UK based oil mist collection specialist, Filtermist, has restructured its business in the ASEAN region in response to increasing demand for its extraction units in a number of high-growth markets.
Filtermist designs and manufactures a range of oil mist filtration and collection equipment which is used in a wide range of machining applications including general machining, spark eroding, turning, grinding, food spraying and industrial washing processes. Its units remove harmful oil mist droplets from the working environment and return clean air to the workplace, protecting workers’ health and making manufacturing environments safer.
Filtermist currently sells its products in more than 60 countries worldwide through a network of global distributors, subsidiary companies and joint ventures. It first established Filtermist Asia Pacific (FAP) as a joint venture in Singapore in 2005; headed up by Managing Director, Jim How, FAP developed strong ties with key machine tool manufacturers in the ASEAN region.
In recent years demand for Filtermist units from ASEAN manufacturers has increased to such an extent that the company decided to restructure the business in the region to ensure it can make the most of the opportunities on offer in these high-growth markets.
Filtermist Asia Pacific has been bought by Jim How and will now trade as Filtermist Singapore focusing solely on servicing Singapore and Malaysia, whilst a brand new wholly owned subsidiary company, Filtermist Asia Pte Ltd, will support sales in Singapore and develop business in a number of high-growth markets including Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Filtermist has appointed Business Development Manager, Desmond Teo, to head up Filtermist Asia Pte and has tasked the company with growing sales and setting up a dedicated distributor network for both Filtermist and its Swedish parent company, Absolent, throughout the Asia Pacific region.
Desmond brings a wealth of experience to the role having previously worked in regional sales for multi-national manufacturing brands and has already met with potential distributors in Vietnam and Thailand following projects with UKTI to identify suitable opportunities.
Desmond recently visited the UK for training at Filtermist’s Headquarters and production facility in Bridgnorth, Shropshire before travelling to Sweden to learn more about Absolent’s oil smoke, dust and fume collectors. He says, “I am very pleased to have joined Filtermist at such an exciting time in the company’s development and I’m looking forward to playing an active role in raising awareness of both the Filtermist and Absolent brands with key ASEAN manufacturers.”
The ASEAN region’s rapid growth in manufacturing, and in particular automotive production, has resulted in some market analysts predicting that it will become the fifth largest automotive manufacturer in the world by 2019. UKTI’s ASEAN Economic Bulletin, published in May 2013, stated ‘SE Asian economies continue to outperform many other key emerging markets, with the region as a whole expected to grow by 5-5.5% in 2013. Indonesia, ASEAN‟s largest economy, and the Philippines are both expected to grow by 6% or more this year.’
This boom has significant implications for companies in the supply chain whose products and services are used in the manufacturing process, as Filtermist Managing Director, James Stansfield, confirms, “Filtermist has been trading in this region for quite some time and has witnessed a substantial increase in demand in recent years which can be attributed to a number of factors. Historically, Western manufacturers have established production facilities in this area driven by lower costs, but still aimed at producing goods for Western consumption. This is no longer the case. As the world becomes ‘smaller’ due to advances in technology and cheaper transport, there is greater demand from consumers in the ASEAN region for ‘luxury’ items including aspirational automotive brands.”
Singapore’s Aerospace industry is also thriving – a number of internationally renowned companies that already use Filtermist extraction units have established operations on the Seletar Aerospace Park, a purpose built development which has been designed to reinforce the country’s Aerospace expertise.
James continues, “The UK enjoys an enviable reputation for its manufacturing expertise and our customers realise the value of investing in quality products which have a proven track record. Purchasing robust, well-manufactured equipment that will last avoids unnecessary downtime when manufacturing facilities are operational.
“Filtermist has more than 40 years’ experience in manufacturing oil mist collectors and is trusted by some of the world’s leading manufacturers in a range of industries to ensure the air in their workplaces is clean.”
Filtermist Asia will be exhibiting at forthcoming industry shows Metalex, taking place in Bangkok later this month and Manufacturing Indonesia from 4th-7th December – find out more by visiting Filtermist’s exhibitions listings page.
Filtermist Asia operates from the same offices and warehouse as Filtermist Singapore - all enquiries should be sent to asia@filtermist.com.