From crane rental to marine transport: How this third-gen leader is steering his family business up the value chain

The third-generation leader of Tiong Woon Corporation, Michael Ang, is steering the family business towards a higher value chain. Tiong Woon, recently recognized at the Singapore Corporate Awards 2026, has moved beyond its origins in crane rental and transport to include engineering and marine services. CEO Ang emphasizes that while crane rental remains their core business, the company now offers marine, transport, and engineering services to provide a more integrated solution to clients.

The company, which has 1,300 employees across Singapore and other markets, has been expanding its services into new sectors such as oil and gas, petrochemicals, data centers, semiconductors, and biopharmaceuticals. Ang, who joined the company 23 years ago, attributes the transformation to his role as the third-generation leader.

Over the past five years, Tiong Woon has focused on building an integrated model that combines heavy lift equipment with haulage and marine fleets, as well as engineering expertise. The company aims to take on more parts of a project rather than simply supplying a crane or vehicle, providing customers with a more comprehensive heavy lift solution.

To accommodate their expanding services, Tiong Woon has also increased its workforce significantly, currently employing about 1,300 people in Singapore and other markets. However, they face challenges in acquiring skilled workers, particularly in Singapore where there is a shortage of skilled tradespeople in the built environment sector.

In 2023, the company formed a strategic alliance with Mammoet, a heavy lift specialist based in the Netherlands, and acquired heavy lift, haulage, and transportation equipment to strengthen its capabilities and position in the market. The company's next stage of growth will depend not only on adding physical assets but also on building human expertise needed to handle bigger projects and new revenue streams.