"It all started with just the materials," recalls Cham. "I used to import the materials used for the building of armored vehicles. I was a mere supplier. With what I had, I started tinkering with a Pajero and came up with an armored unit that was tough enough to withstand bullets from an M16 rifle. One of my clients heard about it, tested it and purchased it on the spot. One client was all it took to make this business take off."
The satisfaction of that one client led Cham to explore building armored vehicles himself. And, from tending to the needs of a few, CTK went into producing armored vehicles for banking institutions. With Cham’s dedication and access to the right materials, it didn’t take long for CTK to bite off a big chunk from the local armored vehicle market. Three years after it was formally established, CTK, Inc. had already cornered 80 percent of the armored vehicle market.
In the short time that CTK had been in business, it had gained such a solid reputation that on the occasion of Pope John Paul II’s second visit to the Philippines in 1995, the company was commissioned to build the famous "Pope Mobile." Microsoft Chairman William "Bill" Gates III also chose a CTK-furnished vehicle as his official carrier when he visited the country in 1998.
Cham explained that even as CTK still accepts single, private projects, there are set limitations for the good of his clients. "You can’t just fit any vehicle with armor. There are specifications that fit vehicles and their respective power ratings and weights — and we work within those parameters. We explain the limitations of both their vehicles and the materials involved," he said.
The clients now come in droves. Most of the country’s banking institutions, for example, have fleets not just made but even managed by CTK. And this is something Cham is proud to have introduced into the local market. "Banks used to purchase fleets of armored vehicles. But these are very expensive to maintain. What we did was introduce a leasing program where we take care of the fleets for a fee. That way, the banks also get to avail of the other services of CTK," Cham said.
The total vehicle protection program that CTK offers now goes beyond vehicle armoring. CTK is also now heavily into the preparation, application and installation of other security devices made specifically for vehicles. In fact, because of the armored fleet vehicle service that the company now provides, it already has its own Central Monitoring Station that can trace a vehicle’s whereabouts in and around Metro Manila via computerized satellite links.
Best of all, CTK, Inc. has made vehicle protection accessible to just about anyone who’s willing to invest in their and their loved ones’ safety. Cham said that even mini-SUVs can now be fitted with lightweight armoring at a very reasonable price.
For further inquiries regarding CTK, Inc. and its services, e-mail: ctk@mozcom.com or check out their website at www.ctkinc.com.
