Date
07/15/2024
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Françoise Chombar, Chairwoman of the Board at Melexis
Melexis, a global microelectronics engineering company, has opened its largest wafer testing site worldwide in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. This expansion signals Melexis' commitment to meeting the increasing demand for semiconductors and strengthening its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
The expansion of Melexis in Malaysia marks a significant milestone in the company’s 35-year journey to fulfil the growing global demand for semiconductors, which is expected to double in the next decade. It hosts 90 semiconductor wafer test equipment used to test Integrated Circuits (ICs). Melexis continues to innovate in edge sensors and edge drivers aimed at current and future applications in the mobility, sustainability, robotics, and health areas. The expansion will serve all of these.
Placing the facility in Kuching - Sarawak - Malaysia, member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), between Eastern and Western markets and next to X-FAB's wafer foundry, one of Melexis' key suppliers, is a strategic move to streamline logistics and help reducing our ecological footprint.
Additionally, Kuching boasts a diverse, multilingual, entrepreneurial and skilled workforce, further enhancing recruitment potential.
Sustainable and future-proof
The new 4-storey building, designed by, both award-winning, Belgian architect Sebastian Mortelmans and Sarawakian architects DNA, covers a ground surface of 4,500 square metres, making it the largest Melexis wafer testing site worldwide. The modern design referencing local longhouse architecture, incorporates advanced energy-saving systems, a solar installation that can generate 30.000 kWh per month, and minimises the environmental footprint.
Françoise Chombar, Chairwoman of the Board at Melexis, highlights the significance of the sustainable and future-proof building, stating, “Our continuous search for better solutions led us to this new, beautiful building that embodies the values of Melexis: innovation with heart, keeping in mind our people and the planet. We are proud of how sustainable the building is, having learned from previous experiences. This expansion will allow Melexis to serve the steadily increasing global demand for semiconductor solutions and signals our continued commitment towards our Asian customers.”
Additionally, like a longhouse, the facility is designed with future expansions in mind, ensuring adaptability and scalability to meet growing demands. It will foster the Research & Development activities that Melexis has recently started up in Kuching.
Most of all, the building respects local traditions and has been designed to promote the well-being of the people working inside, allowing natural light to flow throughout the spacious modular offices as well as the manufacturing areas, and with vista’s of the nearby Sarawak river and Mount Santubong.
Significance of Malaysia
To broaden Melexis’ presence in the Asia-Pacific market, Malaysia is an optimal choice geographically, culturally, and economically. Both the local Sarawak government and federal Malaysian government actively support initiatives to grow the semiconductor ecosystem.
YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI) stated, “The opening of Melexis’ largest global wafer testing facility in Sarawak reflects Malaysia’s strong execution of investment projects, while further strengthening the country's position in the global semiconductor supply chain. As Melexis helps drive Malaysia’s technological advancement, it will also create significant socio-economic spillover that will benefit the surrounding businesses and communities, contributing to more inclusive and broad-based growth outlined in the New Industrial Master Plan 2030.”
The Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED) Sarawak added, “Melexis has made the right choice to invest in Sama Jaya High Tech Park, Kuching, Sarawak. With political stability, Sarawak is business friendly and welcomes investments that can create mutual benefits. Sarawak Government has always been very supportive of investors both foreign and domestic. It is among the most preferred destinations for investment in Malaysia. Sarawak possesses many comparative advantages for businesses to grow and prosper such as strategic location, availability of green energy, talented workforce, and suitable land for industrial activities.”
Echoing these sentiments, Mr. Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, CEO of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), commented on the new Melexis facility, stating, “The new Melexis facility highlights MIDA’s role in ensuring seamless support and collaboration with international investors. By providing comprehensive assistance, we aim to create a conducive environment for technological growth and sustainability. This includes facilitating access to necessary resources and streamlining administrative processes that align with our national vision. We assure to facilitate Melexis' integration into our ecosystem, ensuring they have the support needed to thrive and contribute significantly to our technological landscape.”
Looking ahead: innovation and growth
Today's grand opening, in presence of the Right Honourable Premier of Sarawak and Chairwoman of Melexis Françoise Chombar, marks the gratitude of Melexis towards all that have contributed to the fasttrack expansion of Melexis in Kuching, and not in the least towards both the local Sarawak and federal Malaysian authorities.
Melexis is also pursuing further collaborations with universities and other partners to promote regional innovation and growth. One such initiative is the Local Pioneer Talent Program, a collaboration with universities and Sarawak Microelectronics Design (SMD), a government agency focused on research and development, which officially began in 2023.
The opening further emphasizes the growth and innovation ambitions of Melexis. Marc Biron, CEO of Melexis: “With an investment of 70 million euros, this opening underscores the ambition of Melexis and will ensure future growth. With Melexis, we are at the forefront of innovation, and this opening will support us in the markets that we serve.”
