Jaya Tiasa Holdings Berhad
Branching out Jaya Tiasa are one of Malaysia's fastest growing oil palm players Writer Matt Bone Project Manager Tom Cullum Jaya Tiasa Holdings Berhad is a company listed on the Main Board of Bursa Securities Berhad, with a market capitalisation exceeding RM2.5 billion. The Group started off as a downstream wood processing company in Tanjong Ensurai, Sarawak in 1983. By 1994, Jaya Tiasa had constructed another four processing mills and proceeded to open them. Dato' Wong Sie Young, CEO of Jaya Tiasa, outlines how the Group have grown over the last 12 years: "Our timber processing operations have grown significantly over the years. In 2002, we diversified into the oil palm business. Our first Crude Palm Oil (CPO) mill commenced operation in 2009. Today, we are one of Sarawak's leading oil palm players with an estimated plantable area of about 70,900 hectares, as well as being one of Malaysia's foremost fully integrated timber producers, with access to over 1.76 million acres of timber concessions and an annual turnover of more than RM1 billion." As of May 2014, the Group have a workforce of about 4,500 employees who have a diverse mixture of backgrounds, experiences and expertise across its operations. To meet future challenges, remain competitive and ensure continued growth of their business, Jaya Tiasa strive to be an attractive employer with the ability to recruit, develop and retain the best people. "We develop our employees through training and education, respect individual integrity and human rights, offer fair pay and advancement opportunities and maintain a safe and…
SMC Food 21
Powder-Perfect Manufacturing With expansion on the cards, SMC Food 21 are working to achieve more efficient production of their powder based products Writer Emily Jarvis Project manager Callum Philp Established in 1999, SMC Food 21 Pte Ltd manufacture and expertly blend sugar, milk and cocoa powders for major markets in Japan, Korea, Indonesia and India, supplying some of the top companies in Japan. The abbreviated name stems from the three key ingredients that they process: Sugar, Milk and Cocoa (SMC), with the 21 standing for the 21st Century. Other products in their repertoire include ingredients for the confectionary, ice cream, beverages, bakery and sauce industries to name but a few. With an aim to provide customers with excellent service by supplying quality products and just-in-time delivery at competitive prices, SMC are proud to produce a large selection of honest food goods. Managing Director, My Cheng, told Asia Outlook how the company's mission - "quality Blends for quality Customers" – runs through the very veins of SMC: "As we supply to multinationals, it is crucial that we maintain good relationships with our major suppliers of sugar, milk and cocoa. As a result, we are able to source raw materials from all over the world, with a continued focus on quality for all our customers." With factories in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, SMC are able to produce their goods in the best geographical location possible and are therefore placed to become a very competitive supplier. Currently, the company process 100,000 tonnes of preparations, with a hope to reach…
Accesstech Engineering Singapore
Access all areas Accesstech have the expertise to perform prominent engineering construction ranging from pharmaceutical, biomedical, electronics and aerospace to name but a few Writer Matt Bone Project manager Tom Cullum Accesstech began as a tool and kit company primarily working on small installations. Through an effective and professional approach, the company have seen steady growth in both business size and project portfolio. Accesstech now specialise in working with high-tech companies, including industrial and factory engineering and office buildings for Fortune-500 companies. Founded in 1998 in Singapore, Accesstech have been expanding their expertise into various projects including luxury hotels and commercial properties. The company is ISO 9001, ISO 14000 and OHSAS 18001 certified. Roy Low, CEO of Accesstech, has seen the demand for the company's expertise grow steadily and believes that Accesstech are well placed to meet the growing and ever-changing needs of the industry. "We have been in business for the last 16 years and the industry has changed a lot since then. Singapore used to be a manufacturing hub for plating, stamping plants and wafer fabs. These days, data centre, R&D facilities and biomedical science dominate the scene. Companies now want state-of-the-art equipment and services that can be technically demanding in engineering terms. We have grown and adapted our business practices, so that we can offer a service that will always be flexible and fully functional - to the highest level - which always meets the clients' requirements," Mr Low surmises. Prestigious Projects The last 12 months have been positive for Accesstech. The company…
EDMI Meters
