Advanced optical giant Schott announces completion of Malaysia factory

Recently, German optical giant SCHOTT is pleased to announce that its advanced production plant located in Gulim, Kedah, Malaysia has been successfully completed.

This milestone event was celebrated with the joint witness of employees, clients, and representatives from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA).
The completion of the new factory marks a significant increase in Schott's production capacity in Malaysia, further consolidating the company's solid position in Penang for 50 years.

This new factory located in Gulim is expected to create approximately 400 high skilled engineering and production jobs, injecting vitality into the local economy and providing valuable employment opportunities. The establishment of the new location will greatly enhance Schott's ability to provide high-quality optical components to the international high-tech industry, especially in the field of augmented reality AR.

Dr. Andrea Frenzel and Marcus Kn, members of the Schott Board of Directors? Belle hosted the opening ceremony of the new factory, attracting over 300 local employees from Gulim to participate. This expansion not only demonstrates Schott's firm commitment to regional growth and innovation, but also further enhances its production capacity, forming a strong complement to the existing factories in Penang. The Penang factory has been dedicated to producing specialty glass for 50 years, serving consumer electronics, semiconductors, diagnostics, and other high-tech fields.

Dr. Andrea Frenzel said at the ceremony, "This is a significant achievement for Schott. Half a century ago, we established our first Asian production base in Penang. Now, we are thrilled to continue this glorious journey through expansion and strengthening in Malaysia.

The new factory is strategically located in the high-tech center of Gulim, adjacent to Penang. This factory focuses on producing optical components to meet the needs of global high-tech industries, such as augmented reality. This advanced factory was successfully built in less than 12 months, which will significantly enhance Schott's strength in optical precision manufacturing, ensuring that products meet the highest quality and innovation standards.

Dr. Andrea Frenzel said, "This is a significant achievement for Schott. Half a century ago, Schott established our first Asian production base in Penang. Today, we are delighted to continue this journey by expanding and strengthening our presence in Malaysia.

Leading global manufacturing excellence in augmented reality
As a leader in the emerging augmented reality market, Schott's advanced optical business unit has accumulated rich experience in providing high-precision optical components. Malaysia is a key link in its global manufacturing network, working closely with centers of excellence in Germany, North America, Switzerland, and China to mass produce innovative products that meet customers' most demanding needs. Schott has established multiple product lines, providing users with an unparalleled augmented reality experience through excellent image quality, ultra compact and lightweight design, and immersive content experience.

Augmented reality technology is becoming an important force driving changes in various industries. For example, in the entertainment and gaming industry, it can create new interactive experiences by integrating the digital and physical worlds; In terms of remote collaboration, it can enhance the effectiveness of virtual meetings by combining with interactive 3D models. With the continuous development of this technology, its application scope will continue to expand, promoting innovation and efficiency improvement in multiple fields, especially when combined with emerging technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things.

Based on 50 years of deep accumulation in Malaysia, Schott has developed its regional layout into an optical component innovation center for the global market, serving multiple fields such as consumer electronics, healthcare, and industry. This integrated local product development and large-scale production system ensures fast design cycles and seamless product launches.

The Penang factory registered in 1974 was Schott's first production base in Asia and has now developed into a highly advanced manufacturing center, employing and training over 1300 highly skilled engineers and production workers. This factory produces cutting-edge optical components and specialty materials, including glass wafers and MEMS packaging for the semiconductor market. The completion of the new Gulim factory further consolidates Malaysia's position as a global manufacturing center for Schott's high-end specialty glass solutions.

About SCHOTT

SCHOTT was founded in 1884, headquartered in Mainz, Germany, and is affiliated with the Carl Zeiss Foundation. The company focuses on producing high-quality components and advanced materials, such as specialty glass, glass ceramics, and polymers. Schott products are widely used in high-tech fields, such as flexible glass in foldable smartphones, glass ceramic mirror substrates for the world's largest telescopes, and laser glass in nuclear fusion.

With a pioneering spirit, Schott has 17050 employees in over 30 countries, dedicated to collaborating with industries such as healthcare, home appliances, consumer electronics, semiconductors, optics, astronomy, energy, and aerospace. In the fiscal year 2023, Schott achieved sales of 2.9 billion euros.

Source: OFweek