BUTTERWORTH (Sept 10): Elna PCB, a Taiwan-based printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturer, is expanding its manufacturing facilities with the opening of a new plant in the Perai Industrial Zone near here on Tuesday.

With total investment of over RM1 billion, the expansion includes the new plant over 10,000 sq m, with a five-storey PCB manufacturing facility adjacent to the existing plant.

Elna PCB (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd president Ian Yang said the first phase of production will yield 300,000 sq ft of PCBs, catering to the automotive, server, network equipment, personal computing and consumer electronics sectors.

“As global demand for high-quality and advanced PCBs continue to grow, we are poised to expand our production capacity to one million sq ft in the near future.

“The existing facility will maintain its production for automotive customers, while this new plant enhances our capabilities, enabling us to meet our customers' needs with greater geographical manufacturing diversity and supply chain flexibility,” he said during the plant’s opening ceremony on Tuesday.

The plant was officiated by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow. Also present were PSA Group chairman Anthony Chiao, PSA PCB Business Group president Lance Tao, Penang State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Law Choo Kiang, and Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) Penang director Muhammad Ghaddaffi Sardar Mohamed.

Elna is a subsidiary of Global Brand Manufacture under PSA Group.

Yang said that by establishing the company’s presence in Penang, Elna is helping to build a robust and comprehensive supply chain that will attract more global players not only to the state but also to Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Tao said the inauguration of the new plant is a significant milestone for the PCB sector, and PSA is committed to providing one-stop industry-leading solutions for customers worldwide, promising to deliver more diverse and high-quality products and services.

He noted that as the world's sixth largest semiconductor exporter, Malaysia accounts for 13% of the global assembly, testing and packaging market.

“Penang is a major hub for Malaysia's semiconductor industry, boasting a well-established industrial ecosystem, a rich talent pool and a favourable business environment. Thus, Elna’s decision to build a new PCB plant in Penang is a strategic move that is expected to enhance the region's electronics manufacturing supply chain,” he added.

Chow said Tuesday’s ceremony marks the realisation of Elna’s investment in Penang since the groundbreaking in February last year, adding that this facility is expected to create 1,000 more job opportunities.

The chief minister said that following its 30-year presence in Penang, Elna’s expansion has greatly attested to Penang as a sustainable location for investment.

“This expansion underlines the robust industrial ecosystem in Penang, offering opportunities for multinational companies to continue expanding here,” he added.

Uploaded by Tham Yek Lee