Wangi Industrial is one of the pioneers and value providers of high-quality surface finishing, technical glass, precision optics and optical thin-film coating solutions.
A firm believer of the need to constantly innovate, Mr Chew Ker Yee, Vice-President of Wangi, always seeks to collaborate with customers and machines suppliers to develop new products. However, working with these groups sometimes do not yield the desired outcomes.
“A few years ago, we identified a need to develop the next generation of protective nanotechnology-based diamond-like-coating but we were turned down by a leading technology provider who was not keen to transfer the technology to us,” said Mr Chew.
Undeterred, Mr Chew approached IPI for help to in-source the critical technology and right expertise. The 24-months project facilitated by IPI led to the establishment of an in-house R&D team in Wangi for new technology developments. It has now acquired the know-how to develop and apply the specialised coating for glass and is filing patents for the process and formulation as part of its IP strategy.
According to Mr Chew, Wangi is one of only two companies in the world that has this capability in a specialised application. Wangi’s coating performance is better than their competitors as they have higher diamond content.
“Investing in R&D to innovate and develop new products has always been a big challenge for SMEs due to our limited resources and budget,” said Mr Chew. “Therefore, it is important for companies, especially the SMEs to seek external partnerships using open innovation to speed up the innovation process and improve its efficiency.”
Wangi Industrial has long been recognised for its expertise in surface finishing, technical glass, and precision optics. As a company committed to innovation, Wangi continually seeks to collaborate with both customers and machine suppliers to develop new products and maintain its competitive edge. However, these collaborative efforts do not always deliver the desired results, particularly when it comes to accessing cutting-edge technologies. A few years prior, Wangi identified a significant market need: the development of next-generation protective nanotechnology-based diamond-like coatings. Such advanced coatings would enhance the performance and durability of their products, opening new opportunities in high-value applications. Despite recognising the potential, Wangi faced a major roadblock when a leading technology provider declined to transfer the necessary technology, stalling their ambitions to innovate in this area. This setback highlighted a broader challenge faced by many SMEs—limited resources and budget constraints make it difficult to invest in R&D and independently develop breakthrough technologies. Without access to external expertise and proprietary know-how, Wangi risked falling behind competitors in a rapidly evolving industry.
IPI Singapore facilitated a 24-month project to help Wangi Industrial in-source critical nanotechnology and access the right expertise for developing advanced diamond-like coatings. By leveraging IPI's network and advisory support, Wangi was able to establish an in-house R&D team dedicated to new technology development, overcoming previous barriers to innovation. Through IPI's intervention, Wangi acquired the technical know-how required to develop and apply specialised nanotechnology-based coatings for glass. The project not only enabled Wangi to master the process but also positioned the company to file patents for both the process and formulation, strengthening its intellectual property strategy. IPI's support was instrumental in accelerating Wangi's innovation process, equipping the company with unique capabilities that set it apart from global competitors.
"A few years ago, we identified a need to develop the next generation of protective nanotechnology-based diamond-like-coating but we were turned down by a leading technology provider who was not keen to transfer the technology to us."
"Investing in R&D to innovate and develop new products has always been a big challenge for SMEs due to our limited resources and budget. Therefore, it is important for companies, especially the SMEs to seek external partnerships using open innovation to speed up the innovation process and improve its efficiency."
Wangi Industrial is one of the pioneers and value providers of high-quality surface finishing, technical glass, precision optics and optical thin-film coating solutions.