The Women With Disability Association (WWDA) is leading an initiative to provide opportunities for women with disabilities in Laos.
Leng Aik Engineering Launches Advanced DfMA Factory For Prefab MEP Systems
Developed with the support of Building and Construction Authority (“BCA”) and A*STAR Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (“A*STAR SIMTech”), the factory utilises automation, robotics and AR technologies to improve quality control, efficiency, safety and accuracy.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 March 2025 – Leng Aik Engineering Pte Ltd (“LAE”), a wholly owned subsidiary of EXEO Global Pte Ltd, the global headquarters of Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market listed EXEO Group, Inc. has just launched an Advanced Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (“DfMA”) Factory for Prefabricated Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing (“Prefab MEP”) Systems today.

The factory, located on the 4th floor of LAE’s Soon Lee Road premises, aims to transform traditional MEP processes into a seamless, efficient, and technology-driven workflow, replacing labour-intensive, on-site construction with digitally optimised, factory-controlled manufacturing.
Uniting Japanese Engineering Excellence with Singapore’s Innovation and Expertise
LAE has been a trusted name in the industry for over 20 years, specialising in Electrical, Plumbing & Sanitary, and Integrated Building Services for maintenance and system upgrades. Since its acquisition by EXEO Group, Inc. in 2018, the company has been building upon its strong technical expertise and capabilities, pursuing excellence in its engineering skills and driving innovation to meet the constantly evolving demands of the industry.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the built environment sector suffered greatly due to its heavy reliance on foreign labour. In its resolve to find ways to counter future pandemics, the team led by Mr Kimura Setsuya, Managing Director of LAE, was introduced to DfMA methods and studied it intensively, before embarking on the journey to invest in the development of the Advanced DfMA Factory.
Mr Kimura Setsuya, Managing Director of LAE shared, “The Singapore Government’s forward-looking initiatives outlined in the refreshed Built Environment Industry Transformation Map (BE ITM)) and its support in helping firms adopt DfMA technologies inspired us to take the leap forward to transform our business. We’re proud to launch our Advanced DfMA Factory today, and hope that this will help benefit and drive continued innovation and transformation of the industry.”
With the strong support from BCA, LAE successfully received Productivity Innovation Project (“PIP”) funding approval for the DfMA factory project in July 2024 and kickstarted its development.
Mr Kelvin Wong, CEO of BCA, shared, “I would like to congratulate EXEO Global and Leng Aik Engineering on the opening of their new Prefabricated Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing (Prefab MEP) facility. The adoption of Robotics and Automation (R&A) and Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD) to enhance the fabrication and installation processes of Prefab MEP modules will improve production efficiency and quality. We look forward to more built environment firms leveraging R&A and IDD to boost productivity.”
Through the development journey, LAE worked closely with A*STAR SIMTech on recommendations to integrate technology tools and equipment into the factory floor and workflow. For example, A*STAR SIMTech conducted a comprehensive automation assessment using value stream mapping and process flow analysis, to identify opportunities for robotic and automated solutions. These insights enabled LAE to deploy solutions that optimise factory operations and meet production capacity goals.
A Technology-Driven Approach to MEP
At the Advanced DfMA Factory, LAE leverages Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD) technologies to create a seamless, end-to-end digital workflow, ensuring greater efficiency, and real-time workflow monitoring throughout the modular construction and installation lifecycle.
The factory aims to provide its clients with One-Stop Prefab MEP Solutions using tools such as robotic welding, laser cutting, AR-driven inspection and automation to ensure the delivery of high-precision modules to the built environment sector.
The factory’s motto “Innovation and Kaizen” reflects its resolve to continue to explore new technologies and initiatives with A*STAR SIMTech, to ensure that it continually adopts modern and innovative construction methodologies and equipment that meet the needs of the ever-evolving industry.
For more information on LAE’s Prefab MEP solutions, please reach out to lae@lengaik.com
Hashtag: #LengAik #EXEO #EXEOGlobal
https://www.lengaik.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/exeo-global/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Leng Aik Engineering Pte Ltd
Leng Aik Engineering has been a trusted name in the industry for over 20 years, specialising in Electrical, Plumbing & Sanitary, and Integrated Building Services for maintenance and system upgrades. With a strong foundation in technical expertise and a forward-looking approach, the company has expanded its capabilities to meet the evolving demands of the industry.
Leng Aik Engineering is a wholly owned subsidiary of EXEO Global Pte Ltd, the global headquarters for international business for Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market listed EXEO Group, Inc.
For more information on Leng Aik Engineering, please visit www.leng-aik.com
About EXEO Global Pte Ltd
EXEO Global Pte Ltd is global headquarters for international business for Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market listed EXEO Group, Inc, facilitating the operational and strategic management of overseas subsidiaries for the Group outside of Japan.
It’s parent company, EXEO Group, Inc is a key member of the Information & Telecommunications Engineering Association of Japan (ITEA) in Japan and currently employs more than 17,000 staff worldwide.
EXEO Global’s primary business is in Managed IT services and the company currently has subsidiaries in the space of M&E engineering services and ICT Infrastructure running operations globally. EXEO Global also continually invests in new businesses and technologies that complement the offerings of the Group’s companies.
For more information on EXEO Global, please visit www.exeo-global.com
For more information on EXEO Group, Inc., please visit www.exeo.co.jp/en
Alliance Laundry Systems Expands ‘Seed Store’ Model to 300 Branches Across ASEAN
Alliance Laundry Systems is expanding its laundromat business in Southeast Asia, aiming to open 300 new branches under its “Seed Store” model.
Severe Air Pollution Continues to Hit Laos
On 27 March, many parts of Laos were covered in a thick haze with PM 2.5 levels greatly exceeding safe levels, adversely affecting people’s health and reducing visibility in some places, as IQAir reported.
Furukawa Electric Launched an epoch compact multi-fiber optical connector suitable for CPO

