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PSA Singapore is designing the world’s largest automated port

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A tech-first port The port has become a testbed for cutting-edge innovation, automation, and digital transformation—laying the groundwork for operational blueprints that PSA plans to scale across its global footprint. Beyond its transformative infrastructure, Tuas Port’s fully automated nature leaves a lasting impact through its seamless consolidation of agentic AI, and digital technologies. “Everything will operate as a single integrated system,” says Liang Hui Tan, vice president of Tuas Development, Strategic Port Technology, Solutions and Services at PSA. “Fully automated yard cranes, driverless automated guided vehicles [AGVs], and remotely operated ship-to-shore cranes will boost our operating efficiency, manpower productivity, and safety.” The deployment of 5G-enabled AGVs, particularly in a fully automated port, goes a long way—they can operate 24/7, transporting containers between the wharf and the yard.

Another crucial component of Tuas Port’s bold and pioneering design is its event-driven architecture, which enables interconnected systems, devices, and processes to exchange real-time, event-based information—such as vessel arrivals, container movements, and equipment status changes—at scale. Having a holistic and comprehensive event mesh enables real-time data processing, agile decision-making, and increased resilience, ensuring seamless information flow even during disruptions, such as temporary disconnections or data surges. This groundbreaking adoption optimizes resource allocation and enables informed decisions ahead of time, boosting productivity and efficiency. PSA’s overarching sustainability goal is to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. In addition to constructing super low-energy buildings and using solar photovoltaic panels, Tuas Port employs a smart grid management system to monitor and manage energy demand and supply. It forecasts expected usage, helps moderate peaks and troughs, and optimizes energy distribution. To round it off, the electric AGVs—complete with fast-charging battery systems—cut carbon emissions by approximately 50% compared to existing diesel prime movers.

The cornerstone of Singapore’s western economic engine Integral to the port’s success is its very location. Tuas Port’s proximity to industrial districts in the western region—such as the Jurong Innovation District—enables complementary sectors and industries to tap into the port’s global connectivity, with faster turnarounds and reliable networks. “This helps unlock supply chain synergies and optimize trade flows, with greater end-to-end visibility,” says Tan. Tuas Port will be the anchor in what Prime Minister Lawrence Wong called Singapore’s “future Western Gateway”—a manufacturing, services, and innovation ecosystem in the city-state. In a world upended by trade tensions and uncertainty, PSA’s future-forwarddesign and technologies at Tuas Port establish stability and reliability—two qualities that are more valued than ever in business. Tuas Port is currently the world’s largest fully automated container terminal, setting the blueprint for other major trade hubs to take notice and follow. “Tuas Port is not just a piece of infrastructure,” says Tan. “It is a long-term strategic investment in Singapore’s competitiveness, resilience, and agility to handle global supply chain complexities and challenges.”

Fully automated and equipped with smart technology, Tuas Port serves as a blueprint for the future of global trade and commerce.

One of the world’s smallest countries is building the world’s largest fully automated port. Singapore may be an island with a land area of only 284 square miles, but its maritime-powerhouse ambitions are substantial. When complete, the country’s Tuas Port will span 1,337 hectares (the size of 3,300 football fields). With 66 berths, the sprawling site will be able to accommodate 65 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually. The company behind this monumental project is PSA Singapore (PSA), a wholly owned subsidiary of PSA International which manages a global portfolio of port and supply chain businesses across 45 countries. What began as a vision to develop Asia’s first container port in the 1970s led PSA to become the first global terminal operator to handle more than 100 million TEUs in a year. Named the best container terminal operator in Asia 33 times by the Asian Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain Awards, the maritime leader is set to reach another major milestone with Tuas Port.

PSA—along with cross-functional government agencies—has meticulously planned, designed, and engineered every inch of Tuas Port since 2012. Given the expected spatial constraints, the port group began with a six-year-long land reclamation exercise in the coastal waters. More than 50% of the reclamation fill was derived from dredged material and excavation soil, underscoring PSA’s vision of building a sustainable port in Singapore.

