SIRIM Tech Venture Sdn Bhd (STV), a subsidiary of SIRIM Bhd recently formed a strategic alliance with LD Micro Precision Sdn Bhd (LDM), marking its continuous effort in commercialising micro precision grinding machine into the educational program market segment.
Through the strategic alliance agreement, STV will be the marketing and sales window for the micro precision grinding machine manufactured by LDM.
The agreement was signed by President and Group Chief Executive of SIRIM, Prof Ir Dr Ahmad Fadzil Mohamad Hani and Director of LDM, Lai Siaw Ling, and witnessed by Chief Operating Officer of STV, Ajmain Kasim and Managing Director of LDM, Tan Kean Lee, at a ceremony in Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang.
Ahmad Fadzil said the synergistic partnership between SIRIM Tech Venture and LDM will bring outputs of research and development and innovation into the market and augurs well with the Malaysia Commercialisation Year initiatives.
“This is a success story for SIRIM on commercialisation where we facilitate technology transfer with the industry that could help them to build knowledge in innovating technology on their own.
“In addition, this will enable the industry to produce equipment for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector to train its users on precision machine and its technology,” he added.
“After going through difficulties in penetrating the market, the synergistic partnership between STV and LDM has nurtured precision micro grinding machine technology that will benefit educational sector at the initial commercialisation phase.
Micro precision grinding machine is a niche technology in the precision industry, and we hope that this technology will progress further into local and regional industrial markets especially in the semiconductor, medical device and aerospace parts, components sectors and precision industries, he said.
The programme will be in line with the implementation of the National Occupational Skill Standard (NOSS: MC-050-3-2015) by Jabatan Pembangunan Kemahiran of Jabatan Tenaga Manusia, which is expected to be in the third quarter of 2017.
The programme will lead to a greater business opportunity for micro precision grinding technology particularly in the sales of micro precision grinding machines and human capital programme on Train of Trainer (TOT) for the training centres. From the NOSS implementation, students will be further exposed to precision micro grinding technology, apart from existing NOSS on CNC milling skills.
SIRIM and Penang-based LDM first collaborated in 2008 to produce a functional prototype known as 8-axis Tool and Cutter Grinder. Later, they conducted an internal market study to evaluate its viability for the next phase of development, the pre-commercialisation.
In 2012, SIRIM ventured into pre-commercialisation phase by producing two models of Multi Orientation Micro Precision Grinding Machine. The project was undertaken by SIRIM Micro Precision Unit as Technology Business Unit and it was successfully completed within six months.
Aggressive marketing activities covering all education sectors in Malaysia from 2013-2015 was implemented which eventually led to the adoption of micro precision grinding technology by NOSS in 2016.