Linde investing RM150m for expansion at Shah Alam site

KUALA LUMPUR: Linde Malaysia will invest 30mil euros (RM150mil) to expand its gas and liquid production capacities at its site in Shah Alam.

The company, which is a unit of the Linde Group, said the expansion was to meet growing customer demands in central Malaysia

Linde’s announcement is the latest in a series of recent investments that Linde has made in Malaysia in the past 12 months.

It will build and commission a new gas and liquid producing air separation unit (ASU) at its site in Hicom Industrial Estate (Hicom).

The new ASU will be integrated into the pipeline supply network of existing plants which Linde operates in Bukit Raja and Hicom.

The investment will enable Linde to meet forecast growth in the central Malaysian region through the next decade.

The expansion is expected to be completed by 2018.

The facility will also form the cornerstone of a renewed and expanding oxygen supply scheme to leading Japanese glass manufacturer, Nippon Electric Glass Malaysia (NEGM).

NEGM managing director Masaya Kubo said for 20 years, Linde has supplied the company with consistent and reliable gas solutions to fuel its manufacturing processes.

“Producing innovative and high quality glass solutions demands that we maintain the strictest quality standards in our manufacturing processes and materials,” he said.

Linde’s regional managing director, South Asia and Asean Rob Hughes, said Malaysia is a key contributor to the group’s growth strategy in Asia.

Linde’s track record of steady investment of over 230mil euros (RM1bil) in the past two years underscores its commitment and optimism about Asia.

Linde Malaysia managing director Connell Zhang was upbeat on the outlook as growing demand for liquid products reflected a positive outlook in the Malaysian market.

“Our latest investment further strengthens Linde’s position as a reliable and efficient provider of top quality industrial gases to NEGM and other customers in Malaysia.”

The new investment will also manufacture liquid products for customers throughout central Malaysia, including electronics, healthcare, food and beverage, metallurgy and glass.