AVX Corporation recently completed a major, $150 million expansion of its flagship multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) manufacturing facility in Penang, Malaysia. The expanded facility makes the Penang site the company's largest MLCC manufacturing facility.
In a display of local support for the AVX expansion and employment initiatives, Chief Minister of Penang, YAB Tuan Chow Kon Yeow visited and formally inaugurated the site upon its completion.
About 250,000 square feet was added to the original facility, which now incorporates 450,000 square feet of Class 1K and Class 10K cleanrooms, state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment and testing technology, and warehousing space designed to support the safe storage and global export of products.
AVX says the expansion will support the continued evolution of its extensive portfolio of advanced passive components. AVX's portfolio of passive components meets the demands of next-generation automotive systems and other challenging electronics applications in the aerospace, military, defense, telecommunications, renewable energy, industrial, medical, consumer electronics, networking, and transportation sectors.
Over the next two years, the expansion is expected to create more than 1,000 new jobs.
"AVX's ceramic capacitor manufacturing facility in Penang has been operational for more than 20 years and is an established part of the local community. The new site expansion represents an investment of approximately $150 million and demonstrates an ongoing commitment to supporting the local economy and developing competitive, cutting-edge component solutions with a special focus on advanced automotive applications," said Kumar Krishnamani, managing director, AVX Manufacturing (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. "Furthermore, as a result of our latest expansion, the Penang site will now operate as a dedicated export facility, which will support both Malaysia's economic growth and the seamless global distribution of our products."
