New EtO, RF Labs In Penang Strengthen SIRIM’s Support For SMEs

BUKIT MERTAJAM, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- SIRIM Berhad continues to strengthen its role in driving local industrial growth with the opening of two new laboratories in Penang - the Ethylene Oxide (EtO) Sterilisation Laboratory and the Radio Frequency (RF) Laboratory - which began operations earlier this year.

SIRIM Group chief marketing officer Mohd Faisal Abdul Shukor said the two laboratories underscored SIRIM’s commitment to empowering Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by easing operational burdens and helping them meet stringent international standards.

He said the EtO laboratory was strategically designed to meet the pressing needs of the medical device sector, offering cost-effective sterilisation for small-volume products with higher efficiency and fewer cycles.

“The laboratory, equipped with six Euro pallet chambers, is not just an ordinary facility but serves as a one-stop centre for SMEs to access medical equipment, conduct product testing, and utilise the certification and inspection services offered.

“These services are now available at more affordable rates, and customers can come directly to obtain product testing services, including SIRIM certification,” he told reporters at the SIRIM Silaturasa 2025 programme, held in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of SIRIM, at his office here today.

At the ceremony officiated by State Trade, Entrepreneurial and Rural Development Committee chairman Datuk Rashidi Zinol, members of the media were also given a tour of the new laboratory facilities.

Elaborating, Mohd Faisal said the laboratory plays a key role in providing essential and affordable services to local companies, helping them meet global demand, make innovation safer, and accelerate growth for both businesses and the economy.

The EtO laboratory provides sterilisation for medical equipment, especially those that cannot withstand high temperatures, while the RF laboratory undertakes research and development, testing, and certification of products that utilise radio waves.

Meanwhile, Mohd Faisal advised consumers to always ensure that goods, particularly electrical and electronic products purchased online, bear the SIRIM safety certification label to ensure their safety.

He said the trend of purchasing goods online is on the rise, particularly from overseas, but some products have not undergone SIRIM testing, posing a safety risk.

“Many products purchased online do not go through the mandatory physical testing, and this is where SIRIM’s role comes in, to constantly remind consumers to buy products with the label that assures them the items are safe to use.

“Although some products from abroad have been tested according to their respective (country-of-origin) standards, they still need to undergo local testing and certification before being marketed in Malaysia,” he said.

-- BERNAMA