Rianlon, a global leader in polymer additives, officially broke ground yesterday on its R&D and Manufacturing Base in Johor, marking a significant step forward in the company’s first major integrated facility outside China.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held on the 9th anniversary of Rianlon’s public listing, was attended by Menteri Besar of Johor, Dato’ Onn Hafiz bin Ghazi, Li Haiping, Chairman and President of Rianlon, Aldo Govi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Infineum Group, and representatives from various parties attended the celebration.
The ceremony represents the realisation of Rianlon’s commitment, first announced during Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s working visit to China in September 2025. The RM1.27 billion investment will establish R&D and manufacturing base focusing on research, development, and production of anti-aging materials, lubricant materials, and bio-based materials. The facility will provide high-performance, solutions for global polymer and lubricant customers with the R&D and Phase I plant facilities slated to be completed by the first quarter of 2027.
At the ceremony, Onn Hafiz, stated that based on Johor’s clear regional advantages and superior business environment, it has attracted the attention of numerous international companies in recent years, with renowned global enterprises such as Nvidia, ByteDance, and BASF settling in Johor. The project brought by Rianlon is an innovation engine integrating R&D and manufacturing, which is expected to ignite the fire of innovation in the fields of fine chemicals and green chemistry in Johor, driving the collaborative upgrade of the entire industry chain. The Johor State Government will continue to optimise the business environment, ensure clear and transparent policies, and provide efficient administrative services to fully support the rapid delivery and efficient operation of the project.
Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, CEO of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), congratulated Rianlon Malaysia on this significant milestone in its global expansion journey. “Aligned with the New Industrial Master Plan 2030, this project is set to enhance innovation in advanced materials and green chemistry capabilities, create quality jobs for Malaysians, and contribute meaningfully to sustainable and technology-driven industrial development.”
Aldo Govi, CEO of the Infineum Group, stated that Rianlon is an important strategic partner of Infineum. Both parties will seize the opportunity of the construction of the Rianlon Malaysia R&D and manufacturing base to strengthen deep cooperation in the lubricant value chain. They remain committed to providing superior lubrication technology, products, and fast services for the lubricant industry. The deep cooperation between the two parties will build a new paradigm, playing an active role in enhancing supply chain security and efficiency in the lubricant additive sector in China and the Asia-Pacific region.
Meanwhile, Li Haiping, the Board Chairman of Rianlon Corporation, outlined the company’s development strategy and the significance of the Malaysia facility. “Malaysia is Rianlon’s first overseas R&D centre and production base, representing an important milestone in our globalisation strategy. We believe the completion and operation of this project will enhance the flexibility and security of Rianlon’s global supply chain and improve our service efficiency and innovation capabilities for global customers.”
The ceremony concluded with the distinguished guests performing the traditional soil-turning ceremony, symbolising the official start of construction.
