Top Glove to bolster capacity, technology, supply

Shah Alam, Malaysia – Malaysian manufacturer Top Glove Corp. Bhd, has listed a number of strategic moves as part of its organic expansion plans.

The rubber gloves maker announced 13 Oct that it had started preparations for its condom manufacturing facility. The unit is expected to be operational in 2018.

No further details were given about the capacity or location of the plant.

In addition, the company is continuing the construction of two rubber glove manufacturing facilities: Factory 31 – due to be operational by March 2018 - and Factory 32 – to be operational by December 2018.

Once completed, by the end of next year the group’s production lines will increase by 78, adding an extra 7.8 billion gloves per annum of capacity. In total, the company will have 31 glove factories, 628 production lines and a production capacity of 59.7 billion gloves per annum.

The group is also investing in “emerging technologies” including Industry 4.0, digitalisation and the implementation of “smart factories”.

The company said it had invested an undisclosed amount in sensors and other data capturing equipment to upgrade its production lines as it progresses towards fully automating its plant.

In addition to its condom production facility, Top Glove has also signed a letter of intent to acquire Eastern Press Sdn Bhd, a printing and packaging material manufacturer for RM47.25 million (€9.5 million).

The transaction, said Top Glove, is expected to improve its supply chain coordination and delivery time in relation to the supply of packaging material for its glove products.