[This is a sponsored article with MDEC.]
Do you know that Malaysia is continually positioned a few of the supremacy 10 chief nations in semiconductor production? In 2023 isolated, roughly 35.23 billion semiconductors have been produced right here.
Malaysia’s semiconductor trade is projected to proceed its expansion trajectory, with a compound annual expansion fee (CAGR) of seven%. In step with a record via Eastspring Investments and PwC Singapore, this expansion is predicted to propel the trade to succeed in an output of US$46 billion or RM212.52 billion via 2028.
Greater than 50 years for the reason that first Sovereign Industry Zone in 1972, the semiconductors sector nonetheless remainder an electrified trade in Malaysia.This has put Malaysia at the international map as {an electrical} and electronics (E&E) and semiconductor trade powerhouse—which satisfied Tesla to arrange store right here.
As reported via Forbes Asia in its 200 Highest Underneath a Billion 2023, call for for semiconductors has skyrocketed within the year 3 years, speeded up via the adoption of AI.
In collaboration with MDEC, we had the chance to interview two noteceable founders within the trade, Dato’ Seri Tan Eng Kee, Important Government Officer of Greatech Generation Berhad, and Chuah Choon Bin, Government Chairman of Pentamaster Company Berhad.
They let fall sunny at the roles their respective firms have performed in contributing to our flow status, and the place they see the field rising from right here.
Greatech Generation Berhad (Greatech)
Greatech has been a part of a couple of Forbes Asia’s Highest Underneath a Billion lists, recording US$116.2 million in income in 2022, with that determine emerging to US$140.2 million in 2023.
The corporate’s merchandise space from unmarried computerized apparatus (SAE) to manufacturing order programs (PLS), which will also be customised to the necessities of shoppers.
Do you know: An SAE is impaired in semiconductor production to accomplish one explicit serve as exactly, similar to making sure accuracy and consistency within the manufacturing procedure.
In the meantime, a PLS incorporates each {hardware} and instrument. It receives instructions from both an automatic device or a human operator and later sends the ones instructions to its actuators, which create issues occur.
Worth Make investments Asia
Greatech’s historical past dates again to 1997 in Bayan Lepas, Penang, with Dato’ Seri EK Tan’s visual of producing semi-automated and automatic apparatus for the shopper electronics sector. Extra in particular, dry disk drives.
It used to be well timed, as there have been a number of executive tasks to foster the corporate’s expansion. Those integrated numerous tax incentives, grants, and streamlined regulatory processes to aid each home and overseas direct investments within the nation.
Malaysia’s native personnel additionally posed a chance, with its crowd ready to trade in other talents to the evolving industry terrain.
Dato’ Seri EK Tan advised Vulcan Publish that Greatech as of late stands majestic with a personnel of one,500 workers, 97% of which can be Malaysian. “Driving innovation forward are the 600 design engineers who continuously push the boundaries of what’s possible,” he stated.
Dato’ Seri EK Tan proudly expressed that his corporate’s stronghold is its steady tech innovation.
“We invest heavily in research and development (R&D) to stay ahead of the curve, consistently introducing cutting-edge solutions and advancements in factory automation,” he said.
No longer simplest does Greatech build those answers, however its manufacturing facility’s apparatus additionally utilises Web of Issues (IoT) units to store information and beef up product capability and potency. Moreover, the group integrates AI and system studying algorithms to optimise their production operations.
Founder insights
Do dry issues. Those that might problem you to be higher. You are going to acquire enjoy, braveness and abilities to do larger and tougher issues.
There are not any shortcuts to luck. Climate the demanding situations and way week with a way of interest and at all times striving to be informed and develop.
Perceive your merchandise, your consumers’ wishes and needs. Center of attention on a couple of issues and do them properly.Dato’ Seri EK Tan, Co-founder & CEO of Greatech Generation Berhad
Pentamaster Company Berhad (Pentamaster)
Pentamaster ranked 5th within the Forbes Asia’s Highest Underneath A Billion 2020 record, recording US$118 million in gross sales, US$20 million in web source of revenue, and a marketplace worth of US$629 million.
