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Inspiration

New flagship concept store to implement green concepts

As a ceramic tile manufacturer and seller, ASA Tiles has always advocated the direction of production and operation of green buildings. In the recent upgrade and renovation of the flagship concept store in Wan Chai, we did not forget to implement the environmental protection concept and tried our best to inject more environmental protection elements into it. The green policy we implement can be roughly divided into four parts: (1) Material recycling system, (2) Light energy saving system, (3) Paperless system, (4) Daily energy saving system.

(1) Material application system
Decoration materials are undoubtedly more difficult to recover and recycle than other items. In the decoration process, we set out with the goal of "making the best use of everything," hoping to reduce the leftover and wastage from our own point of view.

Prioritize leftover materials
In the design of the floor of the flagship concept store, we used artistic cutting techniques to cut the tiles according to the design and lay them on the floor to replace part of the carpet. When selecting materials, we use the remaining tiles after cutting according to customer requirements as materials to reduce the waste of existing tiles and avoid the creation of new materials.

Computer cutting method
On the other hand, when performing artistic cutting, we use computers and machines to replace the traditional manual methods. All data are precisely calculated to ensure accurate operation and reduce unnecessary tile loss due to cutting errors.

(2) Lighting energy-saving system
We understand the importance of adequate and appropriate lighting for flagship concept stores. However, too much lighting can easily cause energy waste. Therefore, we start from different aspects to establish a complete and multi-faceted energy-saving lighting system.

Hire a lighting consultant
We have hired professional lighting consultants. During the renovation process, the consultants have been making suggestions according to our energy-saving goals and giving guidance on actual implementation, so as to bring out the greatest practical and energy efficiency.

Inject daylight
We retained the original large windows in the store and insisted not to make any changes that would affect the windows, so that natural sunlight can directly enter the store and reduce the number of electric lights that need to be used.

Use time control
From a commercial point of view, keeping the store’s transparency is indeed effective in attracting more attention. Therefore, we have added a time control function to the light switch program to ensure that the store’s lights only operate within the effective time after evaluation, and try to avoid causing Any additional energy waste should be balanced between commercial and environmental factors.

Lighting control
It is worth mentioning that we have set up a dedicated lighting system in the customer mock-up area, which can change the color temperature and luminosity of the location according to needs. We hope that through this move, we will provide lighting that is closest to the actual living environment of customers, so that they can effectively make the best choice when purchasing tiles, and reduce the waste of tiles due to actual drop after purchase.

(3) Paperless system
The display and promotion of ceramic tiles need to contain a lot of information. We change the habit of using traditional printing materials and try to use non-disposable methods and electronic means to display and transmit product information.

Non-disposable
There are multiple large light boxes in the store to replace the flyers and brochures used in the past to clearly display the characteristics and information of different product series; the promotion of the brand concept and non-product information are shown on the TV screen in the store in video format .

Electronic route
The product catalogue contains comprehensive information on all products. We continue to update and design the old and new catalogues. However, the traditional printed version is banned in electronic version and transmitted to customers in electronic form, reducing the use of paper.

(4) Daily energy saving system
In the daily operation details, we have put into practice the environmental protection concept, and put together the general direction of protecting the environment with every small step.

Refuse to use paper cups
We do not use paper cups as a substitute for ceramic cups. When entertaining customers, we always use ceramic cups as vessels for serving drinks to reduce the use of disposable items.

Participate in the "City Water Fighting Project"
As a member of the "City Water Fighting Project", everyone can enjoy free water pouring service in our flagship concept store. We hope to do more to reduce the amount of bottled water people buy.

ASA Tiles will continue to work hard, consistently, and strive to become a member of the promotion of environmentally sustainable development.

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Inspiration

The ultimate in artistic cutting

Unbounded by the frame of tiles. Personalise your tiles with Artistic Cutting.
The artistic cutting of ceramic tiles has infinite possibilities, and is not restricted by any size, line, or style.
Whether you want to use ceramic tiles to create artwork as small as 2mm, as large as 2.4m, or with detailed and complex lines, it can all come true.

3D craftsmanship

Simple and delicate three-dimensional lines,
Art like a relief.