TOKYO, JAPAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 March 2025 – Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. newly developed the compact 12-fiber optical connector suitable for CPO (Co-Packaged Optics).

The rapid spread of generative AI has accelerated the development of CPO for datacenter applications. In CPO, an optical transceiver is placed close to a large-scale LSI (Large Scale Integration) such as a switch ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), and the length of the electrical transmission line can be shortened. Therefore, high-speed communication and low power consumption are expected by CPO. For the deployment of CPO, it is necessary to realize a compact, easy-to-use, detachable optical fiber connector at the edge of the optical transceiver device (Fig. 1).
The newly developed 12-fiber optical connector is significantly smaller than conventional multi-fiber optical connectors, with a connection area that is 1/6 MPO connectors (Fig. 2). The semi-automatic connection method using magnets provides excellent connection workability. The connector can withstand 260°C reflow (the process of soldering components to the substrate) that is necessary to be assembled to a CPO substrate. It also employs optical coupling with lenses, there is very little degradation in characteristics when dust adheres to the optical end face, it is also suitable for dusty environments such as data centers. The connection loss is less than 0.5 dB with good repeatability within ± 0.05 dB.
This developed connector can also be used as a compact multi-fiber optical connector for connecting optical fibers. In addition to high-density attaching to a glass waveguide substrate that is expected to be applied to the next-generation photonics-electronics convergence form (Fig. 3), it is also applicable to more-fiber structures such as 16-fiber. We are currently developing 40-fiber optical connector.
At OFC 2025, which will be held in San Francisco, USA, from March 30 to April 3 this year, we will give an oral presentation (Lecture No. M4J. 2) and exhibit samples (in the booth of Lightera booth No. 2843).
This development is partly based on results obtained from the project, “Research and Development Project of the Enhanced Infrastructures for Post-5G Information and Communication Systems” (JPNP20017), commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).Hashtag: #FurukawaElectric
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Furukawa Electric Launched an epoch compact multi-fiber optical connector suitable for CPO

TOKYO, JAPAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 March 2025 – Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. newly developed the compact 12-fiber optical connector suitable for CPO (Co-Packaged Optics).

