hong kong science park green technology - hkstpbut green technology takes this notion and extends it...

Hong Kong Science ParkGreen Technology

Green Technology

Overview

Preface

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New thinking takes air-conditioning to a new level

Lighting up the world

Electronics unit is arm of famous Japanese tech giant

Growing organic foods in urban settings

Firm shines brightly by illuminating the world

Giant displays transform event-goers’ experience

Good connections proved to be the secret of success

Creating the intelligent urban centres of the future

Keeping people free from harm for a century and a half

A holistic approach to protecting the environment

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THE WIN-WIN CONCEPT is arguably the most fundamental idea in business: a transaction takes place and both sides feel they have benefited. But green technology takes this notion and extends it to its logical maximum by removing all boundaries: Instead of just the provider and the consumer gaining something, humanity as a whole, and even nature itself, feel the benefit.

Hong Kong Science Park is set to become a key hub for green technology in Asia Pacific. It is achieving this by the establishment and acceleration of the growth of its green technology cluster: a gathering of world-class firms, large and small, focused on making cutting-edge innovations in the environmental sector. This part of Science Park can be said to have become a “living laboratory” where green tech systems are developed, tested, and commercialised.

THE PARK’S ROLE

How does the Park help this sector? It provides market-focused support services including shared laboratories and technical services specifically designed to serve the needs of green tech companies. For example, the Solar Energy Technical Support Centre is designed to support solar panel and related testing services and to reduce product development time for solar modules. And then there is the Solid-State Lighting Laboratory, which is equipped with precision facilities and equipment to support development and testing for lighting in terms of panel displays, light-emitting devices and photonics packaging.

In addition to these two centres, an entire range of laboratories and technical centres with the necessary equipment and support services are available in the Park, tailored to meet the specific needs of different technology development.

CLUSTER OF INNOVATORS

Many top firms in the green tech area are taking advantage of what Science Park has to offer. In particular, the

The breakthroughs that make winners of us allHong Kong has unique advantages for life science specialists

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cluster has become an innovation centre for solar cells, such as DuPont Apollo’s marvelous super-thin, transparent cells which invisibly add solar power collection functions to buildings. Another example is the range of offerings of a company called Smart China, from intelligent security to waste management to energy savings. Or there is Fujitsu Semiconductor, which conducts its chip-manufacturing operation with such a powerful awareness of environmental factors that it has been hailed as one of the most eco-conscious companies in the world.

Science Park hosts many highly creative firms in this area. For example, there are firms specialising in indoor hydroponic farming of vegetables and seafood; there are water filtration and purification companies, and safety certification specialists. There is a firm which has re-invented the standard air-conditioning concept, a company which has developed a revolutionary cleansing technique using plasma, and several which have made breakthroughs in environmentally friendly lighting.

GROWING OPPORTUNITIES

The green tech sector matters to all of us. For decades, we celebrated Hong Kong's economic growth. But only relatively recently that we have realised the over-riding importance of ensuring that the accompanying environmental challenges are met: in particular, the maintenance of good air and water quality. Over the border in mainland China, economic development without proper regulation has led to environmental damage in urban and industrial areas.

The result is that government bodies in Hong Kong, mainland China, and in countries around the world, are launching initiatives to promote environmental protection. They want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air and water quality, and make industrial processes environmentally friendly and sustainable.

These bodies have created new business opportunities for technology companies in areas including building energy efficiency, environmental solutions, alternative energy, waste disposal and recycling, electric vehicles, and green electronics for infrastructure projects and carbon audits.

Enterprising technologists are meeting these challenges, and the outcome is clear: everyone is a winner.

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THE FUTURE IS GREEN

In the past, “greenies” were often portrayed as the business sector’s opponents. Not any more. Today, it is accepted that taking the environment into account needs to be a standard part of commercial activities. Sustainability has moved from being a niche concept to being a vital part of project planning in every sector. But now the process is taking a further step, with people not just making sure they do no harm, but pro-actively working to enhance the environment. The result is a whole new sector called green technology, where environmentalism, science, and business meet. The combination has been a success, and green tech has turned out to be more than the sum of its parts. Not only is it an exciting new area for its three constituent elements, but it engenders a hugely positive response from both organisations and individuals. This enthusiasm, particularly from young people, is a key factor in spurring on innovation in the field. The green tech revolution has just begun.

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AirStar set to be the ultimate cool company

IT IS SURPRISING how little the technology which keeps us cool has changed. For centuries in Asia, women would use foldable hand fans for the purpose of cooling and refreshing. Modern air conditioners also blow cool air at people, albeit mechanically.

But one company, AirStar Air Conditioning Technology Group, is using bright ideas and new technology to create potentially huge breakthroughs in this globally important area.

The result of the AirStar revolution: cooler environment; more quiet working place; lower electricity bills; and most important of all, significantly less CO

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emission to the atmosphere.

AirStar’s technology, known as the Radiant Cooling and Fresh Air System, is simple but brilliant. Instead of mechanically pushing cold air into rooms, it uses discreet panels to make rooms comfortable for people.

Here is how it works. The AirStar’s Fresh Air System adopts the natural phenomena of radiation heat transfer by putting chilled panels, typically on the ceiling of rooms, decrease the surface temperature of walls, floors and the furniture. This results in the warmth produced by human bodies or other heat loads in the room to be taken up by the panels, or more precisely, by the chilled water which flows through copper pipes behind the ceiling panels. The result is a feeling of comfort for people in the room — but without fans or air-conditioners blowing air at them. At the same time, the Fresh Air System controls the CO2

level, keeps the air in the room at an excellent indoor air quality standard.

The systems set up by AirStar have been found to have many benefits, direct and indirect. The comfort level for each area can be individually adjusted, since intelligent control technology is supplied for the entire Fresh Air System. The system cooling capacity can be controlled, and the whole operating system can be monitored and controlled from a distance via an IP address.

There are practical and aesthetic advantages too. People using the new system do not need to create large ducts for air to be taken in for processing and emitted for cooling. The system is also more discreet, taking up less space than traditional units.

It is also silent since it has no moving parts. And since their system does not recirculate air, the problem of “sick building

syndrome”, which is usually traced to dirty ducts, is avoided.

There are benefits on the financial side too, since it lasts longer than a normal cooling system. Because there are no moving parts, maintenance is simple, and the operating life is much longer. The life expectancy for Fresh Air System are in excess of 20 years.

STAFF AT AIRSTAR are confident that their unique technology would flourish and could eventually dominate the world market. This, they said, would not only revolutionise environmental conservation but also be hugely beneficial for health. That is because the AirStar system does not require air to be recirculated.

New thinking takes air-conditioning to a new level

For this reason, it is ideal for deployment in high density buildings where reduction or elimination of cross infection is a top priority. In addition to hospitals, the company’s technology can be applied to airports, shopping mall, subway transport, hospitals, hotels, schools, office buildings, electronic factories, and many other sites. In a pandemic situation, you can see how useful it would be.

TESTS HAVE SHOWN that the new system can easily use 40% less energy to reach a comfort level which is the same or better than traditional air-conditioning systems. And that is not guesswork: the results are based on a recognised “Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy” as stipulated in ASHRAE standard 55-2010.

