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Celebrating Lunar New Year: Office Closure Announcement

Dear Customers and Partners,

In the spirit of Lunar New Year, we are delighted to announce that our office will be closed for the Lunar New Year celebrations from February 9, 2024, to February 13, 2024. We will resume normal business operations on February 14, 2024.

Office Closure Details:

Closed from: February 9, 2024
Reopening on: February 14, 2024

During this time, our office will be closed, and regular business activities will be on hold. We appreciate your understanding as we take this opportunity to celebrate the festivities with our loved ones and recharge for the upcoming year.

As we welcome the Year of Dragon, we extend our warmest wishes for a prosperous and joyful Lunar New Year. May your journey throughout the year be filled with good health, success, and abundance.

Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to serving you with renewed energy when we return.

Wishing you a Happy and Prosperous Lunar New Year!

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Striking the Right Balance: A Brief Update on Our Delivery Services

Dear Valued Customers,

At Unitech Supplies, our commitment to providing you with exceptional products at affordable prices is unwavering. We constantly strive to balance cost-effectiveness with service excellence, and today, we want to share some updates regarding our free local delivery service.

Change in Minimum Order Value:
Starting 1st Feb 2024, the minimum order value for free local delivery will be adjusted from existing $200 (before GST) to $250 (before GST). This strategic change is crucial in maintaining the affordability of our products while ensuring the sustainability and reliability of our delivery services.

Why the Change?
Over the past few years, we’ve worked hard to shield our customers from the impact of inflation. Despite economic challenges and worldwide inflation, we’ve kept prices consistent and even managed to reduce the cost of some of our items. To sustain this commitment to affordability, we find it necessary to make slight adjustments to our free local delivery policy.

Delivery Fees for Orders Below $250 (before GST):
For orders below the new minimum value of $250 (before GST), we are keeping our delivery fees stays the same as per below:

  • Standard Delivery (Within 3 – 5 Working Days): $8 (before GST)
  • Express Delivery (Within next Working Day): $30 (before GST)
  • Self collection at our office: Free

This ensures that even for orders below the minimum threshold, you can still enjoy the convenience of our local delivery service at reasonable rates.

How Does This Benefit You?
Understanding that most of our customers typically make purchases exceeding $250, this change should not have too much impact for most of our customers. Meanwhile, by making this adjustment, we can continue offering competitive prices on our products while enhancing the overall customer experience with reliable delivery services.

We sincerely appreciate your loyalty and trust in Unitech Supplies. Your continued support empowers us to make decisions that prioritize your satisfaction and enable us to navigate economic challenges successfully.

And as always, your feedback is invaluable to us. If you have any questions or concerns about these changes, please reach out to our team at marketing@unitech.com.sg or 6848 4867 . We are here to address any inquiries and ensure that your experience with us remains positive.

Thank you for being a valued member of the Unitech Supplies family. We look forward to continuing to serve you with affordable, high-quality products and reliable delivery services.

Sincerely,

Team Unitech Supplies

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What you need to know before buying an Intrinsically Safe Smartphone

In an age where smartphones are ubiquitous, their utility extends far beyond typical everyday use. When used in industrial areas such as oil and gas, chemical plants and pharmaceuticals, standard electronic devices could pose serious explosion risks due to the presence of volatile or flammable materials in the environment. Which means usage of any standard electronic devices, including your smartphones could potentially cause an explosion.

Hence intrinsically safe/explosion-proof smartphones has been viewed as a crucial innovation in ensuring communication and safety in explosive hazardous environments.

What is an Intrinsically Safe Smartphone?

Intrinsically safe smartphone are smartphones that are specifically designed to be safe for use in potentially explosive atmospheres where the presence of flammable gases, vapors, or dust could pose a potential ignition hazard. These smartphones are engineered with rigorous safety standards to prevent sparks or excessive heat that might otherwise cause an explosion.

When is an Intrinsically Safe/Explosion-Proof Smartphone Needed?