In 1991, Chuah Choon Bin based Pentamaster in Penang then resignation Intel, the place he labored as an automation engineer along his brother-in-law.
“At that time, we saw great opportunity and potential in the automation sector with the mushrooming of manufacturing companies in Penang,” Chuah advised Vulcan Publish.
“Most of the manufacturing equipment or factory automation solutions were imported, hence there were growing needs for local automation solutions that were more cost-saving during that time.”
Pentamaster very much benefited from the creating production scene within the Nineteen Nineties, and the supportive regulatory condition for commercial automation.
If truth be told, Chuah cited the 1997 monetary disaster as a turning level all the way through Pentamaster’s early days because of the greater call for for automation that might higher save corporate prices.
Since later, Pentamaster has endured to develop, diversifying its industry portfolio no longer simplest within the automation production trade but additionally within the dynamic and ever-evolving Malaysian marketplace.
These days, Pentamaster has a couple of major industry portfolios, particularly computerized take a look at apparatus, manufacturing facility automation answers, and clinical software automation era.
Pentamaster frequently invests in R&D to innovate automation answers. “It’s essential to maintain a mindset of continuous improvement, always seeking to push beyond current boundaries, and embracing the challenges inherent in innovation,” Chuah believes.
Founder insights
I firmly consider that cultivating a progressive mindset is very important for luck within the entrepreneurial advance, a idea that applies to all marketers. Whilst you determine a unclouded visual of your targets, coupled with persuaded willpower and perseverance, you pave the best way for important breakthroughs.
As an entrepreneur, envisioning the year of your startup is paramount. Past its inception, assembling a forged core group turns into the most important for maintaining and propelling expansion to unutilized heights. Your core group serves because the cornerstone for reaching really extensive enlargement.
Chuah Choon Bin, Government Chairman of Pentamaster Company Berhad
Rising within the automation generation
With firms international transferring to undertake automation for enhanced potency and price optimisation, each Greatech and Pentamaster seem well-positioned to capitalise in this development.
That is sponsored via High Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s discuss with to Greatech’s Penang manufacturing facility in February 2024.
There, they highlighted that Greatech produced notable machines to build high-tech merchandise similar to electrical automobile (EV) batteries, sun panels, and AI forums for supremacy international tech firms.
In the end, Dato’ Seri EK Tan said that Malaysia’s robust foothold within the E&E trade supplies a significance base for the automation sector, which Chuah stated too.
Greatech and Pentamaster are simply two examples of businesses below MDEC’s Virtual Exports Section (DEX), supporting and enabling firms to enlarge deeper into regional and international markets.
DEX is a part of the GAIN (Gateway, Amplification, Funding, and Nurture) programme, which goals to make stronger industry alternatives for native tech firms on a world scale.
MDEC facilitates this via taking part broadly with the Malaysia Exterior Industry Building Company (MATRADE) and the Ministry of Overseas Affairs by means of the Malaysian embassies, which you’ll examine right here.
One instance of such networking programmes will also be evident throughout the nearest SEMICON Southeast Asia (SEMICON SEA), going down at MITEC, Kuala Lumpur on Would possibly 28-30, 2024.
The exhibition is the place decision-makers within the E&E trade might be hooked up to percentage about and reveal their tech developments round Southeast Asia.
That is the most important for the public, as international firms lend because the spine of a colourful economic system, catalysing innovation, producing office, and nurturing skill to develop Malaysia’s industry ecosystem.
Join SEMICON SEA KL right here.
Learn alternative articles about Malaysian startups right here.
Featured Symbol Credit score: Malaysia Virtual Economic system Company (MDEC) hosted a luncheon attended via the Minister of Virtual, YB Tuan Gobind Singh Deo along MDEC Virtual Export’s GAIN (Gateway, Amplification, Funding and Nurture) programme portfolio firms