Pan-United targets lower-carbon concrete for Skywaters, Tuas Port and Changi T5
Pan-United Corporation, one of Asia's top five concrete suppliers, is using proprietary low-carbon concrete grades at major projects including The Skywaters, Tuas Port and Changi Airport Terminal 5. The company has also commercialised its AiR Digital operations platform and become the first concrete
Pan-United Corporation, one of the top five concrete suppliers in Asia excluding China, is deploying lower-carbon concrete technologies at major infrastructure projects including The Skywaters, Tuas Port, the Cross Island Line and Changi Airport Terminal 5. At the mass pour for The Skywaters' raft foundation last year, the company delivered a truckload of concrete every two minutes for 35 hours non-stop, using its proprietary PanU Super Hi-Strength concrete to reduce the amount of concrete required and the carbon footprint of the foundation.
The company has evolved over more than two decades from a ready-mix concrete producer into an innovation-led firm developing advanced materials, digital technologies and lower-carbon solutions. CEO Ken Loh said the company recognised early that staying relevant meant looking beyond conventional ready-mix concrete. Product innovation began in 2001 with research to reduce cement use, while the company digitised its operations in 2014, eventually developing the AiR Digital platform. What began as an in-house operations platform has since expanded to support a growing customer base across the concrete and logistics sectors in Asia.
Globally, around 30 billion tonnes of concrete are used each year. Although cement as a raw material accounts for only about 15 per cent of a typical concrete mix, its production generates an estimated 7 to 8 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions. Pan-United said its low-carbon concrete solutions can now match – and in some cases exceed – the strength and durability of conventional concrete. One example is PanU CMC+, which uses carbon capture and utilisation technology to mineralise captured carbon dioxide within concrete, reducing cement consumption while improving strength.
Another recent innovation is PanU Hi-Albedo, a specialised concrete developed to help mitigate the urban heat island effect by reducing surface temperatures on roads, walkways and cycling paths, and lowering outdoor ambient temperatures. In 2022, the company became the first concrete company in Asia to offer on-demand Environmental Product Declarations, giving customers independently verified data for material selection and sustainability reporting.
Mr Loh said innovation must be technically proven, commercially viable and trusted by customers, regulators and the wider industry to create meaningful value. The company has sought to communicate its longer-term strategy to investors through regular disclosures and investor engagement, including SGX-led conferences and forums. The SGX-MAS Value Unlock initiative, which helps companies identify, communicate and realise long-term value, has provided a structured approach for Pan-United.
Mr Loh said the industry's biggest challenges – from labour shortages to climate change – will also create its biggest opportunities. As developers and industry stakeholders place greater emphasis on sustainability, demand for low-carbon construction materials is expected to grow, while automation, electrification and digital technologies will play a bigger role in improving productivity. Pan-United intends to continue investing on both fronts: expanding its portfolio of low-carbon concrete solutions while bringing its operational expertise to other sectors.
