NanoMalaysia Berhad and Bonric Sdn Bhd have co-ideated and jointly developed graphene infused electrostatic discharge (ESD) latex gloves with a projected revenue impact of more than RM100 million over the next five years.
ESD gloves are usually made of synthetic rubber and used to handle sensitive electronic parts in the electrical and electronics (E&E) industry. However, these latex ESD gloves have been enhanced with nanotechnology – making them thinner, tear-proof, biodegradable, and less susceptible to Type IV chemical allergy. This allows extensive application in numerous industries such as electronic disk drive; semiconductor; avionics; space technology; and even healthcare.
Bonric Sdn Bhd is a pioneer in the manufacturing and distribution of specialty and innovative gloves for the critical environment use – exporting their products to more than 75 countries. Meanwhile, NanoMalaysia Berhad is a company limited by guarantee (CLBG) under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) to act as a business entity entrusted with nanotechnology commercialisation and industrialisation activities through a venture builder model – and has invested RM1 million in this project.
Group Managing Director of Bonric Sdn Bhd, Dr Supramaniam Shanmugam said: “The current global value of the ESD glove market is estimated at RM640 million and Bonric is confident that this innovative graphene infused latex glove will be able to garner 15 – 20 per cent of the market share, over the next 5 years. These gloves are sustainable, comfortable, cost effective, exhibit far less hand fatigue, and have excellent ESD properties, besides being far more biodegradable. Once we have established market presence, and firmed up its intellectual property (IP), these gloves will be licensed to other Malaysian players to manufacture and export. The goal is to increase export earnings for Malaysia.”
He added that the distributors and end users in many countries, especially in Europe, North East Asia and USA have expressed interest in the gloves.
On the local front, the Malaysian market demand for ESD gloves is set to grow following the recent announcement of the 12th Malaysia Plan which will focus on the development of high growth industries – one of them being advanced electrical and electronics.
Currently, Bonric Sdn Bhd’s output capacity on such critical environment gloves, stands at 400 million gloves with facilities centred at Batang Kali. Dr Supramaniam added that to meet the growing demands and seize the aforementioned market opportunities, there are plans of rolling out two more facilities within the next five years and with that, an increased production capacity of approximately 30 per cent.
Chief Executive Officer of NanoMalaysia Berhad, Dr Rezal Khairi Ahmad said: “One of Malaysia’s goals is to add value to traditional sectors including agri-commodity, and these gloves will enable that. Firstly, latex concentrate is the principal raw material used in these gloves – benefitting natural rubber producers. Secondly, a new graphene supply chain business opportunity can emerge here. It is crucial to localise the source of graphene, which can be tapped sustainably from the biogas in the palm oil industry. This synergy between Malaysia’s two perennial commodity-based sectors creates compelling investment prospects for both local and foreign investors.
In addition, the integration of nanotechnology in rubber gloves will open new lateral commercial opportunities in other and adjacent markets that require improved and different glove performances. All these opportunities are poised to generate new high value jobs and high technology supply chains in Malaysia, aligning well to the philosophy of PENJANA (The Short-Term Economic Recovery Plan).”
NanoMalaysia Berhad and Bonric Sdn Bhd will jointly own the intellectual property rights for the ESD latex gloves.
