Scaling The Future: A*STAR And Local SMEs Jointly Invest Over S$21m In Advanced Manufacturing Joint Labs

SINGAPORE - The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) has teamed up with local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to launch three new industry joint labs, driving co-innovation and strengthening Singapore’s advanced manufacturing capabilities and local supply chain ecosystem.

The new collaborations with Abrasive Engineering, Applied Total Control Treatment, and Grand Venture Technology reflect Singapore’s commitment to helping local companies scale globally through innovation, and deepen capabilities in strategic growth sectors.

The three industry joint labs are expected to generate new intellectual property (IP), product lines, and business opportunities for the SMEs, while creating high-value jobs in sectors like semiconductors, aerospace, and life sciences.

Transforming from service provider to technology-driven product owner

Abrasive Engineering (AE), which offers surface enhancement services, was traditionally a service-focused business with more than 70 per cent of its revenue coming from services and trading. Through its collaboration with A*STAR, AE has steadily transformed from a service-focused business into a technology-driven product owner in surface enhancement systems, which are widely used in aerospace, energy and medical industries, and more than doubled its revenue to S$12 million.

The collaboration not only addressed the challenges that AE faced in product development speed, precision, and digital integration, but also delivered a breakthrough product that strengthened AE’s technological capabilities and sharpened its competitiveness as an industrial product owner. It further transformed AE’s culture and workforce, fostering a stronger drive for innovation.

In 2020, AE launched its first joint lab with A*STAR to develop next-generation precision valves and automated blasting processes. The three-year joint lab has since delivered significant impact including:

• Creation of six new product lines, including the world’s first microwave media dosing unit (patented by AE and A*STAR) and automated sandblasting systems. These systems were sold in Singapore and globally (refer to Annex A for more details)
• Generated S$3.5 million revenue increase during the joint lab, contributing to 28 per cent of AE’s total revenue during this period
• Creation of nine R&D jobs and four new IPs

The next phase of the AE – A*STAR Joint Lab will deliver next-generation surface treatment solutions fuelling AE’s global growth and a projected S$25 million in revenues by 2030.

Expanding SME capabilities to serve frontier industries like semiconductors

Two new joint labs with Applied Total Control Treatment (ATC) and Grand Venture Technology (GVT) will focus on advanced surface engineering technologies as well as formulations and processing of high-value ceramics – capabilities that are increasingly critical to frontier industries such as semiconductors, aerospace, life sciences, and precision engineering.

Building on a successful collaboration in aerospace cabin interior development, the new ATC – A*STAR Joint Lab will develop advanced surface engineering solutions to address challenges that ATC faces in achieving high purity and uniform coatings across treated surfaces, such as microstructure inconsistencies in coatings caused by complex part geometries. The lack of uniformity can compromise the performance of critical components, especially those exposed to extreme process conditions or corrosive environments, resulting in resource-intensive yet high cost and low yield processes.

New solutions in advanced surface treatments, high-performance coatings and sustainability enhancements are expected to generate multiple technology transfers, allowing ATC to serve customers at a higher level in industries including semiconductors, finery, aerospace, medtech and precision engineering. This will broaden ATC’s customer base and open new market opportunities, driving up to 20 per cent business growth as well as cost savings in wastewater treatment and energy consumption. This will also ensure ATC remains competitive as one of the few but critical local surface treatment specialists operating in Singapore.

The GVT – A*STAR joint lab will focus on formulations and processing of high-value ceramics – specialised, high-performance materials designed to withstand extreme heat, pressure, and wear. Their durability and purity make them essential for aerospace (components exposed to demanding conditions), life sciences (medical devices and laboratory systems) and semiconductors (wafer processing equipment). However, such materials are complex and require defect-free production with precise dimensional control, which are challenging to achieve.

Over the next three years, the joint lab will develop a customised manufacturing platform for high-value, high-mix ceramic components and assemblies to support life science equipment and semiconductor OEMs. It is expected to help GVT meet rising demand from both existing and new customers, expand its capabilities in high-value ceramics manufacturing, and generate up to 25 per cent revenue growth by 2030.

By co-developing solutions with A*STAR, both ATC and GVT are scaling their technical capabilities and strengthening their position in strategic growth sectors to serve both local and global customers. These collaborations reflect how local companies can play larger roles in global supply chains and drive innovation in high-value sectors.

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About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore's lead public sector R&D agency. Through open innovation, we collaborate with our partners in both the public and private sectors to benefit the economy and society. As a Science and Technology Organisation, A*STAR bridges the gap between academia and industry. Our research creates economic growth and jobs for Singapore, and enhances lives by improving societal outcomes in healthcare, urban living, and sustainability. A*STAR plays a key role in nurturing scientific talent and leaders for the wider research community and industry. A*STAR’s R&D activities span biomedical sciences to physical sciences and engineering, with research entities primarily located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis.

ANNEX A – EXAMPLES OF INNOVATIONS FROM ABRASIVE ENGINEERING – A*STAR JOINT LAB PHASE ONE

1. World’s first microwave media dosing unit

   Shot peening is a widely used surface treatment process to improve the strength and lifetime of metallic components in industries such as aerospace, automotive, energy and marine industries. It works by blasting abrasive media – such as sand or steel shot – onto a surface to clean, smoothen, or strengthen it. However, conventional media dosing units often struggle with precision, making it difficult to control flow rates and ensure consistent quality.