And it is not just theory. The new technology has been installed in numerous locations throughout China and Hong Kong.

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Green Technology

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AirStar

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HOW MANY SCIENTISTS does it take to change a light bulb? If he or she has a business card saying Cree Inc., just one should be more than enough to transform the bulb beyond recognition. For Cree Inc. has made a name for itself as being at the cutting edge of light technologies.

The firm’s long list of breakthroughs in the area of light-emitting diode technology, light sources most people know better as LEDs, has made the company a byword for innovation in a highly competitive field. The company has its Asia Regional Headquarters at Hong Kong Science Park.

What does Cree do? When you look at the building-sized videos that now add colour and vibrancy to modern cities, you are seeing something that can be traced to an idea that Cree scientists had a quarter of a century ago.

Cree Inc. is a powerful example of how science and commerce can work together to change the landscape. The company was formed in 1987 by a group of researchers at North Carolina State University, USA. For several years, the young men had

been looking for the “holy grail” of LEDs: blue light. In those days, LED lights were limited to being green, red, yellow or orange. These were fine for single-colour uses, such as for digital watches, but for full colour video on big screens, you would have to have a blue light, not just for blue parts of images, but to create the colour spectrum. Without blue, a huge part of the spectrum could never been shown.

At that time, scientists knew that blue LED light could be generated from a material called silicon carbide — but the substance was notoriously difficult to handle, as it could only be used to create the necessary crystals if heated to more than 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit. The resulting crystals were also super-hard, so difficult to shape. The university researchers set out to solve the problems and take the results to the market place. They knew it would take a long time, and cost a fortune — but they also knew that their project had huge, long-lasting potential.

And so it did. Indeed, several of the young men involved in those early days — Calvin Carter Jr., John Edmond, Neal Hunter, and John Palmour, are still associated with the company today.

TO CUT A long story short, the scientists did exactly what they set out to do. In 1989, Cree first brought the blue LED to the market. It spread around the world. In the 1990s, the firm’s spectacular blue-light product was chosen for the dashboards

Lighting up the world Cree Inc. is a shining success

Green Technology

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of new cars from Volkswagen and Audi. Reviewers and car-buyers raved over the cars’ futuristic instrument panels, which had eye-catching blue lights seeming to float over a deep black background. Dashboard design was revolutionised.

But that was just a small part of Cree Inc.’s LED revolution. In those early days, when digital watches had tiny, dim, red numbers, it seemed unlikely that LEDs could ever be used for serious lighting purposes. Along came the team at Cree, who produced products called XLamp LEDs, the world’s first “lighting-class” LEDs — next-generation lamps bright enough to be used for general purposes: in desk lamps, as ceiling fixtures or even as street lights.

The firm grew at a steady pace, making a name of itself as a multinational manufacturer of semiconductor materials and light-related devices. Using innovative materials as a platform, Cree has led the LED lighting revolution. And it really is a revolution: across the board, the incandescent light bulbs that used to be ubiquitous just a few years ago are being replaced wholesale by LED lights which use a fraction of the energy. And it is not just inside buildings. Cree's extensive line of high-brightness LEDs are also introducing new performance levels to outdoor video displays and decorative lighting.

THE FIRM’S FIRST connection with Hong Kong came in 1994, when it bought a Hong Kong company called Colour Cells

International and transformed it into a new Cree subsidiary, Real Colour Displays.

Over the years, the firm saw business from Asia becoming a huge part of its portfolio, particularly Japan and Malaysia.

Then in 2001, Cree opened a subsidiary, Cree Asia-Pacific Ltd., and moved to Hong Kong Science Park in 2007. The new operation was designed to serve as a centre of product innovation in Asia and provide customer and technical support, particularly in the area of packaged LED lighting components.

From their vantage point in Hong Kong, executives looked for acquisition opportunities in the Asian region. In this context, there are several deals worth highlighting. In 2007, Cree acquired Cotco Luminant Device Ltd of Hong Kong for USD 200 million. Cotco was a supplier of high brightness LEDs in China, and the purchase was a smart way for the US-originated company to get market share in the world’s most populous country.

Hong Kong Science Park proved to be a good base from which to ignite other China ventures too. In July 2008, Cree Inc. announced the opening of the Cree Shenzhen Engineering Centre in the mainland city immediately on the other side of the Hong Kong border. This technical education centre was dedicated to train lighting product designers and

Cree

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manufacturers in best practices for LED lighting product design and construction. Sharing an address with the Cree Shenzhen sales office, the engineering centre employed application engineering, technical and sales staff. The modular curriculum, taught in Mandarin, was designed to expand traditional lighting designers’ and manufacturers’ understanding and knowledge of the use of LEDs in general-illumination applications.

CREE EXECUTIVES TOOK another huge step in 2009, when they decided that they wanted a chip plant in Asia to match their huge operations in North America. The firm announced an agreement to purchase a 592,000-square-foot (55,000m2) facility in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, China. The facility was Cree’s first chip production facility outside North America.

In June 2012, the company announced the launch of two new technology centres in China, further expanding a unit called Cree TEMPO Services, with TEMPO standing for Thermal, Electrical, Mechanical, Photometric and Optical. The groundbreaking technology centres were launched to support demand for Cree products and services throughout China and demonstrate Cree’s commitment to accelerate a broader market adoption of LED lighting. TEMPO Services provide LED lighting manufacturers with a comprehensive suite of evaluation services for LED luminaires, ensuring customers have

information needed to design and market quality LED products.

And later that same month, an announcement revealed that the engineers in the Beibei district of the Chinese city of Chongqing had recently completed the installation of more than 20,000 street lights featuring 1.9 million Cree LED lamps. The project was China’s largest municipal intelligent lighting control project. It began in July 2011 and included nearly 16 miles of highway, with Cree LED-based luminaires installed along 119 streets and one tunnel. Engineers estimate the installation will result in annual maintenance and electricity savings of more than RMB 19.5 million (approximately USD 3 million) and 17.6 million kWh.

The Municipal Bureau of the Beibei District initiated the project to improve the living environment for local citizens and to meet China’s stringent roadway lighting requirements for light efficacy, brightness, luminance, heat dissipation and service lifespan. The new lighting replaced antiquated sodium-vapour street lighting along the Yuwu Highway, extending from Chongqing to Wusheng.

With its Hong Kong base providing a springboard for a growing presence in Asia, Cree has more than fulfilled the dreams of the ambitious team which started the company, and is ready to light up the world.

Green Technology

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Fujitsu Semiconductor’s integrated circuits circle the world

Electronics unit is arm of famous Japanese tech giant

FUJITSU IS A world famous name. It instantly brings to mind the Japanese conglomerate which is famous for producing computers which are widely popular, particularly cool-looking laptops and notebooks. The Tokyo-based firm grew from being a producer of a single item to being an international icon, just like its compatriots Sharp (originally a maker of pencils) and Nintendo (originally a maker of playing cards).

For Fujitsu, the key item that provided the impetus for growth was automatic telephone exchange switchers. In the early 1920s, phone calls were laboriously connected by people pulling cables from one socket and attached them to another. Over the following decades, Fujitsu transformed the system in speed and efficiency by fully automating it, and laid the groundwork for the modern communications miracle, which is Japan today.

