AME, SINGAPORE

AME invEsts s$30 Million in nEw plAnt fEAturing ruggEd & sAfE KonEcrAnEs cXt instAllAtion

Even as many businesses contract, an entrepreneurial Singapore businessman has built his company’s next phase of expansion on its ability to successfully supply quality precision products to highly demanding and cyclical industries.

Mr Steven Toy Kok Sin, Managing Director of (AME), is investing more than S$30 million in a new plant at Jurong, Singapore; to supply his custom-engineered steel fabrications to both global and local companies in the oil and gas, shipping, construction, and energy generation industries.

12 durable and versatile Konecranes CXT overhead cranes in capacities from 5-30 tons to produce, maintain and manoeuvre the often elaborate, irregularly shaped and specialised bespoke metal and piping structures required for vital onshore and offshore roles in oil and gas production infrastructure, manufacturing processes and exploration. Delicate handling of such structures is vital to optimize structural integrity and safety, as well as the safety of the workforce producing them.

SAFETY, RELIABILITY AND DOWNTIME

“We place a high emphasis on safety, reliability and avoidance of downtime, which is essential if we are to meet the delivery expectations of customers in very demanding industries. In our existing factory, we replaced previous makes of cranes with Konecranes, because the old cranes were breaking down every week or so,” said Mr Toy. “It was aggravating.”

“When you are working 24-hour shifts, and when safety is vital to the heavy work we do, we couldn’t afford to use anything less than the best brands. In making our decision on which cranes to buy, we sought industry comment on the leading brands. Konecranes received the best industry feedback from our customers, who operate in

5

“Certainly there have been some big fluctuations in oil prices and sales in recent years. The upswings have brought in some lesser quality suppliers, while the downturns have seen them go. We take a long-term view and invest when energy prices return to more sustainable levels,“ said Mr Toy. His decision to equip the new facility with Konecranes CXT lifting technology was based on the very good experience with Konecranes drawing from AME’s existing plant.

A key component of AME’s latest facility will be a broad installation of

Mr Steven Toy Kok Sin with a Konecranes CXT installation.

AME, SINGAPORE

tough and demanding industries. And our experience since has been first class.”

FORGING REPUTATION FOR BUSINESS EXCELLENCE

Over two decades of business, AME has built its reputation for reliability and precision on continued investment in quality processes, allowing it to provide tailored solutions to a broad customer base across a host of sectors. Awards recognizing its achievements have included Circle of Excellence in Offshore and Marine Industries, Singapore Brands, Promising SME 500 and Successful Entrepreneur.

Mr Toy – whose most recent Award is Singapore Outstanding Enterprise – purchased his first Konecranes more than a decade ago and has put these versatile workhouses to diverse uses, including employing one set of four CXTs to facilitate some of the ground-breaking engineering involved in the construction of the Marina Bay Sands integrated casino which is billed as the world’s most expensive standalone casino property at US$8 billion, including the land cost.

AME was in charge of fabricating a major display structure within the building and installing it in the hotel lobby. The heavy structure was built in stages and had to be hoisted up in sections with the cranes inside the hotel building.

“With our men working underneath, safety was an absolute priority,” said Mr Toy. The CXT cranes were used daily for the entire duration of the project, providing optimum reliability and ongoing safety. “Then, when we were finished at the site, we packed up the cranes and brought them back into our existing production facilities, where they continue to provide good service,” he said.

AME’s existing CXT cranes are used in fabrication and maintenance of loads ranging upwards from half to 15-plus tons. “Most of what we produce is pretty heavy, so we value the safety,

ergonomic and control features, such as the high-contrast colour display and pendant control. The cranes are very easy to control and position – they are very user-friendly,” says Mr Toy.

PROFESSIONAL ON-SITE SERVICES

On-site service is provided by Konecranes through an ongoing service contract, which also ensures staff operating with AME are familiar with its methods and production processes, so communication and implementation is smooth and efficient. Konecranes additionally undertakes safety compliance tasks, a specialist task ensuring the equipment attains the high standards demanded by government safety regulations and inspections.

“We let the experts do the job, because cranes are Konecranes’ business and it frees us up to do ours. We prefer to work with a globally recognised specialist partner like Konecranes, who are our reliable business partner.

“I must say their service is good, and this is important,” says Mr Toy. “Backing of product with service is most important to us. This is strongly related to safety and quality standards,” he says.

AME’s new facility will incorporate a total of 12 CXT units in 5, 10, 15 and 30-ton capacities. On the basis

of experience to date, Mr Toy looks forward to a productive ongoing relationship. “They are very good cranes with much less repair and maintenance. And they are very well backed in the field,” he says.CXT benefits

INCORPORATING LATEST IN CRANE TECHNOLOGY

Konecranes incorporating CXT wire rope hoists are a staple lifting device used globally and throughout the Asia-Pacific in maintenance tasks, production lines, engineering industrial warehouses and factories. Their strength, compact size, speed, reliability and safety make them indispensable in assembly workshops where time and space is money.

“CXT wire rope hoist cranes are designed to be industry benchmarks of safety and ergonomics, with easy and effective load handling and optimum dimensions for space saving solutions,” says Mr TK Mak, Industrial Equipment Manager, Konecranes South East Asia Pacific.

“Konecranes CXT wire rope hoist cranes utilise the latest technology for improved load accuracy, versatility and ease of use – making them the industry leader in medium-heavy indoor cranes,” he said.

6

The heavy display structure fabricated for Marina Bay Sands Hotel was being installed and hoisted up by cranes.