2 days ago
Richport Technology continues to polish its surface treatment offerings
[SINGAPORE] In 1995, Teo Sang Kiam set up Richport Technology to provide supporting services for the construction industry, in which her husband had an existing business. What began as a small electroplating service provider has since become something much greater.
In 1998, during the Asian financial crisis, the construction industry was badly hit as projects were put on hold. This was the catalyst for Richport to shift into precision engineering.
This decision to pivot redefined the company's future and set it on a path of innovation.
Richport is now a leading surface treatment provider, specialising in high-value components for high-tech industries such as semiconductors, life sciences and medical devices.
Over the years, Richport secured approvals for various cutting-edge electroplating techniques. With these added capabilities, it has been able to position itself as a one-stop provider for surface treatment.
Apart from obtaining ISO certifications, it also secured key approvals from major semiconductor manufacturers.
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Richport's growth has been driven by its client-centric approach. By investing in research and co-developing solutions with clients, Richport could address their unique and often complex needs, solidifying its role as a trusted partner.
Client needs also lay behind Richport's decision to make its first overseas foray into Penang, Malaysia, in 2018.
The company saw a gap in the semiconductor supply chain between Penang and Singapore. Customers were incurring extra costs sending equipment to Singapore for electroplating, and then back to Penang.
Richport successfully replicated its production systems in Penang, trained new staff and secured approvals from key original equipment manufacturers (OEM) – cementing a place in the region's high-tech manufacturing supply chain.
It intends to expand and strengthen its regional role: supporting emerging supply chains in India, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as serving established supply chains in Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.
With the services it offers, it aims to be a vital enabler for regional fabricators.
Talent and innovation
Richport's business is founded on three pillars: technical mastery, quality assurance and a highly skilled workforce.
The company's technical capabilities blend traditional engineering and cutting-edge advancements, with a commitment to research and development.
For quality assurance, it uses smart sensors and statistical process controls to maintain the highest industry standards, even as production scales up.
Its innovation is also fuelled by partnerships, both with clients and other organisations.
Richport works closely with its clients' design engineers and R&D teams, to ensure that its offerings meet evolving industry standards and specific client needs.
Such collaboration also allows the company to address critical supply chain gaps. By embedding itself in its clients' supply chains, Richport adds value and fosters long-term relationships.
To stay at the leading edge, Richport partners educational and research institutions, such as the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology and overseas universities.
It also collaborated with Temasek Polytechnic to use robotic arms to automate polishing processes. Advanced programming was required to ensure the arms could achieve the required level of polishing, a skill that usually requires human expertise.
But of course, humans remain key to the business. As Richport director Chew Kian Zi put it: 'Good processes and quality are ultimately created and run by people.'
The company invests not just in technology but also its workforce, recognising the importance of skilled personnel. It provides process-specific and cross-functional training, to ensure operational flexibility and innovation at every level.
Strategic shifts to stay competitive
Richport's adaptability has helped it tackle challenges and stay competitive.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Richport had to remotely manage its plant in Malaysia, which at that time had only been operational for two years.
Despite the difficulties, the Malaysia team – comprising both new and experienced employees – managed to adapt quickly. In fact, the team grew from 30 to nearly 100 employees during the pandemic.
At the strategic level, Richport recognised the need to shift towards higher-value, more specialised products, to stay competitive against high-volume production hubs such as China and India.
To support this strategy of moving up the value chain, Richport embarked on a two-pronged expansion in Singapore and Penang.
A new 120,000-square-foot facility allows it to scale up its operations while also enhancing its capabilities, particularly in advanced precision cleaning for semiconductor equipment manufacturers.
The new facility, which aligns with its OEM growth plans in Singapore and Malaysia, uses the latest Industry 4.0 technologies such as robotics, real-time data analytics and process automation.
Another way that Richport is future-oriented is in its commitment to sustainable practices and reducing its environmental footprint. In water recycling projects with the national water agency PUB, Richport partners vendors to better control the release of chemicals into sewage systems. The company is also moving towards the use of solar power.
With strategic investments in advanced capabilities and a customer-centric approach, Richport aims to keep distinguishing itself as a reliable and innovative partner in the surface treatment industry.
This series is part of the Enterprise 50 Educational Project between the E50 partners and the NUS Business School. Richport Technology was among the winners in 2023. The annual E50 ranking is co-organised by The Business Times and KPMG, sponsored by OCBC Bank, and supported by Enterprise Singapore, Singapore Exchange and Singapore Business Federation.
