Supermax to up capacity, diversify to contact lenses

Kuala Lumpur - Supermax Corp Bhd expects its rubber gloves production capacity to expand by four billion units to 24 billion units by the first-quarter of 2016, due to the opening of its two new factories, according to a report on 24 April by The Malaysian Reserve newspaper.

Executive chairman Datuk Seri Stanley Thai Kim Sim said the glove maker’s two new factories, code-named factory 10 and 11, would be fully commissioned by March next year, each installed with up to 24 high-yield production lines, which could produce between 42,000 and 45,000 gloves per hour.

Currently Supermax’s annual production stands close to 20 billion pieces, which according to the report gives it the position of the world’s second largest rubber gloves producer by volume.

A separate report on 24 April by the Malaysia Star Online said that Supermax was investing 65 million ringgit (€16.8 million) in contact lens business,

The report quoted Thai as saying that the product, which is currently undergoing research and development in United Kingdom, would complement the group's existing global distribution network in healthcare and medical device industry.