While the Fujitsu Group is one of the largest technology firms in the world, and is mostly famous for producing computers, it is also a major player in the

business-to-business area, particularly in the production of integrated circuits.

The parent group runs a unit called the Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited Group, based in Hong Kong, and its key operation is a specialist engineering company called Fujitsu Semiconductor Pacific Asia, founded in 1986.

AT ITS OFFICES in Hong Kong Science Park, the Fujitsu semiconductor operation has a full team of highly skilled staff working in a range of activities associated with integrated circuits, from circuit design to application engineering. The company offers numerous products and services in this area. The team can create flexible systems for use in digital audio-visual goods, consumer electronic goods, cars, mobile and wireless digital markets, etc. The company also offers design and technical support for its customers, locally and regionally.

The operation of the Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited Asia (FSLA) in Hong Kong Science Park is at heart an engineering base. It has various design departments, focusing on intellectual property and macro designs for integrated circuits and for ASSP products.

ASSP is short for “application-specific standard product”, and is a term used to refer to an integrated circuit which implements a specific function. Usually, these are functions with a wide range of popular uses. An example of an ASSP is an integrated circuit that performs audio decoding, a specific task that can be found in many different products: any device that plays music or speech. ASSPs tend to be available as off-the-shelf components, and are used in industries from automotive cars to communication.

FSLA also handles items known as ASICs, which stands for “application-specific integrated circuit”. These items combine a collection of functions designed by or for one particular customer.

TODAY, FUJITSU’S HONG KONG operation plays a key role in the continuing success of the parent company, with locally based staff playing their part among the 172,000 staff worldwide who support customers in more than 100 countries. “We use our experience and the power of information and communications technology to shape the future of society with our customers,” a spokesman said.

The company is clearly doing it right. Fujitsu reported consolidated revenues of JPY 4.4 trillion (about USD 47 billion at mid-2013 rates) for the fiscal year ended 31 March 2013.

The company has achieved an impressive list of world-class rankings. Fujitsu is the world's fourth-largest IT services provider, and number one in Japan. The company is among the world's top five providers of servers. FORTUNE magazine named Fujitsu as one of “the World's Most Admired Companies” in 2013. And it is also admired by scientists. Fujitsu Group holds about 97,000 patents worldwide.

Quite a remarkable list of achievements for a firm which started out with only one product!

Other special focuses of FSLA in Hong Kong include the production of analogue and system memories, various applications in the automobile area, designs for image processing systems, etc. In other words, there is a full range of options available for customers wanting cutting edge electronics.

THE HONG KONG operation shares the parent company’s interest in the environment, which makes Hong Kong Science Park the perfect location. Parent, subsidiary, and host all share the same goals.

The company’s focus on green tech goes much further than just the manufacturing process, but reaches right into the products themselves. “We use our state-of-the-art technology to provide semiconductor devices with superior environmental characteristics,” the company said in a statement.

To ensure that its duty to avoid increasing the burden on the environment is maintained, Science Park firm sets high targets for itself. An ISO14001 certified company, the company also complies with a range of other worldwide environmental standards, including RoHS, REACH, WEEE, ELV, etc.

In focusing on the environment, the Hong Kong unit is very much following the lead of the parent firm. Fujitsu Group was named in a Newsweek survey as one of the top 20 most

eco-conscious firms in the world. Fujitsu is also listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, the FTSE4Good Index Series, and in the listings of Oekom Research, a specialist ratings agency focusing on green companies.

Fujitsu’s semiconductor unit chose Science Park as its base in Hong Kong for several reasons. First, the Park had a good reputation for accommodating hi-tech companies. Second, it focused a great deal on green technology, a core value shared with Fujitsu leadership.

Also, the great facilities meant that both practical work and the sales function could be handled in one place. The firm’s office at Science Park functions as a design centre and as a sales office. Two out of the three staff are integrated circuit design engineer and application engineer.

Being located at Science Park brought geographical and social benefits too. “We can meet a lot of people in the same field at Hong Kong Science Park, which gives us great convenience in doing business,” a spokesman said. “The place also provides a lot of facilities which lower our costs of operation. These facilities include conference room booking, wired and wireless internet service, auto lighting and air-con controls to cut down electricity costs, etc.”

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Green Technology

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Fujitsu

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Horimasa reinvents farming to benefit mankind

Growing organic foods in urban settings

WHAT DOES THE word “farm” mean to you? If you think of fields of crops and barns full of animals, you may need to revise your thinking. An innovative firm has developed ways of producing high quality foods, including organic vegetables, fresh strawberries and tasty fish, in small spaces.

By using special lighting sources and ingenious design, Horimasa Co Ltd has developed amazing vertical indoor growing systems. It is a perfect vision of the future for city dwellers who want the best possible organic foods.

BUT HORIMASA IS a long-established firm with a wide variety of interests, so we should consider its history before zeroing in on its latest projects.

Horimasa was established in 1933 in Japan, and grew to become a major trader in the field of general machinery, trading bearings and other machine parts.

In September 2007, it became an ISO14001 certified firm. The company strongly dedicated itself to the cause of creating innovative environmentally sustainable enterprises. In 2012, the company initiated a new division called VEGILABTM, to help the planet cope with the host of challenges that it was facing, including a diminishing food supply, global warming, and concerns about food safety.

The firm’s leaders gave it a revised mission: To focus on ensuring that protecting the environment became a key plank in the firm’s strategy. The company embarked “on a mission of engaging in ecofriendly business activities where the planet must no longer be taken for granted and just employed for profit and gain”.

It is a grand target to aim for. Fortunately, the company’s expertise in high quality machinery and ultra-efficient lighting turned out to blend well with its chosen focus on protecting the environment.

THE COMPANY SOON developed technology that reflected its aims: Environment-controlled food production technology, including hydroponics and aquaponics suitable for urban agriculture. Hydroponics is a method of growing vegetables with mineral nutrient solutions in water without soil. Aquaponics is the integration of Aquaculture into a hydroponics system.

This technology takes nothing away from available arable land, and brings other direct benefits. It makes use of under-used space in urban settings, and brings food production closer to populated areas.

Today, the firm has a range of innovative products, three of which we highlight below.

Horimasa’s vertical indoor growing system has been designed under the supervision of the University of Hawaii professors. This is a totally unique vertical aquaponics indoor system which is capable to produce organic vegetables. It uses a technology called the Bell Siphon, a passive autosiphon device that allows a continuous flow of water into a container which is periodically drained. Horimasa is using this system both at their lab in Hong Kong Science Park, and at the Hawaii Aquaponics Lab.

The second product is a drip irrigation farming system. Using this, Horimasa is producing Japanese strawberries in the New

Territories of Hong Kong. The result is fruit that is identical to the famously and carefully grown fruit available in Japan.

The third product is the DNA detector for food safety. Horimasa has become the authorised distributor of a product by US company DIAGENETIXTM Inc. in which a portable, hand-held device can be used to quickly and accurately test for food contaminants such as e-coli.

HORIMASA’S LAB IN the Biotechnology Support Centre of Hong Kong Science Park is the flagship office for overseas business development. Senior executives chose this to be their international hub because the facility already housed many of the most advanced technology companies. Furthermore, Horimasa felt Science Park was the best place to develop both the technology and the business.