The rapid spread of generative AI has accelerated the development of CPO for datacenter applications. In CPO, an optical transceiver is placed close to a large-scale LSI (Large Scale Integration) such as a switch ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), and the length of the electrical transmission line can be shortened. Therefore, high-speed communication and low power consumption are expected by CPO. For the deployment of CPO, it is necessary to realize a compact, easy-to-use, detachable optical fiber connector at the edge of the optical transceiver device (Fig. 1).
The newly developed 12-fiber optical connector is significantly smaller than conventional multi-fiber optical connectors, with a connection area that is 1/6 MPO connectors (Fig. 2). The semi-automatic connection method using magnets provides excellent connection workability. The connector can withstand 260°C reflow (the process of soldering components to the substrate) that is necessary to be assembled to a CPO substrate. It also employs optical coupling with lenses, there is very little degradation in characteristics when dust adheres to the optical end face, it is also suitable for dusty environments such as data centers. The connection loss is less than 0.5 dB with good repeatability within ± 0.05 dB.
This developed connector can also be used as a compact multi-fiber optical connector for connecting optical fibers. In addition to high-density attaching to a glass waveguide substrate that is expected to be applied to the next-generation photonics-electronics convergence form (Fig. 3), it is also applicable to more-fiber structures such as 16-fiber. We are currently developing 40-fiber optical connector.
At OFC 2025, which will be held in San Francisco, USA, from March 30 to April 3 this year, we will give an oral presentation (Lecture No. M4J. 2) and exhibit samples (in the booth of Lightera booth No. 2843).
This development is partly based on results obtained from the project, “Research and Development Project of the Enhanced Infrastructures for Post-5G Information and Communication Systems” (JPNP20017), commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).Hashtag: #FurukawaElectric
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Forbidden K-Pop to Center Stage: North Koreans Set for Music Debut

AFP/By Hieun SHIN – Growing up in North Korea, Hyuk’s childhood was about survival. He never listened to banned K-pop music but, after defecting to the South, he’s about to debut as an idol.
Henkel Vietnam supports bridge construction and educational initiatives in Soc Trang province
Building bridges and empowering communities in Vietnam
HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 March 2025 – With funding from the ‘Make an Impact on Tomorrow’ initiative, Henkel Vietnam has supported the completion of a new bridge in Ward 2, Nga 5 Town, Soc Trang province, marking the second project in a series aimed at improving community infrastructure across various regions in Vietnam. A team of Henkel Vietnam employees attended the inauguration ceremony on March 14, 2025, joining local authorities and partners to celebrate the completion of the bridge, which will improve accessibility for approximately 800 households in the area.

The initiative was carried out in partnership with the non-governmental organization Voice of Ho Chi Minh City, as part of the Together with Vietnamese Family program, which aims to address the needs of underserved communities. Before the bridge’s completion, many residents had to take long detours to cross the river, while some relied on a handmade raft, making daily travel both inconvenient and unsafe. The new bridge is expected to provide a safer, more reliable connection for the community.

In addition to the bridge project, Henkel Vietnam also supported the local Primary School Tan Lap A with a donation of items including marching drums, books for the school library, and 27 scholarships for students in need. Employees also engaged with students in educational activities focused on sustainability, discussing topics such as waste management, the environmental impact of waste, and the importance of recycling, while encouraging them to make a positive impact in their own community.
“The bridges in this series are named ‘Tuong Lai’ to symbolize building a future for these communities and the generations to come,” said Minh-Tuan Le, President of Henkel Vietnam. “We are pleased to be part of this effort to improve infrastructure and support the education of children in communities across Vietnam.”
The bridge in Soc Trang Province is the second of several planned projects across Vietnam, following the completion of the first bridge in 2022 in Kien Giang Province. More bridge projects are planned in the future, each aimed at enhancing connectivity and the well-being of local communities.
Hashtag: #Henkel
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Henkel
With its brands, innovations and technologies, Henkel holds leading market positions worldwide in the industrial and consumer businesses. The business unit Adhesive Technologies is the global leader in the market for adhesives, sealants and functional coatings. With Consumer Brands, the company holds leading positions especially in laundry & home care and hair in many markets and categories around the world. The company’s three strongest brands are Loctite, Persil and Schwarzkopf. In fiscal 2024, Henkel reported sales of more than 21.6 billion euros and adjusted operating profit of around 3.1 billion euros. Henkel’s preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX. Sustainability has a long tradition at Henkel, and the company has a clear sustainability strategy with specific targets. Henkel was founded in 1876 and today employs a diverse team of about 47,000 people worldwide – united by a strong corporate culture, shared values and a common purpose: “Pioneers at heart for the good of generations.” More information at www.henkel.com