History

“Why Not?” “为什么不可以”

The story of Pan-United exemplifies our “why not?” tenacity in driving long-term goals and growth over more than 60 years of business.

The Youtiao Entrepreneur

Ng was forced to grow up overnight during the war.
Ng’s first taste of entrepreneurship was in hawking youtiao.
Founder Ng Kar Cheong

Founder Ng Kar Cheong’s first taste of entrepreneurship was in hawking youtiao* as a 10-year-old child in war-torn Singapore.

It was 1944. Ng’s father could not find work. The eldest of eight children, Ng used his wits to hawk youtiao on the streets, reselling the snack at 3 cents a stick. It was good money. He did well, replenishing bundles of 50 sticks at a time. The enterprising child was happy that he could help feed the family.

Born into poverty in Fujian, China, Ng’s parents and grandmother had made the long voyage to Singapore in search of a better life. Instead, he had to grow up quickly in the turmoil of the newly-independent Singapore in the 1950s.

*油條, yu char kuey, fried dough strips or the Chinese equivalent of churros

The industrious and resilient young man shrewdly ferreted opportunities, borrowing money from his mother-in-law to buy a lorry. This was to supply sacks of cement to construction sites.

But grandma had other ideas. The wise matriarch made him sell off the vehicle. She borrowed $3,000 to help seed a shipchandling business in 1958, upon which the foundation of Pan-United was built. Singapore was then on the cusp of revival as an entrepot hub. More ships were coming into port. His shipchandling business boomed in the 1960s.

Over the next six decades, Ng Kar Cheong’s pioneering spirit of tenacity, perseverance and trustworthiness continues strong in Pan-United. The strategic focus on excellent customer service remains unrelenting.

Milestones

March 9, 2022 5:33 pm
2022

  • Pan-United and Shell to jointly explore repurposing industrial waste and CO2 from Shell’s local facilities to produce CO2-mineralised & green concrete.

Artist's impression of Aqua City Photo credits: Novaland

  • FiCO Pan-United signs cooperation agreement with Novaland to provide sustainable concrete solutions from 2022 to 2024.

  • Partnership with Surbana Jurong to explore the conversion of Pan-United’s entire trucking fleet of more than 1,000 trucks to electric and hydrogen powered vehicles.
February 24, 2021 5:28 pm
2020

    • AiR Digital, a Pan-United technology subsidiary, signs an MOU with South Korea’s largest ready-mix concrete company, Eugene Corporation, to explore opportunities to adopt the AiR (Artificial Intelligence for Ready-Mix Concrete) digital platform.

2020 (1)

    • Pan-United introduces more contactless initiatives following the launch of its electronic delivery order system. These include PanU NewGen Self-Compacting Concrete and the AiM (Artificial Intelligence Mixing), in-transit concrete monitoring system. These initiatives minimise physical interaction and improve productivity at construction sites, amid the COVID pandemic.
    • Pan-United signs an MOU with industry leaders Chevron, Keppel Data Centres and Surbana Jurong to combine resources and jointly develop the first end-to-end decarbonisation process in Singapore. The low-carbon economy initiative is supported by the National Research Foundation.

2020

  • Pan-United breaks records for the biggest continuous mass pours in Singapore with two consecutive record pours of PanU Cool concrete in November for a project in Labrador area.
February 24, 2021 5:03 pm
2019

panunited_history_Milestones2019

    • Pan-United launches goTruck!, one-of-a-kind, B2B truck hailing and fleet management platform that connects construction companies and materials supplies with transporters in a seamless digital flow.
    • Pan-United rolls out the first-of its-kind electronic delivery order system for Singapore’s ready-mix concrete industry. Besides minimising administrative costs, the system can save 13 tonnes of paper annually for Pan-United.
    • Accolades: Pan-United becomes Singapore’s first concrete company to win the “SGBC-BCA Sustainability Leadership Award” under the “Leadership in Green Building Products” category, jointly conferred by the Singapore Green Building Council and the Building Construction Authority.

panunited_history_2019

  • Pan-United designs and produces a 3D-printed concrete bench using NEWSand, a material created form repurposed municipal solid waste slag, in collaboration with Singapore’s National Environment Agency.
February 24, 2021 4:49 pm
2018

