Enterprise Stories

Taking the plunge into water treatment

Water treatment systems can be a minefield for operators what with all those switches, levers and buttons so any help that can reduce the risk of costly disruptions is welcome.

Getting a head start

Running a successful startup company is a tough game that takes more than just hard work. For Ravindran Govindan, founder and executive chairman of Mercatus Capital, this lesson was learnt when he started a business after graduating from university.

Providing a Platform for Innovation

It’s all about sharing, learning and collaboration,” says Eugene Fabian of the Microsoft Innovation Centre (MIC), explaining what it is that MIC aims to achieve in Singapore. “We want companies that are starting out to have a platform where they can learn from each other and from those that have come before them.”

Starting in the right direction

Most students with a bright idea would wait until they have graduated from university before starting a business, but not Mr Kelvin Quee and his partner, Mr Li Jiayi. Together with Mr Benjamin Koe, these three aspiring entrepreneurs started JamiQ in 2008, a multilingual social media monitoring software that allows clients to collect and analyse online data about their product.

Taking on the world of animation

In a crowded market, it takes something special to stand out. For Scrawl Studios, this something special is its international outlook and the boldness to go beyond local shores.

All set to take on big boys in logistics sector

Pan Asia Logistics Singapore Pte Ltd

The severe acute respiratory syndrome crisis in 2003 was a disaster for much of the region, but entrepreneur Christian Bischoff found much truth in the Chinese saying “in crisis there is opportunity”.

Staying buoyant in choppy waters

When former colleagues Torben Fong and Tan Soon Keong decided to venture out on their own in 1997, their company, Singatac, was a breeze to set up.

A one-stop shop to groom new ventures

If you have an innovative idea for a business but are not sure how to proceed, or if you are a start-up seeking to expand, help is at hand. You can turn to incubators such as iAxil, an arm of business space solutions provider Ascendas.

A rich harvest in boosting crop yields

Agro Genesis provides agricultural consulting and business development solutions for the agriculture sector in Asia. It has an array of environmentally friendly products for crop use and environmental care, manufactured using the company’s micro suspension (MS) technology patented last year.

Fostering a spirit of daring

The entrepreneurial landscape in Singapore has witnessed a positive sea change over the years. Not only are more people aspiring to start businesses, but they are also setting their sights on the global market, said serial entrepreneur and avid champion of entrepreneurship Inderjit Singh.

Help schemes aplenty to seed, nurture start-ups

Instant help to be e-seller on Facebook

Three earnest young men are gearing up to take on the online world with a hasslefree tool they have created for people to buy and sell on social networks.

Investors have much more to offer than cash

South-East Asia is enjoying a golden age for venture capital (VC) and angel investing in the wake of the collapse of United States investment house Lehman Brothers and the global financial crisis, venture capitalist Eugene Wong says.

Mini food bacteria detection kit could mean big bucks

Proving that age is no barrier to fulfilling one’s dreams, at the age of 61, Mr Donald Foo is in the thick of building a business to commercialise a novel instrument to create a better world for mankind. But he is by no means a stranger to running or setting up companies.

Treat angel investing ‘like a hobby’

Angel investing in early-stage start-up companies has to be fun and is best approached like a hobby, says well-known corporate figure and business angel investor Koh Boon Hwee.

Clear vision helps eyewear firm succeed

It is no surprise that the owners of Spectacle Hut have a pretty clear vision of where the chain is headed, but even they never foresaw some early challenges that nearly derailed the eyewear company.

Getting to the heart of disease prevention

The old adage that prevention is better than cure might have fallen on deaf ears for some, but the doctors behind Novena Heart Centre have heeded the call and taken heart disease prevention to a newer and younger level.

The real deal amid copycats

PATEC chief executive Michael Wee will be the first to tell you that he has not had an easy time as an entrepreneur, what with the economic downturns, global recessions and copycat competitors that have come his way since the company started in 1992.

A Firm Commitment to Quality

High quality standards are an integral part of Minntech Asia/Pacific’s (Minntech’s) corporate identity. As part of Minntech Corporation’s international operations, the company manages a network of distributors that market its globally-recognised range of medical devices and equipment in the region.

A recipe for success

To Mr Ang Kiam Meng, General Manager of the JUMBO Group of Restaurants, the success of their restaurants hinges on one critical factor – the employees who make it special...

Bringing Rehabilitation Medicine to the Region

It’s a rare combination to find an experienced healthcare professional who also embodies the entrepreneurial spirit of a businessman...

Courting customer-centric success

As one of Singapore’s leading consumer electronics and household furnishings retailers, Courts has come to understand that the customer must always come first in everything it does.

Delivering Customised Lighting Solutions

Set up in 2005, Screentech is one of the few companies in the region to design and produce light emitting diode (LED) technology. Compared to traditional light sources such as fluorescent lamps and halogen light bulbs, LED lights are more energy efficient and durable.

The personal touch

Treat your customers like your friends and family – because they are. This simple principle has guided many of the business practices of the Soo Kee Jewellery Group.

