20 YEARS OF TIMELESS CRAFTSMANSHIP FROM HCG
FROM simple fixtures to total housing solutions. This, in essence, was how renowned brand Hocheng Philippines Corp. has expanded its line of business over the last two decades in the country.
"HCG is a brand that stemmed from Taiwan's very own Hocheng Group, which is highly regarded for its 80-year old story of excellence and timeless craftsmanship. It is its unwavering commitment to quality and customer satisfaction over the years that allowed it to become a trusted household brand even today," explained Hocheng Philippines Corp. President Sam Chen.
Stringent production process and standards
As the demand for HCG products grew exponentially not only within greater China, but also in other countries, including the Philippines, the Taiwanese group decided to establish Hocheng Philippines Corporation in 1995 bringing the mantra of "I can live here" in the country.
"Our products, which carry the famed European technology and is admired by millions, is now fused with Filipino creativity and ingenuity," Chen explained.
At each stage of the production process in HCG's 10hectare manufacturing facility in Cavite, each product goes through rigid testing and inspection by dedicated employees to ensure global standards are complied and at the same time, provide customer satisfaction.
While in each phase of the production, from raw materials to casting, drying, glazing, firing until packing to storage, quality assurance is a serious business. To further bolster quality of the products, the QR code system was introduced in 2011 in several processes. Through process improvement, in 2015, the QR-code system now covers the entire production process. Quality is now the accountability of each of the 750-strong employees of the company.
Aside from improving production process, HCG is also keen on improving its carbon footprint through environment-friendly initiatives. For one, a heat recovery system is implemented at the firing process, reusing heat needed in other stages such as in drying. The plant is also rich in vegetation and lush greens, very far from the industrial stereotype of a manufacturing plant. Furthermore, HCG also offers products that are waterefficient.
Even until logistics, the company invests in an order-fulfillment system that ensures that products are delivered on time to the customers.
With these initiatives, customers are assured that what they have on their hands are products that are not only efficient but environmentfriendly.
CSR initiatives
In celebration of its 20th year in the country, with the theme "We Make Life Better," HCG Philippines again takes pride in contributing to the improvement of various communities by donating bathroom fixtures in different public schools in Cavite under the program HCG Cares.
"Our young students deserve a truly hygienic environment. We believe that by partnering with various communities in order to provide proper education and a hygienic environment we help students go a long way," Chen related.
The company has likewise launched a cause-related campaign in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Philippines (HFHP), wherein for every HCG selected package sold, HCG will donate P20. The said promo will run until May 2017.
Further, HCG launched last year ArchiNEXT: HCG Young Designers' Competition, a competition aimed at testing the creativity of Architecture students and instilling in them the value of coming up with sustainable designs as future builders of the country. It also provides scholarship to financially-challenged but deserving contestants.
"Through ArchiNEXT's campaign and topics, students are encouraged to design something that can be truly useful to the community. During the first year, as the country continue to suffer from strong typhoons, we challenged the students to design something that could directly benefit a community that's badly hit and damaged but typhoon or calamity and where resources are scarce," Chen said.
Expanding business
Indeed, HGC has cemented a strong footprint in the Philippines and carved its own niche in the market. And as its business continues to performs well here, HCG will be opening a 265 sqm showroom at its manufacturing plant in Cavite.
This showroom will showcase both of HCG's core products which are mostly bathroom fixtures and its new line of products as well. The plant, which produces, all of HCG's ceramic fixtures and wares, has thus become a one stop shop solution for its clients-one that offers better choices for those in need of high-quality materials.
With the combined use of state-of the-art technology and the innovativeness of its people, HCG's business has expanded from providing only bathroom fixtures as it also has in its portfolio of products the Cerabo (ceramic board), shower partitions and enclosures, kitchen system, and the EBOX home automation system.
Meanwhile, in terms of assuring customer satisfaction, HCG has a highly efficient customer service team that immediately responds to every query and inquiry. The enduser can also access a toll-free number, 1-800-10-HCG-888, for their convenience.
With the trust it has for its products, the company provides 10-year limited warranty for its ceramics, a five-year warranty for the Geberit tank fittings and a one year limited warranty for its non ceramic products and spare parts.
And in keeping with its promise to spread more "happiness and smiles" which the company claims to be fuelling them to make lives better, HCG Philippines plans to open another showroom at the Cebu IT Park in Cebu City to better cater to HCG's professional clients in the city and nearby provinces. This formed part of the company's initiatives to reach out to other markets and provide high quality products that would make their lives comfortable and convenient.
[Thus,] we work doubly hard to ensure that we provide our clients with every item that they need to make their lives very convenient," Chen concluded.