Zytronic was commissioned by global digital wayfinding specialist Abuzz to deliver its PCT™ Projected Capacitive Technology touch sensor assemblies for a prestigious project in one of the world’s most spectacular integrated resorts – Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

Marina Bay Sands is Asia’s leading destination for business, leisure and entertainment. Located in the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District, it features large and flexible convention and exhibition facilities, 2,560 hotel rooms and suites, the rooftop Sands SkyPark, the best shopping mall in Asia, world-class celebrity chef restaurants and an outdoor event plaza. Abuzz was invited by The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands to develop and implement 29 new wayfinding points, based on the current state-of-the-art Projected Capacitive Technology (PCT™) and offering a much higher level of functionality.

Delivering the user experience

The Wayfinder solution includes Abuzz’s popular Landmark touchscreen directory which they customised to meet the clients brief. The landscape unit features a low form factor that maximises the customer’s line of sight, allowing them to easily orient themselves.

Abuzz specified Zytronic touch screens for this showcase project both to provide the best possible user experience, and because of the value-added manufacturing service that Zytronic was able to provide.

The Abuzz directories feature 40” landscape format Zytronic touchscreens driven by the new ZXY110 touch controller. This controller provides enhanced performance in a number of areas. It offers better immunity against electrical noise in the environment, and dynamically retunes itself to avoid performance degradation from emissions from mobile phones and other nearby electronic devices. Although the directories are large units externally, there is in fact only very limited space inside and the ZXY110 board is pleasingly compact. The fact that the controller is offered with native Windows device drivers was an added advantage, simplifying integration.

An interesting feature of The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands was the global nature of the supply chain – and here the flexible and extensive manufacturing capabilities of Zytronic come to the fore.  The internal electronics, LCD screens and the artificial marble housings were sourced locally in Singapore, the metalwork for the directories was manufactured in Christchurch, New Zealand and the touch sensors came from Zytronic in Newcastle, England. To bring all these elements together in Sydney before shipping to Singapore would have added a great deal of cost. Abuzz decided to bring the components together on site in Singapore. To allow the units to be assembled quickly and easily, the touch assemblies needed an acrylic frame with bonded clips to hold the electronics, and fasten directly to the metal frame. Zytronic was able to produce this in Newcastle, which entailed shipping the screens in specially designed cases.

The supply chain worked perfectly. Paul Pettersen, Operations Manager of Abuzz, said, “Every single one of the units supplied by Zytronic fitted perfectly into the supporting metalwork, and performed completely correctly on commissioning.”

Accurate and completely reliable

Paul Pettersen commented, “This project was all about creating the best possible experience for the customer. The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands is equipped to the very highest standards throughout, and the brief for the new wayfinding points was to fully match that. Visitors’ expectations are based on the tablets and smartphones they have in their hands. Delivering that accurate and completely reliable touch experience on a 40” toughened screen isn’t easy – but is a challenge that Zytronic fully meets with its latest PCT touch technology.”