Britz Networks Sdn Bhd can trace its roots to the early 1990s. Initially operations focused on plantations and eventually transitioned to oleochemical distributions in the late 1990s. The company’s founder, YN Tan, a serial entrepreneur, has been trading in oleochemicals since 1998. YN Tan started by supplying stearic acids to tire manufacturers in China and subsequently established a sales and marketing office in Xiamen in 1999. Over time, he started to investigate the use of palm oleochemicals, an eco-friendly substitute to paraffin wax, as an ingredient for candle wax and eventually, approached candle manufacturers in China. In 2007, he set up a joint venture with Natural Oleochemicals to produce palm wax. Not one to rest on his laurels, YN entered another joint venture to establish a facility in Indonesia to produce palm wax and animal feed additives in 2014. Soon after, in 2017, the ambitious entrepreneur started a factory in Pasir Gudang, Johor. Now, Britz Networks processes and produces products across three key industries that the group is involved in, namely, oleochemicals, wax and animal nutrition. Naturally sourced chemicals, oleochemicals are fast gaining significance over petrochemicals for their versatility, performance, and sustainability. Oleochemicals is the foundation of the company and comprises the primary bulk of their business.
YN’s son, Tan Loon Yee, CEO of the company, points out that palm wax and animal feed additives are derivatives from the oleochemical business. Oleochemicals are essentially the main raw materials for these two business segments. Britz Networks current focus markets are oleochemicals, waxes, oils and fats, and animal nutrition additives. The company advocates for sustainable living, technical excellence, reliability, and innovation. Headquartered in Malaysia, Britz Networks proximity to raw materials allows the company to operate a smooth supply chain and serve a global network of clients and suppliers across 50 countries. “Britz Networks works as a partner to our customers and suppliers. We strive to add value to their businesses through continuous innovations in terms of products, applications and service delivery,” says Loon Yee.
Supplying the world
Britz Networks proudly exports 100% of its products to companies around the world. Oleochemicals have been the core of Britz Networks business for over 20 years and remain so today. Their products include distilled and
fractionated fatty acids, fatty alcohols, esters, methyl esters and glycerine. Britz Networks markets these products under both original manufacturers’ brands and Britz Oleochemicals. Their factory in Pasir Gudang, Malaysia possesses multiple granulation production lines to process fatty acids and fatty alcohols into beads or pastilles.
Although an SMEs, Britz Networks has invested significantly in research and development from inception. As a result, the company has many palm wax formulations, using different production methods, to meet different needs. “We’re putting a lot of effort into research and development to create value added, environmentfriendly products. Our goal is to find new uses for oleochemicals and progressively replace fossilbased materials, ” adds Loon Yee. The company’s future direction is to move towards more value-added downstream production and formulation in chemical derivatives.
Learning from his father
Loon Yee joined the company in 2006 when he graduated with a degree in chemical engineering. It was a subject that he picked out of interest as a student. However, when he graduated, it felt completely natural to join the family business and work for his father. Even before graduating, Loon Yee would accompany YN to business meetings. “He would attend to his meeting while I would eat,” recalls Loon Yee, with a laugh. In 2006, Britz Networks was located next to the Tan family house in Melaka. This meant that Loon Yee and his father only had to go next door to start work.
“During the early days, when I first joined the company, my dad would guide me on how to be a better person and on how do better at work. Dad is quite vocal. He knows my weak points i.e., what I’m not good at. Meanwhile, I know what he wants and his style. Things between us always work because our style is to sit down and discuss problems and issues,” says Loon Yee. Britz Networks grew organically over the years. YN only started hiring when he could not keep up with the paperwork. Now, the company has been in business for 20 years and has established a strong and credible reputation in its industry. Under his stewardship, Loon Yee managed to grow global demand for Britz Networks’ oleochemicals distribution, palm wax and animal feed additives. “If not for the Covid-19 pandemic, we would be travelling around the world and meeting our clients. However, this pandemic provided us with time to rest and think about our next steps,” says Loon Yee.
Britz Networks’ main product lines:
- Oleochemicals distribution is its core business. The company offers a whole range of products including distilled and fractionated fatty acids, fatty alcohols, methyl esters, fatty esters, crude and refined glycerines. Britz Networks is able to offer custom blends to meet the requirements of specific applications. The company has delivered oleochemicals to customers all over the world for more than 20 years.
- Animal nutrition focuses on production and distribution of PolyFAT® nutritional supplements. PolyFAT® nutritional supplements are the ultimate energy solutions for animals. PolyFAT® series of energy boosters enhance caloric intake, improve the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and boost the productivity of cattle, swine and poultry. Britz Networks’ products help to improve the well-being and performance of animals.
- Various kinds of waxes – palm wax and others – for candle-making, and for applications in hot melt adhesives and plastics. Britz Networks produces and supplies palm waxes from facilities in Malaysia and Indonesia. The company’s facilities and access to materials enable them to work with customers to codevelop customised formulations to meet specific technical requirements of different production processes and product types.
Their palm wax brand, Britz Wax, is well-known among the manufacturers in these regions. They have developed many wax formulations that are popular with their customers and are proud to be able to provide customised blends of palm wax and animal feed additives as well as other value-added services for their customers. Britz Networks, a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), is also renowned for its Polyfat animal feed additives and Krème cosmetic or Krème Britz food-grade emulsifiers. The main product of Britz Networks’ animal feed additives range are supplements for lactating dairy cows to improve the yield of their milk.