A strong vision of training

For most people, one training or private education institute may seem no different from another. Most have lofty visions about wanting to make a difference in people’s lives or helping to effect change. But when a firm like Training Vision says its business has been growing an impressive 300 per cent a year for the past few years, it must be doing something right – and different – that sets it apart from others.

Furnishing firm takes a different tech

Goodrich Global aims to do just that by removing the logistical nightmare involved in running around to find the right retailers and products. The firm, which started off as a sevenman operation in 1983, is now a leading supplier of furnishings and interior decoration products in South east Asia, employing more than 400 staff.

Need a flavour? Ask KH Roberts

KH Roberts Pte Ltd

Most food and beverage firms are in the business of feeding people. KH Roberts, however, wants to stimulate your senses, those of taste and smell in particular. Coffee, cranberry, cheese or cinnamon – these are just a few in the wide range of food flavourings made by the 43-year-old company.

Ensuring the business is up to standard

TRUST is almost invariably integral to business success and never more so than in the food business...

‘Think tanks’ for aquarium

Apollo Aquarium on how adapting technology from other fields enhanced its business, with help from SPRING Singapore’s Technology Innovation Programme.

Building a quality environment

Environmental issues are far and wide-ranging, and can cover pretty much anything under the sun: from global warming, to waste management, to green buildings as well as biodiversity.

Business the Green Way

It all began when Peter Goh took a module on “Global Environmental Issues” during his final semester at the National University of Singapore...

Ensuring a Secure Supply Chain with ISO 28000

Supply chain risks, which may arise from fraud, terrorism, piracy or political instability to name a few, are a reality that every company in today’s closely-related international business community faces. For companies like DB Schenker Logistics, building a trusted brand in secure supply chain is top on the list for this fully-integrated logistics services provider.

Powering Singapore’s economy through standards

The threat of oil and fossil fuel depletion, along with climate change concerns, have led governments around the world to look for alternative energy sources and find ways to overcome energy security challenges.

A formula to make healthy food

Food manufacturer Pomefresh on how it used technology to make its products healthier, with help from SPRING Singapore's Innovation Voucher Scheme.

Business as usual is key to success

IT’S a bit of a mouthful, but the concept of Business Continuity Management (BCM) can be the difference between success and failure for a business...

Protecting consumers from unsafe goods

If the paint on your child’s toy seems to come off too easily or the meat from the wet market is underweight, you can turn to...

A fresh take on age-old processes

Lintech Engineering on how adapting technology from other fields enhanced its business, with help from SPRING Singapore’s Technology Innovation Programme.

Going small to winch up profits

Mega Engineering bosses on how a local innovation will bring their business to new heights, with help from SPRING Singapore’s Innovation Voucher Scheme.

ECGs made easy for heart patients

Telehealth company Reka on how it is helping heart patients to manage their own care programme, with help from SPRING Singapore’s Technology Innovation Programme.

An Initiative that Drives Further Growth

Informative, easy to read and a real time-saver” – these are the words Mr Ganti, CEO of Deep Identity, would use to describe the EOne website.

Application is Now Smooth and Easy

In the past, applicants registering for new licences had to complete handwritten forms and send the copies to the respective government bodies by post or courier service...

Changing the Face of Hairstyling

For many, a trip to the hair salon often evokes ambivalent feelings. While excited about getting a sassy hairdo, one can also be feeling apprehensive and wonder if the new style would look good...

Hard Work that Paid Off

Going head to head with industry giants by providing the same kind of products or services may not be the best strategy for SMEs,” says Mr Anthony Koh, CEO of Mobile Credit Payment (Mcpayment).

Helping buildings go green with a black box

Energy consultancy firm G-Energy Global tells how it is creating a whole new business for itself, with help from SPRING Singapore’s Innovation Voucher Scheme.

Raising Productivity a Breeze for aircon Company

Like many local enterprises, Mr Frederick Ang, CEO of Atmosphere Airconditioning & Engineering faces rising business costs. To counter that, he turned to the Enterprise Development Centre at the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (EDC@ASME) to help him trim costs and raise productivity.

Turning and Entrepreneurial Dream into Reality

Mr Tan Jeck Meng was a 25-year-old fresh graduate when he founded Dreamarvel with two other partners in September 2008. Within a year of operations, the ledgling digital media company not only broke even but landed accounts with several big corporations.

At the Heart of Commercialisation

Spyder, the world’s smallest continuous electrocardiography (ECG) monitoring device, is the brainchild of a team of doctors at WEB Biotechnology (WEB).

Nurturing Human Capabilities in Asian Centre for Liver Diseases & Transplantation

The Asian Centre for Liver Diseases & Transplantation (ACLDT)

Asian Centre for Liver Diseases & Transplantation (ACLDT’s) Founder and Chairman Dr Tan Kai Chah’s wealth of experience in liver treatment has propelled ACLDT to success and made him a highly sought after surgeon...

Providing Value Welding Solutions to Customers

Many entrepreneurs, when starting out, tend to fuss over one-off transactions and meeting their sales target. Not Mr Victor Khaw, General Manager of Allalloy Dynaweld (Allalloy)...

