KOTA KINABALU: The durability of key metal structures such as telecommunication towers, ports and bridges in the State can be more assured now with the availability of an internationally renowned corrosion protection technology thanks to Qhazanah Sabah Berhad (QSB).
The State strategic investment firm through its subsidiary, Qhazanah Technology Sdn Bhd (QTSB), has teamed up with Zingametall Marine & Offshore (JB) Sdn Bhd to introduce, market and distribute Zinga corrosion protection products in Sabah and Labuan.
QTSB and Zingametall Marine & Offshore (JB) Sdn Bhd inked a joint venture agreement here on Wednesday (Oct 26) to set up a company – Ilham Nekad Sdn Bhd – for this purpose.
At the signing ceremony at the Qhazanah Sabah office in Riverson Walk here, QTSB was represented by its Director Tuan Haji Jasmih Slamat @ Selamat and witnessed by QSB’s Company Secretary Rudy Jaglul.
Zingametall Marine and Offshore was represented by its Chief Executive Officer Tengku Reza Shah Bin Tengku Chaidzir Shah and Gurmit Singh, the Chief Executive Officer of Zingametall (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
Witnessing the event were QSB Chairman Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Salleh Said Keruak, Executive Director Tuan Haji Mohd Shukor Abdul Mumin and the Chief Executive Officer of QTSB, Al Zarefee Bin Mohd Shukor.
Following the signing event, Al Zarefee said with the setting of the joint venture company, efforts would be made to introduce Zinga corrosion protection products to various agencies, in which authorities and companies in the State and Labuan are tasked to maintain key metal structures such as telecommunication and high-tension towers, bridges, ports and jetties.
“Until now, corrosion protection mainly involved just painting a metal structure, but this approach would usually last three to four years at most. The protection provided by Zinga products is substantially longer and the structures are more durable, thus having a longer lifespan,” he explained.
The Zinga film galvanising system is a one pack coating containing 96% zinc in the dry film and provides cathodic protection to ferrous metals. It can be used as an alternative to hot-dip galvanisation or metallisation and can be applied by brushing, rolling, or spraying.
Tengku Reza said there was enormous potential for Zinga products in Sabah with the various ongoing development projects in the State such as the Pan Borneo highway.
Developed in Belgium more than 50 years ago, Zinga has been used extensively throughout the world and Zingametall Marine & Offshore holds the exclusive rights to the product in Malaysia, he said.
“We have assigned these exclusive rights for Sabah and Labuan to Ilham Nekad,” Tengku Reza explained.
He said Zingametall Marine and Offshore would provide training to the G1, G2 and G3 contractors in Sabah appointed by Ilham Nekad as to the methods and application of Zinga products.
“Our intention is to gradually transfer knowhow and knowledge to Sabahans,” Tengku Reza said.
