ST Engineering unit to provide MAN buses to SMRT

The deal with SMRT Buses is its first city bus contract as Singapore’s exclusive distributor of MAN Truck & Bus.

ST Engineering on Tuesday announced that its land systems arm, ST Kinetics, has won a contract worth over S$65m from SMRT Buses Ltd (SMRT Buses), a subsidiary of Singapore's premier multi-modal public transport service provider, SMRT Corporation Ltd. This is the first city bus contract for ST Kinetics and it calls for the supply of the state-of-the-art low floor MAN A22 bus. ST Kinetics is the sole distributor for MAN Truck & Bus AG, as well as the exclusive authorised service support and spares provider in Singapore. Delivery is expected to begin in August 2011 and it will be completed by end of 2012.

Equipped with a patented PM- Kat© filter in the engine, the MAN A22 bus complies with Euro 5 guidelines - a set of strict policies developed by the European Union to limit pollutant emissions from diesel and petrol cars which pose health and environmental problems, according to a ST Kinetics report.

Designed with the safety of the passengers in mind, the MAN A22 has a first of its kind Sliding Plug Exit Door. This unique door swings out from the bus body then slides open, enhancing passenger safety as it prevents passengers from accidentally being hit by the door as it closes. Another safety mechanism on board is the Electronic Braking System (EBS) which boasts a better braking efficiency than most city buses. The improved braking response time makes it safer for the passengers and easier for the drivers to handle tricky road conditions.

"We are pleased that SMRT has selected the MAN A22 city bus over the competition to expand and renew its fleet. This sale is a significant breakthrough for ST Kinetics' partnership with MAN Truck & Bus AG and will provide SMRT with a highly cost efficient, ergonomically designed and environmentally friendly bus to serve its customers better," said Sew Chee Jhuen, President, ST Kinetics.