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Malaysian Industrial
Technologies:
Career Campus is promoting
Industrial Technologies and an Educated Work
Force : The Malaysian Industrial Development
Authority.
Agricultural, Industrial, Information Age
Technologies and ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND
TECHNOLOGIES IN MALAYSIA...
MARDEC’s breakthrough
technology for ordourless rubber factory:
Rubber factories, which are normally associated
with being smelly, dirty and noisy, can look
forward to better working environment with the
new technology developed and patented by MARDEC,
which will completely remove the smell from
rubber factories as well as noise-free.
MARDEC, which had developed the technology over
the past 10 years, had adopted the technology at
its rubber processing factory in Kuala Pilah,
Negri Sembilan, beginning this year, and has
since extended the applications to all its
factories in Perak, Johor, Pahang and Terengganu.
Its other overseas rubber processing plants
would also benefit from the adoption of this
technology.
According to MARDEC, after three to four months
from the application of the
technology, all its rubber factories would be
odourless and noise-free.
The new technology, which is attuned to meet the
Department of Environment's statutory and
non-statutory requirements, is expected to be
licensed to other rubber processing
plants.
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A boost to Malaysia’s
Biotech sector....
Malaysia’s biotechnology sector will get a boost
when two US$32million (RM116.3 million) biotech
facilities under Alpha Biologics Sdn Bhd and
Progenix Research Sdn Bhd, start operation in
the Penang Biotech Park in Bukit Minyak, next
year.
The biotech companies are funded mainly by
Springhill Bioventures Sdn Bhd, a company
jointly owned by Khazanah Nasional Bhd, Pacific
Mas Fidelity Sdn Bhd, Great Eastern Life
Assurance (M) Bhd and THG Capital Sdn Bhd. In
addition, Alpha Biologics has also attracted
capital from Pequat Capital Management Inc, US.
Alpha Biologics Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian-based
contract manufacturer of biologics drugs for use
in pre-clinical, Phase1 and 2 clinical trials,
is building a new US$18 million (RM65.4 million)
facility in Penang.
The 5,000 sq m
facility, which is scheduled to be operational
by mid 2007, would provide biopharma and pharma
companies the opportunities to take biologic
drugs through pre-clinical and other trials with
the benefits of cost efficiency.
The company currently operates a Good
Manufacturing Practice- certified (cGMP)
manufacturing facility, located at the Penang
BIOtech Park, specialising in the production of
mammalian cell secreted protein drugs. In
addition the company
undertakes the necessary services required to
develop and produce its customers' drugs in full
compliance with U.S. and European cGMP
guidelines.
Progenix, an independent contract research
organization, which specialises in pre- clinical
research and development, is scheduled to begin
operations in March 2007. Its new laboratory
facility, currently under construction will
house a full range of mammalian species for
pre-clinical testing. The facility will conduct
regulatory safety evaluation studies for
submission to regulatory authorities in support
of marketing or clinical trial approvals for new
medical products or registration of new
chemicals. In addition, toxicology related,
non-regulatory research projects will also be
undertaken.
Springhill Management Sdn Bhd owner, Datuk Dr
Kim Tan said the two companies would create job
opportunities for some 320 scientists,
engineers, and technicians, adding that both
Alpha Biologics and Progenix can train them so
that they understand the international standards
and become useful for future biotechnology
companies in the country.
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Malaysia's medical
devices industry to grow 8%:
The Malaysian medical devices industry is
expected to continue to register an average
year-on-year growth of 8 % over the next few
years, driven by the demand for existing and new
products, as well as the entry of new players
into the country, says the Association of
Malaysian Medical Industries (AMMI) Chairman,
Lim Bee Leong.
Malaysia is currently the world’s leading
producer and exporter of catheters, surgical and
examination gloves. The 10 manufacturers of
catheters supply 80% of the global market, while
some 105 producers cater to about 60% of the
world demand for rubber gloves, which are
predominantly surgical and examination gloves.
Besides catheters and rubber gloves, other
medical devices manufactured locally include
needles, medical and surgical instruments and
appliances and orthopaedic appliances.
"Presently the growth in catheters and rubber
gloves is not as big as other products," Lim
said, adding that these products already have a
high base and are now facing price competition
from other countries.
Other medical devices produced in the country,
such as non-rubber catheters, surgical drapes
and gowns and medical tubing are expected to
regular higher growth rates over the next few
years. The growing demand for these products is
attributed to longer life expectancy, awareness
for better healthcare
facilities complex with rising affluence
and education and higher demand from hospitals,
as well as factors like diseases and war.
In line with the trend towards the growing
demand for more sophisticated medical devices,
Malaysia is encouraging the production of a
combination products such as drug-coated heart
halves, tissue implants, orthopaedic devices
coated with anti- inflammatory agent; home-care
& self-care products; in-vitro diagnostic
devices; cardiovascular devices; orthopaedic
devices; and medical and surgical equipment and
instruments.
Global companies are encouraged to leverage on
the expertise in the plastics, precision
engineering and electronics industries,
currently available in the country to source
components and parts from Malaysia; as well as
undertake medical sub- assemblies and systems
and the manufacture of diagnostic medical
devices.
In addition existing companies are also
encouraged to form strategic alliances with
multinational companies (MNCs), to manufacture
high-end medical devices in the country.
"There are opportunities to bring production
from the US and Japan here or by doing contract
manufacturing for foreign companies," Lim said,
adding that talks are being held for new players
to begin production in the area of implantable
products (like hip
joints), combination products ( drug coated
devices) and home care (dialysis machine).
AMMI, established in 1989, currently has 26
members, comprising major companies in the
industry, which together achieved an aggregate
revenue of RM3.4 billion, in 2005 year.
Some of the major companies include foreign
players such as B Braun, Ansell, Regent Hospital
Products and Ambu, while the major local
companies include Top Glove, Wembley Rubber
Products and Dispo-med.
AMMI works closely with the government agencies
to assist the industry. In addition, AMMI also
undertaken training programmes, provides a
platform for networking as well as guidance on
world regulations such as The Food & Drug
Administration (FDA) in the US and Therapeutic
Goods Act 1989 (TGA) of Australia, besides
assisting to form linkages to the supporting
industries.
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