^{Photo by SMART ASIA CHEMICAL BERHAD}


This investment aims to streamline manufacturing operations and increase manufacturing capacity.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 (Bernama) -- Smart Asia Chemical Bhd (“Smart Asia” or “Company”) has inaugurated its new manufacturing facility in Batu Gajah, Perak. This expansion represents a significant milestone in the company's growth strategy and commitment to innovation and customer service.

The new facility, spanning 95,170 square feet, has been meticulously designed to optimise production processes and enhance operational efficiencies. With the expanded manufacturing space, Smart Asia anticipates a 27.00 million-litre increase in annual manufacturing capacity for decorative paints and protective coatings. This represents a growth of 309.99% from the company’s current annual manufacturing capacity of 8.71 million litres as of the end of fiscal year 2023. Additionally, the Perak facility’s strategic location will facilitate expansion of the company’s customer-base within the Central and Northern regions of Malaysia due to its proximity to customers. 

YAB Menteri Besar Perak, Dato’ Seri Saarani Mohamad graced the opening ceremony with his esteemed presence, acknowledging the significance of this milestone for the company and local community. 

“We are excited to witness the inauguration of Smart Asia’s new plant, which represents a significant investment in our local economy; where we believe this will generate promising job opportunities and bolster economic vitality of the state as a whole. Moreover, by leveraging the abundant calcium carbonate available in Perak, and in alignment with the State’s Roadmap, Perak Sejahtera 2030, and the Pelan Perindustrian Perak (P3) spearheaded by InvestPerak, we are confident that this project will contribute significantly to adding value to the minerals mined within Perak state, rather than exporting scarce primary resources out of the country,” he said. 

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Mr. Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid congratulates Smart Asia for its forward-thinking approach in incorporating Industry 4.0 into its operations. “The inauguration of Smart Asia's new facility in Batu Gajah not only showcases the dynamic potential of Perak but also marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of Malaysia's paint industry. Local manufacturers must ascend the value chain, adopting what is now the defining technology—automation and IoT—to significantly enhance production efficiency. The company's strategic implementation of Industry 4.0, beginning in Johor and now expanded to Perak, serves as a commendable example of this advancement. MIDA is fully committed to supporting our manufacturers' transition from traditional practices to technology-driven production, which will boost productivity, elevate product quality, and integrate Malaysia more deeply into the global production network."

Mr. Lim Kok Beng, Non-Independent Executive Director, and Chief Operating Officer of Smart Asia Chemical Bhd said, “Our goal is to solidify our position as a reputable national paint brand in Malaysia. With this aim in mind, our Group has decided to set up our Perak facility. This move will not only streamline our manufacturing operations but also increase our manufacturing capacity, ensuring we meet the growing demand for our products.”

The new Perak facility introduces two innovative systems, the Industrial Tinting System and the Automated Paint Production System, revolutionising the manufacturing process for enhanced efficiency and quality. The Automated Paint Production System facilitates precise transfer of raw materials from storage to dispersion tanks, movement of semi-finished products between stations, automated loading and unloading, and rigorous quality checks throughout. 

The Industrial Tinting System, which is also integrated with the Automated Paint Production System, will enable the continuous flow of the manufacturing processes. This integration of software and systems enables the company to reduce their dependency on human operators during manufacturing activities. 

“These advancements incorporated in Perak plant further demonstrate Smart Asia’s commitment to enhancing our operational and automation capabilities across our products and services, as we strive to transition towards an 'Industry 4.0' manufacturing plant, optimising operations while upholding high standards of product quality,” Mr. Lim concluded. 


About MIDA
 
MIDA is the government’s principal investment promotion and development agency under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA has 12 regional and 21 overseas offices. MIDA continues to be the strategic partner to businesses in seizing the opportunities arising from the technology revolution of this era. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube channel.
 
About InvestPerak, MALAYSIA

Perak Investment Management Centre (PIMC) also known as InvestPerak, was established in January 2006 to serve as the ‘First Point of Contact for Investors’ in the manufacturing and services sectors in Perak. It primarily acts as the principal investment promotion agency of the Perak State Government and reports directly to the YAB Menteri Besar Perak. Perak State Government have mandated InvestPerak as the secretariat for Centre of Investment (COI), which empowereds the function of InvestPerak as the facilitator in assisting investors to invest in Perak. To facilitate the implementation of investment projects in Perak, COI@InvestPerak have has the authority to issue ‘Fast-Track Letter’ for strategic projects, which put the investment projects as a priority for all relevant agencies in their approval process.
 
ABOUT SMART ASIA CHEMICAL BHD (“SMART ASIA”)
 
SMART ASIA specialises in developing, manufacturing, distributing, and selling a diverse range of decorative paints and protective coatings and paint related products for household and industrial applications. The company owns esteemed brands like 'Smart Paints,' 'Durra Paints,' 'Toplus Paints,' and 'Hunter Paints,' offering an extensive portfolio to cater to various customer needs with durable and aesthetically pleasing solutions.
Additionally, SMART ASIA is involved in complementary products like colourants, which play a vital role in achieving desired paint shades. The company continuously invests in research and development to introduce innovative offerings that meet evolving customer requirements, driven by a commitment to excellence. 

Additional images for the media release can be found at the following link:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15xr_orPAN66IE5xZO70U8ZZijx9V_xT4?usp=sharing


Source: Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA)
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
MIDA
Name: Ms. Siti Halimaton Mohd. Rejab            
Director, Chemical and Advanced Material Division
Tel:+603-2267 6701
Email: shalimaton@mida.gov.my
 
InvestPerak, MALAYSIA
Name: Mr. Mohd Shahriman Ariff Mohd Shariff
Investor Relations Manager
Tel:  +605 5292442 / +6 017 246 4691
Email: shahriman@investperak.gov.my  
 
Esente Advisory Sdn. Bhd. 
Name: Emily Kou
Assistant Manager, Public Relations
Tel:  +603 64199501 /+ 6 014 7353066
Email: emilykou@esente.com.my
 
Name: Mohammad Izzat
Senior Associate, Public Relations
Tel: +603 64199501 / +6 011 2325 7086
Email: mohammadizzat@esente.com.my   

--BERNAMA