KUALA LUMPUR: B. Braun, one of the world's largest medical technology companies, has announced the expansion of its portfolio of testing capabilities at its facility in Penang.
The German firm has tripled the facility's testing capabilities for healthcare solutions related to intravenous access, surgical technologies, intravenous systems, central venous puncture and pain control.
In a joint statement today, B. Braun and Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) said prior to the expansion, the Global Test Centre in Penang had only supported 200,000 scientific measurements per annum for medical devices related to intravenous access and drug delivery systems.
"Due to the proven competencies, strong product knowledge and efficiency displayed by the local team of Malaysian engineers, the volume of product testing has been tripled to more than 600,000 scientific measurements per annum.
"Furthermore, medical devices for infusion systems, central venous puncture and pain control, which are being manufactured in Germany, have also been added to the portfolio being tested in Penang," they said.
The centre undertakes design validation, discovery and shelf life testing, as well as failure analysis and features state-of-the art test equipment and a fully integrated data management system.
All products are tested to adhere to the stringent requirements of the European Medical Device Regulation (EU MDR), United States Food & Drug Administration (US FDA) and other recognised regulatory authorities.
Mida chief executive officer Datuk Azman Mahmud said the Malaysian medical device industry had shown great promise in creating high quality employment, reinforcing the domestic supply chain ecosystem, and generating greater export value.
Azman said Mida has a strong presence of established supporting industries conforming to world-class standards that support the medical devices industry in the country.
"The nation's legacy expertise in precision electronics has also provided our workforce the requisite skills in quality management and precision.
"We trust that these qualities draw world leaders in healthcare including B. Braun to continuously embrace the abundant business opportunities in Malaysia today," he said.
B. Braun Asia Pacific president Lam Chee Hong said staffed by a proven team of highly competent Malaysians, the Penang facility would further ensure that patients everywhere will continue to receive medical devices of the highest global standards.
Occupying a 193,285 square metre (47.8 acres) site in Penang's Free Industrial Zone, B. Braun Medical Industries is one of the largest production sites of the B. Braun group, with over 7,600 employees.
Established in 1972, B. Braun is a pioneer foreign investor in the northern state, which has evolved into the nexus for the medical device industry in Malaysia.
The site houses four production plants manufacturing intravenous access solutions, pharmaceutical products and surgical instruments for global markets; as well as the group's global Centre of Excellence for Intravenous Access with full R&D capabilities, and B. Braun's Asia Pacific regional headquarters.