FACILITIES management has become the first sector to participate in Singapore’s RoboCluster initiative, which brings together researchers, end-users and robotics companies to develop market-ready solutions.

Such clusters are also planned for the manufacturing and logistics sector, and for healthcare. Part of the National Robotics Programme, the RoboCluster initiative comes under a fresh S$60 million tranche of funding announced in March.

The facilities management RoboCluster was officially launched by Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan on Thursday (Apr 18), at the launch of local robotics company LionsBot’s new factory.

Noting that the global robotics market is expected to reach S$90 billion in 2028, Tan encouraged both robotics and facilities management companies to join the new RoboCluster.

Speaking about the significance of the RoboCluster, Tan said: “It’s about facilitating design thinking workshops, curating research and development (R&D) projects, and importantly once you have that, (it’s about) how you think about deploying these robots.”

In the sector, robotic capabilities are already being used for surveillance, security, delivery and concierge services, he noted.

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Through workshops and clinics, the RoboCluster will bring together researchers, institutes of higher learning, facilities management companies, robotics and automation companies, and trade associations such as the Singapore International Facility Management Association.

RoboCluster events will cover selected market-ready and emerging robotics applications that are relevant to the sector, such as surveillance, floor cleaning, facade cleaning and toilet cleaning.

The first event will be held in July at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, where institutes of higher learning and researchers will showcase local robotics capabilities in facilities management. Local facilities management companies involved in developing robotics solutions are welcome to join.

LionsBot, which develops cleaning robots, is one of the local companies in the RoboCluster.

Its new S$12 million facility at Kranji covers about 5,000 square metres and has a manufacturing capacity of 4,000 robots annually – five times the manufacturing capacity of its previous facility in Changi.

With further automation in the future, the facility will be able to produce up to 20,000 robots, said LionsBot chief executive officer Dylan Ng.

The facility is expected to bring in S$40 million in annual revenue, producing four different models of cleaning robots. LionsBot’s robots are exported to 29 countries including the US and Europe.

The new facility also created 55 job roles, which form a quarter of the company’s present workforce.

Said Ng: “With the government’s unwavering support for innovation and sustainable development, we will contribute towards Singapore’s reputation for quality and reliable robots, made in Singapore and deployed globally.”