KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 27): Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) has signed an agreement to collaborate with Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) and other rubber product manufacturers on research to commercialise the usage of ekoprena and purepena under the Project National Key Economic Area (NKEA)’s Entry Point Projects (EPP) 11: Commercialisation of Ekoprena and Purepena.

The signing was done in conjunction with the National Rubber Economic Conference (NREC) 2016, which was officiated by Datuk Datu Nasrun Datu Mansur, deputy minister of plantation industries and commodities.

Ekoprena and purepena is an advanced natural rubber developed by MRB through intensive research studies that are categorised as environmental-friendly for its production using natural materials from renewable sources.

The collaboration is expected to improve the usage of ekoprena and purepena in the production of rubber material such as shoe, fenders, bearings, light truck tyres and motorcycle tyres, as well as automotive products.

FELDA Transport Services Sdn Bhd (FTSSB) and FGV Green Rubber Sdn Bhd (FGVGR) are the end users for the more environmental-friendly rubber. Both companies are wholly-owned by FGV.

While FTSSB is principally involved in the transportation business for FELDA, FGVGR focus on manufacturing of the ekprena and purepena rubber activities.

Other companies involved are Kulitkraf Sdn Bhd, Doshin Rubber Products (M) Sdn Bhd, Everthrough Rubber Products Sdn Bhd and Kumpulan JEBCO (M) Sdn Bhd.

Doshin Rubber is a subsidiary of Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd and has a few ongoing mega projects, such as the rubber expansion joint in the Penang Bridge (1st link and 2nd link), Hokkaido and Kuwait airport, mechanical pot bearing for the first phase of the MRT and LRT, as well as seismic isolation high damping rubber bearing for the Penang second bridge.