HISTORY
Natural Bleach Sdn Bhd was founded in 1994 by Dr Tan Chee Hong, who also founded the Matrix group of companies.
In 1977, Dr Tan started his first business MATRIX Sdn Bhd. This business supplied equipment to the up & coming edible-oil refining industry in Malaysia. Matrix grew to be a major supplier of refinery equipment in the region and beyond..
However, Dr Tan realized that supplying refinery equipment offered limited long-term prospects for residuals and repeat business, whereas there will always be a need for food and personal care products. He therefore looked for opportunities where he could utilize his skills in chemistry as an edge in such businesses.
Dr Tan spotted an opportunity in the market, and in 1978 founded Matrix Flavours & Fragrances Sdn Bhd (MFF), as the first locally-owned South-East Asian flavour house.
MFF has since offered tailor-made solutions for customers, locally, regionally and globally.
In 1994 the business in palm oil related products was expanded with the establishment of Matrix Oleochemicals Sdn Bhd (MOSB), to develop & manufacture specialty oleochemicals, and Natural Bleach Sdn Bhd was established to manufacture and market cost-effective natural bleaching earths.
In 1997, Dr Pat Howes joined Natural Bleach Sdn Bhd as Technical Director, strengthening the management team of Natural Bleach Sdn Bhd as company moved forward towards global markets. Dr Howes has been based in Malaysia and Singapore since 1990, serving both local and export markets.
He was formerly Process & Product Development Manager at Laporte, UK, then Technical and Sales Manager for Laporte Malaysia Sdn Bhd, and later Product Manager for Taiko Marketing Sdn Bhd, until he joined Natural Bleach Sdn Bhd.
Dr Pat Howes’ experience in adsorbents began in 1977 when he embarked on his PhD on zeolite molecular sieves. He has developed a range of adsorbents including Natural & Acid-activated Bleaching Earths, pillared clays, silicas, and a range of activated carbons, utilized in catalysis and the refining of edible and mineral oils. Dr Pat’s experience in edible oil refining dates from 1984, and covers a wide range of oils & fats. Dr Pat has written many articles on oils & fats, and presented papers at both local and international conferences.
Natural Bleach continued to grow over the years, expanding its range to include acid-activated bleaching earths, and has proved most successful with its range of activated carbon blended bleaching earth.
In 2020 Natural Bleach purchased a larger factory, at Port Klang, Malaysia, to enable an expansion of capacity for bleaching earths production to 150,000 metric tonnes per annum.