The same design-led engineering can be found at the Singapore Technology Centre, where its head-turning beauty products are conceptualized and tested. A prime example is the Airstrait, a cutting-edge hair straightener that allows users to straighten and style hair even when wet. Instead of pressing hair between two hot plates, the Airstrait incorporates precise directional airflow at a 45-degree angle between two silicon tension bars, creating a downward force that dries and straightens hair concurrently. Glass-bead thermistors inside the machine arms monitor airflow temperature to prevent extreme heat damage.

Style meets substance

This upgrade has played an integral role in creating the PencilVac, the world’s slimmest cordless vacuum. “We wanted the handle to be just 38 mm in diameter, the same size as our haircare products,” says Nicklaus Yu, head of innovation, Dyson. “That sweet spot means it sits naturally in the hand and makes the vacuum cleaner easier to manoeuvre.” Its new format enables the machine to rotate 360 degrees, slipping into nooks and crannies a typical vacuum can’t reach. Four soft conical brush bars on the sides also allow it to clean forward and backward, absorb debris right to the corner, and even detangle long hair. The Singapore team also found a way to create an air-compression bin by utilizing airflow to consolidate the debris, maximizing the bin’s capability as a result. “In a traditional vacuum, the collected dust flits all over the place in the bin,” says Yu. “But the PencilVac’s suction capabilities manage to compact everything, allowing the user to collect five times more in capacity.”

Despite this achievement, the Singapore team is just getting started. Its latest innovation is the Dyson Hyperdymium 140k motor, which has a spin speed of up to 140,000 revolutions per minute—faster than a Formula 1 car engine—and a suction power of 55 air watts (AW). Just 28 mm in diameter, it is Dyson’s smallest and fastest motor to date.

Mini motor, major breakthrough

At the core of Dyson’s innovation is its Hyperdymium motor, a small and powerful engine that drives the company’s lightweight yet mighty machines. The first generation of this motor, the X020, was created in Singapore in 2004, eventually giving rise to the company’s first dedicated manufacturing center, Singapore Advanced Manufacturing (SAM), in 2012. What began as two production lines has evolved to include six more, which make one motor every two seconds. In 2025, the state-of-the-art facility marked a major milestone: its 100 millionth motor. “We’ve come a long way since the first generation of the Dyson motor back in 2004,” says Peter Teo, general manager, SAM. “Our teams at SAM have continued to evolve and innovate through the years, playing a pivotal role in Dyson’s growth journey globally. This milestone is a recognition of their efforts and a testament to our advanced manufacturing and execution capabilities in Singapore.”

From the PencilVac vacuum cleaner to the Airstrait hair straightener, numerous Dyson products are conceptualized and crafted in Singapore. Singapore may be a small island nation, but its spirit for reinvention and appetite for frontier technology are vast. Over the past 60 years, it has transformed from a tiny city-state to a modern metropolis. This commitment to innovation is what drew Dyson to move its global headquarters to Singapore in 2019. The company runs its global headquarters out of St James Power Station, a restored national monument that once supplied electricity but now powers a different kind of verve: ideas. Dyson’s global research, engineering, and commercial and advanced manufacturing operations are all anchored in Singapore. It is also the command post for the company’s breakthroughs, from next-generation digital motors to haircare products.

Made in Singapore: Dyson’s epicenter for revolutionary design

How Singapore becamea nation by design

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As Singapore’s national agency for design, we champion the use of design to grow business, spur innovation, and improve lives.

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As Singapore’s national agency for design, we champion the use of design to grow business, spur innovation, and improve lives.

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Receive news on the latest design happenings.

Discover More Singapore Design

Find out how Singapore can power your design ambitions. Connect with us at info@designsingapore.org

WATCH NOW

How design is giving Singapore a global edge

Watch Now

How design is driving innovation across Singapore—and beyond

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