32 Robots & 10-Second Color Swaps: 5 Cool Things Inside Inokom’s New RM300M Kulim Facility

When you buy a brand-new car in Malaysia, you expect a flawless, mirror-like paint finish that can handle our scorching heat and heavy tropical rainstorms. But have you ever wondered how major automotive brands paint tens of thousands of vehicles every year with pinpoint precision?

Inokom Corporation (a subsidiary of Sime Darby) just gave us an exclusive look into the future of local vehicle manufacturing with the launch of Paint Shop 3 (PS3) at its 200-acre assembly complex in Kulim, Kedah.

Officiated by Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, this RM300 million facility represents one of Sime’s largest manufacturing investments to date. Operated by a 100% Malaysian workforce, PS3 effectively doubles Inokom's total annual capacity to 100,000 painted vehicle bodies per year!

Here are 5 cool things we found inside this new mega facility:

1. 32 Precision Robots Handle All The Heavy Spraying

Forget manual hand-spraying! Most of PS3's operations are automated, led by 32 specialized painting and sealant robots. They apply exact, uniform paint coats across car exteriors, interior contours, and plastic components with millimeter precision. This eliminates uneven patches and run-offs while keeping workers safe from harsh chemical fumes.

2. Color Swaps Happen In Under 10 Seconds

In older manufacturing plants, switching paint shades meant stopping production to flush out spray lines. PS3 fixes this with a high-tech Cartridge Bell System (CBS) that enables rapid color changes in under 10 seconds! Supporting up to 27 color variants, the line can seamlessly paint different car models back-to-back without breaking a sweat.

3. Vehicles Travel Through ‘Sky’ Tunnels & A 1,053m Monorail

To prevent dust contamination and ground traffic hazards, vehicle bodies move through the plant completely automatically. Cars travel between the Body Shop, PS3, and Assembly Shop via overhead transfer tunnels. Once inside, a 1,053-metre conveyor network featuring electric monorail systems, roller beds, and lifters keeps up to 15 cars moving smoothly every hour.

4. Zero Water Spray Booths & 60% Less CO₂ Emissions

PS3 was engineered with serious green credentials. It uses a dry scrubber filtration system that completely eliminates water usage during spray booth operations. To top it off, a Regenerative Thermal Oxidiser (RTO) system recycles heat from drying ovens to cut CO₂ emissions by roughly 60%, and the facility is built ready for eco-friendly waterborne paints.

5. 100% Local Talent Powered By Mazda Technical Training

Despite all the sci-fi automation, people are still at the heart of the operation. The entire plant is operated by 100% Malaysian talent. To make this happen, local technicians underwent extensive technology transfer, training, and technical guidance in close collaboration with Mazda’s engineering support team!

Read: RM25 Million Boost for Kedah Plant! Stellantis Kickstarts Local CKD Assembly Lines for Leapmotor EVs