These specialized smartphones are essential in industries where volatile substances are present in the atmosphere, such as oil refineries, chemical plants, mining sites, and more. Workers in these environments require communication tools that won’t compromise safety. Typically, these places are classified as Explosive Hazardous Zone/Area and you will usually be notified about the classification and restrictions before being allowed to enter.

What are the different Levels of Explosive Hazardous Area/Zones?

Explosive Hazardous Areas, also known as hazardous zones, are classified into different levels based on the likelihood and duration of the presence of explosive atmospheres. These classifications help in defining the degree of risk and the precautions necessary for working in these areas. The most commonly recognized levels are:

  • Zone 0 : These are areas where explosive atmospheres containing flammable gases, vapors, or mists are continuously present or exist for extended periods and it has the highest risk for potential explosion. An example of a Zone 0 area will be deep within an underground mine where there’s a continuous and high concentration of combustible gases like methane.
  • Zone 1 : These are areas where explosive atmospheres are likely to occur during normal operations but might not persist for extended periods and hence there’s a moderate risk of potential explosion. An example of Zone 1 area will be around fuel storage areas at a refinery where there’s a likelihood of intermittent accumulation of flammable vapors.
  • Zone 2 : These are areas where explosive atmospheres are not likely to occur under normal operating conditions and, if they do, are expected to be infrequent and of short duration. It has a lower risk compared to Zone 1 and Zone 0. An example of Zone 2 areas are in laboratories where flammable solvents are handled but with adequate ventilation to prevent the constant presence of explosive atmospheres.

Who certifies whether a smartphone (or any device) is Intrinsically safe?

Currently the most widely recognized certifications for intrinsically safe/Explosion-proof devices are typically provided by organizations like ATEX or IECEx (or from certified labs adhering to IECEx standards).

What is the difference between ATEX and IECEx for Intrinsically Safe/Explosion proof certification?

The primary distinction between ATEX and IECEx lies in their acceptance scope: ATEX certification is primarily recognized within European Union countries, whereas IECEx certification holds global recognition. Hence, in non-EU countries, IECEx certificates are more commonly accepted.

*Currently all the Intrinsically Safe/Explosion-proof smartphones that we supply are certified based on IECEx standards.

For further details on the difference, you can explore the IECEx website, where they elaborate on the differences in depth. Here is the link: https://www.iecex.com/archive/paris/docs/Guide_IECEx_ATEX_Comparison.pdf

What is the Difference between Intrinsically Safe and Explosion-Proof?

While the terms “intrinsically safe” and “explosion-proof” are often used interchangeably, there are some distinct difference in their approach to safety

Intrinsically safe equipment lacks components capable of accumulating enough energy to ignite in an explosive atmosphere. Typically, these devices, often low-powered, receive an intrinsically safe rating, enabling use in Explosive Hazardous Zones 0, 1, and 2.

Conversely, explosion-proof devices are enclosed in protective casings designed to withstand a gas or vapor explosion. If an ignition or explosion occurs within the equipment, it remains contained within the casing, preventing spread to the surrounding atmosphere. These devices are certified safe for use in Explosive Hazardous Zones 1 and 2, but seldom for Zone 0.

For most end users,  whether a smartphone is classified as intrinsically safe or explosion-proof may not significantly influence their choice. Both designations serve the same purpose: ensuring the phone’s safety for use in potentially explosive environments, except for when usage is in Zone 0, which is exceedingly rare.

How do I know which Explosive Hazardous Zone my Explosion-proof Smartphone can be used in?

