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KUALA LUMPUR: NanoMalaysia Berhad (NMB), a Company Limited By Guarantee (CLBG) under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), and Snap Technology & Solutions Sdn Bhd (Snaptec), a leader in smart water purifiers, are thrilled to announce their latest innovations, namely “Aurra Pro V2” and “Aurra Plus V2,” at Malaysia Commercialisation Year Summit 2024 (MCY 2024), Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). Under the NMB’s Venture Builder Model, NMB and Snaptec jointly invested in producing these new Aurra models. The Aurra smart water purifiers leverage cold-water modules based on Peltier technology, a thermoelectric semiconductor device operating on the Peltier effect, which can convert electric current into either absorbing or releasing heat depending on the direction of the current flow, making it useful for advanced cooling and heating systems. Unlike conventional water purifiers in the market today, which rely on energy-hungry compressors or semi-tankless technology that still requires compressors, Snaptec’s cutting-edge technology for cooling water requires significantly reduced power. Peltier technology also offers other benefits: it is lightweight, silent, compact, low maintenance, and environmentally friendly because it emits no toxic gases.   Designed to revolutionise the way we ensure access to clean, safe and energy-efficient drinking water, this Aurra smart water purifier integrates Carbon Nanotube (CNT) based heat conducting paste developed by Serdang Paste Tech Sdn Bhd, also a NanoMalaysia’s project partner further to enhance the Peltier module’s heat removal capacity. This CNT paste, possessing high thermal conductivity, removes the heat from the water to effectively reduce the temperature by approximately 12-15 °C from ambient temperature (~27 °C) while maintaining a high flow rate of 500-550 millilitres of water dispensed per minute. Thanks to this cutting-edge technology, consumers can save between 40-50% on energy consumption with Snaptec’s water purifiers.   This groundbreaking innovation first gained its recognition at Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE) 2024, where it was awarded a Gold Award with the innovation entitled “Aurra Smart Water Purifier with Nano-Enhanced Cooling System” highlighting the effectiveness of CNT thermal paste, Peltier technology and remarkable features of Aurra including 5 stage disruptor filtration, custom temperature, UV-C water sterilisation, interactive 7” Android touchscreen, infinite tankless hot water and others. Besides, these Aurra models have obtained certifications from SIRIM QAS International, NANOVerified, the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and a Halal certification from JAKIM. NMB’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Rezal Khairi Ahmad, said: “This collaboration with Snaptec offers accessible, clean and energy-efficient based on the convergence of two technologies developed by NMB’s partners. Creating the landing platform for the CNT paste from Serdang Paste in Snaptec’s Peltier cooler is another example of orchestrating the nanotechnology commercialization value chain through our unique Venture Builder Investment Model. Through this innovative water purifier, NMB plays a huge role in providing clean and safe drinking water, eliminating harmful bacteria that cause diseases such as cholera, typhoid, diarrhoea and cancer.”   The “Aurra Pro V2” is a smart device with an interactive and user-friendly interface of a 7-inch Android touchscreen that connects with smartphones for real-time monitoring, hydration tracking, maintenance scheduling, a loyalty rewards program, and access to the Snaptec Care Control system. This aligns with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0) by incorporating Internet of Things (IoT) functions with nanotechnology, making water purifiers desirable in local and international markets. Snaptec Founder Neal Wong said: “Aurra represents our commitment to advancing home health technology. We provide solutions that meet the highest clean and healthy water standards and enhance the user experience through smart IoT technology.”   The market potential within Malaysia is expected to be RM 3.5B for the water purifier industry, with a very % year-over-year (YOY) growth of 30%. Meanwhile, the global market is expected to grow from $30.62B to $50.66B by 2029 at a CAGR of 7.5%. The target markets for these water purifiers include households with infants, young children, elderly members, pregnant women, athletes, and individuals with compromised immune systems. They are also suitable for residents in areas with hard water, high fluoride levels, poor water quality, or anyone seeking to improve the taste of their water. The Aurra smart water purifiers are available through Snaptec’s website and e-commerce platforms like Shopee and Lazada. Both models offer tankless hot water and a compact 1-litre tank for cold water.   This project supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, SDG 6: Ensure the availability and management of water and sanitation for all, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals.   The “Aurra Pro V2” and “Aurra Plus V2“ water purifiers align with PRECISE, an initiative recently introduced by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) to develop the nation’s Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) industries. PRECISE focuses on People-centric approaches, Research and Development, Enculturation, Capacity building, Investment, and the Startup Ecosystem.

KUALA LUMPUR: No matter what tradable instruments a trader prefers, understanding the spreads is instrumental in successfully navigating the financial markets. The experts at Octa, a globally recognised broker since 2011, summarise the key points every trader should know about spreads. The annoying ubiquity of spreads Any trader, regardless of the asset classes in their portfolio, deals with transaction costs in one way or another, paying a bid-ask price with each trade. A spread is the difference between an asset’s buying and selling prices. Since no broker offers zero spreads, the question traders face is not how to avoid this fee altogether but rather how to find a broker with lower spreads and what value difference to expect from it. Two types of spreads Traders always pay the higher price when they buy and the lower price when they sell, with the broker taking the difference. There are two types of spreads, each having its pros and cons: fixed and variable. Variable spreads change according to market conditions and instrument volatility. More volatile assets have wider spread variations. Even though variable spreads do not allow traders to predict the exact spread value, the average spread size can easily be calculated at the end of the session. With fixed spreads, on the other hand, traders always know where they are when they start trading, and the end result never comes as a surprise, regardless of asset volatility. Little by little, a little becomes a lot How important is it to have favourable spreads? Let’s illustrate the significance of lower spreads by an example. If broker A has a bid-ask spread of 1 pip for a major currency pair, and broker B has a 3 pip spread, a broker A’s client will get 2 pips more of a profit for each positive outcome than a broker B’s client—and 2 pips less of a loss for each negative. Over a long time, these slight differences can amount to a hefty sum. For example, a day trader can make up to a few hundred trades daily, depending on the strategy and how frequently attractive opportunities appear. Now, suppose a pip value for the EUR/USD pair is 0.1 USD, and the trader buys or sells one lot per order. With 100 trades per session, the 2 pips spread difference will amount to 20 USD to be deducted from the trader’s financial result at the end of the day. Considering that in Forex, individual gains are mostly marginal, and each pip counts, having lower spreads in the first place is a significant advantage. The more the merrier Since spreads are imposed on a per-trade basis and do not depend on the order amount, spread difference becomes more important as the number of trades per session increases. Therefore, the trading style that profits from low spreads the most is scalping, which involves a maximum number of trades compared to other strategy types. The size and type of spreads often become a primary factor in choosing a broker, and traders decide on their preferences based on their strategy and style. For example, many scalpers prefer variable spread offers because it enables them to access the cheapest spreads available on the market at any given time. Spreads may seem insignificant when considered on a per-order basis, but at the end of the sessions, these minor differences accrue and can tilt the odds of success in the trader’s favour.