QRA's Lab is at Full House. Thank you clients and friends !

Out Test Lab at 21 Toh Guan Road East, # 04 - 02 is full. Thank you to all our wonderful clients and associates who have supported us all these years. We could never have made it without your continued support and we are QRA International are forever grateful for this.  

Going forward, we will be expanding our test capabilities, to add new equipment, add new partners and also aim to attain the ISO 17025 within the next year. The new tests which we aspire to do are :

a) Temperature Cycle Tests according to MIL STD 883 D 10110.7 

b) Stress Screening Tests (5 C / min)

c) Pressure Cooker Tests   121 C 100% RH

d) Drop Test

e) Peel Test

f) Leak Test

g) Seal Test

Do visit our website :  www.qra.com.sg for the latest from us ! 

Dialect films. Let more of them be screened in Singapore.

I refer to the brouhaha about the latest film, Dear You, in Chaosan dialect, where literally  thousands of Singaporeans have gone to Johor Bahru to watch.

I profess I am not a dialect speaker, although my heritage is Cantonese, hence the pull of the grandmotherland and motherland is watered down and the ethnic attraction of going back to China or India respectively is practically 0 in my consciousness.

I am proud to be half Chinese. I acknowledge my mother and grandmother were Chinese citizens, but I am a patriotic Singaporean and will remain so. I am very happy to witness China's progress in the last 30 years or so, developing from a poor country till today, a highly industrializing and ultramodern powerhouse, at least from what I observe during my visits to tier 1 and tier 2 cities.  

The issue is about the wanting to connect with the 'lao jia' or hometown for the people who were born there. Many years ago, from the early 20th century to late 20th century, many Chinese people fled China to come to S.E. Asia to look for a more prosperous life, hence, the men left their womenfolk back in the villages and sent back qiaopi or monthly remittances to feed the family who were probably living a hand to mouth existence.  When China started the road towards market capitalism in the mid 1990s, it steadily uplifted hundreds possibly 1 billion people in the last 25 to 30 years from dire poverty to middle class wealth and standards of living.  

Life is short, and it is a shame that the authorities and censorship board still retains archaic regulations which are not applicable in modern day Singapore. I do not think that there will be people - after watching the movie - will want to pack up and migrate to Suzhou province. 

When the speak Mandarin program was kickstarted. This was targetted at Chinese Singaporeans more than 60 years ago, to foster Mandarin as the mother tongue, this program and policy was the right one. Chinese of all dialects speak 'Pu Tong Hua' in China and this unifies the peoples North and South.

Let there be many more screenings of Dear You in Singapore. Many families, want to just spend quality time with grandma and grandpa and organize a family outing, so why make it so trying that there are so few screenings here ? 

There are foreign films aplenty in Singapore, so why limit the number of screenings if the demand is greater than supply ? 

Do something meaningful for the people, our  Government leaders. 

Everything can be amended if it poses no threat 

Approaching a major milestone in viewership 1,000,000 - A Humbling Experience

 

Marshal Zhang Xue Liang - Generalissimo of Lioning Province. 

Within the next week, I estimate that this blog will reach the 1,000,000 viewership mark. I intend to continue writing to the best of my ability and give my opinions on as many things as I can during the course of this lifetime. I would be happy for people to challenge my views and to have a debate, as no one person, religion nor political party has the complete understanding of world and domestic events so there must and always need be, to have dissenting voices, not for the sake of dissenting, but to ensure that whatever views which are prevailing ones can be challenged and fairly.

Marshal Zhang's Mansion.

I have always had a soft spot for the smaller or inferior player, be it in football, in a street fight, football match or even in political debates. The reason is that the smaller and so called inferior player or team is ready to tackle the big boy head on. That shows grit, courage and persaverence. Something which you find in the winners of the business world nowadays. 

Every company starts small and had numerous setbacks, Apple was born out of Steve Jobs garage, Alibaba Jack Ma was a failure in the interview and got rejected after applying for more than 100 and going for 30 interviews.

These people persevered. They showed true grit, courage, and believed in themselves. It is not the smartest in the room or lecture hall who makes it big in the corporate world. It is the person who can get whacked up time and again, brush himself from the ground and start afresh. Its a humbling and humiliating experience. 

Ku Gong - The Imperial Palace of the Manchu Emperor (Qin Dynasty). 

When this blog finally hits 1,000,000 views, I will just open a bottle of white wine, go down to my little corner somewhere and look up at the starry night. That feeling and experience will never come again so I will savour it like its the best thing to do.

