Polyplastics offers DURANEX (R) PBT CG7030 for automotive applications

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 -- The Polyplastics Group is offering an improved polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) grade, providing improved tracking resistance for a range of high-voltage automotive components.

DURANEX (R) PBT CG7030 is a 30 per cent glass-filled grade which also delivers strong dimensional stability and highly stable electrical resistance and dielectric breakdown properties, according to a statement.

The automotive industry is undergoing drastic change with electrification gaining traction due to worldwide efforts to reduce the use of fossil fuels and cut emissions. As car makers move increasingly to electric vehicles, demand for high-voltage components is expected to increase.

Polyplastics conducted extensive testing of both PA 66 and PBT in temperature environments ranging from -40 C to 140 C for electric car applications such as batteries, power control units and motors/generators.

Since the properties of PBT grades experience little change even in hot, moist environments, Polyplastics determined that they are more suitable than PA66 for use in high-voltage applications.

These results suggest that using PBT could produce less variation in electrical properties when environments change.

DURANEX (R) PBT CG7030 also exhibits highly superior dimensional stability. Polyplastics reports that both moisture absorption and dimensional change rates for PBT grades are around one-tenth of the values observed for PA66-GF33 per cent.

-- BERNAMA

Entegris' manufacturing facility in Kulim receives NCOSH safety excellence award

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 -- Entegris has received a safety excellence award from the Malaysian National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (NCOSH), the highest safety award a company can receive in Malaysia.

According to a statement, the award was presented after a six-month evaluation process and it was received by Entegris Malaysia managing director, Derek Ong.

“Together, we keep our focus on continuous improvement through weekly management meetings, safety Gemba walks to celebrate successes and identify areas for improvement, employee safety training, two-minute safety briefings during every shift and safety promotional campaigns,” said Ong.

Over 950 employees work in the Kulim, Kedah facility, developing systems and products to ensure the clean and safe delivery of the microelectronic components used in semiconductor manufacturing processes and other high technology industries.

It is Entegris’ largest manufacturing site and a part of the company’s Advanced Materials Handling (AMH) Division.

According to AMH vice-president of operations, Mike Lloyd, among the aspects that received recognition from NCOSH were senior management’s involvement in all safety matters, substantial commitment of resources to fund health and safety programmes, system to track incidents and proactive reporting metrics.

In addition, the company has a recognition programme that rewards employees who make suggestions for safety improvements, demonstrate good safety behaviour, address safety issues and coach other employees on safety issues.

Employees also engage in a community outreach programme that promotes health and safety for children that includes First Aid training.

-- BERNAMA

Pinnacle Life Credit Ratings affirmed - AM Best

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 -- Pinnacle Life Limited (Pinnacle Life) New Zealand has the Financial Strength Rating of B (fair) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of ‘bb+’, resulting in stable outlook of these ratings.

This follows by the recent affirmation by the United States-based credit rating agency, AM Best in a statement.

The ratings reflect Pinnacle Life’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best described as adequate, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

Pinnacle Life’s balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio, which AM Best expects to remain at the strongest level.

Despite this, the company has a small absolute capital base, which increases its sensitivity to shock events, as well as to changes in future performance and intangible assets.

In addition, AM Best views the company as having a high reliance on third-party reinsurance.

Prospectively, the agency expects controlled underwriting growth and a robust pricing strategy to support the maintenance of adequate operating performance over the medium term.

Pinnacle Life is focused mainly on term life insurance and funeral insurance. Its limited business profile assessment is largely a result of its small-scale operations, as well as limited product and geographical diversification in New Zealand.

-- BERNAMA

Vesta hires Shabab Muhaddes to lead expansion into Asia Pacific region

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 -- Vesta, a pioneer in guaranteed payments and fraud detection, is expanding into the Asia Pacific region with Singapore’s new office, led by Shabab Muhaddes as the region’s general manager.

“Asia Pacific is a dynamic and diverse region, and its eclectic mix of economies and rapid growth has created an immediate need for our guaranteed fraud protection and payment solutions,” said Vesta's chief executive officer, Ron Hynes, in a statement.

Muhaddes, who has more than a decade of experience building relationships across the region, brings to his role key local and global insights from the financial services, fintech and payments ecosystems.

Throughout his payments industry career, Muhaddes has demonstrated a strong ability to create win-win value propositions that serve companies, their partners and their customers in high-growth Asia Pacific markets.

Muhaddes said: “Vesta is a global company that, for over 20 years, has provided real-time automated machine learning technology to organisations seeking to effectively detect and prevent fraud, maximise revenue, reduce costs and deliver a seamless customer experience. I look forward to bringing these same tangible, positive impacts to organisations and consumers across the Asia Pacific region.” 

-- BERNAMA

Takeda completes sale of select OTC, non-core assets to Acino

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 -- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Takeda) has completed its previously-announced sale of a portfolio of select over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription pharmaceutical assets to Acino for a total value in excess of US$200 million (US$1 = RM4.20). 

The transaction includes approximately 30 select prescription pharmaceutical and OTC products in a number of Near East, Middle East and Africa countries within Takeda’s Growth and Emerging Markets Business Unit.

These products will continue to be made available by Takeda in other parts of the world.

Close to 270 employees, primarily sales and marketing professionals supporting the portfolio, are also transitioning to Acino. 

The parties also entered into multi-year manufacturing and supply agreements, under which Takeda will continue to manufacture the products on behalf of Acino.

The Japan-based Takeda has now announced several transactions as part of its efforts to deleverage and focus on its five key business areas.

In addition to the Acino transaction, Takeda completed the sale of Xiidra® to Novartis for up to US$5.3 billion, announced the sale of TachoSil® to Ethicon for US$400 million and announced its sale of non-core assets spanning the Russia-CIS region.

Takeda intends to use proceeds from these divestitures to reduce debt and continue to deleverage towards its target of 2x net debt/adjusted EBITDA within March 2022 - March 2024. 

-- BERNAMA

Hillstone Networks to launch Intelligence squared at RSAC 2020

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 -- Hillstone Networks is set to unveil its Intelligence squared campaign at the RSA Conference 2020 in San Francisco.

With this year’s theme being the Human Element, RSAC is the ultimate venue for the newest developments in cybersecurity.

Intelligence squared is based on Hillstone’s vision that AI and humans are better together as Intelligence squared.

According to a statement, it is a force multiplier, continually growing, adapting and defending enterprise.

“Intelligence squared expresses our commitment to our customers to stand with them to protect their organisation from the legions of ever-smarter attackers,” said Hillstone Networks’ CTO and Co-founder, Tim Liu.

“With Hillstone solutions, our customers will force multiply their security defences and protection. We are excited to share with the RSA audience the latest developments in Hillstone’s solution suite.”

Hillstone was recently recognised as a 2020 Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice for Network Firewalls.

-- BERNAMA

Validity to acquire email analytics provider 250ok

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 -- Validity, the most trusted name in customer data quality has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire email analytics and deliverability provider, 250ok.

According to a statement, the acquisition broadens Validity optimisation capabilities across the global ecosystem of email service providers.

250ok enables marketers to get more email delivered, the right way to targeted recipients and enjoy greater conversion and return on investment as a result.

The Validity for Email solution is strengthened with 250ok technologies and services including deliverability and reputation, engagement analytics, DMARC deployment, design previews, and, list validation.

Validity also brings together some of the top talents in the email industry to help ensure messages stay out of the spam folder.

Validity chairman and chief executive officer, Mark Briggs, said: “Our combined analytics platform, email expertise, and reach across the broadest set of email service providers brings enormous value to marketers across the world.”

More details at https://250ok.com

-- BERNAMA