The Ingenieur Vol 57 January-March 2014 The Ingenieur Vol 57 January-March 2014 | Page 51

IFP Engineers analysing large amounts of data via computers and hard copies

e-Xpats System (application
services
for
employment
passes for foreign knowledge
workers of MSC companies)
as the company has been able
to source expertise faster and
at lower cost. IFP identifies
the expert it wants to recruit
and can obtain the person in
as fast as two weeks. Using
the e-Xpats System, IFP has
brought in seven experts
from India, the Philippines
and Japan, mainly on one or
two year contracts. “Working
with us, they have passed the
knowledge to our local staff,”
Chandran acknowledges. He
adds that the company retains
its local engineers by rewarding
them well and allocating equity
shares to loyal staff.
With the needed technical
expertise, IFP has secured
contracts in several prominent O
& G projects. Among these is the
RM9bn Pengerang Independent
Deepwater Terminal in Johor.
Phase one construction of the
Terminal, with a storage capacity
of 1.3 million m3 of petroleum

and promotion. It benefitted
from being under MDeC’s
umbrella at major O & G events.
IFP showcased the company’s
engineering services at the
Malaysian Oil & Gas Service
Exhibition and Conference
2012, and the Oil and Gas
Association 2013 Conference.
The marketing exposure has
been very valuable.

O & G pipes and tank storage
facilities

products, is progressing well and
scheduled for commissioning
in the second quarter of
2014. IFP was also involved in
designing several plants under
the on-going National B5 Diesel
Blending Project (B5 is diesel
blended with 5% palm methyl
ester).
As a small company with an
annual turnover of about RM3
million, IFP does not have
budget for extensive marketing

Moving forward, IFP is on an
expansion path. Chandran
reveals that the company will be
strengthening its engineer pool
to 50. It will also be expanding
its office space at a new
premise in CBD2, Cyberjaya.
The company is also planning to
export its engineering services
and is studying the markets
in Mynamar and Japan. It has
established a marketing arm in
Yokohama, Japan. Canada and
the US also offer potential in the
area of shale gas processing.
The next five years will see IFP
growing its engineering talent
bank and capturing a bigger
share of the O & G engineering
services market.
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