Inokom Corporation Sdn Bhd has launched its new automotive paint facility (Paint Shop 3 or PS3) at its plant in Kulim.
Valued at approximately RM300 million, PS3 is one of Sime Darby Berhad’s largest automotive assembly investments to date.
The investment aims to position Inokom as a preferred assembly partner within both the local and regional automotive ecosystem, while creating job opportunities and strengthening overall competitiveness.
The development of PS3 was carried out with close collaboration from Mazda’s technical support team, which provided knowledge transfer, training, and technical guidance.
Increased Production Capacity
The facility is designed to support the production of up to 50,000 painted vehicle bodies per year, based on two‑shift operations and a rate of 15 units per hour.
It also has the capability to paint plastic components.
With the addition of PS3, Inokom’s combined paint shop capacity now increases to 100,000 units annually.
The facility supports multiple vehicle models and offers the flexibility to scale production volumes to meet future demand.
Automation Capabilities
Key equipment installed at PS3 includes:
- 32 painting and sealing robots
- an automatic Cartridge Bell (CBS) colour‑change system
- an automatic pre‑treatment and electro‑deposition (PTED) system
- an integrated delivery system
The CBS system can perform colour changes in under 10 seconds and supports up to 27 colour variations, helping reduce downtime and minimise wastage.
PS3 also adopts a three‑coat, one‑bake painting process, which is more energy‑efficient and shortens cycle time without compromising quality.
Environmental Sustainability
PS3 incorporates several sustainability‑focused technologies:
- a Regenerative Thermal Oxidiser (RTO) system that reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 60%
- a dry scrubber filtration system that reduces water usage in spray booth operations
- the use of water‑based paint, which is more environmentally friendly