Robinsons : Better Processes Lower Costs

Robinsons’ Head of Merchandising Administration, Ms Rosline Foo describes the supply chain process in the retail sector as laborious and repetitive.

Robotic Kitchen Assistants

Having spent years honing their craft, it is understandable that chefs would have reservations about an automated kitchen. “Job security is one key concern we have to address,” says Mr Jack Tan, Executive Director of Select Group.

Sakae Sushi : Fresh off the Belt

At Sakae Sushi, plate after plate of delectable sushi are moved along the conveyor belt from the kitchen to the tables and it is important that the food is kept fresh and hygienic. Thanks to its Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system, Sakae Sushi can assure customers that its sushi are not only fresh but also free from contamination.

SMART Way to Grow the Business

Golden Bridge Foods Manufacturing Pte Ltd

As one of the leading manufacturers of sausage and ham products in Singapore, Golden Bridge Foods Manufacturing has always gone the extra mile to offer high quality products to its customers.

Ensuring Safety of Children’s Products

As an importer of baby products, Infantino Enterprises only looks for reliable suppliers and renowned brands when sourcing for products. Infantino imports its range of baby products from the US, Europe and Hong Kong, which already have stringent product safety measures in place.

Furnishing Safety

Companies that pro-actively enforce safety standards will stand to gain,” says Mr Kenny Koh, Vice President of Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC).

Kandy : Sweet Taste Of Success

Growing up in Singapore, Ms Raynne Ong, CEO of Kandy Confectionery (Kandy), is accustomed to a fast-paced city lifestyle...

Measuring productivity – The Missing link

From its humble beginnings as a butcher stall in a wet market in 1957, family-run Seo Eng Joo (SEJ) has expanded into a frozen food supply chain operation today.

Modelling a Company, Sustaining a Business

Do companies see themselves as merely a business, or one that has a unique business model?” This is the question Mr Mike Tiong, Group CEO of McCoy Holdings (McCoy), poses to fellow entrepreneurs.

Safer Products for Safer Homes

As a major supplier of household products, Hitachi is a firm believer in the importance of meeting safety standards...

建立品牌

皇家饮食服务有限公司 (Royal Catering) 于1985年成立时，公司只有一辆货车。如今，皇家饮食服务已发展成专为企业客户供应优质餐饮服务的公司。员工从原本的四人增加至30人，货车队伍也增至五辆。

放眼海外

本地糕点连锁店Bengawan Solo创办于1979年。过去30多年来，Bengawan Solo秉持着对优质产品的坚持，逐渐在本地打响知名度。

Delivering freshness 供应新鲜美食

HACCP is commonly used by food manufacturers. But did you know that HACCP can also be used to maintain the quality of food during storage and transportation? Singapore-based food distributor Seagift has done just that.

不少食品制造商都采用 HACCP，但你可知道分销商也可用 HACCP系统监督并维持食品在储藏及运输过程中的品质吗？新加坡食品分销商海恩就这么做了。

Quality food on all fronts 全方位优质食品

Quality control is easy with the HACCP, as Sakura International Buffet has found out.

Sakura国际自助餐发现HACCP使食物品质管理变得更简易。

Heating Up the Competition

It is not often that a business opportunity presents itself. So when it did, Mr Joseph Ng, CEO of Gatekeeper Laboratories (Gatekeeper), seized it. That was also the turning point for Mr Ng to trade his dream of becoming an engineer with venturing out to turn his final year research project into a viable business.

Innovation for strategic growth

JCS-Echigo (JCS) started from humble beginnings in 1990 to become a $21 million business that spans varied sectors. Over the span of two decades, JCS has diversiied into the electronics, hard disk drive, semiconductors and automotive industries.

Lending an arm for productivity

This much about raising productivity is already known: The big payoff is that it helps companies reduce costs as well as achieve a consistent quality. Yet for many companies, the question remains: where does one begin?

Paving The Road To Regionalisation

Businesses operating in Singapore have easy access to quality resources, so much so that they almost take it for granted. And they get rude shock when setting up their businesses in developing countries.

Business Success Sensor

Even with a string of successful overseas ventures to his name, Mr Donald Foo’s entrepreneurial streak continues to drive him to explore new business opportunities. His latest endeavour is Bio-X, a technology startup in analytical chemistry instrumentation. Bio-X’s unique Accumulation Method Ion Sensor (AMIS) platform can be used to measure chemical and biochemical reactions in aqueous solutions in very small volumes...

Turning Things Around with Quality and Standards

Improved productivity at the workplace will lead to improved product quality,” shares Mr Shuy E. S. Director of Jitron Pte Ltd.

On Cheong : Success that Doesn’t Lose its Shine

In bad times, most businesses would resort to promotions and slash prices as they believe customers would tighten their purse strings. Not On Cheong Jewellery (On Cheong), which did just the opposite: it forayed into a new niche area of producing custom-made jewellery pieces.

Quality, Tasty Treats

SEAWAVES Frozen Food has big plans. The company, established in 1982, wants to increase the export of its products to as much as 70%.