For all Explosion-proof certified devices, they will be provided with an explosion-proof certificate with their respective EX Marking/Rating – indicating its suitability for specific hazardous substances and zones. For example, on our Unicorn 9 IS Smartphone, the EX Marking is Ex ib IIC T4 Gb and to know which zone it is rated for, we need to identify its EPL (Equipment Protection Level), which is usually one of the below:

  • Ga : Rated for Zone 0 
  • Gb : Rated for Zone 1
  • Gc : Rated for Zone 2
  • Da : Rated for Zone 20
  • Db : Rated for Zone 21
  • Dc : Rated for Zone 22

And for the case of our Unicorn 9, its EPL rating is Gb, which means that it suitable for Zone 1 (and Zone 2 areas). A complete deciphering of the EX marking for Unicorn 9 will indicate the following:

Ex – Explosion Protected

ib – Rated Intrinsic Safety with a High level of protection

IIC – Safe for use in environment with gases, vapors, or mists from Group IIC (Hydrogen, Acetylene and Carbon Disulphide etc, which are the most dangerous gases)

T4 – Can be used safely in environment where max surface temperature does not exceed 135°C

Gb – Can be used in Zone 1 (and Zone 2)

As our IS smartphones are certified according to IECEx standards, we usually refer to the IECEx guideline to decipher the EX marking. For more details on how to read the EX Marking / rating based on IECEx standards, you can also refer to this website:

https://www.iecex.com/assets/Uploads/D2S2-Ex-Protection-Techniques-BARTEC.pdf

What’s next?

If you’re considering the purchase of an intrinsically safe smartphone, you might be interested in the models available in our inventory. Our range of explosion-proof smartphones has received full certification based on IEC standards. Beyond their explosion-proof design, these smartphones offer all the features of a typical Android device, boasting high-resolution cameras and running with the full suite of functionalities found in the latest Android smartphones. Additionally, certain models even incorporate advanced features like built-in thermal imaging cameras and night vision capabilities, depending on the specific model.

Feel free to explore these Intrinsically Safe smartphones on our website. Should you have any inquiries or need a price quote, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to assist you!

*We strive to offer accurate and up-to-date information derived from reputable sources like ATEX and IEC (as of January 2024). However, our content is intended as a general guide to aid customers in comprehending intrinsically safe and explosion-proof smartphones, not as professional advice.

Although we make every effort to maintain accuracy, we acknowledge the possibility of oversight or changes in information. If you encounter any inaccuracies, we welcome you to contact us via marketing@unitech.com.sg or message us directly on Facebook.

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Wishing You Merry Christmas and a Happy 2024!

As the festive season casts its magical spell upon us once again, we at Unitech Supplies extend our warmest greetings and heartfelt wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🎄🎉

Amidst the twinkling lights, melodious carols, and the joyous laughter that fills the air, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year. It has been a year filled with challenges, triumphs, and countless moments of growth. And through it all, we have been incredibly fortunate to have the unwavering support and collaboration of our valued customers, dedicated suppliers, and esteemed partners.

To each and every one of you who has contributed to our journey this year, we want to express our deepest appreciation. Your trust, loyalty, and partnership have been the cornerstone of our success. Your belief in our vision has continually inspired us to reach greater heights and strive for excellence in all that we do.

As we gather with our loved ones to celebrate the spirit of Christmas, we are reminded of the importance of gratitude and spreading joy. It’s a time for cherishing moments with family, sharing kindness with others, and embracing the spirit of giving.

Looking ahead to the promising year of 2024, we are filled with excitement and anticipation. We aspire to continue fostering strong relationships, delivering exceptional products and services, and exploring new opportunities that will mutually benefit us all.

In the spirit of the holiday season, let us carry forward the values of compassion, unity, and positivity into the coming year. May 2024 bring forth prosperity, success, and boundless opportunities for growth and fulfillment.

From the entire Unitech Supplies Team, we wish you a Christmas filled with love, laughter, and cherished moments. And as we embark on the journey into the New Year, may it be a year brimming with joy, prosperity, and success for you and your loved ones.

Once again, thank you for your continued support and trust in us. Here’s to a spectacular 2024 filled with endless possibilities!

