Shorubber expects to remain Malaysia’s biggest industrial glove maker

KANGAR: Shorubber (M) Sdn Bhd, which produces rubber gloves under the Showa brand, targets to remain as the country’s largest industrial rubber glove maker by upgrading its plant in the Jejawi Industrial Zone, Arau, under a five-year plan starting 2016.

Without disclosing the investment cost, Managing Director Keizo Sato said it would initially upgrade its plant facilities and improve the working environment and employee welfare in stages.

He said the facility upgrades, including the installation of new automated machines to replace old machinery, would ensure that productivity and product quality would continue to improve to meet the demand.

“This project is also part of the company’s efforts to minimise its dependence on foreign labour. The number of foreign workers has been reduced by almost half to 534 people from 1,010, while local workers number 1,922,” Sato said.

He was speaking to reporters after a luncheon organised for its strategic partners here yesterday. Perlis State Secretary Datuk Dr Syed Omar Sharifuddin Syed Ikhsan represented Chief Minister Datuk Seri Azlan Man at the event.

On exports, Sato said Shorubber was currently exporting about 2,000 glove models to the United States, Europe and Japan. He, however, declined to reveal the value of its exports.