For further information, please contact:

Raymond Gan
Marketing and Communications Manager
HSL Constructor Pte Ltd
Mobile: +65 9060 6489
Email: marketing@hsl.com.sg

HSL shall be constructing :-

- The foundation
- Circulating water intake / outfall structures
- Underground concrete box culvert
- Marine offshore construction of Velocity Cap and Intake Pipe Head
- Marine GRP pipe installation
- Seabed dredging works

About Samsung C&T

Samsung C&T is the trading, investment, construction, and engineering arm of the Samsung Group, the largest chaebol (business conglomerate) in South Korea. The unit’s trading and investment group is active in a number of sectors, including oil and gas, electronics, heavy machinery, and chemicals. Founded in 1938, Samsung C&T has more than 100 offices worldwide.

For further information, please contact:

Raymond Gan
Marketing and Communications Manager
HSL Constructor Pte Ltd
Mobile: +65 9060 6489
Email: marketing@hsl.com.sg

Construction of the 613 m seawall for this national development project involves numerous works such as pre-boring and piling of 1500 No. of 1.2 m & 1.4 m diameter interlocked steel pipe piles, jet grouting and capping beam construction that measures 2.8 km long. For the installation of the steel pipe piles, two different construction methodologies were devised to enhance the overall constructability.

For the piling works directly above water, a prefabricated staging system was installed on top of newly installed piles to provide access for boring rigs and cranes to facilitate adjacent area piling works in a continual and sequential manner. For the piling works near the shoreline, a soon-to-be demolished pier, was used as the temporary platform for the construction works, and this greatly reduced the material usage and imparted cost-savings to our client.

Despite encountering ancient debris and unexpected boulders, installation of the interlocked piles were completed within 12 months of the project, well within the planned piling programme. To cope with the tidal conditions during construction of the capping beam, efficient deployment of labor and resources was carried out to maximize the productivity during the erection of the beam soffit falsework and right up to the casting of concrete. Apart from good planning, innovation played a pivotal role in the project as grouting of the interlock between piles were also performed with a specialized in-house grouting techniques to curb leakage for the sea wall structure.

The proactive approach to site works further allowed the client to better plan and execute sequential construction activities in advance which contributed greatly to completing the works 2 months in advance. For the tremendous effort, the icing on the cake was that HSL clinched the Safety Subcon Award from LTA. Haste doesn’t certainly make waste, and the project once again demonstrated that project certainty in terms of schedule, safety and costing can be a reality with proper planning and innovative thinking.

August 2011, HSL has successfully completed a jetty facility project in Kyauk Phyu, Myanmar. This is the first project HSL successfully ventured into the regional market.

The consortium leader and operator, Daewoo International Corporation (Myanmar E&P) is developing SHWE Field Development Project in Western Part of Myanmar. This project consists of installation of an offshore platform, submarine pipelines, an onshore gas terminal, and supply base jetty facility.

After demolishing the existing RC jetty, the new supply base jetty consisting of a jetty platform and an approach trestle was constructed in 24 weeks. After careful study of site conditions the staging piling method was selected for installation of steel pipe piles.  14 pieces of the pre-fabricated steel structure panels were placed on top of the pile caps to support the RC deck slab.

The major challenges were strong current, the surprise sea swells, and t he unpredictable inclement weather among many others. The planning took the top priority due to coordination among various parties, the tight project schedule, and the paucity of resources in the local market.

(Above : Demolition to existing jetty)

(Above : Piliing Works)

A spectacular icon and unique design in the making of

Singapore’s first stack-up fabrication yard

10 June 2011 – HSL Constructor Pte Ltd (“HSL”) hosted an official ground breaking ceremony with JTC Chairman Cedric Foo as the Guest-of-Honour. JTC CEO Mr Manohar Khiatani and SPRING Deputy Chief Executive Mr Ted Tan. There were more than 200 guests comprising JTC, SPRING, IE Singapore, property analysts, the media, industrial players from both the local as well as international corporations.

