SCHOTT Celebrates Completion of New Production Facility in Kulim, Malaysia, Offering 400 Jobs
Kulim, Malaysia & Mainz, Germany, 30 September 2024 – SCHOTT Glass Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. “SCHOTT”, a global leader in advanced optics and specialty materials, is proud to announce the successful completion of its state-of-the-art production facility in Kulim, Kedah. The milestone was marked by a celebratory event attended by the SCHOTT Board of Management, employees, customers, and representatives from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), highlighting SCHOTT’s continued growth and innovation in Southeast Asia.
The Kulim facility is expected to create approximately 400 skilled engineering and production jobs, providing valuable employment opportunities in the local economy. This new site will significantly enhance SCHOTT’s capacity to supply high-quality optical components to international high-tech industries, including Augmented Reality (AR), while complementing the existing facility in Penang, Malaysia, where SCHOTT has been producing specialty glass for consumer electronics, semiconductors, diagnostics, and other high-tech sectors for 50 years. The expansion underscores SCHOTT’s commitment to growth and innovation in the region.
“We are excited to see SCHOTT’s continued investment in Malaysia, aligning perfectly with the vision outlined in the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030,” said Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, CEO of MIDA. “NIMP 2030 aims to transform Malaysia into a high-income economy, and SCHOTT’s new facility in Kulim underscores the country’s appeal as a hub for high-tech industries. This expansion will not only create valuable job opportunities but also drive economic growth in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship. With SCHOTT’s production of advanced optical components including waveguides for augmented reality, Malaysia’s leadership in AR technology is further cemented, and we’re confident this will attract more investment and talent to the region. We’re proud to have supported SCHOTT’s growth and look forward to the positive impact it will have on the local community.”
“This is a great achievement for SCHOTT,” says Dr. Andrea Frenzel, SCHOTT Board Member. “Half a century ago, SCHOTT established our first production site in Asia right here in Penang. Today, we are very thrilled to continue this journey by expanding and strengthening our presence in Malaysia.”
SCHOTT’s Advanced Optics business unit provides high-precision optical components as part of its global manufacturing network, which works with centres of excellence in Germany, North America, Switzerland, and China. As a leader in the AR market, SCHOTT offers innovative products that deliver exceptional user experiences.
The company’s first Asian production site, established in 1974, has evolved into an advanced facility employing over 1,300 skilled engineers and production workers, producing optical components and specialty materials for various high-tech applications. The new Kulim site further solidifies Malaysia’s position as a global manufacturing hub for high-end specialty glass solutions, enhancing SCHOTT’s regional capabilities and innovation in the optical components market.
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About MIDA
MIDA is the government’s principal investment promotion and development agency under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA has 12 regional and 21 overseas offices. MIDA continues to be the strategic partner to businesses in seizing the opportunities arising from the technology revolution of this era. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube channel.
About SCHOTT
International technology group SCHOTT produces high-quality components and advanced materials, including specialty glass, glass-ceramics, and polymers. Many SCHOTT products have high-tech applications that push technological boundaries, such as flexible glass in foldable smartphones, glass-ceramic mirror substrates in the world’s largest telescopes, and laser glass in nuclear fusion. With their pioneering spirit, SCHOTT’s 17,100 employees in over 30 countries work as partners to industries such as healthcare, home appliances, consumer electronics, semiconductors, optics, astronomy, energy, and aerospace. In fiscal year 2023, SCHOTT generated 2.9 billion euros in sales. In addition to innovation, one of its important corporate goals is sustainability, where it is pursuing climate neutral production by 2030. SCHOTT was founded in 1884 and is headquartered in Mainz, Germany. The company belongs to the Carl Zeiss Foundation, which uses its dividends to promote science. Further information at schott.com.
For media enquiries:
MIDA
Ms. Rozita Ibrahim
Director of Building Technology and Lifestyle Division
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +603-2267 3479
SCHOTT
Mr. Michael Müller
Head of Corporate Communications
Marketing and Communication
Email:[email protected]
Tel: +49 (0)6131 / 66-4088
M.: +49 (0)151 / 29223482
