Sarawak: X-Fab, the global leader in analogue/mixed-signal and speciality semiconductor manufacturing, today unveiled a RM3-billion expansion of its semiconductor manufacturing facility in Sarawak.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the state-of-the-art expansion increases X-Fab Sarawak’s wafer production capacity from 30,000 units to 40,000 units per month, as stated by Malaysia Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and X-Fab in a joint statement.
MIDA and X-Fab emphasized that this significant investment strengthens Malaysia’s position as a crucial hub in the global semiconductor supply chain. The additional facility specializes in producing advanced chips for automotive, medical, and industrial applications.
Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz remarked that X-Fab’s investment is a pivotal step in Malaysia’s journey to fortify its standing in the global semiconductor industry. He noted that this reflects foreign investors’ sustained confidence in Malaysia’s long-term industrial reform direction and supports the kind of partnerships the country aspires to build.
The expansion aligns with Malaysia’s aspiration to become a leading hub for advanced manufacturing, in accordance with the New Industrial Master Plan 2030, the 13th Malaysia Plan, and the National Semiconductor Strategy towards achieving high-value, high-income nation status.
MIDA’s chief executive officer Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid stated that this investment acts as a catalyst for socio-economic upliftment in Sarawak, creating a ripple effect that benefits local communities. The initiative is not just about attracting high-value jobs; it is about cultivating a new generation of skilled talent and empowering local businesses in the supply chain.
X-Fab group CEO Rudi De Winter highlighted that the company manufactures chips that save lives, such as those used in ultrasound applications, and power the future, like its power semiconductor solutions for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. The expansion not only boosts X-Fab Sarawak’s overall monthly capacity by 10,000 wafers but also more than doubles the site’s capacity for its ‘180nm (nanometre) BCD-on-SOI’ technology, which is crucial for these applications.
The new manufacturing line is now operational and will serve global customers across the automotive, industrial, and medical sectors, further enhancing Malaysia’s value proposition in these manufacturing domains, as stated by MIDA and X-Fab.