Island Concrete (Private) Limited, a Hong Leong Asia business, is a leading provider of building material solutions for the real estate and built environment industry in Singapore. They have been pioneering and innovating quality concrete products for over 50 years and are well-supported by a network of strategically located wet-batching plants and a fleet of over 250 concrete mixer trucks to meet the needs of their customers. Island Concrete is dedicated to delivering the next generation of sustainable and responsible building material solutions to build cities of the future and more.
The cement industry contributes to about 8% of global carbon emissions. Traditional Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is produced from the grinding of limestone, clay and other raw materials into a fine powder. This powder, after further preparation, is heated at high temperature (majority from burning fossil fuels) in a kiln. This process converts limestone to lime which then combines with other materials to produce clinker nodules, releasing carbon dioxide in the process. The clinker once cooled is finely ground with gypsum to produce cement.
If we use or produce less clinker in the production of cement by introducing alternatives like fly ash or slag, carbon dioxide is effectively reduced.
How might we increase green cement production with innovative materials and methods?
Island Concrete is interested in exploring and trialling innovative green cement solutions that can significantly reduce emissions yet offer high performance and are economically viable. The focus is on alternative materials that can be used in the production to reduce the amount of clinker required.
The company is keen to explore sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate as alternative materials. These have been trialled before. Now Island Concrete wants to explore other combinations with these chemicals. One more thing, the interest in geopolymer solutions is not high.
Requirements
The alternative material should:
- Be readily available in Singapore or easily sourced from other countries;
- Ideally cost the same or less than materials used in normal concrete;
- Ideally have a better input-to-performance ratio than currently used materials; and
- Be suitable for bulk handling and storage within HL Building Materials / Island Concrete’s bulk material/powder silos.
PILOT
The pilot will be conducted in Singapore. The proof-of-concept trial should be completed by the end of 2025.
Resources and incentives
The Concrete Trial Mix can be created and tested in the Island Concrete Laboratory. Island Concrete is also open to conducting a POC with a customer.
Island Concrete is offering a cash prize of S$10,000 upon the successful completion of a proof-of-concept trial by the selection innovator based on what has been proposed by the innovator and accepted by Island Concrete.
Info Session
Check out the recording from our Info Session, where Island Concrete shared more about their challenge statement.
Market Potential / Business Opportunity
Singapore produces an average of 10.5 to 12.2 million cubic metres of concrete per year. Of this, Island Concrete supplies about 2.6 to 2.8 million cubic metres of concrete per year.
Island Concrete will consider the right of use for a ready-made product (duration of right of use to be discussed based on the work involved) or Intellectual Property if it is a jointly-developed product by their group of companies.
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