25/7/06 (NSTP)  -  UNIVERSITI Teknologi Malaysia's (UTM) RM4.5 million expansion of its chemical engineering pilot plant (CEPP) in Skudai, Johor, will see its production capacity go up by 10 times by March 2007.

"CEPP's current capacity is about 5kg per day. But after the expansion, which is targeted to be completed by the first quarter of 2007, we should be able to process extractions of 50kg per day," CEPP director Professor Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz said.

Currently, palm oil companies that are using its facilities and services are Golden Hope Plantations Bhd and JC Chang's Carotino Sdn Bhd.

"When Golden Hope and Carotino extract the tocotrienol from the palm oil in liquid form, they transport it to our facilities in Johor. We powderise the palm oil extracts so that the Vitamin E will have a longer shelf life," said Ramlan.

"Packed in sachets, the Vitamin E can be easily blended into food for added nutrition. At a minimal fee, we help these private companies broaden their line of products," he added.

Ramlan was speaking to Business Times after chairing a seminar entitled "Biopharmaceuticals: Global Business Growth, Market segments and Innovative Products" held at UTM's branch campus in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Since 1998, the 10,000sq metre CEPP employs 60 skilled technicians who work round the clock to extract nutrients and essential oils from plants, tree bark, wood and grains.

The CEPP is a collaboration with a German consulting company, Energieconsulting Heidelberg. Built at a cost of RM46 million, the CEPP links laboratory-scale innovations with commercial-scale businesses.

Besides contract manufacturing for oleochemical players, CEPP also undertakes research into natural resources like lemon grass, pepper and Tongkat Ali.

"We're collaborating with several researchers from Universiti Putra Malaysia to develop bio-pesticides from tuber roots for farmers," Ramlan said.