Chip Aik Celebrates 51 Years and Our Feature in The Edge Singapore SG60 Series
In July, we celebrated 51 years of Chip Aik, a milestone that marks decades of dedication, collaboration, and growth. This year, we were also honoured to have our story featured in The Edge Singapore’s SG60 Commemorative Book series, which highlights companies that have contributed to Singapore’s progress.
From Humble Beginnings
Chip Aik was founded in 1974 by my grandfather and his partners. The name 集益 (Ji Yi) comes from the idiom 集思广益, meaning to gather collective wisdom and embrace all useful ideas — a philosophy that has guided our business ever since.
For over 40 years, my mum led the company with perseverance, building a loyal customer base and establishing Chip Aik as a trusted aluminium supplier in Singapore. Her perseverance laid the foundation that we continue to build upon today.
Learning, Growing, and Innovating
I joined Chip Aik more than 10 years ago, bringing energy and experience from both government and private sectors, but with no background in the construction industry. Starting from scratch, I immersed myself in the business — listening to customers, understanding fabricators’ challenges, and learning the intricacies of the industry.
Through this hands-on approach, I realised it was equally important to truly understand our product — aluminium, its wide-ranging uses, and profile applications — in order to add meaningful value to our clients. Traditionally used for basic window and door frames, aluminium has now evolved into a versatile and highly sought-after material. Builders, architects, and designers increasingly use it in modern facades, screens, and even complex, designer facades as integral elements of architectural design in contemporary cities.
This deep product knowledge allowed us to refine our offerings, bring changes to a very traditional industry, and deliver practical, innovative solutions that meet the real needs of our clients.
Teamwork at the Heart of Chip Aik
Ten years on, I’m most proud of the team we’ve built. Each person brings their own strengths and experiences, and together we’ve grown into a close-knit team that achieves more because we support one another. That’s why team building is something we hold dear — every year, we make it a point to step away from work, spend time together, laugh, and strengthen the bonds that make us who we are.
This year, I brought the team to Jeju. Watching everyone — from sales to warehouse to accounts — interact so comfortably and warmly with one another filled me with gratitude. The closeness we share is not something that can be built overnight; it comes from years of working side by side, supporting one another, and celebrating our wins together. What touched me most were the little things — like younger colleagues quietly staying back to help older teammates on steep slopes or long stairways. These gestures speak volumes about the care and respect within the team. These are the moments that remind me how, together, we’re able to deliver better solutions for our customers.
Honouring Our Journey
As we celebrate 51 years, I am deeply grateful to my grandfather, mum, and the management teams before me for their vision, to our past and present team members for their dedication, and to our customers, suppliers, and partners for their trust and support. Their contributions have been integral to our growth and success.
Looking Ahead
As we look to the future, we remain committed to building a stronger, more sustainable Singapore. Through innovation, collaboration, and a focus on quality, we aim to continue making a positive impact on the nation’s growth for generations to come.
We are proud that our journey has been recognised in The Edge Singapore SG60 series, a meaningful reminder that our story is part of Singapore’s broader progress.
Read the full feature here: Aluminium Solutions Made Better Through Innovation – The Edge Singapore
With gratitude,
Ashlyn
(3rd Generation Management Team)
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