A moment of royal nostalgia for paper company

BANTING: GS Paperboard and Packaging’s (GSPP) RM1.2bil paper-making machine here has been inaugurated by Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

The launch of the PM3 machine – considered state-of-the-art in paper manufacturing – came following the successful commissioning that saw the production of its first reel of paper on Sept 30, 2021, and commercial run since April 1 this year.

According to Oji Holdings Corporation, which acquired GSPP in 2010, the operation of PM3 has created 200 jobs for Malaysians.

The launch by Sultan Sharafuddin was highly meaningful as his father, Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Al-Haj, launched the Paper Machine 1 (PM1) 31 years ago, said Oji Holdings president Hiroyuki Isono.

“This event is made more memorable and so special as we could take a walk down memory lane to recall the launch of our first paper machine or PM1.

“May the Royal blessings from both His Royal Highnesses bring more prosperity and success to GSPP and its surrounding community.

“This is because PM3 has created more than 200 new jobs for locals,” he said in his speech at the launch ceremony here yesterday.

Royal presence: Sultan Sharafuddin (centre) with Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin (left) and Tengku Amir Shah (fourth from left) listening to an explanation by GSPP senior general manager (Commercial/Raw Material Procurement Lee Chee Yew (right). — KK SHAM/The Star

Also present at the event were Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, Raja Muda Tengku Amir Shah, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Japanese ambassador to Malaysia Katsuhiko Takahashi.

Isono added that PM3 is capable of producing high quality paper products and meeting the needs of the packaging industry, both in Malaysia and the Asean region.

“Since the acquisition of GSPP in 2010, Oji Holdings has continued investing in Malaysia to further strengthen our position as the largest paper, packaging and paper-related product company in Malaysia.

“Besides expanding the industrial material sector, we have also been investing heavily in the functional materials and disposable diaper businesses,” said Isono, who is also Oji Holdings’ chief executive officer.

He added that his company has operations in 18 locations, with a total investment of more than US$1bil (RM4.71bil).

Last month, the company acquired Singapore’s Adampak group, which is South-East Asia’s largest manufacturer of adhesive paper labels.

“As we look at the South-East Asian and Indian markets as our business growth centre, we aim to be the number one total packaging material solution provider since we first stepped foot into Malaysia in 2010,” said Isono.

He said while the sectors that needed paper have been declining, the packaging sector remains bullish, and attributed lobbying to switch to more sustainable packaging as one of the major factors.

The company is also aiming to explore the biochemical and bioplastics sectors in the future, with research and development efforts under way.

GSPP functions as a one-stop packaging solution backed by its wide domestic and international wastepaper collection network to ensure that its paper mill has a consistent supply of raw materials (used paper and cardboard) to meet demand.