The future of smart metering solutions EDMI Limited is one of the leading smart metering solutions providers in the world Writer Matt Bone Project Manager Donovan Smith For more than 30 years, energy companies all over the world have relied on EDMI to deliver the flexibility and reliability they need and the innovative solutions they demand. EDMI's experience, a proven track record, and having installed millions of EDMI multi-functional smart meters installed globally, mean that EDMI's products have met and exceeded clients' expectations that led them to become a global energy solution leader. Founded in Australia in 1978, the company have been based in Singapore since 1997. EDMI have grown to 20 offices globally spreading throughout the region of Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe and Australasia. EDMI CEO Lee Kwang Mong is very pleased with just how far the company have come in recent years: "When you look at the progress the company have made over the last 5 years, you can see just how successful we have been. We have seen our meters become commonplace across Asia and now they are a staple product in the European markets, especially in the UK, where we have seen strong sales, which continue to grow monthly." A Smart Solution A smart meter is an electronic device that records consumption of electric energy at intervals and is able to communicate with a central system. This secure communication is two-way: the meter provides information to the central "head-end" for monitoring and billing purposes, but it is also possible to perform…
Beyonics Technology
Beyond Manufacturing Beyonics Technology Limited is a leading provider of advanced contract manufacturing services for Original Equipment Manufacturers worldwide Writer Matt Bone Project Manager Tom Cullum Founded in 1981, Beyonics Technology Limited is a Singapore-based leading provider of advanced contract manufacturing services to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMS). The company provides manufacturing services to OEMS in the Automotive, Industrial, Medical and Data Storage segments and are a leading supplier of precision machined and stamped parts for the Automotive, Industrial and Data Storage industries. Beyonics Technology Limited aims to grow strategic manufacturing partnerships with its portfolio of world-class, leading-edge customers. This will be achieved through its supply chain leadership, vertically integrated operations and strong customer focus led by a dedicated and motivated management team. In 2013, Beyonics was ranked 17th in The MMI Top 50 EMS Providers. Manufacturing Market Insiders rank providers based on 2013 sales in US dollars. This is a huge achievement for the company as they have been globally recognised as one of the top electronics manufacturing services providers. Engaging the Market Michael Ng, CEO of Beyonics, is very much aware of the competition faced by the company in the Asian manufacturing markets, but believes engaging customers from the onset of design through to the commercialisation process is key to standing out from the crowd: "Competition in the manufacturing markets in Asia and especially in Singapore has been very tough. We strongly believe that by engaging our clients throughout the commercialisation process, we can garner a much greater insight into their thoughts and ideas and…
Liebherr Singapore
Asia's Aerospace Artisans Liebherr-Singapore are proving that cost effective solutions and high quality services are the key to success Writer Matt Bone Project Manager James Mitchell Liebherr-Singapore started out as a representative office for ship and offshore cranes in 1985. In 1994, the company expanded their sales and after-sales services with a bigger diversity and range of products including earthmoving equipment, crawler cranes, tower cranes, mobile cranes and port equipment. In 1995, Liebherr-Singapore added an aerospace division to repair Liebherr aerospace components which is already in use by several companies. By the middle of 1998, Liebherr had added refrigerators and freezers to their sales portfolio. Currently, the company have more than 230 staff who are housed in a prominent five-story building close to downtown Singapore, enabling them to be close to their customers in the heart of Singapore. Albert Chua, Liebherr-Singapore's Managing Director, commented on the company's steady but positive growth: "Business has increased steadily, from a turnover of €40m in 2004 to €150m today. This is down to the timely and cost-effective solutions we provide for the customer and our constant evaluation of our core services and business structure." A Busy Year Liebherr have had a very successful and productive 12 months. Each division of the company has developed and established a positive business model and made encouraging market strides in their respective industries, ensuring the name Liebherr is the first name mentioned for its crane services. One such division of the company really excelling has been mobile cranes, where sales of the product have…
Lian Beng Construction