Green Technology

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WHAT DOES THE word “farm” mean to you? If you think of fields of crops and barns full of animals, you may need to revise your thinking. An innovative firm has developed ways of producing high quality foods, including organic vegetables, fresh strawberries and tasty fish, in small spaces.

By using special lighting sources and ingenious design, Horimasa Co Ltd has developed amazing vertical indoor growing systems. It is a perfect vision of the future for city dwellers who want the best possible organic foods.

BUT HORIMASA IS a long-established firm with a wide variety of interests, so we should consider its history before zeroing in on its latest projects.

Horimasa was established in 1933 in Japan, and grew to become a major trader in the field of general machinery, trading bearings and other machine parts.

In September 2007, it became an ISO14001 certified firm. The company strongly dedicated itself to the cause of creating innovative environmentally sustainable enterprises. In 2012, the company initiated a new division called VEGILABTM, to help the planet cope with the host of challenges that it was facing, including a diminishing food supply, global warming, and concerns about food safety.

The firm’s leaders gave it a revised mission: To focus on ensuring that protecting the environment became a key plank in the firm’s strategy. The company embarked “on a mission of engaging in ecofriendly business activities where the planet must no longer be taken for granted and just employed for profit and gain”.

It is a grand target to aim for. Fortunately, the company’s expertise in high quality machinery and ultra-efficient lighting turned out to blend well with its chosen focus on protecting the environment.

THE COMPANY SOON developed technology that reflected its aims: Environment-controlled food production technology, including hydroponics and aquaponics suitable for urban agriculture. Hydroponics is a method of growing vegetables with mineral nutrient solutions in water without soil. Aquaponics is the integration of Aquaculture into a hydroponics system.

This technology takes nothing away from available arable land, and brings other direct benefits. It makes use of under-used space in urban settings, and brings food production closer to populated areas.

Today, the firm has a range of innovative products, three of which we highlight below.

Horimasa’s vertical indoor growing system has been designed under the supervision of the University of Hawaii professors. This is a totally unique vertical aquaponics indoor system which is capable to produce organic vegetables. It uses a technology called the Bell Siphon, a passive autosiphon device that allows a continuous flow of water into a container which is periodically drained. Horimasa is using this system both at their lab in Hong Kong Science Park, and at the Hawaii Aquaponics Lab.

The second product is a drip irrigation farming system. Using this, Horimasa is producing Japanese strawberries in the New

Territories of Hong Kong. The result is fruit that is identical to the famously and carefully grown fruit available in Japan.

The third product is the DNA detector for food safety. Horimasa has become the authorised distributor of a product by US company DIAGENETIXTM Inc. in which a portable, hand-held device can be used to quickly and accurately test for food contaminants such as e-coli.

HORIMASA’S LAB IN the Biotechnology Support Centre of Hong Kong Science Park is the flagship office for overseas business development. Senior executives chose this to be their international hub because the facility already housed many of the most advanced technology companies. Furthermore, Horimasa felt Science Park was the best place to develop both the technology and the business.

Horimasa

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Light Engine now a top manufacturer in China

Firm shines brightly by illuminating the world

Green Technology

The company’s R&D team is made up of more than a hundred top engineers and project management experts from USA, Japan, Germany, the Greater China region, and other countries. The broad cultural reach means that the firm can make the most of both international and local insights.

FEW COMPANIES SHINE as brightly as Light Engine. The firm has powered its way to the top of its game.

Today, it is the largest lighting manufacturer in China and one of the top 10 LED lighting suppliers in the world, based on sales volume.

It is a highly impressive achievement, particularly when you consider that LED lighting is a comparatively recent invention. Originally producing a low level red glow, LED started to show promise in the 1980s, when scientists developed clear white light from them.

From then on, the field has seen exponential growth through the 1990s and 2000s. Now some lighting specialists say that it is only a matter of time before LED lighting overtakes traditional lighting sources such as incandescent lights and compact fluorescent lamps in most or all spheres of industrial and domestic use. Indeed, since 2010, the growth in LED lighting has been described by analysts as “the third lighting revolution”.

Why is it so successful? LED lighting is more energy efficient, last longer, and is more environmentally friendly. “The LED lighting field is presently undergoing rapid, large-scale industrialization,” Light Engine staff said in a statement. “This phenomenon heralds the future of the lighting industry – and a major technological evolution.”

LIGHT ENGINE CAN best be described as a specialist in solid state lighting technology, a field which comprises a range of specialist skills, including power supply design, thermal management, optical systems, digital controls, mechanical design, and LED technology.

“We work with lighting designers, lighting control suppliers, EMC-energy management contractors, and so on, in order to provide a one-stop solution in lighting design as well as large variety of products,” the company said. The range of products means that the client gets a more cost-effective package.

Light Engine has set up two large-scale R&D centres. The Hong Kong centre, based at Hong Kong Science Park, focuses on industrial design and intellectual property management. The Shenzhen centre is responsible for engineering design and actualization of new products.

Quality of facilities is also a key element. “We own a world-class lab testing infrastructure to ensure that our products lead the market in terms of brightness, light efficacy, product lifespan, binning, heat dissipation, and lumen depreciation,” the company said. “This is the keystone of our technological innovation and high-precision manufacturing.”

THE COMPANY HAS won a host of awards, marking not only its industrial performance, but also the contributions it makes to society. “We, motivated by these accolades, are dedicated to excel in our future eco-preservation and technological development work,” the company said.

Among the accolades, Light Engine has been featured in numerous award presentations, including the Hong Kong Awards for Industries; the Caring Company awards; the Hang Seng PRD Environmental Awards; the HSBC Living Business Award – Silver Award for the Green Achievement Award, the China 2011 National Torch Plan Project, and many others.

Light Engine is headquartered at Hong Kong Science Park, which it felt was the perfect place for a company specializing in hi-tech products with an environmentally friendly angle.

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The company’s R&D team is made up of more than a hundred top engineers and project management experts from USA, Japan, Germany, the Greater China region, and other countries. The broad cultural reach means that the firm can make the most of both international and local insights.

FEW COMPANIES SHINE as brightly as Light Engine. The firm has powered its way to the top of its game.

Today, it is the largest lighting manufacturer in China and one of the top 10 LED lighting suppliers in the world, based on sales volume.

It is a highly impressive achievement, particularly when you consider that LED lighting is a comparatively recent invention. Originally producing a low level red glow, LED started to show promise in the 1980s, when scientists developed clear white light from them.

From then on, the field has seen exponential growth through the 1990s and 2000s. Now some lighting specialists say that it is only a matter of time before LED lighting overtakes traditional lighting sources such as incandescent lights and compact fluorescent lamps in most or all spheres of industrial and domestic use. Indeed, since 2010, the growth in LED lighting has been described by analysts as “the third lighting revolution”.

Why is it so successful? LED lighting is more energy efficient, last longer, and is more environmentally friendly. “The LED lighting field is presently undergoing rapid, large-scale industrialization,” Light Engine staff said in a statement. “This phenomenon heralds the future of the lighting industry – and a major technological evolution.”