3D collage

Using different tile materials,
Shapes and angles to create a sense of hierarchy,
Show lifelike three-dimensional feeling.

Playful texture

Under the matching between ceramic tiles and copper sheets,
Form the contrast between the texture of the material,
Playful and modern.

Cut shallow

Only make a shallow cut on a ceramic tile to form an indentation,
Preserve the integrity of the tiles.

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All About Tiles

Tile Classroom Vol.5 - What Causes Tiles Popping?

The cold current hits Hong Kong, and every time the temperature drops sharply, the tiles in the home will have the problem of "bursting bricks". To avoid unnecessary troubles, we must first understand the reasons.

First of all, ceramic tiles are high-density materials and also have a certain degree of toughness, which can cope with cold shrinkage and thermal expansion caused by temperature differences. The bursting and uplifting of ceramic tiles is mainly related to the physical phenomena of thermal expansion and contraction. When decorating, the laying method of tiles also affects the degree of cold shrinkage and thermal expansion.

Several reasons for "Broken Bricks":

1. Hollow brick
When ceramic tiles are installed, if there is space on the contact surface between the clay or adhesive and the ceramic tiles, a situation commonly known as "hollow drum" or "hollow brick" will appear, and moisture will easily accumulate in the space. According to American standards, when installing indoor tiles, the plane contact area should be 80% or more. Because cement and ceramic tiles have different degrees of cold shrinkage and thermal expansion, and the air trapped in the brick makes the temperature inside the brick drop more slowly than the temperature outside the brick, when there is a large temperature difference, there is a chance of "brick burst".

2. Adhesive
When the indoor temperature difference is too large, the physical phenomenon of thermal expansion and contraction has the opportunity to break the cement mortar that has the effect of bonding, making the tiles easier to fall off. In the ceramic tile installation process, since the cement mortar needs to be prepared manually, the manual will affect the adhesion of the adhesive. If the mortar with high durability and adhesion is selected, it is an extra guarantee. The Asian adhesive bonding agent has been blended with the best ratio of mortar, and the tiles can be easily bonded by following the simple instructions to avoid the impact of manual deployment. Asia's adhesive has high flexibility and aging resistance, can avoid the problem of breaking due to thermal expansion and contraction, and the waterproof function can make the adhesion more durable. In addition, Asia's adhesive has passed international tensile tests to ensure its bonding performance.

For large tiles, the adhesive strength is even more of a challenge. It is recommended to use Asiatic backing glue when laying large tiles, and apply it directly on the back of the tile to improve the bonding strength and density between the tile and the adhesive, which can solve the common problems of hollowing and insufficient adhesion.

3. The seam is too narrow
The seams between tiles can help solve size errors and construction errors, and improve construction flexibility during installation. Sometimes, for the sake of beauty or to avoid the accumulation of dirt in the gaps, seamless or close-joined paving methods are adopted. If there is not enough space reserved to cope with the cold shrinkage and thermal expansion of the tiles, "brick bursts" will occur.

Generally, a gap of 1-2 mm is sufficient for ordinary tiles to cope with the temperature difference when laying tiles. If you want to prevent "bricks from exploding" while also taking into account the beauty or ease of cleaning, when buying floor tiles, you can choose tiles with good pressure resistance. The better linear expansion coefficient of PuriTiles Plus series tiles affects the ratio of thermal expansion and contraction, allowing the gap between tiles to be less than 0.5mm, achieving the effect of close seam bonding. As a new generation of healthy tiles, PuriTiles Plus also has anion antibacterial, anti-mildew and formaldehyde removal functions.

