SIME DARBY TO INVEST 34 MILLION EUROS IN
OIL&FATS BUSINESS IN EUROPE
Zwijndrecht, The Netherlands – 1 April 2008 :
Sime Darby plans to invest over 34 million Euros in its current Unimills facilities in Zwijndrecht and other business locations in Europe to further strengthen its position in the oils and fats downstream business in Europe.
Sime Darby has already identified various locations for palm oil processing facilities, including setting up a new refinery and bulking facilities which will complement the operations of its existing plant in Zwijndrecht.
At Unimills, the investment involves the installation of a new 10,000-tonne capacity tank yard, an innovation centre with a new laboratory and pilot plant facilities, and an enzymatic arrangement plant with a capacity of 100,000 tonnes per year. The innovation centre is one of three such facilities to be developed within the Sime Darby Group.
Sime Darby President & Group Chief Executive Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zubir Murshid said the decision was based on Unimills’ successful transformation from a commodity-based company into one focused on delivering high value tailor-made products.
“We are encouraged by the positive uptake and see an opportunity for Unimills to conduct further research to develop a more comprehensive range of such high-value niche products,” he said.
A market and technology leader in margarine hardstocks in Europe, Unimills in 2006 collaborated with the Sime Darby R&D centre to develop enzymatically rearranged fats which were successfully tested by major customers in the European market. Market trends indicate a growing demand for this “greener” enzymatic rearranged fats compared to chemical interesterified fats.
About Sime Darby www.simedarby.com
Sime Darby is a Malaysia-based diversified multinational involved in key growth sectors ranging from power to plantations, property to utilities, and industrial equipment to motors. In addition to plantations, the Sime Darby group has downstream refineries in oils and fats and a worldwide oleochemicals business.
With a workforce of over 100,000 employees in over 20 countries, Sime Darby is committed towards building sustainable futures for all its stakeholders. A strong environmental advocate, Sime Darby subsidiaries have received various global awards including the United Nations’ Global 500 Award for the company’s “Zero Burning” policy. Sime Darby is also a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) which in November 2005 formulated criteria for sustainable palm oil production.
About Unimills www.unimills.com
Unimills B.V., a member of the Sime Darby group, is a leading European supplier of tailor-made vegetable oils, producing more than 450,000 tonnes of products per year from the company base in Zwijndrecht, the Netherlands. Unimills' strength is the diversity of processes for healthy oil-based ingredients, ranging from refining to double-fractionation, and from interesterification to hydrogenation of oils. Unimills sells products under key brand names including Delico® hardstocks for margarines and spreads, GoldBake® dough fats and Prifex® for premium flaked fats. Based on innovation and responsibility, the Unimills strategy is directed to being the preferred supplier of tailor-made healthy vegetable oils and fats and co-developer of new food products with the leading food companies.
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Note for journalists:
For further information please contact:
Sime Darby
Plantation & Agri-Business Division
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Mrs. Putri Rafidah Megat Khas
Head - Communications
Tel : +60 (3) 5631 7523 (Direct)
E-mail: putri.rafidah.khas@simedarby.com
Unimills B.V.,
Zwijndrecht, the Netherlands
Dr. Gerhard de Ruiter
Innovation & Marketing Manager
Tel: + 31 6 2394 1114
E-mail: g.ruiter@unimills.nl
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