Tangkas plans green factories

A model of Tangkas Arena light industrial area

Tangkas Properties Sdn Bhd, the property development arm of Mudahjuta Industries Sdn Bhd, is planning a new light industrial area in Subang Jaya with factories that have eco-friendly features and innovative facilities.

Managing director Yogi Wong said Tangkas Arena, comprising 17 factory units in the prime UEP Industrial Park, would have a gross development value (GDV) of RM45mil.

To be completed in the next three years, it offers non-conventional factories with sophisticated architecture that breaks away from the stereotypical workshop stigma.

“This will provide a good corporate image that reflects a new generation of entrepreneurs,” Wong told StarBiz.

“Each unit will be equipped with integrated pro-environmental products to pioneer active ecological participation.”

One of the eco-friendly features is the net-metering system. Photovoltaic cells (solar panels) generate power from the sun, which is then fed back into the national supply grid for a net deduction in monthly electricity bills.

Wong said the Malaysia Building Integrated Photovoltaic scheme was promoted by the National Energy Centre (PTM) and supported by the United Nations Development Programme.

“Solar panels are expensive, so if business owners purchase these panels from authorised dealers, they would stand to enjoy a 25% subsidy with a further 27% income tax allowance from PTM,” he said.

Another feature is the clean thermal insulation system with Dow Styrofoam to reduce heat entering the building and subsequently reducing energy consumption in cooling.

Wong said these innovative features would also offer owners and investors alternative resources against the inevitable increase in energy prices.

Tangkas Arena comprises 17 units with carefully planned layout that gives much consideration for factory functions, production flow and internal logistics. The units, priced from RM2.88mil to RM3.3mil, will have 11,000-sq-ft built-up space.

Wong explained that by optimising the land area provided, the three-storey structure offered two production levels with generous ceiling allowances and an uninterrupted clear space of 3,200 sq ft per floor.

“The separate production levels are then synchronised by a spacious two-tonne low-energy good lifts, effectively allowing continuous flow of operations simulating one large factory floor space,” he said.

Giving further considerations to factory workings, Level 1 is able to support working loads of 7.5 kiloNewton per sq metre (kN/m2) while Level 2 has been upgraded to 5kN/m2.

Level 3 is a very versatile space that may serve as a corporate office or further support the light industrial operations below.

“All three levels of floor surfaces are grinded down from solid Grade C30 concrete and treated to provide enhance resistance to abrasion.

“For those who require much higher tolerance or hygienic considerations, this concrete provision allows a further but simple procedure to turn the existing surface into a seamless high-gloss finish,” Wong added.

To maintain incessant working spaces, each unit has a separate service tower with staircase leading up to a tank room where 2,200 effective gallons of water storage is available.

This is in addition to rainwater catchment tanks that are also provided to recycle water. The tower also allows alternative controlled access into each level while serving as a fire escape.

Wong observed that inadequate power supply has quite often been the grouse of industrial factory operators. “Therefore, Tangkas Arena has provided the electrical system and support circuits with the option to upgrade up to 200 Amps upon easy application to Tenaga Nasional.”

Instead of providing an inaccessible back yard, Tangkas Arena decided to incorporate a well-lit 40ft public road in the back lane for further function support.

He added that such features would perfectly suit numerous types of light industrial businesses from food and beverage preparation and distribution, printing plants to studio and production houses and even research laboratories.

By The Star (by Laalitha Hunt)