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All About Tiles

Tile Classroom Vol.4 - Antibacterial Tiles

ASA Tiles_anti-bacteria_blog-4.1

一般細菌每20分鐘就會繁殖倍增一次,在最佳環境下,只需要10小時, 就可繁殖超過10億個。家居污跡加上香港潮濕氣候,牆身及地板容易變成細菌溫床。當中浴室,廚房更是病菌油煙的重災區。就算每日清潔,也無法長遠地解決肉眼看不見的細菌滋生。當霉菌,污垢匿藏於瓷磚內,助長細菌滋生,便會影響健康。因而,不如從源頭解決,由裝修時挑選瓷磚入手﹕

1. 抗菌功能
抗菌表現往往難以目視,要有效抑制細菌和真菌的生長和繁殖,最好選用通過國際級ASTM G22-76測試的瓷磚。透過證書可以確認瓷磚的抗菌能力。

理想的抗菌瓷磚可抵抗幾款常見的病菌﹕
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (綠膿桿菌)
Staphylococcus aureus (金黃葡萄球菌)
Candida albicans (白念珠菌)
Escherichia coli (大腸桿菌)

2. 淨化甲醛
新裝修總會殘留甲醛,長時間吸入會影響健康。甲醛是一種天然存在的有機化合物,無色無味,難以察覺。抗菌瓷磚能有效釋放負離子,透過吸附、聚集、分解的原理淨化甲醛,而且淨化率高達70%。

香港潮濕一直困擾各個家居,一到夏天,不少人家中的浴室牆磚、地磚總是濕漉漉,成為細菌滋生的最佳環境。裝修時由物料開始解決細菌問題,預防勝於治療,選用合格的抗菌瓷磚配合日常清潔就可以安寢無憂。

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All About Tiles

Tile Classroom Vol.3 - Anti-Slip Tiles

In recent years, bathroom accidents have frequently occurred. To prevent the elderly from slipping and getting injured in the bathroom, the non-slip tiles must not be sloppy when decorating.

Ceramic tiles that meet the standard must undergo a slip resistance test by an accredited laboratory. The German standard DIN51130 is the most common on the market in Hong Kong. The ideal non-slip tile should perform its best function in wet and dry conditions.

ASA Tiles_Anti-slip_blog-3.1

Anti-slip level
The DIN 51130 slip resistance is achieved by putting on safety shoes, the tester stands on the lubricated test material, and then calculates at which inclination angle the tester starts to slide.

R9-R11 are sufficient for general household applications, R12-R13 are mainly used for outdoor and special space applications, applications with different slip resistance:

Anti-slip certification
There is no proof of slip resistance for ordinary ceramic tiles on the market, especially polished tiles. If you want to use polished tiles with full sense of light to make the floor of the hall, it is easy to ignore the anti-slip function while pursuing aesthetics. For safety reasons, polished tiles with qualified non-slip certificates should be selected. The Asian floor tiles are certified by the Hong Kong laboratory and have the most basic R9 anti-slip grade.

The non-slip tiles commonly used on wet floors are matte. Although they have a certain anti-slip function, they lose a bit of natural and soft light under the light, and their reflectivity is relatively low. The pursuit of non-slip will sacrifice aesthetics and ease of cleaning, especially if the bathroom is wet, there is a chance that bacteria will grow more easily.

So to strike a balance between the two, you can consider soft-gloss tiles, which not only have R10 anti-slip grade, but also retain the natural light feel of the smooth surface.55 degree soft lightIt is Asia's first technology that combines the advantages of polishing and matte, but also makes up for the shortcomings of both, and meets customers' requirements for non-slip and the pursuit of beauty.

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All About Tiles

Tile Classroom Vol.2 - How To Choose Tiles

Are you concerned about the decoration? Let us tell you to choose suitable materials to solve problems.

Choosing tiles for the right design and decoration is sometimes challenging. To place the correct tiles in certain locations depending on the design concept would increase the tiles value in terms of the decoration looks.

Now let’s talk about how to choose tiles for "living room", "kitchen" and "bathroom":

The living room is usually the most aesthetic part of the house, and the floor tiles can be slender.
ChoosingTimber Tiles, with the warm feeling of imitation wood plus the extension along the grain, add a sense of spaciousness.
You can choose a large size ofMarble tiles, to make it look luxurious.

2. The kitchen wall design could have various tiles in it. A stylist kitchen will improve your mood to spend time cooking delicious dishes.
Sometimes cleaning the kitchen is hard because smoke or oil stains are involved and dirt there would grow some bacteria.
Therefore,Antibacterial Tilesis the best choice for kitchen wall decoration. It is smooth, easy to clean and stylish.

