image: NTU Singapore and PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC) will collaborate to develop advanced 3-D printing materials for the next-generation automotive industry. (From left) Professor Lam Khin Yong, NTU Chief of Staff and Vice President (Research), Mr Prasert Bunsumpun, PTTGC Chairman and Mr Supattanapong Punmeechaow, PTTGC President & Chief Executive Officer. view more
Credit: PTTGC
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and Thailand's PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC) will collaborate to develop advanced 3D printing materials for the next-generation automotive industry.
PTTGC is Thailand's largest petrochemical and refining company. With eight main business lines, it focuses on investing into the expansion of specialties chemical products and green chemicals.
A top-ranked university, NTU is renowned for its research-intensive interdisciplinary approach in developing innovative solutions for industry and society.
NTU and PTTGC aim to jointly develop new materials that could be used to 3D print vehicle components to improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, fostering sustainable growth.
The two partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding today in Bangkok, Thailand.
NTU's signatory, Professor Lam Khin Yong, Chief of Staff and Vice President (Research), said, "This partnership is very timely, especially when many countries are developing advanced manufacturing technologies to make more complex components, yet with a greener carbon footprint. With the combined expertise of NTU in translational research and innovation, and the industrial application experience of PTTGC, I am sure that together we will be able to achieve new technological innovations and scientific breakthroughs."
Signing on behalf of PTTGC is Mr Supattanapong Punmeechaow, President & Chief Executive Officer. "Our company is leveraging its research and development competencies as one strategic arm for growth and sustainability. Thus, we collaborate with both domestic and international external partners to attain timely commercialisation. Under the current Thailand 4.0 Policy, Thailand is moving towards an innovation-driven economy. Both PTTGC and NTU Singapore have mutual interests and complementary strengths, creating synergy for faster innovation."
The two partners kicked off the partnership by inking a research collaboration agreement on the same day that details the research focus.
NTU has built up its expertise in 3D printing in recent years, partnering industry leaders to develop innovative technologies in key sectors such as aerospace and defence, where it is finding more reliable ways of 3D printing aerospace components and is developing lightweight UAVs with embedded electronics.
In healthcare, the university is coming up with new methods of 3D printing human tissue and medical implants, while in the marine and offshore industry it aims to develop 3D printing solutions to make it easier and cheaper to repair components of ships and rigs. The university is also looking to boost productivity in the building and construction sector, where it wants to find new ways to 3D print customised concrete structures for buildings.
Professor Chua Chee Kai, Executive Director of NTU's Singapore Centre for 3D Printing, is also one of the most cited scientists in the world for 3D printing.
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Media contact:
Ang Hui Min
Assistant Manager
Corporate Communications Office
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Email: huimin@ntu.edu.sg
Mr. Chintarat Saiintawong
Communication Officer
Corporate Communication
PTT Global Chemical Plc.
Email: chintarat.s@pttgcgroup.com
About Nanyang Technological University
A research-intensive public university, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has 33,500 undergraduate and postgraduate students in the colleges of Engineering, Business, Science, Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences, and its Interdisciplinary Graduate School. It also has a medical school, the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, set up jointly with Imperial College London.
NTU is also home to world-class autonomous institutes - the National Institute of Education, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Earth Observatory of Singapore, and Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering - and various leading research centres such as the Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI), Energy Research Institute @NTU (ERI@N) and the Institute on Asian Consumer Insight (ACI).
Ranked 11th in the world, NTU has also been ranked the world's top young university for the last three years running. The University's main campus has been named one of the Top 15 Most Beautiful in the World. NTU also has a campus in Novena, Singapore's medical district.
For more information, visit http://www.ntu.edu.sg
About PTT Global Chemical
PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited is strengthened with its diversity of product in both Olefins and Aromatics line, which improves its competitive advantage as well as the ability to reduce risk inherent in the petrochemical industry. A larger production scale as a result of the integration will enable the Company to leverage its significant economy of scale to reduce unit costs as well as to achieve a fully integrated production process that delivers more value-added products, especially the ability to pursue additional downstream specialties. The synergy achieved by the consolidation will also unlock greater benefits in terms of production and market optimization.
PTTGC has maintained its leadership position in the "Top 10 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) - World Members" in the chemicals sector at the gold-class level for the fourth consecutive year. The company was recognized as "Industry Best," which reflects PTTGC's excellence in ensuring sustainability at an international level and being a role model in sustainability in business expansion throughout its supply chain.
Also, PTTGC is a leading organization that identifies key 2E1S (Economic-Environmental-Social) issues considered essential for a sustainable business, enhancing value for stakeholders and building greater trust and confidence among global investors.
For more information, visit http://www.pttgcgroup.com