Star Furniture : A Home in the Malls

In what may seem like an unwise move, Star Furniture pushed ahead with company expansion during a bearish market, opening up new outlets in singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan. Mr Kenny Koh, Managing Director of Star Furniture Group, says the market expansion was a strategic move to grow the company.

StudioNorm : Against All Odds

Many would advise against setting up a new business while the world is in the throes of an economic crisis, but Mr David Tham and Mr Eugene Chan, Creative Directors of StudioNorm, chose to depart from the norm. In fact, they discovered there are beneits to opening a new business during dificult times.

Taking to the Mobile space

A self-professed mobile fanatic, Mr Steve Wah, CEO of Smoov, founded the company with two partners in the hope of redefining a mobile user’s experience. Working in tandem with its clients, smoov aims to create a mobile platform that will have end users coming back for more.

From unknown to well-known with branding

Five years ago, Grandwork Interior was a small, local interior design and custom furnishing firm with only seven to eight staff and a humble S$3 to 4 million in annual turnover.

Propelling the business with branding

Aluminium Offshore Pte Ltd was founded in 1992 with a simple vision: to build offshore marine structures using aluminium.

At a time when most offshore structures were built using steel, the idea of constructing something in the open seas using lightweight metal alloy met with much resistance from clients.

A Niche Partnership

Established in 1982, Fong’s Engineering & Manufacturing Pte Ltd has grown from its humble beginnings as a small precision machining and assembly setup with 4 employees to become a trusted partner that is sought after by overseas manufacturers for quality precision engineering services.

Raise Your Questions

An experience with technical hitches during a video conference may have left them high and dry, but it also inspired PigeonLab’s founders, Mr Hew Joon Yeng and Mr Lyon Lim, to come up with Pigeonhole Live.

Amara’s focus on training serves it well

The way to tackle many of the problems in the hotel industry is to ‘train, train, train’, says Amara’s Mr Brand.

Fired up with a desire to improve

Heatec Jietong constantly benchmarks itself against its larger rivals in order to learn and to prepare itself for expansion.

Leaders without borders

Hwa Chong Institution aims to break down geographical and cultural barriers in order to groom students to become bicultural leaders.

Men of action mean business

By winning the Singapore Quality Award a second time, the Singapore Civil Defence Force shows it is not only operationally inclined, it also possesses key elements of business excellence.

Provider of knowledge to the community

Equipping staff with the skills to better serve its customers has helped the National Library Board win the People Excellence Award.

Setting an exemplary example

The Ministry of Manpower is the first government ministry to win the Singapore Quality Award.

Yokogawa scores with its speed

The company’s emphasis on efficiency and its highly skilled and flexible workforce have helped put S’pore on the world map.

A Vision for Innovation

For Mr Yang Wah Kiang, Chairman of Nanyang Optical, drawing inspiration from other innovations has culminated in two award-winning eyewear designs, Linkskin and Urband Origami. As the brain behind the two revolutionary eyewear designs, Mr Yang says he came up with the ideas by observing existing products in the market.

Branding for Growth : Transforming Perceptions

Griffin Kinetic Pte Ltd

Entering a new industry is a bold undertaking, and Griffin Kinetic has done just that. The maritime and offshore logistics provider ventured into the burgeoning pharmaceutical sector in September 2009. Their success in making the leap is all thanks to a strong brand image, which helped to establish the company as a leading logistics provider.

Event Management a Cinch

To make event management as simple as flicking on a switch – that is the aim of Huang Yaoquan. The NUS computer science alumnus is the co-founder of FlickEvents, which he runs with fellow graduate, Phun Yan Yan.

Having a Hand in Innovation

Imagine a world where you can activate a command with just a simple hand gesture. This is the vision of Mr Ho Chee Yue, Managing Director of XYZ Wave. With the recent breakthroughs his company has made, his vision may become a reality soon.

Technology Detected

An innovative product is more likely to gain traction compared to one that is already developed – this is the mindset Dr Neo Shi Yong, Research Director of KAI Square, inculcates in his employees. “New and innovative products help create brand awareness and publicity for our company,” he says.

Dispensing Quality and Innovation

In 1980, a small group of local entrepreneurs came together to set up a vending business that is now known as Atlas Vending.

Energising the Energy Sector

As climate change issues gain prominence around the world, the need for sustainable energy solutions has become more pressing. Since its inception in July 2006, the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS) has provided a common platform for companies in the sustainable energy sector to meet and discuss viable projects with financial institutions.

Engineering a Successful Brand

Over the last 40 years, Wong Fong Engineering has built a reputation as a market leader. The company designs, manufactures and services load and waste handling systems for a wide spectrum of industries.

Fashioning Achievements

For two decades now, the Textile and Fashion Federation Singapore (TaFf) has been the voice of Singapore’s textile and apparel (T&A) industry. TaFf aims to create a conducive environment for businesses involved in textile and apparel sourcing, fashion designing, distribution, and fashion apparel retailing.

