Hydrogas (M) Sdn Bhd (Hydrogas Malaysia), a subsidiary of Norsk Hydro (Hydro), a 13-billion USD Fortune 500 company based in Norway, officially opens its manufacturing facility, Nilai Dry Ice Plant, today. The RM5 million plant located at Nilai Utama Enterprise Park, is Hydrogas Malaysia’s second plant in the country, the first being the company’s RM45 million Liquefaction CO2 (carbon dioxide) Plant opened in March 1999 at Terengganu.
The RM50 million investment is a strong indication of Hydrogas Malaysia’s positive and long-term commitment, and of its confidence in Malaysia’s buoyant economy. Since the plant’s establishment last December, Hydrogas Malaysia has received an overwhelming response from the market, and penetrated into the existing and new dry ice markets in Malaysia and Singapore. The plant’s capability to manufacture dry ice slices in different weight and sizes, in pellets and huge blocks according to the customers’ varying and stringent requirements in quality, hygiene and applications are re-defining boundary for its industry.
Hydrogas, which Hydrogas Malaysia reports to, is a leader in Europe’s liquid CO 2 industry with more than half a century of experience. Its market excellence allows it to share its ideas, industrial and technological knowledge with its customers globally. Hydrogas’ strong financial backing has also broaden traditional dry ice applications, making it one of the most important and versatile chilling agents for the transportation and storage of perishable goods. Hydrogas Malaysia has imported these expertise and technologies to service Malaysia’s food packaging and delivery, hotel and airlines catering, and pharmaceutical industries.
The dry ice plant opening was officiated by YB Dato Kerk Choo Ting, Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry. Also present at the opening were Jon Reutz, President of Hydro Gas and Chemicals; Per-Christian Endsjø, President of Norsk Hydro Asia Pte. Ltd.; Bjørn Thronæs, Managing Director of Hydrogas (M) Sdn. Bhd.; Leong Peng Kiong, Executive Vice President of Hydro Asia Pacific, and Per Arne Nilsson, Regional Director of Hydrogas.
“The establishment of Hydrogas Malaysia is timely,” said Bjorn Thronas. “Malaysia's new rich and young generation is increasingly reliant on ready-made and frozen food. Hence, it is crucial to have a proper cold chain to provide them with safe and hygienic food handling and storage process.”
Today, Hydrogas Malaysia has built up a prominent list of customers due to its quality products, competitive prices and good customer services. They include major ice-cream comapnies Haagen Daz, Nestle, F& N Daily, Polar and Rasamewa.
Thronas went on to say that the Nilai plant can produce 4000 tons of high quality food-grade Hydro Dry Ice annually. “We have a guaranteed source of premium liquid CO 2 supply from our own Liquefaction CO2 Plant. Not only does the Nilai Dry Ice Plant's building design measure up to the international standards of Current Good Management Practice (cGMP), but also is working to achieve Hazard Analysis for Critical Control Point (HACCP).”
”In addition, our Hydro Dry Ice slices are wrapped in laminated paper with clear handling instructions. This further enhances the hygiene of the dry ice and prevents the delivered goods from being over-frozen when come into direct contact with dry ice. Such improvements have reduced product loss in dry ice during transportation and time loss for our customers when having to re-size dry ice for their actual applications,” he said.
Hydrogas also operates an identical dry ice plant in Bangkok, Thailand. This further enhances its competitiveness on the Peninsular Malaysia and in Singapore. In addition, Hydrogas has established well-developed production and delivery networks in Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. In Europe, the group also recently opened the largest dry ice plant in Denmark, supplying dry ice to Denmark, Norway and Sweden and specialty products to Denmark, the Netherlands and France.
Thronas also pointed out that dry ice is overtaking water ice in many ways. “Dry ice is far colder than water ice for its temperature is at about minus 75 degree Celsius. Water ice is only at about minus one degree Celsius. Dry ice removes heat from the immediate atmosphere and maintains the surroundings far below zero degree. Dry ice also evaporates and does not leave any residue unlike water ice. It is clean and easy to manage. This makes it the perfect medium to replace water ice in many areas, especially in providing prolonged cooling hours.”
To strengthen Hydrogas Dry Ice application, many innovative equipment have been invented to offer value added services to its customers. Hydrogas technologies like the Hydro Blast uses Hydro Dry Ice pellets to clean different surfaces without residue. The Hydrogas Jet Chill Injection System guarantees vast improvement in the quality and texture of the meat mixture product while preserving its bacteriostatic conditions. This system also shortens product processing time and minimizes product loss. Hydrogas' effective Cool Vent and Flexicold System uses liquid CO 2 and dry ice to protect the cold chain and perishable food product during transportation. Hydrogas' exclusive Cryogenic Freezers for chilling and freezing of food products reduce fluid loss in the products during thawing and minimize dehydration while maintaining a favourable bacteriostatic condition.