First phase RM8.5 billion AT&S Kulim plant opens for operation
24 Jan 2024
The AT&S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd campus at the Kulim Hi-Tech Park (KHTP) which is part of a RM8.5 billion (about €1.7 billion) investment in Malaysia is officially open.
The opening ceremony took place at the AT&S new administration building, which marked the completion of the key production plant of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-end printed circuit board (PCB) and integrated circuit (IC) substrates.
AT&S chief executive officer Andreas Gerstenmayer attributed the successful completion of the construction works in a record time of just over two years to the employees in the Kulim plant and close collaboration with the Malaysian authorities.
“This huge success was made possible by our workers and employees in Kulim. This is your day and also a historic day for AT&S that is worthy of a celebration. I take great pride to bear witness to the achievement of this great milestone.
“The quick progress was facilitated by close collaboration with Malaysian representatives and authorities on the national, regional and local level.
“The authorities in Malaysia, especially Mida and the management of the Kulim High Tech Park and Advantage Austria from the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, supported us a lot,” Gerstenmayer said in his speech at the opening ceremony.
Present was Investment, Trade and Industry deputy minister Liew Chin Tong.
The new campus in Kulim will start delivering high-end Integrated Circuit (IC) Substrates for AMD’s data centre processors towards end of this year.
AT&S board member and executive vice president for business unit microelectronics, Ingolf Schroeder affirmed the company’s decision to invest in Malaysia.
“Our strategic decision in 2021 to choose Malaysia for our first facility in Southeast Asia was absolutely correct, so far we invested just over EUR1 billion in our AT&S Campus in the KHTP.
“We benefit from the excellent conditions here and Kedah as the technology hotspot in this region,” he said.
AT&S’ biggest investment outside Austria has strengthened Malaysia’s position as an international hub for the electronics and semiconductor industry.
Schroeder added that the Kulim Campus plant will commence operations with 2,500 employees under the first phase as the construction of the second phase in ongoing.
“With the AT&S investment in Malaysia, we are creating thousands of high-tech jobs in the region, almost 2,500 until the end of this year.
“This will help to set up the framework for future growth in Malaysia,” he added.
AT&S Malaysia will produce cutting-edge IC Substrates, which are an integral part of high-performance data processors for computers, datacentres and Al-infrastructure.
“AT&S has steadfastly kept its commitment to us and punctually delivered a plant that fully meet AMD’s expectations. We are convinced that AT&S is a perfect additional source of high-quality IC Substrates for our data centres,” said AMD corporate vice president for manufacturing, Scott Aylor.
Meanwhile, in his speech, Liew warmly welcomed AT&S and its positive impact on the local economy to Malaysia.
He also praised the forward-looking concept of the AT&S campus which is built to the highest standards of quality and sustainability, with state-of-the-art machinery, recycling systems and a green energy concept.
Austrian Ambassador to Malaysia and Brunei, Andreas Launer remarked that the AT&S investment in KHTP marked a historic high point of economic cooperation between Austria and Malaysia.
“With the opening of AT&S’s impressive production site, economic cooperation between Austria and Malaysia is reaching a historic high point.
“I am confident that the company’s strong presence in Malaysia will give important impetus to our bilateral relations and will create many new opportunities to work closer together also in other fields such as higher education, vocational training or the development of new technologies.
“I hope that this investment will also put Austria in the spotlight of Malaysian companies as a great business location and tech partner in the heart of Europe.”
Source: NST
