Scientex’s BOPP film plant starts ops

PETALING JAYA: Scientex Bhd has started the operation of its new biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film manufacturing plant on Pulau Indah, Selangor.

In a statement yesterday, the packaging manufacturer said the new RM220 million plant, which was built in collaboration with Japan’s Futamura Chemical Co Ltd, boasts an annual production capacity of 60,000 tonnes.

With the new plant, Scientex managing director Lim Peng Jin said the company is looking forward to fulfilling anticipated strong market demand, as Malaysia presently imports most of its BOPP requirements due to a shortage in local supply.

BOPP film forms the protective outer layer of flexible consumer packaging, and is commonly used in the food and beverages industry.

Futamura holds a 10% stake in Scientex’s consumer packaging unit Scientex Great Wall Sdn Bhd. Futamura will also purchase about one third of the new plant’s annual BOPP film production.

Lim said that the Scientex is actively targeting growth in sales to local and regional players.

“We have been aggressively marketing our high-performance BOPP film to several packaging players both domestically and regionally, and have also conducted product trials with them. We are pleased to receive commendable feedback to date, and look forward to commence supply to them in the near term,” he added.