LIGHT ENGINE CAN best be described as a specialist in solid state lighting technology, a field which comprises a range of specialist skills, including power supply design, thermal management, optical systems, digital controls, mechanical design, and LED technology.

“We work with lighting designers, lighting control suppliers, EMC-energy management contractors, and so on, in order to provide a one-stop solution in lighting design as well as large variety of products,” the company said. The range of products means that the client gets a more cost-effective package.

Light Engine has set up two large-scale R&D centres. The Hong Kong centre, based at Hong Kong Science Park, focuses on industrial design and intellectual property management. The Shenzhen centre is responsible for engineering design and actualization of new products.

Quality of facilities is also a key element. “We own a world-class lab testing infrastructure to ensure that our products lead the market in terms of brightness, light efficacy, product lifespan, binning, heat dissipation, and lumen depreciation,” the company said. “This is the keystone of our technological innovation and high-precision manufacturing.”

THE COMPANY HAS won a host of awards, marking not only its industrial performance, but also the contributions it makes to society. “We, motivated by these accolades, are dedicated to excel in our future eco-preservation and technological development work,” the company said.

Among the accolades, Light Engine has been featured in numerous award presentations, including the Hong Kong Awards for Industries; the Caring Company awards; the Hang Seng PRD Environmental Awards; the HSBC Living Business Award – Silver Award for the Green Achievement Award, the China 2011 National Torch Plan Project, and many others.

Light Engine is headquartered at Hong Kong Science Park, which it felt was the perfect place for a company specializing in hi-tech products with an environmentally friendly angle.

Lighthouse Technologies has a vision for the future

Giant displays transform event-goers’ experience

Green Technology

18

GOING TO A pop concert with 40,000 other fans? In the past, you could hear the music, but the performer was a dot in the distance for most of the audience. Today, all that has changed. Go to a concert now and massive video displays means that you can enjoy your hero’s every facial expression.

One of the key players behind this revolution in the world of live entertainment is Lighthouse Technologies, a young firm which quickly established itself as a global leader in LED video display technology.

The company develops, manufactures, and markets LED video display systems for public events from two bases, one in Hong Kong and one in mainland China. You can see Lighthouse Technologies products around the world at sports events, pop concerts, and a variety of other mass gatherings. Screens by Lighthouse Technologies have even been integrated into the sets of stage plays.

IT IS ALL pretty impressive for a Hong Kong firm that was founded relatively recently, opening its doors for the first time in 1997. Within a year of starting, it notched up a Consumer Product Design Award at the Hong Kong Awards for Industries Ceremony.

But company executives, who knew they were in a highly competitive business, did not rest on their laurels, but continued to innovate. In 1999, Lighthouse was the first video display company in the world to introduce an 8-bit high-resolution 10mm indoor panel. (The term 8-bit refers to the speed of data handling; and 10mm is a measurement of distance between pixels, indicating high resolution images.)

In 2001, the company had its manufacturing plant ISO9001-Certified, and the following year it was recognised as one of the Fastest Growing Technology Companies in the Deloitte Technology Fast 250.

The company’s eye-catching products make it a winner in trade fairs such as InfoComm, where it won the Buzz of the Show award in 2004 and a Best-In-Show in 2005. By that time, the company had developed highest resolution HD screen (with a pixel pitch of 6mm) for the headquarters of T-Mobile in Berlin, Germany.

Since then, the company has picked up a slew of awards, even as it continues to innovate to keep ahead of its competition.

TODAY, LIGHTHOUSE HAS a strong global presence, with regional offices in Europe, North and South America, the Asia Pacific, and China. “Employing the most advanced technology, the highest quality manufacturing facilities, and world-class, round-the-clock technical support; Lighthouse satisfies customers on every major continent, captivating the imagination of millions,” the company said in a statement.

How has the young firm made itself so successful? Senior staff said that it set the highest standards in the industry. The products did not only fulfill their expectations, but they featured state-of-the-art technology, and are noticeably well-designed: with the panels being slim, modular and lightweight. They can also be set to a variety of brightness levels, making themselves ideal for any kind of installation.

“Committed and continuous investment in R&D has put us at the forefront of the LED video industry,” the company said. “Without doubt, customer satisfaction is our prime objective and we are proud of the feedback we have received.”

As well as running a major part of its operation at Hong Kong Science Park, Lighthouse Technologies has also provided a spectacular giant video display in the complex. More than four meters high and close to six meters wide, the display provides eye-catching evidence of the firm’s high resolution vision of the future.

19

GOING TO A pop concert with 40,000 other fans? In the past, you could hear the music, but the performer was a dot in the distance for most of the audience. Today, all that has changed. Go to a concert now and massive video displays means that you can enjoy your hero’s every facial expression.

One of the key players behind this revolution in the world of live entertainment is Lighthouse Technologies, a young firm which quickly established itself as a global leader in LED video display technology.

The company develops, manufactures, and markets LED video display systems for public events from two bases, one in Hong Kong and one in mainland China. You can see Lighthouse Technologies products around the world at sports events, pop concerts, and a variety of other mass gatherings. Screens by Lighthouse Technologies have even been integrated into the sets of stage plays.

IT IS ALL pretty impressive for a Hong Kong firm that was founded relatively recently, opening its doors for the first time in 1997. Within a year of starting, it notched up a Consumer Product Design Award at the Hong Kong Awards for Industries Ceremony.

But company executives, who knew they were in a highly competitive business, did not rest on their laurels, but continued to innovate. In 1999, Lighthouse was the first video display company in the world to introduce an 8-bit high-resolution 10mm indoor panel. (The term 8-bit refers to the speed of data handling; and 10mm is a measurement of distance between pixels, indicating high resolution images.)

In 2001, the company had its manufacturing plant ISO9001-Certified, and the following year it was recognised as one of the Fastest Growing Technology Companies in the Deloitte Technology Fast 250.

The company’s eye-catching products make it a winner in trade fairs such as InfoComm, where it won the Buzz of the Show award in 2004 and a Best-In-Show in 2005. By that time, the company had developed highest resolution HD screen (with a pixel pitch of 6mm) for the headquarters of T-Mobile in Berlin, Germany.

Since then, the company has picked up a slew of awards, even as it continues to innovate to keep ahead of its competition.

TODAY, LIGHTHOUSE HAS a strong global presence, with regional offices in Europe, North and South America, the Asia Pacific, and China. “Employing the most advanced technology, the highest quality manufacturing facilities, and world-class, round-the-clock technical support; Lighthouse satisfies customers on every major continent, captivating the imagination of millions,” the company said in a statement.

How has the young firm made itself so successful? Senior staff said that it set the highest standards in the industry. The products did not only fulfill their expectations, but they featured state-of-the-art technology, and are noticeably well-designed: with the panels being slim, modular and lightweight. They can also be set to a variety of brightness levels, making themselves ideal for any kind of installation.

“Committed and continuous investment in R&D has put us at the forefront of the LED video industry,” the company said. “Without doubt, customer satisfaction is our prime objective and we are proud of the feedback we have received.”

As well as running a major part of its operation at Hong Kong Science Park, Lighthouse Technologies has also provided a spectacular giant video display in the complex. More than four meters high and close to six meters wide, the display provides eye-catching evidence of the firm’s high resolution vision of the future.

