Some partnerships are forged through urgency. Others, through shared vision and quiet persistence. This is the story of the latter—an 18-year collaboration that quietly shaped the future of a business.
In 2007, Formpak was at a turning point. As a specialized software provider in the chemical formulation industry, their desktop application had served them well for years. But with new regulatory pressures emerging and a growing number of international clients, it became clear that the software needed a new life—one that could scale, adapt, and evolve with the business.
At the helm of this challenge was Tim, who had recently taken over the leadership of Formpak from his father. Tim wasn’t just looking for a vendor to deliver a quick rewrite of the system; he was searching for a true partner—one that could understand the weight of his company’s legacy and help carry it forward with care and precision.
That search led him to Shinetech. Rather than relying solely on calls and emails, Tim decided to fly halfway around the world to meet the team in person. In Beijing, he sat down with the developers, shared his vision, walked them through the system, and asked the most important question: “Can we build something together that will last?”
Built for the Long Haul
From the start, both sides knew this wasn’t going to be a one-off project. Tim’s vision for Formpak wasn’t just about modernizing code—it was about future-proofing the business. That meant designing software architecture that could evolve alongside the ever-changing global regulatory landscape, and building a development rhythm that could sustain progress year after year.
Shinetech responded by assembling a small, focused team led by Bin, a developer who would become a cornerstone of the partnership. Rather than diving straight into coding, Bin and his team spent weeks sitting with Tim, mapping out the business logic, listening closely to user workflows, and translating real-world needs into technical solutions. The goal wasn’t speed. It was alignment.
That deliberate start set the tone for everything that followed. Communication was constant and transparent. Feedback loops were tight. And every development decision was guided by a simple principle: make things easier—for Tim’s team, for their clients, and for the future.
As the software grew in complexity, the team structure evolved too, but the commitment to consistency never wavered. Bin remained at the helm, and many original team members stayed on, developing a deep familiarity with Formpak’s business and culture. What began as a cautious trial had quietly matured into a deeply rooted partnership—one built to last.
Evolving Together, Steady at the Core
Over the years, the partnership between Formpak and Shinetech deepened—not through rapid expansion, but through deliberate, steady growth. As regulations shifted and customer expectations increased, Formpak continued refining its offerings. Each new requirement brought fresh challenges, but rather than scrambling for quick fixes, the team thoughtfully adapted and optimized the system with the bigger picture in mind.
Technology can become outdated, but the spirit of proactively solving problems never fades. Over the past eighteen years, Bin’s team helped Formpak successfully migrate from a Windows environment to Linux with Docker, modernizing the infrastructure. The database setup evolved from a single DB2 system to a flexible architecture that can switch among DB2, MSSQL Server, and PostgreSQL as needed. The technology stack was gradually upgraded from Java 1.5 to Java 17, with AI-assisted development introduced to keep the system competitive. Currently, the team is actively working on transitioning to AWS cloud, shifting from an on-premise deployment to a SaaS model, significantly expanding the software’s potential user base.
Even as new developers joined over the years, knowledge continuity was never broken. New team members were onboarded and mentored directly by those who had built the system from the start. This was not about replacing people, but about stewardship. Tim never had to re-explain the background or worry about retraining a new vendor. He had a team that moved with him, year after year.
What began as a system rewrite quietly became a competitive edge—giving Formpak the agility to lead in a highly regulated, niche industry.
Eighteen Years On, Still Building Quietly
Today, nearly two decades since that first meeting in Beijing, the collaboration between Formpak and Shinetech continues—without fanfare, without urgency, and without interruption. There are no flashy press releases or case studies trumpeting their achievements. Instead, there’s a quiet rhythm of progress: regular check-ins, new features released, and problems solved before they grow.
Tim still works with many of the same developers he met years ago, and when new needs arise, he doesn’t draft an RFP—he drafts an email to Bin. It’s not just continuity of people that makes the difference, but continuity of care. Shinetech isn’t merely maintaining a system—they’re helping shape the future of a company that still carries its founder’s legacy.
For Tim, the true value of the partnership has never been just about cost, speed, or even technical quality—though all have been exceptional. It’s about the feeling that someone is watching over the system as closely as he is. That someone will be there next month, next year, and maybe another decade from now.
In a world that often prizes disruption and reinvention, the Formpak-Shinetech story is something else entirely: a quiet reminder that steady, thoughtful collaboration can be just as powerful—and sometimes, even more enduring.
