Building an Empire from a Family Workshop, Latest News from Singapore

KELVIN TAN, 51
CSE Transformers

You probably don’t think much about transformers, those gray metal boxes that buzz on power lines or hide inside electrical gadgets. But without them, our modern world would grind to a halt.

These unsung heroes are the essential link between power sources and everything we plug in. And the Singapore-based company is behind many of the transformers that keep our lights on, our phones charging, and our factories running smoothly.

Mr Kelvin Tan and his 52-year-old sister Joyce are the driving force behind CSE Transformers, a local company that supplies essential equipment to some of Singapore’s biggest clubs, including the Singapore Flyer and Sentosa.

Driven by a constant desire for improvement and a passion for their craft, the siblings brought their father’s traditional transformer workshop into the 21st century, establishing CSE and greatly expanding their business.

Tell us a little about yourself and what you do. What drew you to this path?

We had actually been supporting Dad in his transformer business since 1962. But it was very old-fashioned. It wasn’t fantastic, there was little space, no computers, no design software.

We started working with him in 1996, but we realized that something had to be improved. There was some resistance to our new ideas because the OGs were very old-fashioned. So we started CSE Transformers in 2000, still under the old company name, but with new methods.

We changed the whole system, introduced more instruments, more marketing and tried to reach more people. Now we are building some of the largest transformers in Asia.

What are the biggest challenges you face in your daily work?

The hardest challenge now is to tell people that it’s not about being expensive, but that we are trying to provide them with something good.

People want cheap stuff but sometimes they don’t realize that quality matters. You pay for what you get. Our cost is always the same, we don’t compromise on quality for profit. That’s the difference.

What is the most satisfying aspect of your job?

This is a challenge. The bigger and more complex the problem, the happier I feel.

How do you think your work can contribute to improving the Singapore landscape?

Our product is something that supports everyone in Singapore and even around the world.

Transformers are everywhere. Even your home is supported by transformers. It is a product that actually serves people’s lives. Without it, nothing works.

That’s why we pride ourselves on working behind the scenes and making sure everything runs smoothly for everyone.

What is your favourite memory from Singapore?

In 2008, there was a small electrical fire in the Singapore Flyer. Everything was turned off, the system failed, and the backup was also gone. They called me because someone who saw us working in our factory recommended me to the owner.

When I got there, the conference room was full of people – contractors, consultants, TUV SUD, the owner – talking for two or three hours, but I just sat there and listened. After the meeting, the owner asked me for my opinion and I told him I had to check it out myself.

I spent all night at Flyer, climbing up and down, and understanding how they run the system. My suggestion to them, to back it up, was to build another system behind their current setup, so that if everything else failed, this system would work.

I was given a month to do this. After many long nights, I managed to do it.

When the Flyer started moving again, I just sat there by myself, watching the Flyer slowly turn, people coming in and out. It’s very iconic, very Singaporean. Something Singapore should be proud of.

What is your favourite Singaporean dish?

I eat the same thing every day. For breakfast, it’s bee hoon and eggs. In the afternoon, if I eat, it’s cha shao rou with two eggs. I go to a cafe and say “hi”, they know what I want right away. Only dinner is diverse. But my favorite meal is breakfast.

What makes you most proud about being a Singaporean?

Where in the world would you let your children or family members walk the streets at 3am?

Singapore is safe. When you walk down the street anywhere outside of Singapore, you always have the thought in your mind that something is going to happen. Singapore is transparent, easy to do business and safe. That makes me proud.

What are your hopes for Singapore?

Make our education system more holistic, not just academic. I think that will be good for the future, good for the children.