3. Bathroom is a private space and we should pay more attention to the flooring. For bathroom decoration, using tiles with safety and slip resistance is recommended. The bathroom floor is more likely to be exposed to water, so high-slip tiles are applicable and look best with R10-R11 effects. The floor of the shower area should have anti-skid safety to ensure it is safe for everyone that uses it.

In conclusion, applying the high-density ceramic tiles on the floor and walls can prevent mold to a certain extent.Antibacterial Tilescan prevent bacteria and mildew more comprehensively and is more suitable for humid and coastal areas.

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All About Tiles

Ensuring Household From The Root: A Deep Dive Into Antibacterial Tiles

Due to the environment and weather, many Hong Kong people find it difficult to keep their homes dry. When choosing tiles and other building materials, products with antibacterial and mildew resistant functions should be considered. Since it is quite durable, it can also serve as the first protection for your family’s health.

Fighting The Unseen Foe

Take the common mold at home as an example. Due to its small size, it is difficult to clean it away completely. Moist bathrooms and toilets often become hard-hit areas where molds are raging. The mold releases allergic substances, which fly away with the air, enter the body from the nasal cavity, and then follow the respiratory tract to the lungs to stay, causing allergies, asthma, and causing minor physical problems.

Photo from Medical Inspire

港怡醫院呼吸系統科名譽顧問醫生溫志堅醫生受訪時表示:「 如果病人本身已有鼻敏感或氣管敏感的情況,突然接觸大量塵蟎、霉菌等家居常見致敏原,會令他們本身的敏感情況更嚴重。」現時市面上亦出現各種防霉易潔油漆或抗菌地板瓷磚。溫醫生表示:「每日清潔依然非常重要,而防霉易潔油漆或抗菌地板瓷磚等,對於改善家居空氣和抗菌防霉具一定幫助。」

Photo from shutterstock

Antibacterial and mildew-proof wall and floor tiles

Diligent cleaning is important, but if you want to get better results without too much effort we need to change from the source. Traditional solid wood floors are susceptible to dampness, mildew and could cause thermal expansion. It could cause a gap between floors, which dirts easy to hide in and grow bacteria. The ceramic tiles with the new OXYTECH antibacterial technology continuously release negative ions and effectively inhibit the growth of bacteria on the surface of the tile. It is compact and hard as it burned at a hot temperature and slow-burning of 1,250 degrees. Under high-density conditions, the water absorption rate is less than 0.1%. Effectively resist moisture, anti-bacterial, and anti-mildew.

1) 淨化空氣除甲醛
Furniture, wood, paint, viscose, etc. that you encounter every day have the chance to be indoor pollution sources, which will continuously release free formaldehyde and toluene. Especially after the decoration of new houses, the excessive formaldehyde situation is even more serious. The test proves that OXY TECH antibacterial technology can purify formaldehyde and toluene in the air and keep indoor air fresh for a long time.

Photo from shutterstock

2) 抑制細菌、真菌的生長和繁殖
Tile cleaning is often a tricky part of household hygiene. Ordinary cleaning is difficult to remove the dirt in the narrow gaps of the tiles, which only affects the growth of bacteria and health. The seam between most tiles on the market is 2mm. The latest research and innovation of OXY TECH's anti-bacterial technology-"dense seam paving" can reduce the seam between tiles to only 0.5mm, effectively reducing the accumulation of bacteria. space. In addition, as the gaps on the surface of the tiles become smaller, there is nowhere to absorb dirt, which enhances the anti-fouling and easy-to-clean effect. The ceramic tiles of OXY TECH antibacterial technology have proved to have an antibacterial rate of 99%*, and an antibacterial rate of Escherichia coli as high as 90%.

3) 減少霉菌滋生
The damp problem in Hong Kong has always plagued all homes. Especially in summer, the bathroom walls and floor tiles in many people's homes are always wet. They are prone to mold, and sometimes smelly. OXYTECH antibacterial technology ceramic tiles have the advantage of high density, and the water absorption rate can be lower than 0.1%, which can help reduce the growth of mold and reduce troubles caused by dampness.

OXY TECH Tiles Test

The editor conducts a series of tests to understand the effectiveness of OXY TECH technology. The tests will compare the water absorption, stain resistance, hardness, and fire resistance of the tiles.

