30 Years of Excellence:
Insights from the past. Clarity for the future.
On 24 May 2026, Hi-Tech Instruments proudly celebrated a monumental milestone—our
30th Anniversary. The momentous occasion brought together renowned academicians, industry trailblazers, and semiconductor pioneers under one roof. It was a day filled with electric excitement, nostalgic reflection, and profound gratitude for the collective ecosystem that has supported our three-decade journey in solution-specific instrumentation.
A Vibrant Awakening! (Left) Four magnificent lions stand ready at the HQ building on a bright Sunday morning. The thunderous drums symbolized a bold, dynamic leap into Hi-Tech Instruments' next chapter.
The Team Behind the Milestone. (Centre) Managing Director Mr. Tay Khoon Yang posing with his PA during the celebrations. A 30-year legacy isn't a solo journey—it is built on the shared dedication of a fantastic team.
A Sweet Welcome. (Right) A tastefully prepared box of chocolates to welcome our honoured guests. A small token of our immense gratitude for everyone celebrating this 30-year milestone with us.
A Vibrant Awakening! (Left) Four magnificent lions stand ready at the HQ building on a bright Sunday morning. The thunderous drums symbolized a bold, dynamic leap into Hi-Tech Instruments' next chapter.
The Team Behind the Milestone. (Centre) Managing Director Mr. Tay Khoon Yang posing with his PA during the celebrations. A 30-year legacy isn't a solo journey—it is built on the shared dedication of a fantastic team.
A Sweet Welcome. (Right) A tastefully prepared box of chocolates to welcome our honoured guests. A small token of our immense gratitude for everyone celebrating this 30-year milestone with us.
The Dawn of a Milestone Day: Honor & Early Arrivals
The energy of the celebration was felt early in the morning. By 9:00 AM, the arrival of esteemed and deeply dedicated academicians set an inspiring tone for the event. Though many have reached retirement age, their unyielding passion for education, lifelong mentorship, and strict punctuality shone as brightly as the legendary morning university lectures they once delivered. Their presence was a powerful reminder of the foundational knowledge that fuels our industry.
Honouring Our Foundation. An inspiring morning moment with our revered academicians. (L-R) Datuk Dr. Tan Chik Heok, Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Anuwar Ali, Managing Director Mr. Tay Khoon Yang, and Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Mohd Salleh Mohd. Yasin.
Honouring Our Foundation. An inspiring morning moment with our revered academicians. (L-R) Datuk Dr. Tan Chik Heok, Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Anuwar Ali, Managing Director Mr. Tay Khoon Yang, and Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Mohd Salleh Mohd. Yasin.
Cultivating Wisdom: The Gift of Knowledge
Among the early highlights was a profoundly intellectual moment shared among giants.
Datuk Dr. Tan Chik Heok took the stage to share a light, reflective moment regarding his newly published book, “Understanding Dao in Humanity, Principles of Wu Wei and De.” He was joined in deep camaraderie by
Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Anwar Ali, Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Mohd Salleh Mohd. Yasin and
Mr. Tay Khoon Yang—a beautiful representation of our theme, drawing timeless insights from the past to illuminate our future path.
Cultivating Wisdom. Celebrating a lifetime of knowledge and camaraderie. (L-R) Managing Director Mr. Tay Khoon Yang, Datuk Dr. Tan Chik Heok, Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Anuwar Ali, and Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Mohd Salleh Mohd. Yasin proudly holding Dr. Tan’s newly published book, “Understanding Dao in Humanity, Principles of Wu Wei and De.”
Cultivating Wisdom. Celebrating a lifetime of knowledge and camaraderie. (L-R) Managing Director Mr. Tay Khoon Yang, Datuk Dr. Tan Chik Heok, Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Anuwar Ali, and Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Mohd Salleh Mohd. Yasin proudly holding Dr. Tan’s newly published book, “Understanding Dao in Humanity, Principles of Wu Wei and De.”
A Vibrant Awakening: The Celebration Turns On!
The official festivities kicked off with a burst of undeniable synergy. Four magnificent, thunderous lions burst into the venue, their energetic performance captivating the audience. The roaring of the drums shattered the quiet of the bright Sunday morning, symbolizes a prosperous, bold, and dynamic leap into HTI’s next chapter.
A Spectrum of Success and Unity. A memorable group photo of our esteemed guests, partners, and team surrounded by the vibrant energy of the celebration. Flanking the crowd are four magnificent lions, each bringing a powerful blessing for Hi-Tech Instruments’ next chapter:
red for honour and courage,
yellow for wisdom and leadership,
blue for peace and harmony, and
orange for wealth and dynamic growth.
A Spectrum of Success and Unity. A memorable group photo of our esteemed guests, partners, and team surrounded by the vibrant energy of the celebration. Flanking the crowd are four magnificent lions, each bringing a powerful blessing for Hi-Tech Instruments’ next chapter:
red for honour and courage,
yellow for wisdom and leadership,
blue for peace and harmony, and
orange for wealth and dynamic growth.