Seize the Day 

Carpe Diem 

QRA International since 2003 - Ready to serve the world in Stability and Accelerated Aging Tests

 

QRA International

 

Established in Singapore in 2003, QRA International provides top quality test services and reliability equipment to the following industries in 5 continents listed below :

Asia

USA

Australia

Middle East

Europe

The industries we serve for close to 25 years are from :

> Biomedical equipment

> Medical devices

> Pharmaceutical

> Semiconductor

> Electronic components

> EV automotive

> Defence

> Sports Research

> Wellness and Aging

 

As an ISO 9001 : 2015 certified company (ISO 17025 in progress), we provide the following range of tests as listed below :          

  Testing Services

 

   Tests                                          Standards Complied      Industry

> accelerated aging                      ASTM F 1980 – 16                Biomedical

                                                     ISO 11607-1                              Medical Devices

  

> Shelf Life Testing                       ISO 11607 Biomedical

                                                                        Medical Devices

> Package Integrity                       ASTM F 1886 Biomedical

                                                      ASTM F 88 Medical Devices

                                                      ASTM F 1929

                                                      ASTM F 2096

> Accelerated aging                       ICH Q1A (R2) Pharmaceutical

                                                       ICH Q1B – F

  

  Consultancy Advice Laboratory Setting Up

  With over 30 years of industry experience, QRA’s marketing and sales personnel are

 well versed in consulting and advising you the QA executive, manager or director when

 you are setting up your

 

 Quality Assurance

 Reliability

 Production

 Research and Development

 

 QRA International has been Providing the highest standard of test equipment for close t

decades. These equipment are quality tested and comply with the most stringent international

 standards with no compromises.

 2 Laboratories - 16 test equipment available at short notice

 Serving 30 over clients in the region, QRA International provides the following tests

 within 3 working days upon client’s purchase orders

    Current Tests Provided

 > Accelerated aging Temp and Humidity (F 1980  -16 and ISO 11607)

    Temp : 45 – 60 C

    RH     : 50 – 60%

 

 

> Shelf Life Testing Temp and Humidity  (ISO 11607)

   Temp : 5 C

   Temp : 25 C – 35 C

   RH     : 50 – 60 % 

> Temperature Cycling Tests   (JEDEC A 104)

   Low Temp : - 40 C

   High Temp : 125 – 150 C

   Change Rate : 1 – 10 C / min

   Dwell Time : As per setting

 

 

 

> Thermal Shock (Air to Air)  MIL STD 883 D 10107.7 

   Low Temp : -65 C - -40 C

   High Temp : 125 – 150 C

   Changeover : 10 secs or less

   Dwell            : 10 – 30 minutes.

 

 

> Pressure Cooker Test

   Temp : 121 C – 122 C

   RH     : 100 %

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   New Tests Coming  (Biomedical)

 

> Seal Strength (F88)

> Bubble Leak tests (F 2096)

> Dye Penetration (F1929 / F3039)

> Visual Inspection

> Burst Test (F 2054) 

> Salt Spray  / Fog 

> Solar LED Testing 

 

For more information ; please email to arrange a visit :                                               

> qrasales@qra.com.sg Singapore

> mark@qra.com.sg Asia

>reypereria@qra.com.sg Europe

>tim@qra.com.sg USA

>clifford@qra.com.sg Australia

 

 

QRA International

21 Toh Guan Road East

Toh Guan Centre

# 04 – 02

Singapore 608609 Tel : (65) 6795 1486

 

QRA Internaational Stability Chambers Best Quality and Reliability - Singapore design.

 

Stability Chambers are essentially chambers which control temperature, and humidity with various ranges for various applications. Below are some ranges and size of the chambers which QRA can provide for very competitive prices and 1 to 2 year warranty ranges.

 

 

  

Temperature and Humidity tests are designed specifically to accelerate the aging of the products subjected to the tests. Higher temperatures (50 C and above) and higher humidity settings (60 – 98%) can be programmed and achieved as standard performance settings of QRA Stability Chambers.

 

 

 

Typical Settings of Stability Chambers

 

50 C  50 % RH

55 C  50 % RH

40 C  75 % RH

25 C  75%  RH

Temperature and Humidity tests are essential in simulating environments and also stimulating by high temperatures, humidities, fast change rates to screen out infant mortalities on poorly made components, assemblies and completed products.

Designed by QRA International, our very own Temperature and Humidity Chambers are suitable for all kinds of testing under various temperature and humidity extremes. Our installed base of hundreds of chambers regionally establishes QRA as one of the region’s best in class brands.

 

 

 

      Typical Temperature and Humidity Graph of QRA Temperature and Humidity

Chamber

Biomedical and Pharmaceutical in particular use temperature and humidity chambers to perform accelerated aging and shelf life testing of the new products and stress test the effectiveness of their barrier systems rigorously.