1. Water absorption
The weather in Hong Kong is humid. For example, ceramic tiles with lower water absorption rates are used indoors, which are denser, not easy to expand, and are more effective in blocking moisture and reducing mold. The editor first prepares an ordinary tile and an OXY TECH tile and then places the two tiles in the blue water agent for 24 hours to test their water absorption capacity.

Photo from Medical Inspire

After one day, the water level of ordinary tiles was significantly lower than that of OXY TECH tiles, which shows that ordinary tiles have a higher water absorption rate.

Photo from Medical Inspire

2. Ease of cleaning
In addition to mold, stubborn stains such as kitchen oil stains are critical issues in daily cleaning. The editor splashed the old and new soy oil stains on the OXY TECH tiles, then wiped it with a rag, and found that the soy oil stains had been wiped away without leaving any traces, and the stain resistance was extremely high.

Photo from Medical Inspire
Photo from Medical Inspire
Photo from Medical Inspire

3/ Fireproof
OXY TECH tiles are made by slow-burning at a hot temperature of 1,250 degrees. The process requires a gun to burn OXY TECH tiles at close range for about 1 minute, if there is no blackening or cracking of the tiles, it means they have certain fire resistance.

Photo from Medical Inspire
Photo from Medical Inspire

As mentioned above, when it comes to choosing ceramic tiles, customers should not only pay attention to the reputation of the tile brand, but also pay attention to the water absorption, stain resistance and fire resistance of the product, and buy suitable tiles. It increases hygiene and house cleanness.

*Tested on Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and Escherichia coli under laboratory conditions.

Text by MEDICAL INSPIRE

Categories
All About Tiles

Tile Classroom Vol.1 - Types of Tiles

If you are not familiar with tiling projects before, you will be surprised by the many different types of tiles available. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are the most popular, but there are also glass tiles, cement tiles, metal tiles, and stone tiles—to name just a few. It’s not easy to pick tiles because not every type of tile works for every job. And, of course, there's a budget to consider. Whether you're shopping for an immediate project or just planning for the future, we will guide you through the most common tiles and the basic knowledge of their types.
1. Ceramic Tile and Porcelain Tile
Ceramic tile is one of the most popular types of tile because it's suitable for many applications. Increased durability makes ceramic tile perfect for any room in the house, such as kitchens, bathrooms, or even entryways. Ceramic tiles have been sintered at a hot temperature of thousands of degrees and increased the density unlike the ordinary bricks, and the hardness can reach level 6, which is harder than ordinary stone. It is suitable for various environments. Moreover, the water absorption rate is low, which is more suitable for humid environments (bathroom/kitchen) or humid climate areas (Hong Kong/offshore). The other most common type of tile is porcelain, which differs from ceramic tile. The appeal of porcelain comes from its ability to emulate natural stone, brick, or wood—and without any of the maintenance. In addition, as it's an all-purpose tile, it comes in a variety of designs, colors, and styles to allow for versatility when designing a space. Porcelain can even be used outdoors, as it will not freeze, fade, or crack. Other applications for porcelain tile include bath or kitchen tile, high-traffic areas, and kitchen backsplashes. The biggest drawback with porcelain tile is that installation can be tricky. While you can DIY an install, many homeowners forget that you also need an adhesive when laying down this type of flooring.
2. Polished vs Matte vs Soft Polished
There are two main types of tile surface: light-separating surface and matte surface. As the name implies, the glossy surface is smooth and reflective, and it is mostly used on the wall to reflect natural light that creates a natural feeling.
The matte surface is usually more non-slip, and it is mostly used on the floor, especially in the bathroom/kitchen. Although there are many styles, it does not have the glossiness of smooth tiles.
In fact, there is a third type of tile surface-soft surface, "55°Soft Light" The recent technology can have the best of both worlds. It not only has the matte surface of R10 anti-slip but also maintains the shine of the glossy surface, which is beautiful.「55∘Soft Light」The new technology can have the best of both worlds. It can not only have the matte surface of R10 anti-slip, but also maintain the gloss of the glossy surface, which is beautiful and practical.
3. Coloured Body Tiles
Over the bottom brickAlso known as Homogeneous Tile, the brick body to the brick surface are made of the same material. Over-bottom bricks are known for their practicality. Since the brick surface and the brick body have the same color, it is not obvious even if the surface is damaged. However, the hardness of many tiles can reach Mohs 6, which is durable and scratch-resistant. Although the bottom tiles are practical, they are inferior in appearance and style. There are not many choices. The colors and textures are mainly pure colors and simple.
4. Timber Tiles
In recent years, wood-grain tiles have become very popular, and they are more durable and moisture-proof than ordinary flooring. Wood grain bricks have many variations in texture, and different paving effects can be achieved with different paving methods.
But pay attention to the flatness of the brick body, because the wood-grain bricks are mostly slender 1200x200mm, which requires a high level of flatness, and the "bending brick problem" can easily cause "empty drum" and "kicking" problems. Choosing reputable and certificated wood grain tiles can reduce the risk of mid-voltage.
Ceramic tiles have many changes in style, color, size, and texture. In addition to personal preference and design style, when picking tiles, you should also pay attention to the characteristics of different tiles and consider actual needs.

