SINGAPORE - Ryobi Kiso Holdings, a specialist ground engineering solutions provider, has launched its centre for geotechnical engineering and industrial technology in Singapore to build new competencies in ground engineering technologies.
Housed within Ryobi Kiso's existing facility at Sungei Kadut Loop, the centre's focus will be developing deep industrial technology capabilities in areas such as geotechnical engineering and heavy machinery, said the company in a Singapore Exchange filing on Monday morning (March 5).
Geotechnical engineering is a branch of engineering covering the design and construction of foundations, slopes, retaining structures, embankments, tunnels, levees, wharves, landfills and other systems which are made of or are supported by soil or rock.
Through its research at the centre, which is supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), the company aims to solve engineering challenges, raise productivity and promote sustainable construction, and will also explore research and development partnerships with local research institutes and universities in the future.
The company is also looking to develop a core group of ground engineering specialists with expertise in Big Data, data analytics, industrial robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning and visual recognition.
Ryobi Kiso said that the initiative will build a pipeline of highly specialised digital talent to push the development of new capabilities and solutions for the ground engineering sector. It added that this is aligned with the recent professional services' industry transformation map (ITM) recommendation to equip the workforce with digitalisation skills.
Ryobi Kiso's chief executive Ong Tiong Siew said that the centre will help Singapore's engineering ecosystem advance its adoption of new technology and innovative methods.
"We are pleased to be afforded the opportunity to develop our deep technology capabilities in ground engineering and industrial technology development with the support of EDB," Mr Ong said.
"Although a nascent field, we believe that our unique platform across South-east Asia, coupled with a deeply ingrained DNA to innovate, shall provide the group with a strong edge in the underground infrastructure space," he added.
Fong Pin Fen, EDB director of cities, infrastructure and industrial solutions, described the new centre as an "exciting addition" to the infrastructure ecosystem in Singapore, and said that the centre's focus on "digital and multidisciplinary engineering" will help create good job opportunities for locals.