Lighthouse

20

LINKZ IS A good example of just what you can achieve if you choose your niche carefully and do your job well. The company was founded in Hong Kong in October 1981 as a small factory making cable harnesses: devices which hold wires firmly in place. It was a narrow niche and an unglamorous one: yet it was also vital, especially during the 1980s and 1990s when the consumer electronics market exploded and everybody had gadgets and appliances everywhere.

The company’s excellence in fulfilling its aims had two effects: its product range expanded organically into a full range of cables and wires; and its market grew steadily until it became a major player on a world scale.

Today, Linkz is the largest maker of ODM and OEM (original design manufacturer and original equipment manufacturer) LAN cables in Asia, and one of the world’s top 10 suppliers. The company’s success has played a major role in the fact that Hong Kong and mainland China used to be net importers of wire and cable, but today are exporters to the rest of the planet.

FROM ITS BASE at Hong Kong Science Park, Linkz has a large international market. “While our headquarters remain in Hong Kong, our world-class production facilities are spread across mainland China as well as maintaining several regional offices worldwide,” a spokesman said.

One of the secrets of Linkz’s success is that the management team keeps a close eye on best practice business techniques and integrates the finest of them into company structure. For example, the factory management staff are all trained in the Six Sigma system. “We are proud to just have obtained our first black belt graduate with several more in the pipeline,” a spokesman said. “This, along with another 20-plus green belts on their way across the factory structure, we hope to have our entire production staff certified Six Sigma graduates in the near future.”

This technique, along with lean manufacturing policies, is allowing the firm to trim down expenses by reducing scrap levels, streamlining the production flow, and increasing automation while maintaining a consistent level of quality. The resulting cost savings allow the company to offer clients lower prices.

The firm also has a just-in-time policy which keeps storage costs down. A highly automated warehouse with an electronic tracking system allows staff to minimize stock buildup and gets shipments moving out at high speed. The company’s new manufacturing centre includes a 10,000m2 warehouse logistics centre, further improving its’ just-in-time capabilities.

GOOD RELATIONSHIPS HAVE also been a key factor in company growth. Linkz has been in China for some 20 years and has a strong working relationship with the local authorities. Since 1999, the company has enjoyed Class A+ Enterprise status (the highest possible) for customs, Class A Enterprise status for foreign exchange, and Class A Enterprise status for accounting. All were granted by local government authorities.

It has good relationships with clients, too. One of the benefits of the firm’s stellar growth pattern is that it can exploit the benefits of size. In the cable business, nothing matters more than the price of copper. Across the industry, copper price fluctuations have caused disruptions in production resulting in delayed or lost business.

“Due to our secure and trusted network of suppliers and large financial capacity, we have the capability to ensure your monthly orders are produced in a steady and predictable manner no matter the size,” a spokesman said.

Next time you plug a fancy new LAN cable into the back of a computer or a server, chances are that a quiet but efficient company at Hong Kong Science Park was responsible for getting it to you.

Linkz becomes the region’s leader in making LAN cables

Good connections proved to be the secret of success

Green Technology

21

LINKZ IS A good example of just what you can achieve if you choose your niche carefully and do your job well. The company was founded in Hong Kong in October 1981 as a small factory making cable harnesses: devices which hold wires firmly in place. It was a narrow niche and an unglamorous one: yet it was also vital, especially during the 1980s and 1990s when the consumer electronics market exploded and everybody had gadgets and appliances everywhere.

The company’s excellence in fulfilling its aims had two effects: its product range expanded organically into a full range of cables and wires; and its market grew steadily until it became a major player on a world scale.

Today, Linkz is the largest maker of ODM and OEM (original design manufacturer and original equipment manufacturer) LAN cables in Asia, and one of the world’s top 10 suppliers. The company’s success has played a major role in the fact that Hong Kong and mainland China used to be net importers of wire and cable, but today are exporters to the rest of the planet.

FROM ITS BASE at Hong Kong Science Park, Linkz has a large international market. “While our headquarters remain in Hong Kong, our world-class production facilities are spread across mainland China as well as maintaining several regional offices worldwide,” a spokesman said.

One of the secrets of Linkz’s success is that the management team keeps a close eye on best practice business techniques and integrates the finest of them into company structure. For example, the factory management staff are all trained in the Six Sigma system. “We are proud to just have obtained our first black belt graduate with several more in the pipeline,” a spokesman said. “This, along with another 20-plus green belts on their way across the factory structure, we hope to have our entire production staff certified Six Sigma graduates in the near future.”

This technique, along with lean manufacturing policies, is allowing the firm to trim down expenses by reducing scrap levels, streamlining the production flow, and increasing automation while maintaining a consistent level of quality. The resulting cost savings allow the company to offer clients lower prices.

The firm also has a just-in-time policy which keeps storage costs down. A highly automated warehouse with an electronic tracking system allows staff to minimize stock buildup and gets shipments moving out at high speed. The company’s new manufacturing centre includes a 10,000m2 warehouse logistics centre, further improving its’ just-in-time capabilities.

GOOD RELATIONSHIPS HAVE also been a key factor in company growth. Linkz has been in China for some 20 years and has a strong working relationship with the local authorities. Since 1999, the company has enjoyed Class A+ Enterprise status (the highest possible) for customs, Class A Enterprise status for foreign exchange, and Class A Enterprise status for accounting. All were granted by local government authorities.

It has good relationships with clients, too. One of the benefits of the firm’s stellar growth pattern is that it can exploit the benefits of size. In the cable business, nothing matters more than the price of copper. Across the industry, copper price fluctuations have caused disruptions in production resulting in delayed or lost business.

“Due to our secure and trusted network of suppliers and large financial capacity, we have the capability to ensure your monthly orders are produced in a steady and predictable manner no matter the size,” a spokesman said.

Next time you plug a fancy new LAN cable into the back of a computer or a server, chances are that a quiet but efficient company at Hong Kong Science Park was responsible for getting it to you.

Linkz

22

IN THE YEAR AD138, there was only one city in the world, Rome, which had a million-strong population. Today, there are more than 500 cities with more than a million people, and several have 10 times that number. “Therefore, building safe, convenient, efficient, healthy, and low-carbon smart cities becomes an urgent demand right now,” said by a company called Smart China.

But what are the key elements of the ideal modern urban life? You want to live in a clean, pleasant environment, in which you feel safe and have access to good transport facilities, right? You want the city to make the best possible use of technology, and you want to see cleaner, natural sources of energy being used, for sure. Most people share these goals, and they will be delighted to learn about the range of services that the team at Smart China provides.

THE CHINA-FOUNDED COMPANY is a forward-looking business which focuses on providing and enhancing a range of factors associated with up-to-the-minute city living. These include factors such as intelligent security, waste management, energy savings, traffic management, and much more — with everything being underpinned with state-of-the-art technology. The group also provides post-sale service, including management, monitoring, and maintenance. It offers value-added outsourced services for its main clients, which are corporates and government bodies.

