VICE-Chancellor Professor Datuk Ir Dr Wahid Omar led a group of six senior lecturers from the Faculty of Mechanical paid a visit to Kiswire Sdn Bhd (Kiswire), a global leader in the special wire industry, in Johor Bahru, recently.
The visit was to strengthen research collaborations between the two parties. Collaboration between Kiswire and UTM was formalised through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed on 1st September 2013 under research projects led by Prof. Dr. Adi Maimun Abd Malek, Prof. Dr. Mohd Nasir Tamin, Prof. Dr. Esah Hamzah and Dr. Norhayati Ahmad.

The collaboration saw Kiswire contributing RM 3 million to UTM for an Endowment Fund to establish a Professorial Chair at the university to further strengthen academic-industry research partnerships.
The UTM delegation comprised the Dean of Faculty of Mechanical Prof. Dr. Noordin Mohd Yusof , Deputy Dean Prof. Dr. Mohd Nasir Tamin, Head of Materials Science Laboratory, Department of Materials, Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering Dr.Norhayati Ahmad, Prof. Dr. Esah Hamzah, Prof. Dr. Izman Sudin and Senior Lecturer Dr. Muhammad Noor Harun.
Meanwhile Kiswire was represented by its Chief Executive Officer Charles Lee, Senior Vice President Scott Hong, Cho Myung Hyun and Kevin Suh, Vice President Akla, R&D Engineer Muhammad Nur Anas and Suhaimi Salleh.
During the visit, both parties discussed seven proposed projects involving Karakuri automation systems for new small wire rope factory, stabilization of Zn¬Al¬Mg alloy coating for mass production, shape die design and manufacturing or FLC and HLC wire, damage mechanics approach for fatigue of heavily drawn steel wires for radial tire applications, non-thermal plasma treatment for wire cleaning and coating and reliability of steel wires and wire ropes.
The visit was fruitful and will further strenghten strategic collaboration between UTM and Kiswire.