Three Decades of Champion Fine Tooling
By Apollo Tan

Champions are not born; they are made. Champion Fine Tooling's story began more than three decades ago when Mr. Juan Tan bought his very first lathe machine in 1965. Each night, without fail, he worked on his machine at his backyard. His very first orders were rollers, shafting and screws from a textile firm. Quality was Mr. Tan's utmost concern and in almost no time, his customers increased.

Two years later, a machine shop was established. As more and more customers heard about Mr. Tan's work, the shop also grew: new machines were acquired and new employees were hired to meet the demands of a growing clientele. The company was forced to move to a bigger warehouse and the line-up of service offerings was expanded to include mould and die design as well as the manufacture of commercial and industrial parts.

The year 1981 witnessed the company's continued growth and eventual incorporation. In the same year, Mr. Tan also bought the company's first CNC lathe and machining center. The new acquisitions were both memorable and significant placing the company way ahead of its other competitors. More precision products were manufactured. And for the first time in Philippine machining history, parts with special contours and complex shapes (which were previously imported from abroad) were manufactured locally and made readily available at cheaper cost to local clients.

The company's acquisitions likewise increased over the years. A Surface grinder, cylindrical grinders, internal grinders, a wire-cut machine, EDM, a dynamic balancing machine, boring machines, gear hobbers, planers and other precision measuring equipment were just some of the new equipment which Champion obtained in order to meet the needs of an ever-progressing environment. It was around this time that Champion earned the distinction of being the biggest and most complete machine shop in the Philippines.

In 1985, Mr. Tan opened another shop under the same company. This time he ventured into the sheet metal fabrication of such products as steel pallets, adjustable shelves, stainless blowers, stainless heaters, oil coolers and stainless tanks. Despite the company's growing list of multi-faceted endeavors, it never reneged on its commitment to quality. Mr. Tan continues to believe that quality is the be-all and end-all of every service-oriented business. In line with this credo, Mr. Tan adopts an all-important corporate policy: to hire only the best and the brightest skilled professionals in the field. Champion Fine Toolings Corp., after all, needs no less than champion workers and employees. This has become the secret behind the company's success.

With the increase in the demand for semiconductor tooling which was brought about by the 1990s, Juan Tan, this time with his eldest son Aaron, ventured yet again into the new field of semiconductor tooling. Charmilles wire-cuts, Mitsubishi wirecuts and Chmer's EDM and Surface Grinders and Mitutuyo microscope were bought to manufacture precision punch and dies which include materials made from ordinary steel to carbides.

With great success in this new field, in August of 1994, Champion Fine Toolings Corp was formed. This company now works on everything from semiconductor tooling, to industrial parts fabrications and sheet metal fabrications. With better and more complex machines, the company has become more committed to quality-control thereby providing customers with better service and less lead-time.

Today, Champion Fine Tooling employs more than 80 machinists and engineers. Big companies such as Fortune Tobacco Corporation, Mitsuboshi, Philippine Air Lines, Lapu-lapu Packaging, Asia Brewery, Ram Car, Plastimer, Plastic City, and Angus Aluminum are just some of Champion's current crop of loyal customers. This only proves that the quality and reliability of our work satisfies our customer's very demanding standards.

As the world approaches the new millennium, Champion Fine Tooling, Inc. is well-prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century. It is more than able, as well, to extend its service and expertise internationally. If you would like any further information about our company and what we do, please feel free to browse through our webpage or contact us through e-mail or phone.