2018

    • Pan-United subsidiary, Meridian Maplestar, integrates upstream into the production of cementitious (recycled) materials with a new ground granulated blast furnace slag grinding plant in Johor, Malaysia.
    • Xinghua Port Group is demerged and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

panunited_h2018-PanU x CarbonCure signing

  • Pan-United partners with Canada-based CarbonCure to use the latter’s clean technology that permanently ‘traps’ industrially-emitted carbon dioxide in the concrete mix to produce greener and stronger concrete using less cement.
February 24, 2021 4:43 pm
2017
  • Accolades: Pan-United becomes Singapore’s first concrete company to attain the national “Leader” certification form the Singapore Green Building Council for over 150 sustainable concrete products in its “Eco” and  “Green” ranges. It also wins the SEC-SETSCO Singapore Environmental Achievement Award (Manufacturing) for environmental sustainability.
February 24, 2021 4:38 pm
2016
  • Pan-United divests its tug-and-barge business.
February 24, 2021 4:35 pm
2015
  • Pan-United Concrete expands into Malaysia with its first concrete batching plant in Johor, Malaysia. Group revenues cross the S$800-million mark.
February 24, 2021 4:30 pm
2014

panunited_history_Milestones2014-Command Centre

  • A Command Centre is created to centralise and integrate Singapore-wide operations through a digitalisation strategy using advanced technologies.

     

  • Pan-United’s port arm, Xinghua Port Group, acquires neighbour port, Changshu Changjiang International Port.
February 24, 2021 4:24 pm
2012

panunited_history_Milestones2012-Innovation Centre

  • The state-of-the-art Innovation Centre opens to spearhead industry leadership in concrete innovation through cutting edge R&D.
February 24, 2021 4:22 pm
2011
  • Pan-United Concrete expands to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on the back of the strong Pan-United brand of consistent quality and reliable service.
February 24, 2021 4:20 pm
2008

panun2008-Xinghua 10th anniversary CXP album 2.6

  • Singapore’s Minister Mentor, Lee Kuan Yew, visits Changshu Xinghua Port to celebrate its 10th Anniversary.
February 24, 2021 4:19 pm
2004
  • Pan-United Shipyard is demerged and listed as Pan-United Marine Ltd. The shipyard is later acquired by Dubai Drydocks World LLC and delisted in 2007.

     

  • United Cement becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pan-United.
February 24, 2021 4:18 pm
1999

1996-enter Concrete business

  • Pan-United enters the ready-mix concrete business in Singapore.
February 24, 2021 4:15 pm
1996

panunited_history_Milestones1996-PanU Port 1

  • Phase 1 of the deepwater port in (Changshu, Jiangsu Province, China) begins operations despite the Asian Financial Crisis.
February 24, 2021 4:11 pm
1994
  • Xinghua Port Group finds an opportunity to acquire a waterfront site in Changshu, Jiangsu Province, China, to develop a greenfield port.
February 24, 2021 4:09 pm
1993

1993-SGX

  • Pan-United Corporation Ltd is listed on the main board of the Singapore Stock Exchange. Founder Ng Kar Cheong retires from the Group.
February 24, 2021 4:07 pm
1990
  • Pan-United enters the aggregate business through quarrying at Karimun Island in Indonesia’s Riau Province.

     

  • United Cement Pte Ltd is formed in a 50:50 joint venture with Kedah Cement Bhd. This is a vertical integration with the upstream aggregate business.
February 24, 2021 3:42 pm
1984
  • Pan-United expands into ship repair and shipbuilding services from a new medium-sized shipyard in Tuas.
February 24, 2021 3:41 pm
1982
  • After the demise of one of the four Hiap Soon shareholders, the others part ways. Mr Ng takes full ownership of Pan-United Shipping.
February 24, 2021 3:33 pm
1974

panunited_history_Milestones1974

  • Mr Ng seizes the opportunity to provide tug-and-barge business to transport Indonesian logs to Singapore. Pan-United Shipping Pte Ltd is created as a subsidiary of Hiap Soon to operate the vessels.
February 24, 2021 3:30 pm
1965
  • Singapore attains independence. With opportunities abounding in the growing nation, Hiap Soon extends its services to the construction industry.
February 24, 1958 3:11 pm
1958
  • Mr Ng Kar Cheong sets up shipchandler Hiap Soon & Company with three other partners, to service ships calling at Singapore port.
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Privacy Statement

Last Revised: 23 Mar 2020

This Privacy Statement is designed to assist you in understanding how we at PanU (Pan-United Corporation Ltd or the Group) and Singapore-based affiliates we own or control (we, us or our) collect, use, and/or disclose the personal data you have provided to us in accordance with the requirements of the Singapore Personal Data Protection Act (No. 26 of 2012) (“PDPA”). In this Privacy Statement, “personal data” used or mentioned shall have the meaning ascribed to it under the PDPA.

We hope that this Privacy Statement can help you make an informed decision before you provide us with the necessary personal data.

Introduction to the PDPA

“Personal Data” is defined under the PDPA as data, whether true or not, about an individual who can be identified from such data. It also applies to data and other information to which we have, or are likely to have access. Examples of personal information you may provide to us include (depending on the nature of your interaction with us) your name, identification numbers, contact information, photographs and any other information relating to either yourself or any other individuals which you have provided in any forms submitted to us or via other forms of interaction.

