Former naval diver rebuilds life through toy business, creates jobs for people with disabilities

A former naval diver who left his military career due to a medical condition and later became wheelchair-bound following an accident has rebuilt his life through his passion for toy manufacturing.

Kenneth Tan, 38, founder of Mox Monsters, joined the Navy at the age of 19 but left seven years later after being diagnosed with a medical condition affecting his movement and mobility, according to Shin Min Daily News.

After leaving the military, Tan actively sought employment and took on various roles, including in social media management and graphic design.

It was during this period that he also met his wife, who has remained a constant source of support and encouragement.

However, another setback came in 2016, when Tan was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that nearly cost him his life and left him reliant on a wheelchair for mobility.

During the difficult period that followed, Tan rediscovered his passion for toy painting, which helped him cope with depression and regain a sense of purpose.

'Disability should not define us'

In 2017, Tan set up a model-painting studio and began conducting classes, but the inconsistent income made it difficult to earn a sustainable living, prompting him to explore other business ventures, reported Shin Min Daily News.

With 3D printing gaining popularity, Tan founded MoxMonsters in 2024, a toy brand specialising in designing and manufacturing models for businesses and other clients.

He has since expanded his operations with the opening of a new factory at Yishun industrial estate.

The factory has also partnered with the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore to employ three people with intellectual disabilities on a part-time basis.

Through the initiative, Tan said he hopes to provide people with disabilities the opportunity to contribute to society, while easing some of the physical and emotional burdens on their caregivers.

"I hope that employees and their families can personally experience that people with disabilities can also contribute to society through their own abilities," he said.

"Disability should not define us. We hope our employees can be proud of their work and earn enough to live on."

xingying.koh@asiaone.com

一位曾是海军潜水员的男子，因健康原因离开军旅生涯，后来又因事故导致终身瘫痪，但他凭借对玩具制造的热情重建了自己的生活。

据《新明日报》报道，Mox Monsters 的创始人 Kenneth Tan 现年 38 岁，19 岁时加入海军，但七年后因被诊断出患有影响行动能力的疾病而退伍。

退伍后，谭积极寻找工作，并担任过各种职务，包括社交媒体管理和平面设计。

正是在这段时间里，他遇到了他的妻子，她一直是他坚定的支持和鼓励的源泉。

然而，2016 年，谭遭遇了另一次挫折，他卷入了一场严重的摩托车事故，险些丧命，并导致他只能依靠轮椅出行。

在随后的艰难时期，谭重新发现了自己对玩具彩绘的热情，这帮助他克服了抑郁症，并重新获得了目标感。

“残疾不应定义我们”

据《新明日报》报道，2017年，谭先生开设了一家模型绘画工作室并开始授课，但收入不稳定，难以维持生计，这促使他去探索其他商业机会。

随着 3D 打印技术的普及，Tan 于 2024 年创立了 MoxMonsters，这是一个专门为企业和其他客户设计和制造模型的玩具品牌。

此后，他在义顺工业区开设了一家新工厂，扩大了业务规模。

该工厂还与新加坡智障人士协会合作，以兼职形式雇用了三名智障人士。

谭先生表示，他希望通过这项计划，为残疾人士提供为社会做出贡献的机会，同时减轻其照顾者在身心方面的一些负担。

“我希望员工及其家人能够亲身感受到，残疾人也可以通过自身的能力为社会做出贡献，”他说。

“残疾不应定义我们。我们希望我们的员工能够为自己的工作感到自豪，并获得足够的收入来维持生计。”

邢莹.koh@asiaone.com