Home-Grown Construction Giants With its current growth strategy, Lian Beng are geared to become the largest home-grown Singapore construction group Writer Matt Bone Project Manager James Mitchell Established in 1973, Lian Beng group is one of Singapore's major home-grown building construction groups with integrated civil engineering and construction support service capabilities. The group is principally involved in the construction of residential, industrial and commercial projects and civil engineering projects as a main contractor. the company originally started with 5 supervisory staff and 20 general workers, and now have more than 400 workers with an annual revenue of about half a billion Singapore dollars. Jeffery Teo, Construction Director of the company, said of the company's diverse portfolio: "we are primarily a main contractor for general construction work, with a BCA grade a1 rating. Our construction support services also serve third parties such as other construction companies. Apart from construction, we also engage in property development, mostly through joint ventures." Lian Beng's status with the Building and construction authority (BCA) as an a1 grade contractor in general Building enables it to tender for public sector building projects of unlimited contract value, while its a2 grade in civil Engineering allows it to handle engineering projects of up to $85 million in contract value. Through its years of experience and solid track record, the group has also established a solid reputation for its ability to handle large-scale and complex projects. More Than Construction Lian Beng are an integrated construction group, with an extensive and comprehensive set of construction support service…
PacificLight Power
Electrifying the competition With their brand new state-of-the-art electricity power plant, PacificLight Power Pte Ltd, together with its retail arm PacificLight Energy Pte Ltd, are in the process of securing a bigger customer base and the brand recognition they deserve Writer Emily Jarvis Project manager Ben Wigger PacificLight Power Pte Ltd is an electricity power generation company that owns and operates an 800MW Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) plant with an investment value of over SGD$1.2bn. "We have one of the most efficient combined cycle plants operating in Singapore and this has enabled us to compete effectively in the liberalised electricity market," explained Yu Tat Ming, the CEO of PacificLight Power. The plant, located on Jurong Island in Singapore, is one of the highest efficiency plants in the region. Critical to the plant's operation is a continuous supply of fuel, namely natural gas. PacificLight Power has a long term fuel supply arrangement with BG Singapore Gas Marketing Pte Ltd for its supply of LNG and is currently the largest consumer of LNG in Singapore. BG delivers LNG to the recently built LNG terminal that is operated by Singapore LNG Corporation Pte Ltd. The terminal was completed in May 2013 and to date the supply chain has worked seamlessly. "Having a reliable and proven fuel supply from BG gives us comfort that the supply chain will remain strong." PacificLight Energy Pte Ltd is a licensed electricity retailer selling electricity to eligible consumers in Singapore. Currently, any non-residential consumer whose consumption is at least 10,000 kWh per month…
India International Insurance
The Ayes have it India International Insurance celebrates 25 years of underwriting and maintaining a superb claims record Writer Emily Jarvis Project manager Sheridan Halls India International Insurance, or III was incorporated in Singapore in November 1987, by amalgamating the four Indian state run Non-Life Insurance companies, which were operating independently in Singapore for decades. In his in-depth interview with us, CE and MD of III, Mr Ravindra Kumar stated that "this was certainly a more sound and viable option to pool resources to create a robust unit with a strong market presence." III is now owned by the five Indian Government-run General Insurance companies, namely GIC Re, New India Assurance, National Insurance, Oriental Insurance and United India Insurance, and continues to grow from strength to strength. A quarter of a century later, the company is exploring new avenues to cater to the ever-changing Insurance market environment. Kumar states that they are "evolving to stay ahead of the competition." Financial Strengths Kumar emphasises that "our main financial strength is that we have been rated by Standards & Poor as A-with a stable outlook. For the past few years, this achievement has provided us with the much needed market edge over our competitors." III has a very strong Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) of 300, which is much higher than the regulatory requirement. Today, III's total assets are valued at S$700 million, with a shareholder's fund of over S$300 million and investible funds of about S$650 million. A History of Success Over the last few years, III have…
M&W Group
