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Following in their fathers’ footsteps, they bring precision engineering into the future

A younger generation of business leaders is going digital and automated

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Venga Subramaniam

Venga Subramaniam

Published Wed, Sep 14, 2022 · 03:00 PM
    • Chong Fong Engineering, which started in 1976, is now run by a second-generation leader: general manager and director Ryan Ng, who has been with the business for the past 10 years.
    • Kwan Lifeng, enterprise development manager of CKE Manufacturing, is a third-generation business leader.
    • Tan Ru-Ding is the managing director of Flexmech Engineering and chairman of Singapore Precision Engineering & Technology Association (SPETA) Generation II, a group of fellow younger generation bosses. PHOTO: DESMOND FOO, ST
    • Chong Fong Engineering, which started in 1976, is now run by a second-generation leader: general manager and director Ryan Ng, who has been with the business for the past 10 years. PHOTO: Chong Fong Engineering
    • Kwan Lifeng, enterprise development manager of CKE Manufacturing, is a third-generation business leader. PHOTO: CKE Manufacturing

    SECOND and third-generation bosses are taking Singapore’s legacy precision engineering (PE) companies into the future, helping the industry shed its old image of manual labour by adopting greater automation and digitalisation.

    Flexmech Engineering, which turns 40 in 2023, started to transform 7 years ago when Tan Ru-Ding and his brother took over from their parents. Both brothers are now managing directors.

    Previously, Flexmech’s main business was the contract manufacturing and distribution of machines and tools. Today, the company has immersed itself in conceptualising and developing new products and automation equipment for clients, said Tan.

    Singapore precision engineeringManufacturingSingapore SMEsDigitalisation

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