Smart Asia Chemical Bhd (Smart Asia) has inaugurated its new manufacturing facility in Batu Gajah, Perak to enhance the company’s growth strategy and commitment to innovation and customer service.
The new facility, spanning 95,170 square feet, has been meticulously designed to optimise production processes and enhance operational efficiencies.
With the expanded manufacturing space, Smart Asia anticipates a 27.00 million-litre increase in annual manufacturing capacity for decorative paints and protective coatings.
This represents a growth of 309.99% from the company’s current annual manufacturing capacity of 8.71 million litres as of the end of fiscal year 2023. Additionally, the Perak facility’s strategic location will facilitate expansion of the company’s customer-base within the Central and Northern regions of Malaysia due to its proximity to customers.
Menteri Besar Perak Dato’ Seri Saarani Mohamad at the opening ceremony, said: “The inauguration of Smart Asia’s new plant, which represents a significant investment in our local economy; where we believe this will generate promising job opportunities and bolster economic vitality of the state as a whole. Moreover, by leveraging the abundant calcium carbonate available in Perak, and in alignment with the State’s Roadmap, Perak Sejahtera 2030, and the Pelan Perindustrian Perak (P3) spearheaded by InvestPerak, we are confident that this project will contribute significantly to adding value to the minerals mined within Perak state, rather than exporting scarce primary resources out of the country.”
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, at the event said: “Smart Asia’s new facility in Batu Gajah not only showcases the dynamic potential of Perak but also marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of Malaysia’s paint industry. Local manufacturers must ascend the value chain, adopting what is now the defining technology—automation and IoT—to significantly enhance production efficiency.
“The company’s strategic implementation of Industry 4.0, beginning in Johor and now expanded to Perak, serves as a commendable example of this advancement. MIDA is fully committed to supporting our manufacturers’ transition from traditional practices to technology-driven production, which will boost productivity, elevate product quality, and integrate Malaysia more deeply into the global production network.”
Lim Kok Beng, Non-Independent Executive Director, and Chief Operating Officer of Smart Asia Chemical Bhd added, “Our goal is to solidify our position as a reputable national paint brand in Malaysia. With this aim in mind, our Group has decided to set up our Perak facility. This move will not only streamline our manufacturing operations but also increase our manufacturing capacity, ensuring we meet the growing demand for our products.”
The new Perak facility introduces two innovative systems, the Industrial Tinting System and the Automated Paint Production System, revolutionising the manufacturing process for enhanced efficiency and quality. The Automated Paint Production System facilitates precise transfer of raw materials from storage to dispersion tanks, movement of semi-finished products between stations, automated loading and unloading, and rigorous quality checks throughout.
The Industrial Tinting System, which is also integrated with the Automated Paint Production System, will enable the continuous flow of the manufacturing processes. This integration of software and systems enables the company to reduce their dependency on human operators during manufacturing activities.
“These advancements incorporated in Perak plant further demonstrate Smart Asia’s commitment to enhancing our operational and automation capabilities across our products and services, as we strive to transition towards an ‘Industry 4.0’ manufacturing plant, optimising operations while upholding high standards of product quality,” Lim said.
