CLAYTAN GROUP

History of Claytan Group

In 1920, the late Mr. Tan Soon Heng, a native Teochew from southern province of Guangdong, China came to the then Malaya armed with the craftsmanship of a 3,000-year old tradition. He started a small cottage workshop with a few friends in Segambut, Kuala Lumpur to produce large earthen jars. Two years later, Mr. Tan decided to set up a separate business by himself in Bachang, Malacca. When clay deposits were discovered in Johor in 1935, Mr. Tan moved further south to Ayer Hitam to produce subsoil pipes and latex cups for the market in the southern region. Thus, with a small workforce to 15 persons, the Johore Pipe Company (JPC) was born.

In 1958, Mr. Tan Soon Heng passed away and his son Mr. Tan Chong Cheng took over the helm of JPC. From then for the next five decades, the Claytan Group has grown many times over under the stewardship of Mr. Tan Chong Cheng to realize the dream and vision of his late father, to be the most diversified ceramic manufacturer in Malaysia, producing a wide range of ceramic ware including vitrified clay pipes, sanitaryware, artware, hotelware, and household tableware.

MILESTONES

1920:	Claytan was established by Tan Soon Heng in Segambut, Kuala Lumpur – as a manufacturer of ceramic jars for water and rice storage.
1922:	Moved to Bachang, Malacca to setup a factory producing jars, rubber latex collection cups and sub soil pipes.
1935:	Relocated to Ayer Hitam, Johore and established the Johore Pipe Company with a workforce of 15 people and began manufacturing products for Southern Malaya.
1951:	Claytan became the first manufacturing plant in Malaya to install clay pipes.
1951:	Produced vitrified clay pipes to British Standards.
1952:	Produced sanitary ware for the Housing Trust of Malaya and the Singapore Improvement Trust.
1958:	Tan Soong Heng’s son, Tan Chong Cheng took over the helm and is now the Managing Director of Claytan Group.
1965:	Clay Industries Sdn Bhd was incorporated to strengthen Claytan’s lead in the vitreous china sanitary china sanitary ware business.
1968:	Installed the first tunnel kiln from the United Kingdom in Malaysia.
1972:	Claytan’s factory production system underwent an improvement process with the assistance of sanitary ware experts from Japan.
1974:	Claytan sent Malaysian team members to Japan for technology transfer.
1975:	Oriental Ceramic Sdn Bhd was incorporated with the co-operation of Nikko Japan to produce South East Asia’s most modern and sophisticated tableware.
1978:	Claytan established the 1st Ceramic Centre in Kuala Lumpur for product distribution and customer service.
1980:	The group started manufacturing for OEM customers in Japan.
1982:	The group started manufacturing sanitary ware for the United Kingdom.
1985:	All products under Claytan group achieved the Malaysian Standard certification.
1985:	The group started manufacturing sanitary ware for the Republic of Taiwan.
1991:	JPC – Intan was incorporated to produce the first Malaysian piper and fittings.
1993:	The group stated manufacturing for OEM customers in Australia.
1995:	Claytan Fine China Sdn Bhd was incorporated to produce a wide variety of ceramic artware.
1996:	The group was awarded the Australian Standard certification for its products and quality system.
1996:	The group participated at the Frankfurt International Tableware Exhibition in Germany.
1997:	The group started manufacturing OEM tableware for Johnson Brothers of Wedgewood Group in the United Kingdom.
1997:	Received the ISO 1992 certification for its operation and quality management system.
2000:	The group participated in the Chicago and Hong Kong tableware exhibition.
2001:	The group was awarded the Good Design Mark by the Malaysian Design Council.
2002:	Built a new R&D center to upgrade research, development and designs of sanitary ware, tableware and vitrified clay pipes
2003:	Received the ISO 9001 certification for its operation and quality system and expansion into research and development.
2003:	Installed and began the operation of the first glaze spraying robot in Malaysia.
2003:	Achieved the ASME (USA) and CSA (Canada) product standard certification.
2004:	The group manufacturer for SPODE tableware of the United Kingdom – whose history spans over 200 years.
2005:	The group installed the latest NGK shuttle kiln from Japan.
2005:	A great year for Claytan Group as its business was expended internationally – opening a new office in Indonesia.
2006:	Participated in the inaugural NATEF (National Toilet Expo and Forum).
2007:	Claytan introduced the technology and became the pioneer of fine Fireclay products. With these technologies, Clayan penetrated into the Middle East market.

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