Page 46 - The Tyreman V45 2014-3
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Sunrich Integrated and Malaysian Rubber Board Enter Collaboration Agreement
Sunrich Integrated Sdn Bhd (SRIT), the wholly-owned sub- sidiary of ecoWise Holding Limited, has entered into a collaboration agreement with Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) on 6th May, 2014. Under the agree- ment, both parties will carry out joint R&D on the appli- cation of Epoxidised Natural Rubber in environmentally- friendly retreaded tyres.
Founded in 1979, ecoWise Group is a Singapore- based Resource Recovery, Renewable Energy and Provision of Integrated En- vironmental Solutions pro- vider. The Group was listed on SGX-SESDAQ in 2003, moved to SGX Mainboard on 9th May, 2008 and was a constituent stock in the FTSE ST Small Cap Index since 22nd September, 2009.
The use of Epoxidised Natural Rubber (Ekoprena) tread compound reinforced with highly dispersible silica - tion that offers reduced roll- ing resistance and improved wet tyre grip. Using Ekopre- na® retread compound in tyre retreading promotes a sustainable green material for greener application. The 3-year R&D project involves the production of Ekoprena retreaded tyres and road trial under Malaysia condi- tions, and is being imple- mented under the Entry Point Projects (EPP4) in Na- tional Key Economic Areas (NKEA) to commercialise Ekoprena in Malaysia. The outcome of this project will
Seated from left : Chin Hon Meng, Low Kian Beng, Datuk Dr. Salmiah Ahmad and Dr. Mohd Akbar Md Said
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give a comprehensive technical and economic data to further promote and uptake Ekoprena as green material for retreaded tyre technology.
According to Datuk Dr Salmiah Ahmad, Director General of MRB, MRB started the development of epoxidised natural rubber in the 1980s and had continued it until today as a priority research area. Ekoprena was launched in 2008 as the latest generation of epoxidised natural rubber to accelerate the uptake by in- dustry and in response to the growing trends in sustainability and the develop- ment of rubber products.
- miah, had shown to produce tyre com- pounds with advantageous properties such as low rolling resistance to reduce fuel consumption of vehicles, good wet grip for safety and handling as well as low noise.
“SRIT is one of the key tyre rubber com- pound manufacturers and prominent tyre retreaders in Malaysia. In the pro- motional strategy of Ekoprena, MRB - facturers for industrial collaboration and SRIT is selected for the development and commercialisation of environmental- ly-friendly or green tyre retreads based product for Malaysia.”
Sunrich Integrated