Centennial Anniversary Marks a Continued One-Stop Service M+W Group recently celebrated 100 years of providing technology-related construction solutions for international clients Writer Emily Jarvis Project manager James Mitchell M+W Group is the leading global engineering, construction and project management company in the fields of advanced technology facilities, life science and chemicals, energy and environment technologies and high tech infrastructure. From concept development to turnkey services, the company manages projects of all sizes ensuring rapid realisation, high quality standards and cost-effective completion. With its competence to link process and automation technologies and complex facilities to integrated solutions, M+W Group primarily focuses on leading companies in the fields of electronics, photovoltaics, life science, chemicals, energy, automotive, security, IT and telecoms, as well as research institutes and universities. 2012 was an excellent year for the company, generating an order intake of €3.58billion and a revenue stream of €2.38billion, in addition to celebrating its 100th anniversary; growing from a small outlet in Germany, into a major international player. M+W Thailand are a significant player in M+W Group. They are a major global international company providing a full range of consultancy services; from project inception through to concept design, site selection detail design, specialised processed designs, construction management, testing and commissioning. Asia Outlook spoke to the current Operations Manager for M+W Thailand, Brian Doyle. "The true M+W way" Over the last two years, M+W Group have re-focussed the Thailand sector of the business, moving from a more localised trade towards targeting international clients in what Doyle calls the "true M+W way."…
Merx Construction
Project Management Never Looked So Good With the project management market only just emerging in Asia, Merx are always looking for ways to achieve smarter productivity Writer Matt Bone Project manager James Mitchell Merx is an independent consultancy business formed in 2001, in Singapore. Merx is a specialist project management company that also has strong competencies covering construction management, cost management and client representation. Merx provides professional services to support clients and deliver projects across the construction and real estate sectors. Merx has wholly-owned offices located in Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur and operates throughout Asia. Since 2001, Merx has gone from strength to strength. In the early days, there were many hours spent explaining to clients that their services as project managers were necessary, as this type of services was unheard of in Singapore. Over time, Merx has built up a great reputation as a reliable provider of integrated project management and client services and have become an industry leader in Asia. Some of Merx's recent clients include global companies TAG Heuer, J.P. Morgan and Porsche Design. William Forwood, Managing Director of Merx said of the company's rise to market leader: "For me, we have grown over the last few years because we remained true to our founding ethos; independent with a 100 per cent customer focus. We make sure that we maintain our integrity, passion and drive for every project we undertake no matter the size." Building on Solid Growth 2011 provided Merx with a very good financial basis from which they have…
Red Mountain Mining
Going for Gold Red Mountain Mining is a mineral exploration company focusing on the exploration for gold. The company has a portfolio of projects in the Philippines with the Batangas project being its flagship. Writer Rebecca Wigmore Project manager James Mitchell Red Mountain Mining is sitting on a goldmine. It's not often you can read such a sentence and take it literally, but in this instance, it's the truth. Jon Dugdale, the Australian CEO of this gold exploration and project acquisition firm, recently confirmed the discovery of high-grade gold in the firm's key project in Batangas. Batangas is located in the Philippines, around 200km south of Manila. "We have a resource already defined of around 400,000oz of gold grading about 2.2 per tonne." says Dugdale. At present, Red Mountain Mining is busy completing the scoping study – the first part of a feasibility study into a mine development. After this scoping study is judged complete, the company can head straight into feasibility. It's a complex process as Dugdale explains: "when you're exploring you go through a series of stages: testing the soil and the stream sediments – just as the early prospectors did – which is a process that has a moderate to low chance of success. The next stage comes when you've actually found some encouragement in the soil sampling, is to excavate trenches through the soil cover and sample mineralisation close to the surface." Recent very high grade trenching results, up to 1 ounce of gold per tonne, have got Red Mountain Mining to…
CHC Construction