Many advanced manufacturing industries utilize these equipment :

 

> Biomedical

> Pharmaceutical

> Electronics

> Semiconductor

> EV Automotive

> Aerospace

> Defence

 

 

Walk In Temperature and Humidity Chamber

 

Summary of Temperature and Humidity Chamber Sizes and Performances

 

Temperature Range

- 70 C to 180 C

Humidity Range

20 to 98 % RH

Change Rate

0.5 to 3 C / min heating

0.5 to 1 C / min cooling

Chamber Sizes

80 Litres   -   Smallest   (Table top)

1800 Litres   -  Largest - Reach In

Up to 80 m3  -  Walk In

For more information, contact :

E : mark@qra.com.sg  (Asia)

     reypereira@qra.com.sg (Eur)

    clifford@qra.com.sg (Aus)

 

Website : www.qra.com.sg 

 

 

Mosella Corpoate Lunch

I had a corporate lunch early this week, at this famed 5 star Pan Pacific Hotel at Claymore Road. Mosella is their 5 star international restaurant situated on the ground floor of this grand hotel. 

Zucchini Flowers 

A great starter dish. It looked like a fish dish and the texture was something like one of the vegetarian dishes from the "Shu" stall at most hawker centres. However, the flavor is hard to beat, there was some sweet and sour truffle taste due to the truffle honey and the pastry is made from the Spanish Manchego Cheese though I have no idea what it tastes in real life. It felt more soya beany than cheesy in texture. 

Very good. 

Jamon Iberico Ham on Crusts 

The Jamon ham was plentiful, overflowing and over 2 thick layers. The aroma is very overpowering for those who are not into their aged and cured hams. The charcoal fired flat breads were crispy and the tomato flavor barely came out on top as the ham was so pungent.

The fans for and against Jamon ham are from both ends of the  you love it or hate it. I must say, I didn't hate it and I am not really into this  degree of pungency 

Hokkaido Scallops Carpacio

This was a lovely surprise. The scallops were small, but the grapefruit and citrus dressing gave it a tangy taste. There were bits of sourdough crotons which I mistook for fish roe :). 

Really excellent. 

Its a must try dish and I will order it again when I am next at Mosella. 

Porcini Mushroom Risotto 

Another winner here, the risotto, while a little bit on the mushy side I think it was due to the type of rice used. In this case it was the aged aquerello rice. There was a strong hint if black truffle, just the essence. The parmesan cheese gave this dish the nice cheesy flavor.

Top rated. 

 

My first 16 years - 6 Adis Road.

 

Our Family House (1959-1976) 

This was the first home which I grew up in the 1960s and 70s. My fondest memories of my infant, toddler, kid and teenage life were centered first around my family house, school, sunday school and later I spent a lot of time at the Singapore Swimming Club and then the outside world.

We (my brother and I) caught spiders at the plants by the side of the house, we climbed the rambutan tree on the right of the picture, the huge garden was a mess, there was no front gate, fence nor was there any clear demarcation lines from the front to the back of the house.

Our house was  a bungalow built in the early 20th century. It sat on something like 40,000 ft of land and nowadays, a developer could build up a small condominium plot with the land area.

On the ground floor, there were 2 rooms, one was uninhabited (West facing), the east facing was converted to a bedroom for my Gong Gong P.C. Wen who came and stayed with us for about some 5 - 6 years in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The central 'ballroom' was a huge room without columns and my father kept all his law files there. I recall there was a line telephone which gave an electric shock everytime we picked up the phone and placed it to our ears. A painful memory from 55 years back !

Climbing up the staircase, we entered the main living room at the centre of the house. There was a huge verandah (with chicks or blinds as we call them), and during thunderstorms, we could shut the wooden shutter doors and retreat into the main living room. It was huge, and behind the living room was the dining room and the kitchen was at the back.

Our bedrooms were on the left side of the house, my brother and I shared one room which had a small loft made out of wood. Some years later, my father installed an air conditioner to this room. I recall using this room for over 10 years.

The master bedroom was divided into 2, my father slept on the large bed and my mother on the smaller bed at the back of the room. There was an adjoining toilet which all 4 of us shared.

To the right side of the house on the second floor, my Por Por (maternal grandmother) lived with us for close to 12 years. She went and lived with my Mum's youngest brother David in her remaining years. She passed on at around 85 years of age.

I fondly recall my Por Por could speak a smattering of Malay, and she and the maids (we called them Kak Kak or big sister) would get on each other's nerves from time to time. She was a fierce lady but melted with us 'Sum Mun Zai' Kia or gangster kids.

I learnt my Cantonese mostly from my Por Por.

The collective memories I have, are still pretty vibrant. I have gone to the exact address of my growing up years, and can barely make out how that plot of land used to create the happiest and most carefree memories of my life.