Gaming for Eminence

With the proliferation of social media, social gaming has also begun to gain prominence. It was the boom in the social gaming market that led Mr Zaki Mahomed, CEO of Game Ventures, to expand its range of social gaming products in January 2009.

Producing Success for Food Manufacturers

Ensuring continued growth and charting the future direction of the local food manufacturing industry are the two top priorities of the Singapore Food Manufacturers’ Association (SFMA). SFMA has set its sights on four strategies to propel the industry’s growth: product innovation, productivity improvement, overseas markets exploration and food safety and quality conformance.

Winning Recipes for the F&B Industry

Formed in 1980, the Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS) has been spearheading the growth of the local Food and Beverage (F&B) industry over the past three decades...

Accelerating Success

As founder and CEO, Mr Darran Nathan identified a problem many industries were facing: the need for higher computational capacity. While the conventional solution was to purchase more CPUs, Mr Nathan had a business idea – to specialise in high-performance computing solutions...

From Start-up to Key Player

A start-up incorporated in 2004, WaterTech Pte Ltd has already established a strong brand name in the eco-engineering industry. Specialising in water and waste water treatment, WaterTech focuses on markets in high development potential regions in Asia, such as the non-coastal areas of north-east China, the Middle East and Indo-China...

Operations Made Easy with Technology

Especially popular with music aficionados and food lovers, Timbre has become the place for a fun night out. With enthralling live performances by homegrown musicians and tantalising dishes whipped up by renowned chefs, patrons are in for a sensory treat.

Securing Success

Transmex is an IT provider of tracking and sensing solutions for the knowledge management and homeland security markets. Its network of customers is impressive, comprising national firms, government bodies and international businesses.

When Imitation is No Flattery

This Singapore company develops, manufactures and markets its own brand of centrifugal pumps that cater to various industrial applications. Over the years, the Euroflo brand has become synonymous with quality and good service...

A taste of business success

Tan Seng Kee Foods Pte Ltd

Cooking up a plate of Hokkien noodles or Mee Goreng often requires buying fresh noodles from the wet market on the very day of the meal. They cannot be kept long and are usually only good for two to four days. But with busy lifestyles and the gradual phasing out of wet markets, obtaining fresh noodles is no longer easy or possible for many.

Driving up service levels

Germaxco Group of Companies

For Germaxco Group of Companies, meeting customer needs is not new. The company has maintained a strong track record of adapting to client’s needs and stayed ahead of changing market requirements.

Good business stems from best practices

While many of the company’s clients are located in the Asian region, Ms Josephine Low, Director of K.P.P Packaging Pte Ltd, says her products ultimately end up in Asia Pacific and Japan region with their head office either in the United States (US) or the European Union (EU).

Playing for the big stakes

For Weike Gaming Technology Pte Ltd, testing and certification are important parts of the business, as they allow the company to compete in the highly-regulated casino industry.

Security uninterrupted

IPS Securex Pte Ltd is a company that knows about security. As one of the leading security system integrators in Southeast Asia, it helps its customers put together multi-million dollar systems to meet their sophisticated security requirements.

The Cancer Busters

As Singapore’s population ages rapidly, the number of prostate cancer cases is on the rise. Statistics from SingHealth show that the number of prostate cancer cases is now four times higher, compared to 30 years ago.

The Dream Makers

For Dreamarvel Pte Ltd, the first seeds of the business were planted when the company’s three founders, Mr Tan Jeck Meng, Mr Lau Yueng and Mr Yang Xuefeng created a 3D character project titled “Digital Puppet Live”. It is a photorealistic 3D digital image which can interact with the audience in real time, with the user controlling its movements and response back stage.

The Mmmm! Story

A supplier of meats to restaurants, hotels and food manufacturers, BH Fresh Food often find itself serving walk-in customers at its factory facility. Recognising the market potential for selling their meats to retail customers, the company decided to set up its own retail stores.

Next up - a bite of the China pie

HOT on the heels of a recent acquisition in Hong Kong, Q&M Dental Group chief executive Ng Chin Siau is again on the hunt for opportunities to expand, but this time in mainland China.

Staying ahead of the competition through R&D

When cell therapy was still science fiction rather than fact, Mr Steven Fang was already drafting plans to cash in on what he saw as the future of medicine. He set up Singapore's first cord blood bank, CordLife, in May 2001. Today, CordLife is one of Asia's leading cord blood banks with a workforce of 200 and a client base of 26,000.

A Better Perspective Inside Out

As with many companies, recruitment was often a challenge for logistics company Griffin Kinetic. Yet these days, the company can boast an easier time attracting quality personnel who fit its culture of irrefutable reliability and service. Its staff are also keen brand ambassadors for the company, embodying its core values with a strong sense of ownership.

A name that says it all

A supplier of meats to restaurants, hotels and food manufacturers, BH Fresh Food often found itself serving walk-in customers at its factory facility. Recognising the market potential for selling their meats to retail customers, the company decided to set up its own retail stores.

Creating a brand for this new business arm was top of the list, but before it could create a suitable name and identity, the company needed to identify its target market.

