From Malaysian Startup to Global Innovator: Tatler Just Honoured Keong Chun Chieh as Gen.T 2025 Leader
15 July 2025
10 Years Ago, It Was Just One Engineer
Ten years ago, IGL Coatings started as a quiet experiment—one engineer, a blurry windscreen, and a simple goal: to build coatings that worked better and harmed less.
There was no blueprint. No roadmap. Just the belief that high-performance innovation and environmental responsibility didn’t have to be opposites.
Today, IGL Coatings is a name trusted across over 50 countries, and that original vision is now a global movement—driven by a team that never stopped pushing the limits of what was possible.
A Recognition of the Journey
In July 2025, Tatler Malaysia named IGL Coatings’ founder, Keong Chun Chieh, to its Generation T list of Leaders of Tomorrow—a regional recognition for individuals making a meaningful impact in Asia.
This wasn’t just about a person. It was a reflection of the work of the entire IGL team over the past decade. Through constant iteration, bold experiments, and an unshakable focus on product performance, IGL has grown into a force in surface protection and sustainable chemistry.
Built on Belief, Proven by Results
IGL’s early formulas were met with skepticism. The idea that coatings could be low-VOC, REACH-compliant, and still outperform competitors was a hard sell at first. But instead of taking shortcuts, the team doubled down on research and worked harder to prove their case—one test, one partner, one user at a time.
Today, that same commitment continues to fuel innovations like:
- IGL Aegis, disrupting the anti-corrosion industry across multiple sectors
- Graphene Infinite, developed with PETRONAS for stronger, longer-lasting protection
- IGL Titan, a self-disinfecting coating now used in medical environments
Culture of Iteration
Inside IGL, “done” rarely means done.
The team culture encourages circling back, tweaking, refining—often under tight constraints. Whether it’s rethinking a formula or challenging assumptions mid-meeting, this environment of relentless inquiry has become a key part of IGL’s R&D engine.
Even with limited resources, the team has built custom rigs to simulate tests like AATCC 22 for water repellency, allowing faster prototyping and smarter product decisions. This lean but bold approach is how IGL keeps its edge.e about Ecocoat KENZO here.
What’s Next
As IGL Coatings celebrates its 10th anniversary, this recognition from Tatler isn’t a capstone—it’s fuel.
The company remains focused on:
- Scaling sustainable technologies
- Expanding industrial solutions
- Strengthening Malaysia’s footprint in global innovation
From that first coating in 2015 to the launch of graphene-powered solutions in 2025, IGL Coatings is still just getting started.
For more information on Tatler Gen T, and the full list of honourees, You may read more here.
About IGL Coatings
Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Malaysia, IGL Coatings is a global leader in sustainable surface protection solutions. The company develops high-performance coatings for the automotive, industrial, marine, and commercial sectors—combining scientific innovation with environmental responsibility.
For more, visit iglcoatings.com
