Forum: High-tech precast factories supported through government schemes
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Follow topic:
We refer to the articles “ Once touted as future of construction in Singapore, high-tech precast factories struggling Critical to communicate, standardise, review if S’pore wants to raise construction productivity
Integrated construction and prefabrication hubs (ICPHs) play an important role, and have enhanced the productivity and resilience of Singapore’s construction industry. Over the years, Singapore’s approach to precast production has evolved to balance productivity, resilience, industry capacity and cost, with close communication between the Government and industry. For example, HDB has held annual dialogues with precasters on projected precast demand, best practices and upcoming changes, and these have been scaled up to quarterly sessions in 2025.
Post-pandemic, contractors tendering for HDB projects are required to obtain a proportion of precast components locally. Since February 2022, local production volume has increased by almost 90 per cent, supported by rising demand particularly from HDB, with HDB’s term contracts for large panel slabs that can be produced only at ICPHs.
Precast components are needed when building projects reach their superstructure phase, usually about a year after the contract has been awarded. Demand for ICPH capacity thus needs to be planned, and there is some lead time between project launches and precast production commencement. HDB thus regularly reviews the projected precast demand and local production capacity, to minimise production risk while ensuring supply resilience for its projects.
We have also been driving standardisation in the construction industry, which improves productivity for ICPHs. Since December 2023, HDB has adopted the enhanced Standardised Unit Plan where more precast components can be used across projects, boosting mould repetition and production efficiency. A working group comprising HDB, the Building and Construction Authority, and industry players was established in 2024 to drive further standardisation of precast components for efficient production and stronger demand aggregation.
The Government continues to stipulate prefabricated prefinished volumetric construction (PPVC) adoption via Government Land Sales requirements, where suitable. While HDB projects mainly use 2D precast components that offer better cost and resilience advantages, HDB also deploys prefabricated 3D components for bathrooms and household shelters. ICPHs with dedicated PPVC production capabilities can adjust their production to balance between 2D and 3D components, while keeping overall production at optimal capacity.
The Government has supported ICPHs through the Productivity Innovation Project scheme and Construction Support Package. Moving forward, ICPHs can tap the Built Environment Technology and Capability Grant to further enhance their capabilities.
Adeline Loo
Group Director, Construction Productivity and Quality
Building and Construction Authority
Leow Beng Kiat
Group Director, Building and Infrastructure Group
Housing and Development Board
