Rapid Manufacturing Inc unveils Kulim expansion

ALOR SETAR (May 17): Rapid Manufacturing Inc, a global US-based electronics company specialising in custom-designed wire and cable harnesses, has unveiled a new facility as part of its expansion in Kulim on Wednesday (May 17).

The new facility will continue to serve in the aerospace, telecommunication, medical, semiconductor, automotive, and industrial automation sectors.

In a joint statement with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) and the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) on Wednesday, Rapid Manufacturing said the facility will also house a regional centre to set up a centre of excellence to drive the company’s value chain in order to position itself as an industry leader.

Mida chief executive officer Datuk Arham Abdul Rahman said Rapid Manufacturing’s impressive expansion of its production facility underscores the long-term global demand for its products.

“Malaysia is well-positioned to capitalise on these opportunities. By leveraging the country’s comprehensive electrical and electronics (E&E) ecosystem and our mature semiconductor supply chain, the new facility is expected to have a positive impact on job creation, benefitting the local community while enhancing the country’s supply chain to meet the rapidly changing requirements of the E&E industry,” Arham said.

The expansion will also encourage innovation in emerging fields in the country. This aligns perfectly with the government’s aspirations under the 12th Malaysia Plan and Malaysia’s New Investment Policy, strengthening the fundamentals of Malaysia's investment ecosystem, he said.

NCIA chief executive Mohamad Haris Kader Sultan said NCIA is committed to attracting and facilitating high-value investments in the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) which includes the states of Kedah, Perlis, Penang and Perak.

“We are proud to have played a role in facilitating Rapid Manufacturing’s investment in the region and we believe that this new facility will further enhance the region’s position as a leading destination for high-tech manufacturing,” he said.

Haris said Rapid Manufacturing’s investments in Kedah and Penang will considerably strengthen the supply chain ecosystem to support the activities of the E&E, machinery and equipment, medical technology and devices, telecommunication, automotive and aerospace industries within NCER.

“With the facilitation by NCIA via its various NCER incentives, it is confident that more companies will follow suit and invest in NCER, driving sustainable economic growth and creating job opportunities for the local community,” he said.

Rapid Manufacturing subsidiary RPD MFG Connectivity Sdn Bhd managing director Yogendran Krishnamurthy said Rapid Manufacturing’s Kulim investment is expected to create an estimated 2,000 employment opportunities for the local workforce, including at least 500 high-income jobs.

Rapid Manufacturing chief operating officer Luis Espinoza said the company’s key priorities are its commitment to hire and train local talent, as well as to enhance its vendor-development programmes to provide adequate opportunities to local vendors.