Better Decisions with Artificial Intelligence

VSAPAC, which is equity-funded by SPRING SEEDS Capital, offers a suite of advisory solutions, training, certification and ondemand reports to companies in both public and private sectors.

Bringing Service Excellence to Healthcare

Thomson Medical Pte Ltd

CCI is not just an abstract concept for Thomson Medical Centre. A year after embarking on CCI in 2008, Thomson topped the rankings in the healthcare sector.

Building a global strategy

Over the last 40 years, Wong Fong Engineering has built a stellar reputation as a market leader in its industry in Singapore. The company designs, manufactures and services load and waste handling systems for a wide spectrum of industries. Having achieved success in its home country, the next step for Wong Fong was expansion overseas. For that, the company needed a sound strategy — and that’s when it turned to BrandPact.

Charting a new future

Investing in research and development to build innovative products is indeed an achievement. But getting these products to cross the chasm from innovative unknown to market success is another matter, and it is one that involves branding.

Getting the right mix

Like most SMEs, True Heritage Brew’s focus was on its bottom line. All this changed when the company embarked on their branding journey. The branding exercise made True Heritage Brew approach branding from a business strategy point of view. It encouraged the company to think about its aspirations and listen in on the wants and needs of its customers.

Good Service for Good Business

In a bid to improve service excellence and productivity, Han’s embarked on the CCI programme in 2007. The results speak for themselves. Before CCI, half of Han’s outlets were not doing well. Two years on, almost all are making a healthy profit – sales are up by almost 60% and net profit jumped 387%. The more productive workforce and more efficient workflow generated cost savings of S$1.5 million in 2009.

Learning about the power in branding

Education is big business, which explains the glut of private schools promising to deliver better academic results for children all over Singapore. Making your mark in such a saturated industry therefore, requires shrewd branding.

To ensure its prime position in the education industry, The Learning Lab saw the need to convey its vision of a distinctive brand of education that ensured both academic excellence and world-readiness.

Making familiar taste hip

Lim Chee Guan's brand’s renewed image places them in good position to launch marketing efforts aimed at engaging a younger generation, such as offering culinary creations made using Bak Kwa and meat flosses during the opening of the new store.

Making Grocery Shopping a Happy ‘Chore’

Since embarking on the CCI initiative, Sheng Siong Supermarket Pte Ltd has made great strides in in improving its customer service – with noticeable results. In the space of a few months, customer compliments had risen by 19%, and staff noticed the change in atmosphere in the stores as well – customers were smiling, and serving them became a pleasure.

Niche marketing with clear division

Clean lines and uber chic design with international appeal have come to define the furniture produced by Air Division, a Singapore company which has already made quite an impression on the global market and won several international design awards. Yet, if Air Division was to become a truly desirable and well-loved brand, there was work to be done to bring out a clearer brand personality.

Quality that Counts

Specialty coffee and tea retailer The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf ensures that steps are taken to maintain food safety in its beverages and food

Reaffirming vision, redefining mission

Atlas embarked on its rebranding journey for the next growth curve. From Atlas Hi-Fi, the new name Atlas Sound & Vision was derived, to acknowledge that the home entertainment experience was now a sensory lifestyle experience involving both sight and sound.

Sometimes it’s Worth the Wait

The choice: develop and bring products to market in two years or take on a mammoth R&D project that won’t see returns for another eight. Mr Jason Yeo, CEO of JCS-Group, chose the latter. His latest venture, JCS-Vanilla Pte Ltd, was set up in 2005 to develop and manufacture precision components for aircraft engines.

Swiss Hospitality at its Best

With a single focus on quality customer service, Swissotel The Stamford Singapore cultivates an environment where the verbiage, actions and demeanors of its employees revolve around a shared set of convictions. This uniformity of a singular, passionate service culture throughout the organisation was achieved through CCI.

Tasting greater success through clearer branding

Soup, it has been said, is good for the soul — and no one knows this better than The Soup Spoon. Not one to rest on its laurels, the company embarked on a branding project to strengthen its market presence and discover if there was more it could offer its customers.

Above Board

AVI-TECH Electronics boss Lim Eng Hong, or E. H. Lim, as he is better known, knows a thing or two about economic cycles, having deftly side-stepped more than his fair share of potholes. The company he founded in 1983 has not only survived the early test of the 1986 recession but also navigated its way through several storms since.

Keeping it clean with made-in S'pore tools

A 10-year plan for JCS to create its very own precision engineering products from scratch has paid off handsomely today, the company pulls in about $40 million in revenue every year.

A household name by design

Scanteak boss Lim Pok Chin got off to a flying start in the furniture trade, but he still needed some fancy footwork to save the firm when the pressure of competition grew.

Winning on quality, not price

Haleywood Industries founder Ong Kim Chuan was never going to get into a price war with rival suppliers, preferring to differentiate his business through product quality and after-sales services. Mr Ong, 59, held his ground and has been doing so for more than 30 years, and his growing international clientele is proof that his efforts in ensuring quality have paid off.

