OUR STORY
70 YEARS OF LATEX BEDDING EXCELLENCE
Our Family Business History
Our Beginnings
In 1957, our journey began when Yap Seng Chye — our family patriarch and a respected entrepreneur — provided the initial capital to establish our family’s latex foam manufacturing operations alongside Yap Keng Lian, an accountant by training. Built from humble beginnings, their entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to quality laid the foundations for generations of expertise in latex manufacturing and bedding craftsmanship.
Several years later, Yap Keng Lib joined the business after completing a BSc Chemistry (University of Leicester) & Agricultural Science degree (University Malaya) after working for several years as a regional manager for Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). As a highly educated UK trained scientist, he had an intimate knowledge of rubber technology, helping us to further refine our latex manufacturing processes and formulations.
Pictured is an original family photograph taken at our family’s Sentul Mansion in Kuala Lumpur. As the business grew, we also sought consultant guidance from notable industry figures, including Rex Townley CMG who was former Liberal party leader for Tasmania.
Photo Credit: Supplied by Yap Family Photo Archives
Pioneers of Latex Foam Manufacture
As Singapore emerged as a new industrial powerhouse in Asia, we established our second manufacturing facility within the Jurong Industrial Estate in 1967. The Jurong Industrial area was the city-state’s pioneering industrial development, spear-headed by Dr. Goh Keng Swee – whose contribution to Singapore’s economic transformation remains profound to this day.
We were sold several acres of land to develop a factory, on the basis that we would use local employment and bring our latex foam manufacturing operations to Singapore. The factory opening was personally officiated by Dr. Goh Keng Swee. For our family business, this represented more than expansion — it was a defining moment that reflected our ambition to grow alongside one of Asia’s great industrial success stories.
Photo Credit: National Archives Singapore
Four Generations of Expertise
We are a fourth-generation, fully family-owned Melbourne business with over 70 years of continuous involvement in latex bedding, spanning both latex foam and mattress manufacturing. We are proud to be industry experts who stand behind our products and remain committed to delivering the highest-quality latex bedding at honest prices, to help the most people experience the natural latex difference.
Pictured is my late grandfather, Keng Lib, my father, Kheong Gee (KG), and myself, Ethan — the author of much of the content on this website. Together, we represent three of the four generations of our family business which has been consistently involved in the latex & bedding industry starting with Yap Seng Chye in 1957.
A Timeline of Our Storied History
Founded 1957
Our journey began in Kuala Lumpur in 1957, with the establishment of our very first latex foam factory. At a time when the industry was still in its infancy, we became the first locally owned manufacturers of latex foam and helped pioneer the Dunlop latex manufacturing process in Malaysia.
What started as a passion for quality natural latex has grown into generations of manufacturing expertise — built on innovation, craftsmanship, and a deep understanding of comfort.
Video Credit: National Archives Singapore
Founded 1957
Our journey began in Kuala Lumpur in 1957, with the establishment of our very first latex foam factory. At a time when the industry was still in its infancy, we became the first Chinese-Malaysian manufacturers of latex foam and helped pioneer the Dunlop latex manufacturing process in Malaysia.
What started as a passion for quality natural latex has grown into generations of manufacturing expertise — built on innovation, craftsmanship, and a deep understanding of comfort.
1967
Building on the success of our original Kuala Lumpur operation, we expanded into Singapore with the establishment of our second latex manufacturing facility. Located within the newly developed Jurong Industrial Estate, we were proud to be among the pioneering industrial contributors helping shape Singapore’s early manufacturing economy.
Shown here is the factory’s opening ceremony in 1967, officiated by Singapore Minister of Finance, Dr. Goh Keng Swee.
Photo Credit: National Archives Singapore
At our 1967 factory opening, Dr. Goh Keng Swee emphasised the importance of developing local industry and manufacturing capability within Singapore. For latex foam, the logic was simple — without local production, natural rubber would need to be exported overseas for processing before returning as finished products, creating unnecessary cost and inefficiency. By manufacturing locally, high-quality latex bedding could become more accessible and affordable.
That philosophy became deeply embedded within our company. For almost 70 years, our mission has remained the same: making the natural latex difference accessible by delivering the highest quality bedding at the most reasonable prices possible. We continue to uphold this philosophy today by maintaining control over our manufacturing processes and sourcing our latex directly from industry-leading producers — reducing unnecessary middlemen while ensuring quality remains uncompromised.
Document Credit: National Archives Singapore
1982
In 1982, we established a state-of-the-art manufacturing hub in Perak, Malaysia, officially opened by Malaysia’s Minister for International Trade & Industry, Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz. Spanning over 8,000m², the facility integrated both latex foam and bedding manufacturing operations under one roof and was, at the time, the largest latex manufacturing facility in Asia.
Videoed is archival, colour footage of our latex manufacturing operations at our Perak facility. We controlled every stage of the value adding chain: directly interfacing with local rubber plantations, centrifuged & processed our own rubber before turning it in to latex foam cushioning for mattresses and pillows.
1989-2003
Further cementing our reputation within the industry, we proudly held the license to manufacture and market the renowned UK Dunlopillo brand mattresses and latex pillows for almost two decades, from 1988 to 2003. We built Dunlopillo to become a regional, house-hold brand.
Pictured are photos from the original ceremony of the signing contract to take on the rights to manufacture and sell Dunlopillo in 1989, and newspaper articles from 1999 detailing our operations in subsequent years.
1982
In 1982, we established a state-of-the-art manufacturing hub in Perak, Malaysia, officially opened by Malaysia’s Minister for International Trade & Industry, Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz. Spanning over 8,000m², the facility integrated both latex foam and bedding manufacturing operations under one roof and was, at the time, the largest latex manufacturing facility in Asia.
Videoed is archival, colour footage of our latex manufacturing operations at our Perak facility. We controlled every stage of the value adding chain: directly interfacing with local rubber plantations, centrifuged & processed our own rubber before turning it in to latex foam cushioning for mattresses and pillows.
1989-2003
Further cementing our reputation within the industry, we proudly held the license to manufacture and market the renowned UK Dunlopillo brand mattresses and latex pillows for almost two decades, from 1988 to 2003. We built Dunlopillo to become a regional, house-hold brand.
Pictured are photos from the original ceremony of the signing contract to take on the rights to manufacture and sell Dunlopillo in 1989, and newspaper articles from 1999 detailing our operations in subsequent years.
PRESENT DAY
Vertically integrated with the world’s best latex manufacturer to bring you the highest quality 100% natural, organic & FairTrade certified latex bedding
PRESENT DAY
Vertically integrated with the world’s best latex manufacturer to bring you the highest quality 100% natural, organic & FairTrade certified latex bedding
The Secrets to Naturally Healthy Sleep
Having 70 years of experience, we’ve unlocked the secrets to restful, naturally healthy sleep.
No pressure points & support. The ultimate mattress must delicately balance the need for pressure relief, while providing postural support. We use the right densitities of natural latex to achieve non-compromise comfort.
Thermal regulation is a key component of healthy and restful sleep. We achieve this by using natural latex, which because of its millions of connected open poreous cells is exponentially more breathable compared to polyurethane and memory foam.
No partner disturbance.
Natural latex forms an independent support system which achieves neutral spinal support without creating partner disturbance because of its point elastic properties.
Wellness & non-toxicity. Natural latex forms a hypoallergenic, dust-mite, mould and microbe resistant sleep system to ensure your wellness is enhanced while you sleep.
