM's Singapore enquiries come from buyers who are specifying and purchasing here for installation somewhere else. We ask early where the machine will physically run, because that is what sets the voltage, the frequency, the certification and the climate specification.

What is installed in Singapore itself

Precision engineering and advanced manufacturing is the character of industry here - aerospace component machining and MRO at Seletar, semiconductor and wafer fabrication support, medical device manufacture, and the precision machining supply chain. These buy CNC machining, grinding, EDM, metrology and inspection equipment, cleanroom plant and automation, to tolerances and documentation standards well above the regional norm. The Jurong Island petrochemical complex takes metering pumps, control valves, process compressors, exchanger bundles and fabrication equipment. Marine and offshore yards buy welding, cutting, blasting, painting and heavy lifting plant. Food manufacturing for domestic supply and the regional premium market buys processing, filling and packaging lines. Water is a strategic national programme - NEWater reclamation and desalination - and membrane, pumping and treatment equipment demand is continuous. Logistics and warehousing automation is substantial given land constraints.

Standards and expectations

Registered controlled goods require registration with Enterprise Singapore and the Safety Mark, and buyers expect complete technical files, test certificates and traceability as a matter of course. Distribution is at 230 V with 400 V three phase, 50 Hz, UK-pattern outlets, on a highly reliable grid. English documentation throughout.

Tell us whether the equipment stays in Singapore or is being bought here for a plant elsewhere in the region. The answer changes most of the specification.