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Our Projects

Holy Cross Lutheran School | Tsuen Wan

As a developing enterprise, ASA Tiles not only work on the growth of business, but also focus on social engagement.

Earlier, we were invited to participate in a school anniversary tiles printing event. In the two-days event, we provided tiles and the students created a tiles printing with the guidance of tutor.

The tutor designed the general picture in advance. Before the event begun, the tutor drew the draft of the print across the tiles. Then, we gave each student a piece of tile and let them add colours on it. They also put their own ideas and creation onto the tiles.

In the process, the tutor guided the students to reflect on the project and told them the importance of details, as they all started this magnificent printing from small parts. They also learnt the value of teamwork and communication during the project. At the end of the day, the tiles printing was a team effort.

We, as the tiles manufacturer, feel equally on how valuable and important details are. A high-quality piece of tile, could only be made with many fine details adding together. Seeing the students adding the colours they wanted with each stroke, made us felt touched.

After the students finished printing the tiles, we put the tiles on the wall and formed the complete and wonderful printing. We were honoured to be a part of this meaningful event, and we were delighted to see how much potential tiles have as art and craft.

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Job Vacancy

Brand Ambassador

ASA Tiles was established in 1973. Our tiles are made of selected mineral clays, fired at ultra-high temperatures of at least 1200℃ for over one hour. ASA Tiles applies high-quality imported glazes and employs robotic automation in the manufacturing process. We own three production plants in China, the largest of which covers an area of 1.3 million square metres. ASA Tiles is committed to green production techniques, and we control our emissions to ensure they are less than half of the national standard.

Our products are in service at world-famous landmarks like The Great Hall of the People (Beijing, China), The Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower (Shanghai, China), Changi Airport (Singapore), and The Burj Khalifa tower (Dubai, U.A.E.), among others.

Key Highlights

  • ASA was listed on the Main Board of the Singapore Stock Exchange
  • ASA has been awarded one of “Asia’s 500 Most Influential Brands” for 2016–2020
  • In 2016, ASA partnered with a team of Italian designers to create the first large-format (1.6 × 3.2 m) tile production line in China
  • In 2019, ASA invented bacteriostatic Oxy Tech®, and applied such technology into the PuriTiles® series

We are now looking for a Brand Ambassador.

What we will offer

  • A friendly and motivating environment
  • Excellent career prospect
  • Attractive bonus scheme
  • Highly competitive basic salary, sales commission, discretionary bonus, and MPF
  • Bank holiday
  • Guaranteed at least 10% salary raise in the first three years
  • Annual leave, maternity / paternity leave

Your role

  • Liaise with developers, architects, dealers and interior designers
  • Handle customers’ enquiries, provide product information and design solution
  • Build and maintain an interactive and trustworthy relationship with new and existing customers

What you need

  • School Certificate or above
  • Experience selling to architecture and interior design firms is an advantage
  • Native Cantonese speaker with conversational level of English and Mandarin
  • A good team player

Interested parties please send your full resume with your availability, current and expected salary details to hr@asatileshk.com.

All personal data provided will be kept in strict confidence and only for employment purposes.