Around six million people live in Singapore today – and the economy is booming. It’s no wonder, then, that the city is expanding ever further out into the sea. One contributor to this colossal ongoing project is Huationg Global Limited.
Transport Magazine
An expanding metropolis.
In the city‑state of Singapore, all signs point to expansion.
Creating space.
This city is green at heart. One thing’s for sure, though: Singapore does not always reveal this at first sight. After all, the population and economy have been growing for decades – and the city‑state is solving its increasing need for space by building artificial land out into the sea. A further 100 square kilometres are due to be added by 2030. Nevertheless – and this is what sets Singapore apart – large swathes of the peninsula are still covered in spacious parks and virtually pristine rainforest.
Full order books.
Entrepreneurs like civil engineering specialist Patrick Ng are needed to ensure that land reclamation can continue to be carried out successfully. The CEO of Huationg Global Limited is pleased to have full order books. “My father founded the company in 1983 as a small subcontractor for earthworks, and today we are one of the largest construction companies in Singapore,” he says.
Patrick Ng and his employees are not only experts in land reclamation and consolidation. Over the years, Huationg Global Limited has worked on numerous sections of underground and expressways. One of the largest construction sites is the expansion of the central airport in Changi. More than three billion people live within a radius of just seven flight hours. As its capacity is not sufficient for ever‑increasing passenger numbers, it is to be more than doubled by 2025 – to around 135 million passengers per year.
“My father founded the company in 1983 as a small subcontractor for earthworks, and today we are one of the largest construction companies in Singapore.”
191
metres off the ground: the rooftop garden of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.
The world‑famous Marina Bay Sands Hotel, with its spectacular silhouette, is also built on foundations laid by Huationg Global Limited. The three 55‑storey hotel towers, with their 191‑metre‑high rooftop garden, are a sort of national landmark.
City with green oases.
More than one third of the urban area is covered in forest and numerous parks are available as recreation areas. Singapore is one of only two cities in the world that has primary, i.e. untouched, rainforest within its perimeter: the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. With the Singapore Green Plan 2030, the city has set itself ambitious goals: Singapore is to become the most sustainable urban destination in the world. Clean energy supply and sustainable living, business and waste concepts – the Green Plan covers all aspects of life and work.
“The vehicles are very robust and reliable. This minimises downtime and reduces costs.”
State‑prescribed construction boom.
State infrastructure planning ensures planning security: “Almost 80% of our total turnover is generated by public construction projects,” explains Patrick Ng. Huationg Global Limited is increasingly relying on Mercedes‑Benz to carry out projects like these safely and on time. The core of the fleet is made up of 100 Actros 3336 tippers, with many other vehicles bearing the three‑pointed star alongside them. “In our business, downtime is very costly. This is particularly critical with public contracts, as budgets are often very tight here. So when it comes to deciding which vehicles and construction equipment to purchase, we inevitably end up at Mercedes‑Benz. The vehicles are very robust and reliable. This minimises downtime and reduces costs,” says Patrick Ng.
For the company director, another competitive advantage which should not be underestimated is that “The cockpits offer drivers an attractive workplace, which results in greater loyalty to our company. After more than 14 years in the industry, one crucial finding is that satisfied and experienced employees are the key to success.”
Photos: Rory Daniel, Alexander Tempel
Video: Alexander Tempel