The 30th Anniversary Address: A Journey of Grit, Partnership, and Gratitude
In an emotionally charged and inspiring address, Mr. Tay Khoon Yang (CEO of Hi-Tech Instruments) expressed the company’s heartfelt appreciation to everyone who has walked this 30-year path alongside them.
"An achievement of this scale is never a solo journey," Mr. Tay emphasized. "It is only made possible through a robust, trusted ecosystem."
He gave special recognition to the critical backbones that have secured HTI's commercial success over the decades:
"An achievement of this scale is never a solo journey," Mr. Tay emphasized. "It is only made possible through a robust, trusted ecosystem."
He gave special recognition to the critical backbones that have secured HTI's commercial success over the decades:
- Technical & Commercial Excellence: Building advanced competencies and localized support.
- Institutional Trust: Securing collateral-free banking tradelines and legal frameworks.
- Operational Fluidity: Achieving seamless logistics, robust asset/marine insurance, and complete digital traceability through advanced online ERP setups.
From Humble Beginnings to STEM Legacy
Mr. Tay touched the hearts of many by sharing his personal story—the humble beginning of a young man from a rural town traveling to the city in search of quality education and a career. He fondly noted that his younger self mirrored the very students who arrived by the busload from the
UKM Faculty of Health Sciences just last year to attend the ACSEAM Electron Microscopy training. This full-circle moment underscores HTI’s unwavering commitment to fostering the next generation of STEM talent.
Unshakeable Alliances: IONTOF & Hitachi High-Tech
Mr. Tay highlighted that HTI's industry credibility is built on deep, emotional trust rather than just legal paperwork. He paid tribute to a
30-year legacy with IONTOF, which began under the mentorship of
Prof. A. Benninghoven. This relationship evolved from a passionate professor-student dynamic into a pillar of business success.
Sven Kayser (IONTOF), who has stood by HTI through every market rise and fall since day one, made a special trip to celebrate the milestone and personally present long-service awards to dedicated staff.
Mr. Tay Khoon Yang delivering his anniversary address, utilizing a single, impactful slide to showcase HTI's milestone journey:
A 30-Year Shared Legacy. (Left) Managing Director Mr. Tay Khoon Yang alongside Sven Kayser (IonTof). This photo captures a milestone of decades in the making—a powerhouse partnership built on deep emotional trust and a shared commitment to advanced surface analysis solutions.
Advancing Micro-CT Technology. (Right) Mr. Tay Khoon Yang sharing a milestone moment with Philippe Maffioli of Scanco Medical AG. Celebrating our enduring alliance in bringing elite, high-resolution micro-computed tomography (µCT) instrumentation to regional research labs and innovators.
Mid-way through its history, approximately 16 years ago, HTI expanded its horizons by partnering with
Hitachi High-Tech Corporation. This powerhouse alliance supercharged HTI’s
Application Refinement Laboratory, bringing an elite suite of electron beam characterization tech straight to the local market's doorstep:
Stronger Together. Managing Director Mr. Tay Khoon Yang alongside Mr. Kohei Soda (GM of Hitachi High-Tech Corporation, fifth from right) and the nine-member Hitachi delegation celebrating Hi-Tech Instruments' 30th Anniversary milestone.
Mr. Tay Khoon Yang delivering his anniversary address, utilizing a single, impactful slide to showcase HTI's milestone journey:
- A Legacy Built on Trust. Mr. Tay Khoon Yang showcasing a nostalgic photo with his mentor, the late Professor A. Benninghoven. This foundational relationship sparked a 30-year partnership with IONTOF, built on deep emotional trust rather than just legal paperwork.
- Three Decades of Instrumentation Excellence. Mr. Tay Khoon Yang highlighting HTI's advanced characterization capabilities. The slide illustrates our elite suite of local market solutions, from LEIS (quantification of monolayer), TOF-SIMS (most sensitive surface science technique), high-quality lamella preparation using Triple Beam (FIB-SEM-Ar) geometry and atomic-resolution Cs-corrected TEM/STEM/SEM system for static and dynamic studies.
A 30-Year Shared Legacy. (Left) Managing Director Mr. Tay Khoon Yang alongside Sven Kayser (IonTof). This photo captures a milestone of decades in the making—a powerhouse partnership built on deep emotional trust and a shared commitment to advanced surface analysis solutions.
Advancing Micro-CT Technology. (Right) Mr. Tay Khoon Yang sharing a milestone moment with Philippe Maffioli of Scanco Medical AG. Celebrating our enduring alliance in bringing elite, high-resolution micro-computed tomography (µCT) instrumentation to regional research labs and innovators.
Mid-way through its history, approximately 16 years ago, HTI expanded its horizons by partnering with
Hitachi High-Tech Corporation. This powerhouse alliance supercharged HTI’s
Application Refinement Laboratory, bringing an elite suite of electron beam characterization tech straight to the local market's doorstep:
- Tabletop SEM & Stereoscopic VP-SEM
- Sub-nanometer Schottky FE-SEM & Ultra-high resolution Cold FE-SEM
- Cs-corrected 200kV STEM/SEM
- Argon Ion Milling systems
Stronger Together. Managing Director Mr. Tay Khoon Yang alongside Mr. Kohei Soda (GM of Hitachi High-Tech Corporation, fifth from right) and the nine-member Hitachi delegation celebrating Hi-Tech Instruments' 30th Anniversary milestone.