With a total of SGD 40 million investments, strategically sited at Penjuru, the New HSL Waterfront Development will comprise a total of 372,000 square ft in Gross Floor Area (“GFA”), Fabrication cum Warehouse with an approximate of 262,240 Square ft, Open Yard with an approximate 43,000 square ft and a waterfront measuring 130 metres.

The new HSL building will have a multi-storey ramp-up high‑bay fabrication cum warehouse and office building. Based on 100 percent gross floor area build-up, the building design allows indoor fabrication space up by 4 times. Standing at 5-storey high and dressed with vertical planting. HSL believes that minimizing carbon footprint is necessary, therefore, the green features in the building shall include vertical landscaping; rain water harvesting; natural cross ventilation and increasing natural daylighting by 20 percent.

In embracing innovation, the New HSL Waterfront development will house an R&D workshop to develop smarter solutions to meet construction challenges. Going hand in hand, there will also be an incubation centre where like-minded partners will be invited to co-locate to bring collective innovation in the field of marine civil construction to the next level.

With the waterfront facility, HSL will be able to berth their marine crafts within their premises and operations can be streamlined with direct movement of marine related activities. With the space in this development, HSL will allow more in-house pre‑casting and fabrication works to be performed in order to achieve better work quality, higher safety standards and cost competitiveness.

Commenting on HSL’s New Waterfront Development, JTC’s Chairman Cedric Foo explain that “HSL’s $40 million new waterfront development at Penjuru will provide valuable engineering support to Shell and ExxonMobil in the construction of their new marine facilities. We are heartened to learn that HSL recognizes the challenge of limited waterfront land supply. They have responded positively in this aspect by making the effort to optimize land for their waterfront development.”

Media Contact and Enquiries:

Raymond Gan
Marketing and Communications Manager
Mobile: +65 9060 6489
Email: marketing@hsl.com.sg

Media Contact and Enquiries:

Raymond Gan
Marketing and Communications Manager
Mobile: +65 9060 6489
Email: marketing@hsl.com.sg

Mercy Relief’s (MR) have established the necessary supply chain and delivered the first batch of supplies at the designated supply collection centre near Iwate prefecture on 20^th March 2011. Iwate is the second worst-hit prefecture after Miyagi.
The official death toll from Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami passed the 10,000 mark today and was still climbing two weeks after the magnitude-9 quake struck off the northeastern coast and unleashed a cascade of disasters. Hundreds of thousands of survivors are still camped out in temporary shelters. Some 660,000 households do not have water more than 209,000 do not have electricity. HSL and MR will continue their efforts in raising more funds required to provide more much needed relief supplies.

Staff of HSL accompanied by their Managing Director, Mr Lim Choo Leng showed up at the PAP Carnival Fair (PCF) at Marine Parade GRC.

Senior Minister Goh insert money into the donation can held by HSL’s Managing Director, Mr Lim Choo Leng. Among other donees was Prof Fatimah Lateef (shown right in the photo)

Media Contact and Enquiries:

Raymond Gan
Marketing and Communications Manager
Mobile: +65 9060 6489
Email: marketing@hsl.com.sg

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who is also the chairman of the National Productivity and Continuing Education Council, said this during the Budget debate in Parliament on Tuesday.

The council has so far endorsed seven of the 12 sectoral productivity blueprints. They are in electronics, precision engineering, construction, retail, food services, hotels and logistics & storage.

Mr Teo said that the seven sectors account for about 25% of Singapore’s GDP and about 36% of the workforce. The other working groups, he said, are scheduled to table their roadmaps for endorsement this year, and this will bring the total for the 12 sectors being covered to 40% of GDP and half of the workforce.

Riding on the stellar rebound in Singapore’s economy, productivity went up 10.7 percent in 2010.

But Mr Teo said: “We should not be complacent and declare victory prematurely. It is only one year and the exceptional productivity performance was due to our strong economic recovery.”

“We need to sustain the momentum of productivity improvements,” he said, just like construction company HSL Constructor and retail store Robinsons.

HSL Constructor invested nearly S$16 million in mechanisation and reduced its dependence on foreign workers and time taken to complete projects.

