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| Source: MANN+HUMMEL. The ribbon-cutting ceremony. From left: Charles Vaillant, Group VP Technology, MANN+HUMMEL, Ken Cao, Group VP and CEO, Asia Pacific, MANN+HUMMEL, Emese Weissenbacher, Chief Financial Officer, MANN+HUMMEL, Beh Kian Teck – Assistant MD, Singapore Economic Development Board, Thomas Fischer – Chairman of the Supervisory Board, MANN+HUMMEL, Hakan Eckberg – Group VP, Life Sciences and Environment, MANN+HUMMEL, and Jason Tang – VP, Intelligent Air Solutions, MANN+HUMMEL. |
The headquarters will spearhead the growth of indoor air quality solutions that combine MANN+HUMMEL’s expertise in air filtration with digital technologies. Besides regional market responsibilities, the IAS Asia Pacific HQ in Singapore is also responsible for global research and development, product charters, brand management and strategic partnerships.
Thomas Fischer, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at MANN+HUMMEL, said, “The megatrends of Asia’s growth, intensifying urbanisation, environmental sustainability, and rapid digitalisation of the physical world, are important for all of us. MANN+HUMMEL believes in leveraging our core expertise of filtration and separation while embracing new digital technologies. We will work very closely with our partners and customers in Singapore and Asia, to actively address these challenges and opportunities.”
Singapore’s strategic location in Asia Pacific, and the government’s move towards a smart and sustainable nation, makes it a clear key hub for MANN+HUMMEL. Together with its year-old Global IoT (Internet-of-Things) Lab, also located in Singapore, MANN+HUMMEL is set to serve a market for clean air solutions in Asia Pacific estimated at more than S$4 billion.
Beh Kian Teik, Assistant MD, Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), said that the company has had a 21-year partnership with EDB. “MANN+HUMMEL has been a long standing partner and valued contributor in the industrial and environment sector in Singapore. The opening of its Asia Pacific headquarters for intelligent air solutions is aligned with Singapore’s push to embrace the digital economy and green buildings. We look forward to the creation of solutions to enable smarter, healthier buildings for Singapore, as well as the region and beyond,” he said.
Beh also noted that a healthier and happier workforce with cleaner air and a healthier building; this can lead to improved productivity while optimising business operations for companies. "Addressing indoor air quality is a key component of the Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) Green Mark assessment. In fact, BCA most recently published a study that green buildings are not only environmentally friendly, but are also ‘healthier’ for their occupants.
"The intelligence in MANN+HUMMEL’s solutions also dovetail with Singapore’s Smart Nation push. Building and facility managers will be able to use smart control systems to monitor and manage the indoor air quality within buildings, alongside other typical vectors such as energy and water. We expect them to be able to do so remotely, efficiently or even through unmanned devices enabled by artificial intelligence," he added.
Thomas Fischer, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at MANN+HUMMEL, said, “The megatrends of Asia’s growth, intensifying urbanisation, environmental sustainability, and rapid digitalisation of the physical world, are important for all of us. MANN+HUMMEL believes in leveraging our core expertise of filtration and separation while embracing new digital technologies. We will work very closely with our partners and customers in Singapore and Asia, to actively address these challenges and opportunities.”
Singapore’s strategic location in Asia Pacific, and the government’s move towards a smart and sustainable nation, makes it a clear key hub for MANN+HUMMEL. Together with its year-old Global IoT (Internet-of-Things) Lab, also located in Singapore, MANN+HUMMEL is set to serve a market for clean air solutions in Asia Pacific estimated at more than S$4 billion.
Beh Kian Teik, Assistant MD, Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), said that the company has had a 21-year partnership with EDB. “MANN+HUMMEL has been a long standing partner and valued contributor in the industrial and environment sector in Singapore. The opening of its Asia Pacific headquarters for intelligent air solutions is aligned with Singapore’s push to embrace the digital economy and green buildings. We look forward to the creation of solutions to enable smarter, healthier buildings for Singapore, as well as the region and beyond,” he said.
Beh also noted that a healthier and happier workforce with cleaner air and a healthier building; this can lead to improved productivity while optimising business operations for companies. "Addressing indoor air quality is a key component of the Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) Green Mark assessment. In fact, BCA most recently published a study that green buildings are not only environmentally friendly, but are also ‘healthier’ for their occupants.
"The intelligence in MANN+HUMMEL’s solutions also dovetail with Singapore’s Smart Nation push. Building and facility managers will be able to use smart control systems to monitor and manage the indoor air quality within buildings, alongside other typical vectors such as energy and water. We expect them to be able to do so remotely, efficiently or even through unmanned devices enabled by artificial intelligence," he added.
MANN+HUMMEL’s OurAir business aims to help owners, facility managers and end-users of commercial buildings and offices know, improve and manage better indoor air quality. The OurAir family includes smart heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) air filters and air purification systems, air quality monitors and indoor air quality management platforms. MANN+HUMMEL has implemented living lab projects with major multinational companies across China, Asia and Europe, and is working closely with them on the monitoring and optimisation of indoor air quality.
Jason Tang, MANN+HUMMEL VP, Intelligent Air Solutions, said, “There are many factors that affect indoor air quality in buildings and offices. MANN+HUMMEL provides solutions for real-time monitoring of indoor and outdoor air quality, and digital platforms to analyse, predict and manage the optimisation end-to-end. This is anchored by our deep expertise in filtration to achieve clean air more effectively and efficiently. We help our customers in the evolution of standards towards healthy buildings, and make smarter choices to enjoy better air.”
MANN+HUMMEL also signed a global partnership with the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) to jointly promote its initiative Better Places for People, becoming the first partner of the initiative to focus on better indoor air quality for buildings and offices. The WorldGBC is the global non-profit organisation driving the agenda for green buildings. Through Better Places for People, the WorldGBC aims to increase market awareness of better indoor environments to support the well-being and productivity of people.
Terri Wills, CEO, World Green Building Council said, “Better Places for People is a project that is truly global in scale, influencing businesses around the world to build green by demonstrating their positive impact on people’s health and wellbeing.”
Wills noted that the initiative is driven by findings from the World Health Organization (WHO), whose air quality model has confirmed that 92% of the world’s population live in places where air quality levels exceed WHO limits. "Air pollution is rising in many of the world’s poorest cities. In some cities in Asia, air pollution levels have exceeded 20 times the WHO guidelines. Asia has 25 of the world’s 30 'most polluted cities' in terms of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 measurement. Air pollution is the most pressing environmental health crisis in the world," she said.
Indoor air pollution can also be serious, Wills said, quoting US Environmental Protection Agency research which has found that there are two to five times more pollutants found inside of buildings than outside. "Problems with biologicals such as mould and pollen from poor quality construction, volatile organic compounds from building materials and carbon dioxide from the lack of ventilation contribute to poor health outcomes.
"Studies have shown that better indoor air quality results in 101% increase in cognitive scores for workers in a green and well-ventilated environment; and workers report better sleep quality and positive impact on their personal productivity in a space that considers these factors."
