One man's love and legacy of paper: How A'zone and its lecture pads stood the test of time

In an industrial building east of Singapore, a quiet revolution is happening one sheet of paper at a time. Inside A'zone Corporation's warehouse, the air carries the faint, earthy scent of pulp as workers unload heavy pallets of paper fresh from Austria. It’s a scene that might feel out of place in our digital age, but for founder Bernie Lee, it’s the cornerstone of a legacy built on passion and perseverance.

"I will be continuing (to do) the same thing, until I'm gone," Lee tells Channel News Asia with a warm, resolute smile. His dedication is the lifeblood of a company that has not only survived but flourished by staying true to its craft.

From its humble beginnings, A'zone has become synonymous with quality, particularly through its iconic lecture pads. What started as a simple notebook has evolved into a meticulously engineered tool, designed with the input of generations of students. "We don't just make paper; we create a surface for ideas," Lee explains, his hands gesturing as if shaping the product itself. The secret lies in the details—the perfect weight, the smoothness of the page, the way ink flows without bleeding. It’s this attention to the user's experience that has cemented A'zone's place in backpacks and briefcases across the nation.

As the world rushes towards the cloud, Lee’s commitment to the physical page is a testament to the enduring power of tangible things. In his workshop, the past and present coexist: traditional machinery hums alongside new technologies, all in service of a single goal: to create the perfect sheet of paper. For Bernie Lee, and for the students and professionals who rely on his product, A'zone is more than a brand. It's a promise that in a world of fleeting digital trends, some things are made to last. Read the original story on Channel News Asia.