Its managing director, Lim Choo Leng, said: “Last year, we constructed a chemical jetty and the total platform area is about 1,000 square metres, and we did the whole deck in one day and this is through innovative design solution. In normal case, it will take two months to construct on site. I am very happy that the government is helping at this moment, we are able to invest in equipment and the government is giving a lot of tax incentive.”

For Robinsons, it reduced the time taken to process orders from 7.5 days to five, through automation.

But even with some industry champions, MPs feel there are no quick solutions.

Josephine Teo, MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC and NTUC Assistant Secretary-General, said: “There is a stubborn refusal by some businesses to embrace the productivity challenge. Their common refrain is there is a limit as to how much they can automate and so tax credits for productivity and innovation are not useful.”

Deputy Prime Minister Teo emphasised that he is not looking for quick solutions as productivity requires continuous effort over the long term. He said: “Some people have likened improving productivity to a race; a marathon perhaps, and one without an end.

“This makes productivity sound as though it’s only for the super-fit, and (requires) too much effort. Even the super-fit become exhausted running a marathon.

“I look at it more like brisk walking. You don’t have to be super-fit to do brisk-walking; anyone can do it. You do it regularly, every week.

“It doesn’t exhaust or drain you. As you brisk-walk, you build up your heart and lung capacity, your muscles and your stamina.

“You become trimmer and fitter, and find that you can do more and go further. Soon you get hooked on it, and it becomes a habit to exercise regularly and keep improving your fitness.

“Improving productivity is a long-term and continuing process. Improve and you will stay ahead; stagnate and you will fall behind.”

Mr Teo said the government will continue to monitor, track and review the implementation of the sectoral productivity roadmaps. It will also look at other sectors beyond the initial 12, as there is room to improve and be even better in every sector of the economy.

Mr Teo also said the National Productivity and Continuing Education Council has endorsed the S$40m Inclusive Growth Programme (IGP) to improve the skills, productivity and wages of some 25,000 low-wage workers across all sectors in the economy.

Administered by the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) of the NTUC, IGP is targeted at employers of low-wage workers with salaries of S$1,400 and below.

NTUC Deputy Secretary General Heng Chee How explained: “The IGP draws upon a $40m fund, as part of the National Productivity Fund and is making very good progress. Nearly more than 200 companies have signed up, benefiting many thousands of lower-wage, lower-skilled workers.

“Our aim this year is to double the outcome and this would be our value add to the national push. For the Cheaper Better Faster (CBF) programme, there is no separate funding for this programme. Instead the companies would be urged to draw upon the funds set aside for the National Productivity Fund for each of the target sectors.”

Deputy PM Teo added that Singapore must also develop its greatest competitive advantage – its people – by ensuring that the continuing education and training system offers specialised courses for managers to embrace productivity.

- CNA/ir / By S Ramesh

(Source : http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1113671/1/.html)

Media Contact and Enquiries:

Raymond Gan
Marketing and Communications Manager
Mobile: +65 9060 6489
Email: marketing@hsl.com.sg

“We knew improving productivity was important, but we did not have clear direction on how to achieve our goals and measure our success,” said Mr Lim Sing Tian, Senior Project Manager at HSL.

The Productivity Management Programme (PMP), a joint initiative of SPRING Singapore and the Enterprise Development Centres (EDCs), HSL received advice from a productivity advisor on how to measure productivity and develop a clear productivity roadmap.

HSL started on its productivity journey in mid-2010. “The first thing we did was to set up a committee to look at our productivity”, says Mr Lim. Some committee members then attended a PMP workshop at the Singapore Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s EDC (EDC@SCCCI) in November 2010 to understand and measure productivity

After the PMP workshop, HSL sought advice from a productivity advisor at EDC@SCCCI on how to improve its productivity. The productivity advisor recommended that HSL embark on the PMP programme and go through a productivity assessment.

“The assessment was enlightening as it showed us how we have progressed over the years. This will help us chart future directions for our productivity growth,” said Mr Lim. The assessment revealed encouraging trends. HSL’s value-added to sales ratio increased from 42% to 63% from 2008 to 2010. In other words, HSL has created more value for each dollar of sales it generates. Value creation brought returns to HSL; its profit margin doubled from 11% to 22% in the same period.