The Forefront of Singapore Infrastructure Infrastructure is big business in Singapore at the moment, and CHC Construction is at the forefront of that trend. This civil engineering company was established specifically to meet Singapore's need for road infrastructure works, reinforced concrete structures, sewerage rehabilitation and even sports fields construction. Writer Chris Farnell Project manager Arron Rampling From its humble origins as a start-up company with only 10 members of staff, over the last nine years CHC Construction has grown to employ over 200 people, with a bidding capacity of up to $50 million for government contracts. However, as much as the market for infrastructure work is booming, it's also highly competitive. Fortunately, CHC Construction has been able to maintain a competitive edge by investing in new technology, the very latest equipment, and a dynamic, dedicated team, netting them contracts with Singapore Government entities as varied as LTA , PUB, HDB, JTC, URA and MOE. But to understand how they've managed this, you need to understand the company's history. CHC Construction Pte Ltd was founded in July of 2005. Originally the company was a tight-knit team of only 10 people. The outstanding levels of expansion that the company has seen in the subsequent nine years is something the company has credited to the sheer levels of perseverance and hard work they put in, seeing CHC Construction successfully navigate the worst of the global financial catastrophes of the last decade. Throughout this period they've offered a diverse range of services, including the widening, temporary diversion and permanent reinstatement…
Robinsons Land Corporation
The Lay of the Land Robinsons Land Corporation is one of the leading property developers in the Philippines, with an impressive and varied portfolio. Writer Chris Farnell Project manager Arron Rampling As Mybelle GoBio, Senior Vice President for Robinsons Residences, Luxuria and Communities of Robinsons Land Corporation explains, the company has built up an impressive reputation; "Robinsons Land Corporation is a leading and respected Philippine property developer that has a portfolio consisting of a diverse mix of developments. To-date, we have 62 residential condominium buildings, 32 subdivisions, 8 office buildings. 11 hotels and 35 shopping malls." Part of the reason Robinsons Land Corporation has become such a household name is that they cater to a wide array of potential markets. GoBio tells us, "We have four brands under our residential division. We have Robinsons Homes which was created primarily for first home buyers who prefer to live outside the urban areas. Robinsons Homes has over 21 subdivisions in the key provincial cities in the Philippines. Then there's our second brand, Robinsons Communities, which has developments typically located in close proximity to major central business districts and major transportation nodes. This is our group that offers compact and functional condominium units, catering to startup families, newly married couples, early nesters, young professionals. "Our third brand is the Robinsons Residences which offers convenient living spaces in urban centers. Our Residences projects are typically located within the major central business districts like the Bonifacio Global City, Ortigas Center, Manila City, Quezon City, Mandaluyong and Metro Cebu. Last but not…
M&W Singapore
Cutting Edge Construction & Engineering Even though M+W Group can trace its roots back over a century, there is nothing antiquated about this project management giant. Specialising in complete turnkey solutions from concept development to rapid realisation, there is no reason why it can't keep going for another 100 years. Writer Chris Farnell Project manager James Mitchell From small and humble beginnings as a heating, ventilation and air conditioning manufacturer established back in 1912, M+W Group has grown into one of the world's leading global engineering, construction and project management companies. Based in Stuttgart for the past 100 years, M+W Group specialises in the fields of advanced technology facilities, life sciences and chemicals, energy and environment as well as high tech infrastructure. Prominent research institutes and universities as well as organisations in sectors such as electronics, automotive, security, IT and telecoms heavily rely on M+W Group to provide a complete and comprehensive project management solution, from concept development to turnkey services. All the while, the company remains committed to delivering rapid realisation, high quality standards and cost-effective completion. Contributing to the company's worldwide order intake of €3.58bn in 2012 is M+W Group's Asia division, which was founded in 1991 and currently based in Singapore. Despite having divisions all over the globe, the entire organisation focuses on delivering the same standard of work in all regions and prides itself on implementing European health and safety regulations for every project it carries out. 'Enabling New Horizons' until the very end At the start of 2013, M+W Group's former…