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P&G opens first Asia perfume plant in Singapore
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| Chia Yan Min |
Thu, Mar 06, 2008
The Straits Times
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COSMETICS giant Procter & Gamble (P&G) officially opened a fragrance manufacturing plant in Tuas yesterday - its first in Asia.
The 6,500 sq m factory makes fragrances for P&G's leading brands, including Pantene and Head & Shoulders shampoos, Olay skin moisturisers, Tide laundry detergents and Downy fabric softeners.
P&G built the plant in response to surging demand for perfume oils from its manufacturing operations in Asia. It picked Singapore from 18 possible sites in the region.
'Singapore is a natural choice. It embodies the essence of what successful companies look for - world-class infrastructure, a business-friendly environment and excellent local talent,' Ms Deborah Henretta, the head of P&G's Asian operations, said.
| Minister of State (Trade and Industry) S. Iswaran told the ceremony: 'P&G's investment signals confidence in the quality of the Singaporean workforce.'
He also said the plant reflected Singapore's 'robust regime' for protecting intellectual property, as P&G would be using several patented technologies for the manufacturing processes in the new facility.
The facility, which began production in December, employs 25 people, including scientists, perfumers and 'expert noses' - people trained to monitor the perfumes being manufactured. Most of the employees are Singaporean or permanent residents.
It has an advanced ventilation system that changes the air 15 times an hour to ensure that it remains uncontaminated.
The air is then filtered using activated charcoal before it is released outside.
More than three million kg of perfume, comprising 20 different fragrances, will be produced a year, but P&G intends to lift productivity sharply.
It aims to produce five million kg annually and make 100 different fragrances by the end of the year, with the facility projected to supply 10 per cent of P&G's perfumes.
Fragrances will be shipped in 204-litre drums to 14 P&G plants across Asia to be incorporated into products.
The plant utilises more than 300 different perfume ingredients, including patchouli, ylang ylang and jasmine, and sourced from 41 suppliers worldwide.
The facility is P&G's fourth perfume plant, with others located in the United States, Germany and Mexico.
chiaym@sph.com.sg
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