Warmest regards,

Unitech Supplies Pte Ltd

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Choosing between Fujinon Hyper Clarity Binoculars HC8x42 and HC10x42

Both the HC8x42 and the HC10x42 binoculars belong to the Fujinon Hyper Clarity Series where the key emphasis is on the ultra clear lens resolution and the sleek (but yet tough built body). When we have binoculars that are so identical it could be difficult to make a choice between them – and of course if money is not an issue, one can just purchase both of them and use them interchangeably 😉

Continue reading Choosing between Fujinon Hyper Clarity Binoculars HC8x42 and HC10x42
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Happy 2021!

In just another day, we will be waving goodbye to year 2020 and moving into 2021

This year has been an especially unforgettable and challenging year for many of us – with COVID19 swinging in and bringing our lives and business to an almost standstill.

Being a SME, the impact of COVID 19 on our business is even more so intense and we are grateful that through the generous support of our customers, business partners and team members, we have been able to survive and hopefully to be able to ride out this challenging period even stronger.

Even though we would definitely hope that COVID 19 has never happened, this unexpected crisis tested and also strengthened our ability & willingness to abandon a lot of our standards practices (that no longer works in our current landscape) and adapt our business quickly in order to meet the changing needs of our customers. And we will definitely continue to evolve our business so as to ensure that you’ll have every reasons to continue supporting us.

Moving into 2021, we hopes that the implementation of the vaccination can help to jumpstart our economy and that we can continue to bring you even more products at even better prices.

Here’s to wishing everyone A Happy 2021!

May the new year bring us lots of happiness and joys ahead!

Unitech Supplies Team

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Updates on our Business Operations during COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Period

Dear Customers & Partners,

As you would have heard from the news regarding the implementation of the COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Closure – where all non-essential business must stop operations in their workplace from 7th April 2020 till 4th May 2020.

As an essential service provider, we would like to inform that our company will continue to remain in operation during this Circuit Breaker Period – we have received written approval from the Ministry of Trade and Industry for our company to continue our business operation during this period.

Even though we have been allowed to continue business operation during this Circuit Breaker Period, we would also like to play our part in the fight against the spread of COVID-19. In order to reduce the risk of further local transmission of COVID-19, here are some additional measures that we will be implementing starting from 7th April 2020 till 4th May 2020:

1.No Walk-in Customers.

During this period we will not be accepting walk-in customers so as to reduce close contacts (which otherwise can potentially increase the spread of the COVID-19). For any purchase do kindly contact us via email (sales@unitech.com.sg) or our office number (6848 4867) and we will try to arrange for courier service to have the order delivered to you.

2.Free Delivery for orders above $100 (instead of $150)

For our Free Delivery Service, instead of a minimum order of $150, we will now reduce the minimum order to $100 in order for you to be eligible for the Free Delivery. However, as we will be using third party courier services for the delivery, we will require you to make payment in advance via Bank transfer / PayNow / PayLah.

Let’s all do our part in this fight against COVID-19 and hopefully life will resume back to normal quickly.

And meanwhile, as much as we can, Let’s Stay Home, Stay Safe and Stay healthy.


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Merry Christmas 2018 & Happy New Year 2019!!


Once again, we are approaching the end of a year and about to step into an exciting new year ahead.

2018 has been an eventful year for us, with us having relocated our office from the Old SPH Media Centre to our current place at the new HH@Kallang building and also earning the for sole distributorship rights for several of our new products.

We hopes that 2018 has been a great year for you as well and may 2019 be an even more remarkable year for everyone of us!

With this, we would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas 2018 and and Happy New Year 2019!!


Sincerely
Unitech Supplies Team

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Buyer’s Guide For Industrial Safety Products Part 1 – The Basics

There isn’t an industry in operation today that shouldn’t be concerned about safety. Since employees are the most valuable resource for any business, be it your favorite little corner coffee shop or on board huge maritime vessels transporting highly volatile chemicals, precautionary measures are never to be taken lightly. Continue reading Buyer’s Guide For Industrial Safety Products Part 1 – The Basics