The Comet Group’s Ramp-Up To Volume Production At New Site In Malaysia On Track
Kuala Lumpur, 27 May 2021 – The Comet Group, a global leading innovative technology company, based in Switzerland with a focus on plasma control and X-ray technology, expanded their capacity with a new manufacturing site in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. This important milestone looks to strengthen the Group’s presence in Asia to meet not only local demand but also future demand for their technologies from customers worldwide.
The project was approved by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) last year, for the manufacturing of integrated radio frequency (RF) power modules for front end semiconductor machinery.
Despite the challenges of COVID-19 restricting economic activities and movement, the Comet team was impressed with the ease and speed in implementing their Malaysian project. “I have been part of similar projects before, but I have never seen a team working so energetically and with such motivation to set up a new manufacturing site in record time”, said project leader, Mr. Stephan Runge, Vice President Global Operations.
The sentiment was also shared by Mr. Chai Huat Yeoh, General Manager, Penang, Malaysia, “It has been exciting to work in this highly collaborative team. Whether from the headquarters in Flamatt, San José or Shanghai or local team members in Malaysia, we have been working together on the same goal, to make this project in Pulau Pinang a success.”
The first RF matching networks were assembled on the production lines and released for manufacturing use in August 2020. Since the beginning of 2021, the manufacturing facility in Malaysia is also officially certified by the company’s customers and has successfully ramped up to high volume production in the last few months.
Mr Arham Abdul Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of MIDA, commented on the speedy implementation of Comet’s project. He also conveyed the Government’s assurance to investors in facilitating their investments, “The pandemic has somehow been a game-changer for all of us. However, taking it in stride, the PACU@MIDA or the Project Acceleration and Coordination Unit has been established as part of the PENJANA initiative to flow the nation back on the road to recovery. This team is taking up the challenge to provide professional support and assistance to our investors, enabling the efficient and timely realisation of approved projects in the country. We strongly urge all our stakeholders to fully leverage this Unit‘s network and expertise to get their projects off the ground.”
He added, “MIDA is pleased to see Comet tapping upon Malaysia’s well-connected and established semiconductor industry cluster in Pulau Pinang. Their presence here will undoubtedly be a welcomed addition, given their long standing reputation as a high-tech supplier that can deliver flexible, quick and reliable solutions, particularly Malaysia looking to develop our very own front-end semiconductor equipment ecosystem.”
Currently, the company is well supported by Malaysian talent, and it is expected that over time the company vision is to employ more Malaysian. Among the roles to be filled include the positions in engineering, plant and machinery operations and assembling as well as quality management.
On the path to revitalise the national economy, Malaysia is focused on attracting high quality investments into the country in line with the National Investment Aspirations (NIA). This framework bears the foundation for Malaysia to become a regional investment hub, by (1) increasing economic diversity and complexity through the development of sophisticated products and services, with high local Research and Development (R&D) and innovation; (2) creating high skill jobs to provide better income for its people; (3) expanding and integrate domestic linkages into regional and global supply chains, by improving their resiliency; (4) developing new and existing clusters focusing on high productivity sectors, including local products and services; and (5) improving inclusivity to contribute towards the socio-economic developmental agenda. Ultimately, the NIA looks to ensure Malaysia continues to remain competitive and serves as the epicentre for economic and business activities in the region.
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About MIDA
MIDA is the government’s principal investment promotion and development agency under the Ministry of International 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 20 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 Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube channel.
About Comet Group
The Comet Group is a globally leading, innovative technology company based in Switzerland with a focus on plasma control and x-ray technology. With premium high-tech components and systems, we enable our customers to both enhance the quality of their products and make their manufacturing more efficient and eco-friendly. Our innovative solutions are in demand in the semiconductor and electronics market, the aerospace and automobile industry and in security inspection. Headquartered in Flamatt, Switzerland, the Comet Group has a presence in all world markets. We employ about 1,400 people worldwide, including approximately 500 in Switzerland. Besides production facilities in China, Denmark, Germany, Malaysia, Switzerland and the USA, we maintain various other subsidiaries in Canada , China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the USA. Comet (COTN) is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.
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