Ship-cleaning robots save costs and the environment

Lee Zhi Xin, Straits Times 27 Mar 10;

A ROBOT that can carry out a range of ship-cleaning processes in a productive, safe and environmentally friendly way was unveiled here yesterday.

The Envirobot, as it is called, removes paint on ship hulls and other surfaces at a speed of 70 sq m an hour - 10 times faster than traditional abrasive blasting guns.

The robot is magnetically attached to the surface so it eliminates the need for workers to position themselves on high scaffolding.

'Certain members of some shipyards tell you they get 15 to 20 letters from Members of Parliament every week because of pollution from blasting,' said Mr Winston Chua, executive director of Heatec Jietong Holdings, which helped develop the robot.

'Having a custom vacuum system for the collection and disposal of effluent from the paint removal process means air pollution is greatly reduced.'

Mr Chua added that the technology saves clean-up expenses for companies, which are the hidden costs from traditional grit blasting processes.

It is also more efficient as it allows many other processes to be carried out concurrently, which would otherwise be stopped due to the pollution.

Mr Chua said the response to the new technology has been enthusiastic and he expects the unit producing it to start contributing revenue in the second quarter of this year.

He did not disclose the cost of providing the grit blasting robot's services but said it is competitive with the market rate of $24 per sq m.

Mr Zainudin Nordin, the Mayor of Central Singapore District, said at the launch ceremony at the Pan Pacific Hotel that the technology can help in the campaign to raise productivity here.

'These blasting machines will greatly reduce our dependence on workers, with a higher quality result than achieved

with manual blasting,' said Mr Zainudin, who is also an MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.

A unit of Heatec Jietong Holdings - Heatec Chariot Envirobotics - developed the robot with a joint venture partner from America, Chariot Envirobotics.

Heatec Jietong Holdings has exclusive rights to the robots in Asia.