November 3, 2007 - Hong Kong - Penang
PENANG: Automation equipment maker Pentamaster Corp Bhd has secured new orders worth over US$50mil from Hong Kong-based EcoGlove Ltd.
Group executive chairman Chuah Choon Bin said the company would deliver 300 glove reprocessing equipment and 600 automatic glove-loading modules next year and in 2009 to the reusable glove producer.
"We will start delivering the products in February," he said after signing an agreement with EcoGlove chairman Patrick Hampe for the exclusive rights to manufacture the equipment and modules.
Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui witnessed the signing.
machine. With him is Patrick Hampe
Pentamaster had in early 2007 secured an order for 300 glove recycling equipment, worth US$30mil, to be delivered next year.
The glove reprocessing equipment uses steam and enzyme chemicals to clean and sterilise a special type of latex and plastic medical gloves made by EcoGlove for reuse. It also checks the gloves for pinholes, rejecting those with such defects.
"The gloves are made from a special latex material, derived from Malaysian rubber that allows them to be recycled. This material is a product of EcoGlove and the Malaysian Rubber Board’s collaborative research and development effort. The global market for reusable rubber gloves is estimated at 72 billion annually compared with natural latex gloves, at about 132 billion," he said.
Each glove reprocessing equipment can recycle up to 600,000 latex and plastic reusable gloves monthly.
Chuah said hospitals and clinics could use the glove reprocessing equipment to reduce their operational costs by at least 30%.
About 132 billion pieces of single-use latex and plastic gloves are consumed annually worldwide. This translates to about 132 million tonnes of waste yearly, creating enormous environmental problems.
"This is why hospitals and clinics are turning to reusable gloves such as those produced by EcoGlove," he said.
For More information:
EcoGlove Limited: +852 8120 7555 / www.ecoglove.com
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