In recent years, top executives at the Smart China (Holdings) Limited felt it was the right time to expand overseas, since 90% of its turnover was being generated from mainland China. So the firm recently set up a unit in Hong Kong, and started exploring opportunities in Australia, Singapore, and Thailand. “Being the gateway for mainland China, Hong Kong is the natural choice as the base from which to expand our business overseas,” Terence Yap, CEO of Smart China, told an interviewer.

The opening of Smart China’s Hong Kong office also coincided with the CSST Group’s recent acquisition of Guardforce Group, leading secured cash transport service provider in Hong Kong. Apart from the usual cash in transit services, operation, the Guardforce Group

also provide premium services in ATM cash replenishment, cash collection and processing, sub-treasuring, security storage, and time critical courier deliveries.

Of particular interest is Smart China Research, a fascinating subsidiary unit also located at Hong Kong Science Park. This firm gathers together the top players in its field of R&D, and is dedicated to the aim of becoming the world’s leading research institute in technology-related to the concept of the Smart City.

Currently, the unit’s research fields mainly cover robotics, intelligent electric vehicles, green energy, etc. It can also offer integrated systems and powerful technical support to smart city construction organisations through cooperation with institutions, governments, and other customers and partners.

WHILE THE FIRM has a wide range of products and services, there are a few special ones that catch a lot of attention — and one of the most memorable ones is the company’s Telepresence Robot, described as “your real world avatar”.

This is a creative solution to a growing problem. As globalisation advances, there is a growing need for people to travel on business. Yet at the same time, for environmental and other reasons, people are increasingly reluctant to spend their lives in airplanes. A life of business travel can be exhausting, expensive, and unproductive. Then there are people who would genuinely like to be in two places at once but cannot, because they have physical mobility problems, or they are just too busy.

Enter the Telepresence Robot. This is a device on wheels which can go to meetings for you. It can take part in discussions, check out facilities, and do inspections. You can hear what people say to the robot, and its audio visual equipment delivers your responses back to them. It has a screen in its head, so the people you are visiting can even see your actual facial expressions. Its body and arms are controlled by your body motion, so you do not have to learn a long list of new commands, or use complex controls. You simply move your body and the robot follows suit.

So yes, you can now be in two places at once.

SMART CHINA IS a member of the CSST Group, a group of entities listed on the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ Dubai until 2011. It is best summed up as a provider of a range of one-stop-shop systems associated with intelligent, digital urban life; specialising in hi-tech security and surveillance, green energy, waste management, and the Internet of things (IoT). The company also provides services such as project design, building maintenance, and project facilities services.

The company’s regional headquarters and technology research centre are located at Hong Kong Science Park. Its strategic partner, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, is located nearby, and is one of the leaders in developing green and intelligent technology.

Why Hong Kong? It is an international city and a leading light in promoting sustainable energy use and renewable energy, company executives say. This aligns well with the group’s strategy of internationalising its Smart City concept and operations.

Smart China has about 200 employees in mainland China and Hong Kong, but this number is expected to grow as business expands in the latter location.

TO GET A wider view of the company’s range of expertise, consider another of its ventures: one with the intriguing title of the Energy Cloud.

Smart China researchers looked at ways to deal with one of the most intractable modern problems: the need for reliable energy in a period when traditional forms of power, such as the use of fossil fuels, was becoming problematic for a number of reasons.

They found that there were a variety of other forms of energy, but they all tended to be intermittent, unstable or hard to control.

Enter the concept of the Energy Cloud. This is a platform based on three elements. First is a hybrid energy storage system which can integrate multiple energy sources. Power from wind energy, solar energy, etc, is stored and released in ways that enhance distribution and prevent bottlenecks.

Smart China has a big vision and a wide range of skills

Creating the intelligent urban centres of the future

Green Technology

Second is a focus on the renewability of energy. By raising the transformational efficiency of energy sources, lower carbon goals can be achieved.

And third is to win benefits by creating an over-arching energy management system for a whole city. Researchers believe that a smart city could integrate its home energy management system; its building energy management system; its community energy management system; its electric vehicle charging network system; etc.

The result is a smart city in which all the residents are direct beneficiaries.

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Smart China

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Green Technology




25

TÜV SÜD’S HISTORY dates back to 1886, a time when heavy steam boiler explosions caused fatalities and severe damage. TÜV SÜD was established to protect people, environment, and property against the possible adverse effects of technology. Its technical services provided people with the confidence to use this technology safely. Today, TÜV SÜD remains true to its founding principle by supporting its customers to overcome the quality and safety challenges of innovative technologies. It has since developed themselves to be a leading international technical service provider, partnered clients with testing, certification, auditing, inspection, training, and consulting services that deliver tangible economic benefits throughout their entire value chain, from design to recycling. Its clients span a wide range of industries including automotive, medical devices, electrical and electronics, building and construction, consumer products, and chemicals. Headquartered in Munich, Germany, TÜV SÜD is represented internationally by 19,000 employees in more than 800 locations. With a wide network of laboratories and expertise, its clients benefit from TÜV SÜD’s one-stop

interdisciplinary solutions and international accreditations, enabling fast, efficient access to global markets.

EXPERTISE IN TESTING remains the company’s core competency. TÜV SÜD provides testing services in the areas of electrical and mechanical safety, telecommunications, chemical and materials, microbiology, etc. These services are carried out by experts in labs accredited by more than 100 regulatory bodies worldwide.

The company also has the lab capabilities to conduct tests according to local and international requirements. TÜV SÜD issues quality and safety marks such as US’s Nationally Recognised Testing Laboratories (NRTL) mark; the EU’s Conformité Européenne (CE) marking and Geprüfte Sicherheit (GS) mark; China Compulsory Certification (CCC) mark, as well as the TÜV SÜD Certification Mark.

“Our test reports and product certification marks are recognised by manufacturers, retailers, and government bodies worldwide,” the company said in a statement. “To date, TÜV SÜD has issued over 270,000 product certifications.”

Keeping people free from harm for a century and a halfTÜV SÜD, a global leader in safety, quality, and sustainability

26

It also offers an auditing and certification service, benchmarking businesses to global standards, and demonstrating an organisation’s commitment to quality, environment, safety or social accountability.

The company also has a comprehensive inspection portfolio, which includes regulatory and voluntary inspection for amusement parks and rides, factory or site inspections, pre-shipment and post-shipment inspection, and failure analysis.

TÜV SÜD STARTED operations in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan in 1991, providing testing, inspection, product and management system certification, training, and knowledge services.

Operating from headquarters in Shanghai, TÜV SÜD is now represented throughout Greater China with main offices in

Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taipei, as well as a network of more than 40 satellite offices. To date, TÜV SÜD in Greater China employs around 2,000 dedicated experts and trained staff and has partnered around 20,000 companies, including government agencies, SMEs and MNCs.

TÜV SÜD is also affiliated with several reputable organisations in mainland China, including China Inspection and Quarantine Service, China Quality Certification Centre, and China Certification and Inspection Company.

From the company’s offices at Hong Kong Science Park, TÜV SÜD provides services to five industrial areas, focusing on trade services for electronics devices consumer products; telecoms; textiles and chemicals; industries service; and a total management service. The operations at the Park are backed up by a chemical testing laboratory at Yuen Long Trading Centre.

