December 2006 - MOA on Malaysian Reusable Gloves
A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Signing Ceremony between Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) and Fox Glove Solutions (FGS) (Sabah) Sdn Bhd was held on the 6th December 2006 in Putrajaya. The ceremony was witnessed by Y Bhg Datu Dr Michael Dosim Lunjew, Seceretary General, Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities who represented the Honorable Minister. Also present at the ceremony were Y Bhg Dato' Dr Kamarul Baharain Basir, Director General of MRB and Y Bhg Datuk Tham Nyip Shen, Chairman of Fox Glove Solutions (Sabah) Sdn Bhd.
director General of Malaysian Rubber Board
exchanging MOA with Y Bhg Datuk Tham Nyip Shen,
Chairman of Fox Glove Solutions (Sabah) Sdn Bhd
while Y Bhg Datu Dr Michael Dosim Lunjew,
Secretary General, Ministry of Plantation,
Industries and Commodities looks on.
The MOA was on natural rubber latex (NRL) reusable gloves which are made using low protein natural rubber latex (Loprol) and can be used for a minimum of six cycles.
All medical gloves are single use material and to ensure cost savings in the consumer end, the idea of reprocessing used gloves has come to light recently. However in order to allow it to be reusable, the gloves have to be cleansed. To evaluate this new concept, R&D work has to be carried out to produce new prototype gloves in the laboratory and reprocess the gloves for subsequent usage.
FGS has developed a glove reprocessing unit (GRU) that allows its users to "wash" or re-process gloves using a fully-automated reprocessing and testing system. FGS will place a GRU prototype with the MRB for NRL loprol-glove re-usability validation.
"The word 'reusable or reprocess' gloves are new to the industry. However in the west it is a trend now towards reusing the used gloves for cost saving", said Y Bhg Datu Dr Michael Dosim Lunjew.
"The glove industry in Malaysia is here to stay as it is the pillar of the total revenue of the rubber products manufacturing sector. To ensure sustainability of the rubber industry, new materials and technology as well as to change consumer perception on the product are necessary", said Y Bhg Dato' Dr Kamarul Baharain.
The product is expected to be launched in the market in June next year.
For More information:
EcoGlove Limited: +852 8120 7555 / www.ecoglove.com
Malaysian Rubber Board: external link