“While these ratios are a good sign for us, the productivity assessment also showed us where we needed further improvement,” shares Mr Lim. For instance HSL’s capital productivity ratio highlighted that it was not optimising its fixed assets.

The productivity advisor helped HSL identify several key areas for improvement as part of its productivity roadmap. These include communicating productivity goals to staff and using capital effectively.

“Our first step in implementing the roadmap was to organise a goal setting exercise with our heads of departments and managers, who then communicated these goals to staff. Now, productivity targets have been set for our staff and they are rewarded for achieving these targets,” explains Mr Lim.

To deploy and monitor the use of equipment more efficiently, HSL upgraded its heavy equipment and enhance its logistics systems. “This will help us reduce idle time of our equipment,” explains Mr Lim.

Since embarking on PMP, HSL has been monitoring its productivity improvements with the productivity measures introduced. “Productivity improvement is a continual process and a long-term journey. We’ve had a good start, and can ride on our current high morale to do more,” says Mr Lim.

An article was featured by Straits Times – Money Section on 23 February 2011.

Media Contact and Enquiries:

Raymond Gan
Marketing and Communications Manager
Mobile: +65 9060 6489
Email: marketing@hsl.com.sg

Building firms can expect to pay an average of $320 more a month for every Work Permit holder between now and July 2013.

Other sectors get off more lightly. Companies in services will pay an average increase of $260 monthly for each Work Permit holder, while those in manufacturing will fork out $130 more, according to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

However, all employers of S-Pass holders can expect to pay an average of $240 more per month for each of these workers over the same period.

The surprise move to raise the levy rates for the second time in as many years was announced in Friday’s Budget and more details were released by the Manpower Ministry yesterday.

Firms in services and construction where ‘the scope for productivity improvements is greatest’ will see higher levy rate hikes and tighter levy tiers, Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam had noted in his Budget speech.

The MOM said the rate hikes are part of a multi-pronged approach to increase productivity and reduce Singapore’s reliance on low-skilled foreign workers. The MOM announcement also included specific adjustments to the levy tiers.

These tiers determine the levy rate employers pay for each foreign worker, based on the proportion of S-Pass and Work Permit holders hired.

To motivate construction employers to train and upgrade their workers, the levy rate to be paid for higher skilled workers will be significantly less than that for basic skilled workers, MOM said.

Although the changes will be implemented in six-month intervals until July 2013 to help firms adjust, some bosses say the immediate increase in labour costs will hit their bottom line.

‘I don’t think contractors, especially the smaller ones, will be able to absorb these additional costs,’ said Singapore Contractors Association president Andrew Khng. ‘So if they can, the additional costs may be passed on upwards to their clients – that’s only fair.’

HSL Constructor executive director Charles Quek, however, said firms need to get serious about reducing the use of cheap foreign labour and move into higher value work or risk being irrelevant as the industry moves forward.

HSL has managed to reduce its pool of foreign workers from more than 700 to about 300 over the past 18 months.

‘We’ve been investing in a lot of equipment as part of a conscientious move to reduce our overall reliance on foreign workers,’ said Mr Quek.

‘But it’s also about selecting the type of work we go into, such as avoiding labour-intensive projects.’

The Government rolled out measures in last year’s Budget and again on Friday to help firms increase their productivity. These include the Productivity and Innovation Credit, which allows firms that invest in productivity and innovation to reap tax deductions on those expenses.

The construction sector has often been seen as a laggard in productivity due to its labour-intensive nature. But bosses in construction can expect more support in the form of a new Construction Productivity Roadmap designed by the Ministry of National Development (MND), to help steer the industry towards higher productivity.

Besides initiatives to help enhance the workforce and regulatory changes to set minimum standards, there will also be financial incentives to encourage firms to go beyond minimum regulatory standards by adopting technology and improving their capabilities.

The MND and the Building and Construction Authority are expected to release details of the roadmap next week.

Article featured in Straits Times, February 22, 2011 Tuesday by Francis Chan, Companies Correspondent

Media Contact and Enquiries:

Raymond Gan
Marketing and Communications Manager
Mobile: +65 9060 6489
Email: marketing@hsl.com.sg