29 October 1998: Malaysia“s Poly Glass Fibre Bhd, a leading manufacturer of glasswool products, is aggressively marketing its products to the construction and housing industries in Europe due to the …
29 October 1998: Malaysia“s Poly Glass Fibre Bhd, a leading manufacturer of glasswool products, is aggressively marketing its products to the construction and housing industries in Europe due to the slowdown in Malaysia, a recent press report has said. Marketing manager Garry Foo said the company has lost about 30- 40% of its trade in Malaysia and the Asean region, but is hoping to compensate this with an increase in export sales to Europe. “We are already doing quite well in the export market, but we are also trying to penetrate into the European and UK markets, where we believe our (affordable) products will do very well in a very competitive market.” The company currently has a wide overseas market which includes Australia, New Zealand, China, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, India, Pakistan, Hong Kong and South Africa. “About 50% of our products are for the overseas markets,” said Foo. He added that the cost of products have been maintained through increased sourcing of raw materials locally. “Previously we used the Flame Attenuation method of manufacturing fibre glass which required 90% import content. However with a more updated system called Rotary Flame Attenuation method, we use local raw materials like silica, sand and glass.” The company now sources 85% of raw materials locally, which has made the company “very competitive” in the global market. “The revolutionary method of production, which we first introduced in 1991 and subsequently upgraded, makes glasswool fibres with a more consistent fibre diameter and length. This provides for more encapsulated air gaps, which ultimately transforms a glasswool blanket, board, batts and sectional pipes into high quality thermal and noise insulating products,” said Foo. With this process, Poly Glass has introduced the latest home insulation package that enables house owners to install glasswool batts by themselves. “The glasswool is so safe that it leaves no splinters in your hands. House owners who want to make their homes resistant to the scorching tropical heat now have the option of installing glasswool above their ceiling. The glasswool prevents heat from passing through the ceiling into the house, thus saving energy and lowering air-conditioning costs,” said Foo. Poly Glass“s main manufacturing plants are located in Prai and one each in China and Indonesia.