Silver anniversary and looking at gold!

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Singapore-based Calfarme has grown from a homegrown enterprise to a major regional manufacturing and services operator still focused on its core business of washroom hygiene.

Calfarme’s remarkable growth in the last decade can be attributed to an aggressive development strategy that resulted in a complete and cost-effective washroom product range. Its products such as toilet maintainers, soap and paper dispensers, programmable air fresheners and sanitary disposal systems can be found in washrooms in more than 20 countries.

Its founder, Paul Neo, said that the company provides a product and service package that is based on an environmental-friendly platform. “Calfarme has applied biotechnology extensively for cleaning and hygiene maintenance,” he said. “The most popular application in Calfarme’s array of offerings is the patented BioClean dispenser, which keeps toilet fixtures clean, deodorises while maintaining the drain systems clear and free-flowing.”

In its homebase of Singapore, BioClean is being widely used in major facilities such as Changi International Airport and mass rapid transit stations. Securing such businesses is no mean feat as the technical evaluations are very stringent.


Calfarme’s Bio-Clean is widely used in major facilities

Under-cutting is becoming a tool employed by many, said Neo. Though enticing to the end-users, he said that this would only result in inferior service and the customers ending up at the losing end.

To compete, Calfarme employs a policy that delivers value that exceeds customers expectations. “First we look at customers’ needs, then design a superior package that more than meets such requirements,” he said.

“That is how we maintain our competitive advantage and why we are appreciated. This has been true for the last 25 years and will continue to be so in the future,” he added. “Washroom hygiene costs may be a small part of a company’s cleaning budget, yet the results probably have the most impact.”

For Neo, it has been a challenging journey and he is looking forward to bringing the ISO-9000 certified company to even greater heights through continued innovation and strategic alliances.

He hinted of new products coming out of Calfarme’s R&D pipeline very soon. He is looking at the possibility of more marketing, as well as production, and cooperation with capable and like-minded partners.