Green Technology

27

THERE ARE A large number of environmental protection issues these days such as the use of renewable energy sources, to handling waste products and dealing with contamination sites that need to be addressed. What if you are responsible for a big project which encompasses all these challenges?

The answer is to call “WET”, the easy-to-remember short form of the company named Waste & Environmental Technologies Ltd. The company is known for its holistic approach to providing hi-tech answers to pressing environmental challenges.

In particular, WET’s innovations in Low-Impact Development (LID) and Low Impact Construction (LIC) have been recognised by the awards they have won, such as the Asian Innovation Award and the NOVA award. The firm’s products have been delivered to many construction projects and other water treatment applications in at least 20 countries.

WET IS BASED in Hong Kong with a team of professional and experienced engineers, offering a wide range of services including environmental consultancy, low impact development and construction, wastewater treatment, urban greening, and renewable

energy.

The company was founded by its managing director Wai-on Leung. An innovator, he is particularly celebrated for having developed and patented a water and wastewater filtration system, known as WetSep, which has been successfully used all over the world, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, USA, Taiwan, and Australia. This innovative treatment system has been patented by his firm in many countries around the world.

His approach to the business is to remain competitive and stay ahead in the field of green technology by anticipating the needs of the industry and providing technologically based solutions. This drives him to create integrated systems which solve a range of environmental problems.

AS MENTIONED ABOVE, the company has a wide range of specialties. As well as the wastewater treatment technologies and LIC techniques mentioned above, it also provides know-how in “urban greening”, bringing natural vegetation to cityscape rooftops and walls. The firm also takes an interest in renewable energy, by dealing in solar hot water heaters, solar panels, and wind turbines; and it offers consulting services on a range of environmental issues, including water quality measurement and contamination handling. The handling of waste and recycled materials is another special focus.

Put all these together, and it is clear that WET has a special skill in integrating a range of different environmental technologies. Leung likes to think of the firm as providing “a holistic approach to providing environmental solutions that factor in different areas such as water, energy, and noise impacts.”

WET has recently signed an endorsement agreement with Caterpillar, this endorsement agreement allows them to work with Caterpillar’s dealership network to provide water treatment systems to treat the wastewater used for washing their large scale mining equipment. The successful signing of the agreement can partially be attributed to their international exposure and experience providing their equipment and services around the world.

TODAY, WET HAS grown into an international business with branch offices in China, Australia, Singapore, and USA. But its

headquarter is at Hong Kong Science Park, and that is where all administration functions of the business are conducted. Furthermore, WET’s R&D team also operate out of the Park. “This office also supports WET’s international business both technically and in sales and marketing when required,” Leung added.

Why did the firm choose Science Park as headquarter for the operation? There were many reasons. The firm’s senior management liked the location and the facilities, and approved of projects such as the incubation programme, which helped SMEs developing innovative products and growing a business. WET made good use of the programme, to develop new and innovative environmental technologies.

Science Park also provided a platform from which the firm could branch out to other international Science Parks. For example, WET successfully used Hong Kong Science Park as a launching platform to enroll in The Australian Technology Park’s Soft Landing Programme to assist international SMEs in operating and starting a new business in Australia.

Furthermore, Science Park has a strong interest in green technology, housing a cluster of firms specialising in that field. This closely echoed the company’s interests. Science Park’s business network was also a factor in choosing the location. “Through Science Park, WET has been able to branch out to other countries to develop business opportunities,” Leung said.

A holistic approach to protecting the environmentWET’s range of skills makes it a one-stop shop

28

THERE ARE A large number of environmental protection issues these days such as the use of renewable energy sources, to handling waste products and dealing with contamination sites that need to be addressed. What if you are responsible for a big project which encompasses all these challenges?

The answer is to call “WET”, the easy-to-remember short form of the company named Waste & Environmental Technologies Ltd. The company is known for its holistic approach to providing hi-tech answers to pressing environmental challenges.

In particular, WET’s innovations in Low-Impact Development (LID) and Low Impact Construction (LIC) have been recognised by the awards they have won, such as the Asian Innovation Award and the NOVA award. The firm’s products have been delivered to many construction projects and other water treatment applications in at least 20 countries.

WET IS BASED in Hong Kong with a team of professional and experienced engineers, offering a wide range of services including environmental consultancy, low impact development and construction, wastewater treatment, urban greening, and renewable

energy.

The company was founded by its managing director Wai-on Leung. An innovator, he is particularly celebrated for having developed and patented a water and wastewater filtration system, known as WetSep, which has been successfully used all over the world, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, USA, Taiwan, and Australia. This innovative treatment system has been patented by his firm in many countries around the world.

His approach to the business is to remain competitive and stay ahead in the field of green technology by anticipating the needs of the industry and providing technologically based solutions. This drives him to create integrated systems which solve a range of environmental problems.

AS MENTIONED ABOVE, the company has a wide range of specialties. As well as the wastewater treatment technologies and LIC techniques mentioned above, it also provides know-how in “urban greening”, bringing natural vegetation to cityscape rooftops and walls. The firm also takes an interest in renewable energy, by dealing in solar hot water heaters, solar panels, and wind turbines; and it offers consulting services on a range of environmental issues, including water quality measurement and contamination handling. The handling of waste and recycled materials is another special focus.

Put all these together, and it is clear that WET has a special skill in integrating a range of different environmental technologies. Leung likes to think of the firm as providing “a holistic approach to providing environmental solutions that factor in different areas such as water, energy, and noise impacts.”

WET has recently signed an endorsement agreement with Caterpillar, this endorsement agreement allows them to work with Caterpillar’s dealership network to provide water treatment systems to treat the wastewater used for washing their large scale mining equipment. The successful signing of the agreement can partially be attributed to their international exposure and experience providing their equipment and services around the world.

TODAY, WET HAS grown into an international business with branch offices in China, Australia, Singapore, and USA. But its

headquarter is at Hong Kong Science Park, and that is where all administration functions of the business are conducted. Furthermore, WET’s R&D team also operate out of the Park. “This office also supports WET’s international business both technically and in sales and marketing when required,” Leung added.

Why did the firm choose Science Park as headquarter for the operation? There were many reasons. The firm’s senior management liked the location and the facilities, and approved of projects such as the incubation programme, which helped SMEs developing innovative products and growing a business. WET made good use of the programme, to develop new and innovative environmental technologies.

Science Park also provided a platform from which the firm could branch out to other international Science Parks. For example, WET successfully used Hong Kong Science Park as a launching platform to enroll in The Australian Technology Park’s Soft Landing Programme to assist international SMEs in operating and starting a new business in Australia.

Furthermore, Science Park has a strong interest in green technology, housing a cluster of firms specialising in that field. This closely echoed the company’s interests. Science Park’s business network was also a factor in choosing the location. “Through Science Park, WET has been able to branch out to other countries to develop business opportunities,” Leung said.

WET

Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation

Telephone (852) 2629 1818Fax (852) 2629 1833Email [email protected] www.hkstp.orgAddress 8/F, Bio-Informatics Centre, No. 2 Science Park West Avenue, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong

Information is subject to changes without notice© 2015 Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation All rights reserved

hong kong science park green technology - hkstpbut green technology takes this notion and extends it...

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