   The main challenge Abrasive Engineering faced was achieving consistent flow of abrasive media and ensuring the control valves could respond swiftly, especially when handling fine or cohesive powders. Variability in powder characteristics often caused clogging or irregular dispensing, making it challenging for the media dosing units to maintain precise and reliable control in automated, high-speed environments.
   

   Phase one of the Abrasive Engineering – A*STAR Joint Lab developed the world’s first microwave media dosing unit, which delivers far greater precision and can be customised for different applications. The unit precisely regulates the flow of media into shot peening machines, ensuring a consistent impact on component surfaces and higher-quality results. It can support a much wider range of applications, more than thirty times greater than conventional systems.

   The innovation combined Abrasive Engineering’s design of the hardware and software, and A*STAR’s expertise in sensor configurations and flow calibration – through the A*STAR Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre and A*STAR National Metrology Centre.

   The result is a modular, serviceable unit with an easy-to-use interface for monitoring and control. Individual components can be easily replaced, repaired, or maintained. By the project’s completion in 2023, 15 microwave media dosing units had already been manufactured and sold to customers in Singapore, China, India, Korea and Japan.

2. Automated sandblasting system for the marine industry

   Manual sandblasting is the most commonly used surface preparation technique in the marine and shipyard industries. However, the process is repetitive, dangerous, labour-intensive and time-consuming. The eventual surface finishing is also dependent on the employees’ skills.

   One major challenge in Abrasive Engineering's media dosing unit is maintaining media flow consistency, as sand and fine blasting media often clog or fluctuate, leading to uneven surface finishes and unreliable process results. This challenge directly affects the precision and effectiveness of sandblasting on intricate parts.

   Under phase one of the joint lab, Abrasive Engineering successfully developed an automated sandblasting system that increases throughput by 50 per cent and productivity by 75 per cent, as compared to the manual process of sandblasting.

   The automated system is integrated with a ceiling-mounted industrial robot and computational algorithms, allowing for a more consistent and higher quality sandblasting result. This gives the operator more control over the output, eliminates health and work hazards, and reduces labour skill dependency associated with the manual sandblasting process. It has also allowed Abrasive Engineering’s workforce to transition into high-value roles.

   Abrasive Engineering co-developed the innovation with A*STAR Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre, A*STAR Institute of High Performance Computing, as well as local robot programming start-up, Augmentus, which simplified the robot programming platform.

ANNEX B – INFORMATION ON SME PARTNERS’ PAST COLLABORATIONS WITH A*STAR

Abrasive Engineering (AE)

Prior to the collaboration with A*STAR, AE was traditionally a service-focused business, with more than 70 per cent of its revenue coming from services and trading.

AE joined the A*STAR Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre’s consortium in 2013, to transform its business model from being service-focused to innovation-driven as well as to diversify its business. Through A*STAR's Operational and Technology Roadmap (OTR) programme, AE identified the need to embed automation, precision and real-time data capabilities into its machines, to stay aligned with evolving market demands.

The collaboration enabled AE to diversify beyond providing shot peening and sandblasting services and trading media, into developing and selling innovative surface enhancement productions and solutions such as advanced machines and microwave valves.

In 2019, AE and A*STAR co-developed the world’s first microwave media dosage unit – a breakthrough product now sold globally.

Applied Total Control Treatment (ATC)

ATC, a local SME specialising in metal plating and surface finishing, has been working with A*STAR since 2022.

Through a technology transfer with the A*STAR Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology, ATC gained new capabilities in polymer metallisation and took over the repair line for the refurbishment of Singapore Airlines’ cabin components. Since then, more than 12,000 refurbished parts have been delivered to Singapore Airlines with zero rejection, contributing as a prime example in sustainable upcycling of product.

ANNEX C – SPOKESPERSONS’ QUOTES FROM A*STAR AND SME PARTNERS

• Mr Beh Kian Teik, Chief Executive Officer, A*STAR:

  “A*STAR’s joint labs with Abrasive Engineering, Applied Total Control Treatment, and Grand Venture Technology show how innovation can empower our local SMEs to scale globally. By combining R&D with the agility of local enterprises, we are not only helping companies address bottlenecks and grow their capabilities and international footprint, but also reinforcing Singapore’s position in high-value manufacturing sectors such as semiconductors, aerospace, and life sciences.”

• Mr Tan Ser Hean, Executive Chairman, Abrasive Engineering:

  “Our collaboration with A*STAR has transformed Abrasive Engineering from a service provider into a technology-driven product owner. The first joint lab directly contributed more than a quarter of our revenue and gave us six new product lines. With the second phase, we are ready to expand further into international markets, leveraging advanced technologies like AI and automation to strengthen our competitiveness and deliver innovative surface enhancement solutions worldwide.”

• Mr Marcus Sia, Founder and Managing Director, ATC Globe Holdings Pte Ltd:

  “Partnering with A*STAR gave us the opportunity to level-up our value add with large companies like Singapore Airlines, and gain new capabilities. Our joint lab with A*STAR marks the next stage of our innovation journey, one that will enable us to better serve Singapore and global partners. It will also help us to embed sustainability into our operations and be a showcase of Singapore’s SME capabilities.”
  

• Mr Tan Chun Siong, Chief Operating Officer, Grand Venture Technology:

  “Our new joint lab with A*STAR underscores our ambition to be a leader in high-value ceramics. These materials are critical to aerospace, life sciences and semiconductors, where demand is growing rapidly. By building a customised manufacturing platform together with A*STAR, we will expand our differentiated capabilities, secure new customers, and create solutions that strengthen our competitiveness.”