We will let you know why we are asking you for your personal data and obtain your consent before we collect, use or disclose, unless the processing of your personal data without your consent is permitted by the PDPA or by law.

Purposes for Collection, Use and Disclosure of Personal Data

The personal data which we collect from you may be collected, used, disclosed and/or processed for various purposes, depending on the circumstances for which we may/will need to process your personal data. The data includes but are not limited to:

(a) providing our services;
(b) responding to your queries, requests and complaints;
(c) meeting the purposes for which you have submitted the information;
(d) protecting and enforcing our contractual and legal rights and obligations;
(e) any other purpose for which we notify you at the time of obtaining your consent; and/or
(f) all other purposes related to business.

The purpose for which we may/will collect, use, disclose or process your personal data depends on the circumstances at hand. Such a purpose may not appear above. However, we will notify you of the purpose at the time of obtaining your consent, unless processing of your personal data without your consent is permitted by law or the PDPA.

You may request to access and/or correct the personal data currently in our possession or withdraw your consent for us to collect, use and/or disclose your personal data at any time by writing to our Data Protection Officer at one of the following means:

(a) Email:  dpo@panunited.com.sg
(b) Office address:  7 Temasek Boulevard
#16-01 Suntec Tower One
Singapore 038987
Attention: The Data Protection Officer

For a request to access personal data, we will provide you with the relevant personal data within a reasonable time period.

For a request to correct personal data, we will process your request, including undertaking necessary verification activities, as soon as practicable after the request has been made. We will send the corrected personal data to other organisations to which the personal data was disclosed by us within a year before the date the correction was made, unless that other organisation does not need the corrected personal data for any legal or business purpose, or if you so consent, only to specific organisations to which the personal data was disclosed by us within a year before the date the correction was made. We may also charge a reasonable fee in accordance with the requirements of the PDPA for the handling and processing of your request to access your personal data. You will be notified in advance of such costs.

For a request to withdraw consent, we will process your request within a reasonable time period. Requests for withdrawal of consent may adversely impact your relationship with us, in which case we will notify you in advance of such impact.

Disclosure of Personal Data to Third Parties

We will only share your personal details with a third party for the purposes and situations as described above, or for other purposes where we have your consent to do so.

Administration and Management of Personal Data

We will take reasonable efforts to ensure that your personal data is accurate and complete, if your personal data is likely to be used by us to make a decision that affects you, or disclosed to another organisation.

We will also take reasonable efforts to take appropriate precautions and preventive measures to ensure that your personal data is adequately protected and secured. Appropriate security arrangements will be taken to prevent any unauthorised access, collection, use, disclosure, copying, modification, leakage, loss, damage and/or alteration of your personal data. However, we cannot assume responsibility for any unauthorised use of your personal data by third parties which are wholly attributable to factors beyond our control.

We will also cease to retain personal data, as soon as it is reasonable to assume that the purpose for collection of such personal data is no longer being served by such retention, and if such retention is no longer necessary for legal or business purposes.

Where your personal data is to be transferred to a territory outside of Singapore, we will comply with the PDPA so as to ensure a standard of protection to the personal data transferred that is comparable to the protection under the PDPA.

This Privacy Statement does not apply to, and Pan-United is not responsible for, any third party websites which may be accessible through links from this website. If you follow a link to any of these third party websites, they will have their own privacy policies and you will need to check these policies before you submit any personal data to such third party websites.

Complaint Process

If you have a concern on how we are handling your personal data or about how we are complying with the PDPA, we would like to discuss it with you to understand how we can resolve the issue. Please contact us by writing to our Data Protection Officer through one of the following methods:

(a) Email:  dpo@panunited.com.sg
(b) Office address:  7 Temasek Boulevard
#16-01 Suntec Tower One
Singapore 038987
Attention: The Data Protection Officer

If you decide to write to us, please ensure the following information is included:

(a) Raising your concern speedily in a timely manner (if you wait too long, it may be difficult for us to address your concern);
(b) Your name and contact details, as we are unable to investigate an anonymous complaint;
(c) The name of the organisation you are complaining about;
(d) Explaining clearly and simply what has happened and, where appropriate, the effect it has had on you;
(e) All necessary information to help us identify your concern correctly; and
(f) What you would like us to do.

We treat such concerns seriously and will work actively with you to resolve it to the best of our abilities.

Changes to this Privacy Statement

At any time, we may modify this Privacy Statement posted on our website athttp://panunited.com.sg to reflect our current privacy practices. When we make changes to this statement, we will revise the “updated” date at the top of this page. Any changes to this Privacy Statement will apply to you and your data immediately. You are encouraged to visit our website from time to time to ensure that you are well informed of our latest policies in relation to personal data protection.

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