Interlink to Build R&D Facility in Singapore

Human-machine interface (HMI) solution provider Interlink Technologies is investing $3.5 million in the next three years to expand its research and development center in Singapore.

As part of the expansion, the California-based company plans to add 10 scientists and engineers to its Singapore team. The investment, meanwhile, will be used to establish a state-of-the-art facility in the country.

The global R&D team will pursue scientific research, technology platform development and advanced product development in areas of material science, printed electronics devices and manufacturing processes and multi-disciplinary system engineering, according to Interlink. The global R&D center will also support strategic partnerships with key players in electronics manufacturing services, digital manufacturing including 3D printing and product development.

"The expansion of our global R&D center in Singapore is part of our global corporate strategy to expand our international footprint and to leverage on Singapore’s human capital and ecosystem in science and engineering," said Intelink Electronics CEO Steven Bronson.

Aside from Singapore, Interlink Electronics has a printed electronics manufacturing facility in Shenzhen, China, and a global distribution and logistics center in Hong Kong. The company also maintains technical and sales offices in Japan and in the United States.

New Research Centre for Advanced Technologies Opens in Florida

The Centre for Neovation (formerly known as the Florida Advanced Manufacturing Research Center) houses one of the most advanced fabrication labs for research in micro and nano electronics, semiconductors and photonics.

April saw the official opening of the not-for-profit high tech consortium called BRIDG, (gobridg.com) in Osceola County, Florida, US, set up to “Bridge the Innovation Development Gap” that exists between companies and universities doing research in the US.

Its service areas will include research, development and commercialization for advanced technologies in smart sensors, imagers, advanced devices and 2.5D/3D chip integration.

BRIDG is housed in the Centre for Neovation (formerly known as the Florida Advanced Manufacturing Research Center) located on the 500-acre NeoCity site, near Kissimmee. The facility was designed and constructed in 24 months and boasts one of the most advanced fabrication labs for research micro and nano electronics, semiconductors and photonics.

The a two-story 109,000ft2 (33,223m2) semiconductor research and manufacturing facility, was built in two phases.

Skanska was instrumental in the first phase, which involved provision of a 109,000ft2 shell building; a 7,000ft2 ISO 6 (Class 1,000) cleanroom; 2,500ft2 ISO 7 (Class 10,000) cleanroom; 4,000 ft2 of cleanroom utility support and chemical spaces; 1,540ft2 of support office space, including a data center; 1,540ft2 of support analytical laboratory space; clean area locker rooms and gowning spaces, as well as other support facility requirements.

The second phase involved the construction of a two-story, 24,000ft2 office building in front of the R&D building.

Listed among BRIDG's partners are the Argonne National Laboratories, Kissimmee-based Photon-X, Florida International University, the University of South Florida and the University of Florida as well as other international high tech companies.

Advanced Manufacturing Building, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK

Cost: £25M (about $32M)

Size: 9,011 Sq. meters (96,958 sq. ft.)

Project team: GF Tomlinson (construction firm); Turner and Townsend (project managers); Bond Bryan (architects); Arup (engineers); Currie and Brown (previously Sweett) (cost managers).

The University of Nottingham is building a pioneering Advanced Manufacturing Building that will help to shape the future of the U.K. manufacturing sector.

The state-of-the-art 96,958 sq. ft. (9,011 sq. meter) training and research facility is situated on a former brownfield site located within the University’s Jubilee Campus.

The new building will be an expansion of the University’s Faculty of Engineering, creating teaching spaces, laboratories, modern workshops and offices for research activities, including nano-scale production, robotics and large-scale aerospace demonstrator components.

Professor Andy Long, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Engineering at the University, said: “The new facility will host several world-leading research groups and accommodate some of the most advanced manufacturing technologies related to automation, precision manufacturing, 3D printing and light weight composite materials.

“It will also house our flagship Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre for manufacturing technology. This faculty will allow for diverse engineering and science disciplines to collaborate and contribute to pioneering developments for a range of sectors including aerospace, automotive, marine, energy generation, food and drink, chemical products and pharmaceuticals, helping to underpin the economy at both a regional and national level.”

The project has been part funded by £5m from D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and a £1m contribution from the Wolfson Foundation to provide a state-of-the-art cleanroom for the investigation of 3D printed pharmaceutical devices.

Completion date: Autumn 2017

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