KUALA LUMPUR: British-based chemicals company Synthomer plc today announced that its project to expand the NitrileLatex manufacturing capacity at the Pasir Gudang plant is well underway.
In a statement, the company said the facility is due to become the world’s largest nitrile polymerisation reactor upon its completion by July 2018.
This latest phase of expansion brings an additional RM270 million to the company’s original investment of more than RM1 billion at its two nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) production plants and innovation centres in Pasir Gudang and Kluang since 2001.
It said these facilities are intended to support the production and development of nitrile latex products for the medical and industrial glove industry.
Synthomer’s project to expand its Pasir Gudang plant was first announced last year in anticipation of increased growth in demand from glove manufacturers globally.
The company said the first phase of the expansion project, which commenced during the second half of 2016, includes the installation of additional NBR latex production line that will support faster product cycle rates, improve manufacturing efficiencies and is expected to bring an additional annual capacity of approximately 100 kilo wet tonne (Kwt) upon completion.
“With this project Synthomer is building for the future. This expansion will in total deliver an additional 200Kwt in two distinct 100Kwt phases.
“Phase 1 of the project is currently underway, however, we have taken the opportunity during this phase of construction to scale up our utilities and other supporting infrastructure to additionally meet the requirements for Phase 2, which will allow us to bring the additional 100Kwt of capacity on line very quickly when it is required,” said Derick Whyte,
Synthomer executive vice-president, Asia.
“Synthomer has a strong track record of investing in its nitrile latex business not only in terms of capacity expansion but also in product innovation where we remain committed to meeting the evolving needs of our customers, and it is also a sign of our continuing investment in the Malaysian economy,” he said.