TARRC welcomes RISDA to Brickendonbury
On Wednesday 9th March 2011 TARRC was pleased to welcome a delegation from the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority, Malaysia (RISDA). The visit was part of a European business tour which was led by the Chairman of RISDA, YBhg Tan Sri Rahim Tamby Chik.
TARRC’s Director of Research, Dr Stuart Cook, welcomed the delegation and gave a briefing on TARRC’s role, its significant contributions to the rubber industry and its future R&D projects. The presentation highlighted the recent work of TARRC’s Biotechnology Unit, sequencing the genome of the rubber tree ( Hevea brasiliensis ) and how this will lead improved production. Dr Cook also emphasized the work on Ekoprena™, the ‘GREEN’ Tyre Technology based on Epoxidised Natural Rubber (ENR) and TARRC’s involvement in the design of bridge bearings for the 2 nd Penang bridge crossing, as well as the Anaconda Natural Rubber Tube, a ‘Green’ energy produced from ocean waves.
During a tour of the laboratories the delegation were shown the development of a simple non-instrumental test kit for the detection of allergenic proteins in latex products by Dr Maria Kolesnikova-Allen, Head of the Biotechnology Unit. The tour also covered material analysis and development, tyre research and engineering and design departments.
After lunch there was a presentation of gifts in the Blue room and a signing of TARRC’s visitor’s book in the Cedar room.
YBhg Tan Sri Rahim commented on how impressed he was at the end of the visit and how TARRC should continue its excellent work on behalf of the Malaysian rubber industry.
For more information about RISDA please visit their official website www.risda.gov.my