GEORGE TOWN: Lam Research Corporation, a global supplier of innovative wafer fabrication equipment and services to the semiconductor industry, today marked a milestone in the construction of its Lam Manufacturing Malaysia facility with a virtual roof topping out ceremony.
The new high-tech facility at the Batu Kawan Industrial Park is on target to start operations by the second half of this year, serving as Asia hub for Lam's manufacturing operations.
Lam Research corporate vice president of manufacturing Mike Snell said Lam Manufacturing Malaysia's proximity to the company's other sites in the region, would serve as its Asia manufacturing hub and play a critical role in supporting the growing customer demand for its equipment.
"This new site will be an advanced manufacturing facility with the flexibility for expansion of our operations when needed," he said.
Lam Manufacturing Malaysia general manager Soon Kuek said the company is pleased with the quality of talent in the Malaysian work force.
"We are very confident with the team we are building and we remain committed to continuously investing in developing their technical skills and capabilities.
"Once operational, the company will require an ongoing supply of components and materials to operate efficiently.
"For this, we are currently working with partners to ensure a significant percentage of our components are locally sourced and we believe this will also greatly contribute to the region's economy," she added.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who attended the event as the guest-of-honour, said Penang was already home to a host of renown global equipment manufacturers, focusing on back-end processes.
"I am confident that the addition of Lam Research will complement our position, transforming Penang into a regional, if not global, front-to-back end Electrical & Electronics (E&E) equipment manufacturing hub.
"The state government is fully committed to providing our best possible facilitation service for Lam Research's expansion project here," he added.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) chief executive officer Datuk Azman Mahmud said MIDA continues to entice more quality investments, particularly in the areas of technology and innovation, to propel Malaysia to greater heights.
He said Lam Research's investment to produce fabrication equipment here would cater to the rising demands for data processing and communications applications, especially for Industry 4.0 technology enablers.
In the past five years alone, MIDA has approved 106 manufacturing projects with RM51.7 billion (US$12.6 billion) investments in the state.
Lam Manufacturing Malaysia is expected to be the company's largest production facility, offering a 700,000 sq ft built-up area with ample space to house offices, production lines and a workplace for about 350 employees by the end of the year.
The facility will feature a highly advanced production line with the latest automation capabilities to help to efficiently move products from start to finish.
The new facility is also designed to enable expansion of the manufacturing operations and provide flexibility to the company to support the increased demand for semiconductor equipment globally.
#kw, Lam Research Corporation, Lam Manufacturing Malaysia, Batu Kawan, topping out, Mark Snell, Soon Kuek, Chow Kon Yeow, MIDA, Adman Mahmud
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