Food firms' recipe for success

Singapore may boast only about 780 food manufacturers, but the sector still manages to punch above its weight in terms of industrial output. The latest figures from 2008 show that manufacturing output and value-added from the sector amounted to $6.1 billion and $1.4 billion respectively.

New, innovative ideas brewing at coffee roaster

Gourmet coffee manufacturer Boncafe International has been in business for almost 50 years. But far from becoming complacent, its management has always been willing to wake up and smell the coffee, so to speak, when it comes to fresh ideas.

R&D investment proves its worth for noodle maker

Instant noodle maker Tat Hui Foods was almost priced out of the market by cheaper suppliers 15 years ago. But the Singapore-based manufacturer managed to beat down the competition by upping the ante and going big on research and development.

An Insurance Company High on EQ

The Business Continuity Management programme brings benefits to insurance company, EQ Insurance.

Designing a D.I.Y Experience

Can you imagine walking into a D.I.Y. store, only to find it packed with good food, wine and thoughtful value add services created especially for you and your lady friends? That was exactly the scenario at the very first “Ladies Night” at the home-grown retail chain, Home-Fix The D.I.Y. Store, as they demonstrated how they are ‘the urban woman’s guide to home improvement’ today.

The Fabric that Covers All Bases

SPRING SEEDS investee NuvoFabric Pte Ltd's revolutionary SuperFabric® is demanded equally by the army for its practical protective applications as well as by the fashion industry for its aesthetic value.

Putting the smile back on dental braces

In the last of a six-part series on innovative start-ups, biomedical engineering firm Biomers tells Francis Chan how it is taking a concept from lab to market with help from SPRING Singapore's Technology Enterprise Commercialisation Scheme.

Charting their way in business

In the fifth of a six-part series on innovative start-ups, LEE YEN NEE talks to navigation software firm Quantum Inventions to find out how it took a concept from lab to market with a little help from SPRING Singapore's Start-up Enterprise Development Scheme.

From army buddies to energy savers

In the first of a six-part series on innovative start-ups, Francis Chan talks to tech firm Anacle Systems to find out how it took a concept from lab to market with a little help from SPRING Singapore's Start-up Enterprise Development Scheme.

Going green tech for a bigger, better yield

In the fourth of a six-part series on innovative start-ups, agribusiness firm Agro Genesis tells Francis Chan how it is taking a concept from lab to market with help from SPRING Singapore's Technology Enterprise Commercialisation Scheme.

Making DNA testing faster, cheaper, easier

Biomedical firm Biochip Devises shares how it is taking a concept from lab to market with help from SPRING Singapore's Technology Enterprise Commercialisation Scheme.

Taking green idea into uncharted waters

Environmental engineering firm SIF Technologies takes concept from lab to market with a little help from SPRING Singapore's Start-up Enterprise Development Scheme.

Attuned to the business basics

Max.Tan, a casual/contemporary design label, is one of the inaugural PARCO next NEXT designers and a participant of the PARCO Fashion Incubator Programme.

Building resilience for timely delivery

G Link Express Logistics has become one of the first logistics companies in Singapore to be successfully verified under the Flu Pandemic Business Continuity Programme.

Groomed to succeed

A trip to Tokyo, a chance to meet a renowned Japanese designer, a mentorship programme to guide business growth, her own runway show and a retail hub to call home – just some of the perks PARCO next NEXT designer Ms Pang Ai Mei is enjoying as she grows her own label, MAE PANG.

Persistence pays

Kenyon started in 1988, servicing chemical and petrochemical process companies in the undertaking of mechanical and electrical (M&E) projects. Today, it has evolved from providing M&E services for more generalised building projects to being a specialist provider of M&E solutions for specialised sectors – most notably, manufacturers for the pharmaceutical industry.

Putting your best foot forward

GENER8 is a company with a soft heart and a big idea. Its four founding members are united in their drive and conviction of pursuing their dream: providing an affordable, high-quality prosthetic option to amputees in the developing world.

Strength in numbers

Craftmark markets leather goods and accessories brands and manages their distribution in Singapore and the Far East. The company has recently turned its expertise towards developing its own brand of leather bags and accessories, Tessere, and found a timely marketing platform in GET SINGAPORE.

A Brand Apart

In any business, you have to move with the trends to remain relevant, as Mr Mark Yong, Marketing Director of Ewins Pte Ltd can attest. A third generation representative of the family business, Mr Yong recognises the need to satisfy customer demand and move with it. His new vehicle of choice is branding.

A Measure of Success

SmartSense, CADI SCIENTIFIC's key product, is a multipurpose integrated wireless sensing system designed to enhance patient care and improve hospital operational efficiency. The device has successfully been deployed to local hospitals and gaining ground in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Thailand, and the UAE.

Bringing Possibilities to the Forefront

Forefront Medical Technology is an integrated medical device contract manufacturer that supplies leading medical OEMs with custom designed finished products. Its growth strategy is extending technical capabilities and extensive application knowledge on moulding and assembly into customers’ design platform, reducing the overall cost and time to market.

Engineering a Niche

With rising competition from Asia and East European based manufacturers offering similar engineering services at a lower cost, Sys-Mac Automation Engineering Pte Ltd found that the way to continued success lies in offering added value to business partners. Expanding capabilities and narrowing focus to supply to a niche market became the solution.