An Elite Gathering of Scientific Leaders
The deep gratitude was extended to the regional semiconductor titans, thin-film storage innovators, and advanced university research labs across Southeast Asia and Taiwan who have entrusted HTI with their UHV
ion beam and electron beam instrumentation needs.
In a historic first, the presidents of six major microscopy societies gathered together under one roof at the HTI headquarters to honor the celebration, representing:
The flawless, elegant execution of the entire celebration on the top management floor was spearheaded and tastefully curated by a stellar internal team: Kai Xuan, Joanna Tang, and Dr. Abby Soo.
- ACSEAM (Association of China South East Asia Microscopy)
- InaSM (Indonesian Microscopy Society)
- MSS (Microscopy Society of Singapore)
- MST (Microscopy Society of Thailand)
- MSM (Microscopy Society Malaysia)
- VBS (Vietnam Bioimaging Society)
The flawless, elegant execution of the entire celebration on the top management floor was spearheaded and tastefully curated by a stellar internal team: Kai Xuan, Joanna Tang, and Dr. Abby Soo.
Appreciations
Company founders: Heng Bak Siong and Tay Khoon Yang expressed their appreciations to renowned academicians and presidents of microscopy societies.
Honoring Our Pillars: The Long Service Awards
To close the memorable day, company founders
Heng Bak Siong and Tay Khoon Yang stepped forward to present the
30th Anniversary Long Service Awards.
These accolades were dedicated to the resilient staff members who have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the company through every industry challenge for 10 years or more. This unbreakable spirit of togetherness against all odds has built a rock-solid foundation of trust and sustainability—ensuring that Hi-Tech Instruments steps into the future with absolute clarity, ready to empower the next generation.
A Golden Milestone of Loyalty. A memorable gathering of our Long Service Award recipients holding their tokens of appreciation. Thank you for your years of dedication, shared triumphs, and for helping shape Hi-Tech Instruments into what it is today!
These accolades were dedicated to the resilient staff members who have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the company through every industry challenge for 10 years or more. This unbreakable spirit of togetherness against all odds has built a rock-solid foundation of trust and sustainability—ensuring that Hi-Tech Instruments steps into the future with absolute clarity, ready to empower the next generation.
A Golden Milestone of Loyalty. A memorable gathering of our Long Service Award recipients holding their tokens of appreciation. Thank you for your years of dedication, shared triumphs, and for helping shape Hi-Tech Instruments into what it is today!
Happy moments together
Happy and joyful moments are captured for all to remember this wonderful 30th anniversary.
Reunion
A reunion captured on memorable photo: Dr. Ng Swee Chin, Tay Khoon Yang and Datuk Dr. Tan Chik Heok with their students who worked in Hi-Tech Instruments.
Group photo
A group photo for the album.
Cheers to 30 Years and Beyond! A beautiful wide-angle memory of everyone who made our 30th Anniversary celebration so special. With our incredible team, honoured guests, and the vibrant blessing of the four festive lions standing proud at our headquarters, the best is yet to come!
Cheers to 30 Years and Beyond! A beautiful wide-angle memory of everyone who made our 30th Anniversary celebration so special. With our incredible team, honoured guests, and the vibrant blessing of the four festive lions standing proud at our headquarters, the best is yet to come!
Looking Ahead: Charting the Next 30 Years
As the echoes of the celebratory drums fade and the milestone banners are packed away, the true work of Hi-Tech Instruments’ next chapter begins. Thirty years of pioneering service have proven that our success is not merely measured by the cutting-edge instrumentation we deliver, but by the unshakeable human relationships, academic trusts, and global alliances we have nurtured along the way.
By drawing deep insights from our past, we have built a legacy of credibility, technical mastery, and structural resilience. Armed with these lessons, we step forward with absolute clarity for the future—fully prepared to empower the next generation of researchers, support the rapidly evolving semiconductor ecosystem, and remain the dependable partner of choice across Southeast Asia and Taiwan.
To our founders, our dedicated long-service staff, our esteemed academic mentors, and our world-class partners like IonTof and Hitachi High-Tech: thank you for an incredible 30 years. Together, let us continue to push the boundaries of scientific discovery and shape a brilliant tomorrow.
By drawing deep insights from our past, we have built a legacy of credibility, technical mastery, and structural resilience. Armed with these lessons, we step forward with absolute clarity for the future—fully prepared to empower the next generation of researchers, support the rapidly evolving semiconductor ecosystem, and remain the dependable partner of choice across Southeast Asia and Taiwan.
To our founders, our dedicated long-service staff, our esteemed academic mentors, and our world-class partners like IonTof and Hitachi High-Tech: thank you for an incredible 30 years. Together, let us continue to push the boundaries of scientific discovery and shape a brilliant tomorrow.
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