Historie & Meilensteine

The Kuala Lumpur Rubber Company, Limited (KLR) was founded in London to oversee 600 ha. plantations (rubber and coffee) in Malaya (now Malaysia).

The Group started to plant oil palm in Fraser Estate.

1st October 1973: Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad (KLK) was incorporated in Malaysia and listed publicly on Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and London Stock Exchanges.

The late Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Lee Loy Seng

KLK’s Chief Executive Officer, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Lee Oi Hian invested in resource-based downstream manufacturing with the opening of its first oleochemical plant, Palm-Oleo in Rawang.
The birth of KLK OLEO.

Official Opening of Palm-Oleo, officiated by Y.A.B. Dato Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

Launching of Soap Noodles at KSP Manufacturing.

Introduction of Ethylene Bis-Stearamide and Alkanolamides at Palmamide.

Greenfield expansion at Zhangjiagang, China, manufacturer of Fatty Acids, Glycerine, Soap Noodles and Esters.

Investing in Davos Life Science Ptd Ltd in Singapore, manufacturer of phytonutrient from palm fruits.

Introduction of the first fully Malaysian-owned Fatty Alcohols plant at KL-Kepong Oleomas, Westport, Port Klang.

Launching of corporate brand „KLK OLEO“, assembling all oleochemical operations under ONE IDENTITY.

Acquisition of Uniqema Malaysia – renamed as Palm-Oleo (Klang), manufacturer of Fatty Acids, Glycerine, Esters and Soap Noodles.

Acquisition of Dr. W.Kolb Holding, a large independent alkoxylator and a significant manufacturer and distributor of Nonionic Surfactants and Esters.

Commissioning of Methyl Esters plant at KL-Kepong Oleomas.
New Oleo-based Methyl Ester Sulphonate (MES) introduced at KL-Kepong Oleomas as an environment-friendly surfactant.

Acquisition of Zoop’s biodiesel plant (renamed as KLK Bioenergy).

Expansion of KLK OLEO’s footprint in Europe through the acquisition of Croda Emmerich, Germany (renamed as KLK Emmerich).

Construction of KLK Dumai facility in Indonesia, futher added to the Group’s overall Fatty Acids and Glycerine production capability.

Relocation of Davos Life Science’s operation at Singapore to Westport, Malaysia, and with expansion of production capacity.

Acquisition of TensaChem (renamed as KLK TensaChem), manufacturer of sulph(on)ates in Belgium to complement the downstream business of European operations.