A new way forward for the rubber sector

Malaysia, as one of the pioneer nations to start rubber plantations in 1877, continues to lead the field in producing high-quality rubber products such as medical gloves, latex threads, condoms, latex foams, and precured tyre treads for the world market. In 2021, Malaysia exported US$15 billion worth of rubber products to 189 countries.

Setting a standard of quality rubber products from the others, Malaysia’s rubber industry is poised for a revolution - recognising the need to push the industry through reform and modernisation to enhance its competitiveness and strengthen its global position.

Thus, taking the bull by its horn, in June 2022, the Malaysian Rubber Council ( MRC ), formerly known as Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council, launched the Global Funding for Rubber Innovation (GFRI), a holistic initiative to source for ideas, innovations and inventions for new or enhanced rubber and rubber-based products as well as technologies, process or equipment.

Themed “Nurturing Ideas for the Rubber Industry Globally” - fhe Fund will encourage comprehensive research on high-value products and on the latest technologies for the upstream, midstream, and downstream segments of the rubber industry.

With an initial allocation of RM10 million, the fund is available to all local and foreign-based researchers from higher learning institutions, research institutes, companies, or any concerns. A designated GFRI Committee comprising industry and technical experts will evaluate the proposals received on technical and financial merits.

GFRI’s main objective is to encourage the generation of ideas, innovations and inventions for rubber products and technologies with high commercialisation viability to attract investments to the Malaysian rubber industry.

The establishment of the fund by MRC is timely considering the increasingly competitive marketplace, new supply opportunities in sectors such as automotive and infrastructure, and sustainably produced products. It also comes against the back of Malaysia’s top performance globally during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the country emerged as the main exporter of medical rubber gloves due to the country’s ability to meet growing demand Malaysia. But now there is an oversupply situation emerging and rubber players need to diversify their product range.

MRC also says that “the initiative will add value and benefits to the entire ecosystem of the rubber industry, aligning with MRC’s role as a catalyst in providing guidance and assistance to industry players to move up the global supply chain and solidify Malaysia’s position as the main and preferred source for high-quality rubber products”.

“At MRC, we believe in a strong collaborative front for the development and benefit of the rubber industry. We would like to call upon all researchers or interested parties to participate in this initiative. Applications are now open throughout the year,” concludes MRC.

For further enquiries, visit www.myrubbercouncil.com/globalrubberfund or email MRC at gfri@myrubbercouncil.com

Global and Asian markets for silicones in the healthcare and medical industries have grown in tandem with the advancement of devices and equipment in these fields, according to Angelica Buan in this report.

Silicones dominate the medical devices space

Silicone is a common material that is considered the gold standard in modern medical devices. The highly versatile synthetic polymer is well suited for complex functional and design requirements of medical devices, particularly implantables, reusable and single-use components, and other health care technologies that require reliability, sterility, and high performance.

According to Maximize Market Research , the market for medical grade silicones is expected to surpass US$24 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 6%. This expansion will be bolstered by rising demand for silicones in a variety of end-user industries, including personal care, consumer goods, industrial processes, and construction.

Furthermore, ongoing product innovation and technological developments are likely to foster the use of silicone in growing sectors such as electric vehicles (EVs), as well as the electrical and electronics sectors. However, silicones for applications in medical devices, such as implants and prosthetics due to their biocompatibility and durability, continue to be major movers.

Major suppliers expanding capabilities

Major players in the healthcare space, such as Norwegian silicone manufacturer Elkem , count on silicones’ high performance and processability for medical technology OEMs and CDMOs (contract development and manufacturing organisations).

Elkem’s Silbione product line includes LSRs, HCRs, RTVs, gels, fluids, and adhesive bonding solutions for medical and long-term implant applications.

By 2029, the market for medical-grade silicones is anticipated to reach US$24 billion, growing at a CAGR of 6%. Rising silicone demand across a range of end-user industries will support this expansion

Elkem, a manufacturer of medical grade silicone solutions, established its first US production facility in South Carolina to meet the high demand for pharmaceutical and medical implantable applications

To name a few of the company’s medical grade silicone solutions, select platinum-catalysed silicone elastomers designed for liquid injection moulding; and a biomedical grade 2-part adhesive called Silbione Biomedical ADH2 M213 that comes in three different cure kinetics for adhering multiple substrates within medical devices.

In a related development, the company opened its brand-new US production site in South Carolina last year to meet the high demand for medical implantable and pharmaceutical applications.

The specialist facility manufactures high purity biomedical grade silicone materials in a class 8 clean room and packages them in a class 7 clean room. Elkem stated that the operations at this site are controlled by a single quality management system that complies with ISO9001, ISO13485, and IPEC Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines.

The medical tubing market, which serves a wide range of medical applications, is also gaining traction. The size of the global market for medical tubing was estimated at US$12.2 billion in 2022 and is expected to increase at a CAGR of 6% from 2023 to 2030.