Managing director Ch'ng Ah Hoi said the company was focusing on its existing export markets and it hoped to capture a bigger customer base.

"The overseas market is our main focus for growth. When the earnings from the existing markets are stable, we will penetrate other countries," he said.

The company produces specialised paints and coatings, including 2K automotive refinish paint (a mixture of paint and hardener), industrial coatings for metal, plastic and coil coatings, as well as coating systems.

Evercoat's products are mainly supplied to the automobile industry, including bus and coach manufacturers, automotive workshops, as well as makers of original equipment and components, alloy rims and motorcycle plastic parts. "Due to the slow growth and small market in Malaysia, we have decided to export our products to expand our business," Ch'ng told StarBiz at the company's manufacturing plant in Puchong.

Established in 1978, the company started with only eight employees at a shop lot in Petaling Jaya.

It began as the distributor and importer of some German products, namely paints, varnishes, lacquers, pastes, distempers, synthetic finishes, enamels and paint removers.

He said that with the experience and knowledge gained over the years, the company set up a factory in Puchong and started manufacturing its own brand - Evercoat paint - in 1990.

In 2000, the company ventured into Thailand, its first export market. To meet the rising demand and shorten delivery time, Evercoat set up a plant in Thailand last August.

Today, the company has a workforce of 104 in Malaysia and more than 30 employees in Thailand.

"We plan to set up another plant overseas within five years in a country where we have captured a significant market share," he pointed out.

Ch'ng, however, said it would be a longer-term plan, as lots of studies need to be done.

"Location is an important factor that we need to consider," he said, adding some countries had low power supply so it would not be suitable to build there.

He said its overseas markets contributed 40 per cent of its revenue and the business would continue to grow.

"We are optimistic of seeing a 20-per-cent growth in exports this year," he said, adding the growing business would boost its monthly production to 150 tonnes by year-end from 120 tonnes.

Its range of products are distributed in many Asian countries, including Vietnam, Burma, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, China, Cambodia, Laos and Dubai.

With the head office in Petaling Jaya, the company also has sales and marketing offices in Johor Baru, Penang and Kuantan.

Last year, the company registered 25 million ringgit (Bt245 million) in revenue and it projects an increase of 5 million ringgit this year.

Ch'ng said Evercoat had achieved a yearly growth of 10-20 per cent over the past 20 to 30 years. "In the next five to 10 years, we foresee a stable or progressive growth."

He believed that good quality products would bring more business to the company.

The Star/ANN,

Rachael Kam, Kuala Lumpur