Giving the Green Light

In an era when the building and construction industry is increasingly adding green solutions into its designs, leading lighting specialist, Krislite, aims to be the “light that outshines”. Constantly innovating to stay ahead of the field in what has become a highly competitive market, Krislite has transformed from a distributor of lighting products and systems to a designer and manufacturer of its own range of fibre-optic and LED lighting technologies.

Persisting against the odds

Teckwah Value Chain Pte Ltd

Teckwah Group,  a major player in printing and packaging industry, is the first company in Singapore to achieve third party certification on SS 540:2008, the Singapore Standard that advocates Business Continuity Management.

The Guidewire to Quality

When Acme Monaco Corporation wanted to grow its presence in Asia, Singapore was the obvious choice. The ready infrastructure, strong knowledge of the region and skilled workforce drew them to set up its subsidiary, Acme Monaco Asia Pte Ltd (AMA), in 2007. Tapping on the MedTech Capability Development Programme, AMA secured the mandatory ISO 13485 needed to supply to the MedTech industry here.

Dishing out food with an edge

Award-winning fine dining Indian restaurant Rang Mahal, located in The Pan Pacific Singapore takes its food so seriously that it is the first Indian restaurant in its category to achieve the HACCP certification

Brewing the right formula

As the first tea manufacturer in Singapore to be HACCP-certified, Lim Lam Thye has a systematic process of ensuring quality in every tea product it produces

An Unending Quest for Excellence

Tru-Marine Pte Ltd

Tru-Marine, a market leader in turbocharger repair solutions, serving ship owners and ship management companies, is a winner of the 2009 Singapore Quality Award. Focusing on attaining business excellence through people, innovation and customer service, the company has a strong customer-focused ethos.

Business Across Borders

Mayn Interactive provides massively multiplayer online game (“MMO”) services to Western gamers by licensing online games from the game developers and publishing/operating games through its proprietary online publishing platform. At present the company has an exclusive license to publish the popular free-to-play MMO Twelve Sky 2 in Europe.

It's All About the People

Qian Hu Corporation Ltd, an integrated “one-stop” ornamental fish service provider, garnered two business excellence awards last year.

Ensuring safe and clean food

Pang Catering decided to implement the HACCP system for its new central kitchen when it expanded its business operations in May last year

Serving quality, tasty treats

As a major supplier of surimi-based products, Seawaves Frozen Food regards formal food safety measures as a basic responsibility to its overseas and local customers

Delivering top-notch foods

Indoguna Singapore has grown from a meat company importing the highest-quality chilled meat from all over the world, to one that also offers premium quality seafood, gourmet food and boutique wines

Bringing love and joy for every occasion

Polar Puffs and Cakes’ unique philosophy underscores its serious commitment to delivering fresh and safe products to its customers

A Master of Reinvention

Having won the E50 award for the fifth consecutive year, Koufu continues its entrepreneurial streak to introduce two new concepts to food court dining, the I-Foodcourt and Singapore's first Green food court.

Always a Refreshing Change

Star Furniture Pte Ltd

 Achieving its fourth consecutive E50 award, Star Furniture continues to innovate, supported by its strong R&D department.  Like most companies this year, it was impacted by the economic slowdown. While it was a challenging year, Star Furniture used the slowdown to its advantage, designing a new concept in retail to boost sales and prepare for the upturn.

Excelling with Innovation and Integration

Top of the 2009 E50 Award list, Samwoh's commitment to provide innovative technologies, excellent products and services, and competitive pricing has made them the market leader of their fields.

Food for Thought

Sukha House, a distributor of organic brown rice and complementary organic products undertook the  SMART SME Management Action for Results (SMART) Initiative. SMART allowed Sukha House to analyse and plan for business growth, improve leadership capabilities and its supply and quality control systems, enhance its branding and initiate effective training programmes. 

It's Time for Change

Star Controls Engineering Co. Pte Ltd

ASME Entrepreneur 2009 for Enterprise winner Mr Patrick Lim of Star Controls attributes his win of the award, and his second consecutive E50 award to the way he has set up the management of the company.

Leaving the Competition Following in their Tyre Tracks

A familiar name in the Enterprise 50 list over the last seven years, Binter & Co Pte Ltd has progressively risen in the rankings, this year achieving a place in the top ten. Now in its third generation, this family-owned business continues to innovate with Mr Marcus Lim in the driving seat.

Putting People First

To say it hasn't always been smooth sailing for G Link is somewhat of an understatement. But this locally based logistics company has weathered the storm and grown to become a formidable player in the 3PL business, with 20 offices in nine countries. Its secret? People always come first

The Green Way to Success

Greenpac's unconventional business thinking has brought accolades and awards. It has won the E50 award for two years, and CEO, Ms Susan Chong was named the Top Entrepreneur of the Year in 2008.

Becoming their best with IPM

Overall, using the SCOPE IP™ diagnostic tool has helped McCraic become a stronger business.