IMA August 2015 Processor Report

Injection Moulding Asia Processor Report

Combi-Pack takes expansion in its stride Malaysian packaging maker Combi-Pack has been trailblazing the industry since it was set up in 2007.

It has not only won awards for its Combi Cup but also moved to a new factory last year.

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he injection moulder achieved the ISO:22000 (food safety management system) in 2008; won the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MITI) Award of Excellence for its Combi Cup in 2011; and moved to a 120,000 sq m-facility late last year in Oakland Industrial Park, Seremban, around 50 km south of the capital city of Kuala Lumpur.

“We like to emphasise that we are purely a food packaging manufacturer. We do not engage in any other types of plastics manufacture,” said CEO CY Chow, who, together with his wife Clara Cheng, and partner Linda Leong, owns the business.

Combi-Pack relies on Arburg’s machinery to produce its Combi Cup, in a controlled environment

It also has a controlled environment, in compliance with the food packaging sector. “A factor in sourcing for Arburg machinery has been that sales and service is easily available, plus service technicians are close by,” said CY. Novelty packaging star product in the company’s portfolio, Combi Cup, as its name suggests, is a combination of a moulded PP cup with a cardboard sleeve on the outside. It has been specially designed with ribs for heat insulation, for hot food servings.

Two-layer Combi Cup The cardboard sleeve provides rigidity for the PP cup and also allows a user to have an easy grip on the cup when it has hot food in it.

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ed CY Chow and his wife Clara Chang share a similar passion in packaging

Having bought over a ready-made factory, which was previously occupied by another plastics product manufacturer, the company was able to start operating in a short period of time. “We invested RM20 million and upgraded the 20-year old factory,” “The first generation “Combi Cup is a combination of of the said CY, adding that plastic cup had previously, the company’s long ribs but we have a moulded PP cup with a operations were spread out improved the design cardboard sleeve and is over three smaller facilities with shorter ribs that in Balakong, closer to Kuala allow for further specially designed with ribs..”

Lumpur. savings in material,” The “new” facility is equipped with 30 injection explained CY. moulding machinery from German machine maker The first generation 15 g-cup, allowed for material Arburg, with related auxiliaries and IML (in-mould savings of 25%. The 13.5 g-second generation cup labelling) cells from companies like Wetec and allows for even further material savings, said CY, who Wittmann. designed the cup.

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Injection Moulding Asia Processor Report Apart from the less use of plastic material, other When the company moved from its previous “green” factors include easier separation of material location in Balakong, it managed to retain most of (plastic and cardboard) for recycling, glue-less binding its staff. It has been able to do this, by providing for the cardboard and the use of recycled cardboard housing in Seremban and a car pooling service for paper. those who commute from the city. “People are the Furthermore, offset printing is used to print the heart of a company,” says Clara. branding on the cardboard. While originally having designed the Combi Cup for Nestlé’s ubiquitous Maggi Looking ahead to the future noodles, the company now offers different variations ver the eight years, and since the introduction for other hot food serves, yoghurts and snacks. of Combi Cup, the company has built up an When asked what the inspiration for the design impressive list of clientele of major brand owners, was, CY said, “While studying the market to see with 50% of its output now exported to Singapore, what was available, we found that there were a lot of Australia and Indonesia. companies producing generic-type cups. Rather than “This year we are targeting a turnover of RM70 compete on pricing, we decided to stand apart from million, up by 18% from last year,” said CY. our competitors and innovate a new design.”

In terms of its products, the company is He added, “Customisation and adding value to increasing its IML packaging is the only offerings. “It may be way to move forward.” “...IML decoration is an added expensive, but IML is an added value for packaging, as well as decoration Ideal partnership value for packaging, he entrepreneur as well as aesthetically aesthetically appealing..” learnt the ropes appealing,” said CY, the hard way having adding that IML was worked his way up from rank and file. “I literally targeted at a higher range of products. dropped my bags after finishing high school and started working,” CY said, adding that his first jobs were in canning factories.

In 1985, CY set up Fairpoint Plastic, which later merged with public-listed Versatile Creative. Not one to rest on his laurels, CY set up Combi-Pack.

While it is assumed that it is a bad idea for married couples to work together, the Chows have successfully worked together for years (first teaming up at Fairpoint Plastic) and share the same passion for the business; and complement each other well.

They have perfected the formula: with CY taking care of the business and technical aspects and Clara, the general management of a staff force of 200.

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The company also offers IML

Though CY admitted that the current economic conditions meant that OEMs and brand owners were approaching the market cautiously, he hasn’t ruled out future expansion, especially given that the facility sits on a land area spanning 6.3 acres.

CY, the innovator, says, “We are working on another product design, but it is still under wraps.”

Not bad for someone who honed his skills from being involved in the packaging industry and has used his practical knowledge to innovate an award winning cup.

The machinery is mostly equipped with servo-electrically driven IML robotic systems

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