[Press Release] Micron Commemorates 45 Years of Innovation with the Inauguration of its State-of-the-Art Assembly & Test Facility in Malaysia

By InvestPenang – Oct 13, 2023

A version of this article was first published on InvestPenang

Batu Kawan, Penang expansion will bolster technological production and enhance semiconductor development while reinforcing Micron’s commitment to sustainability

Oct 13, 2023 – Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU), one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies, today marked a historic day with the opening of its new cutting-edge assembly and test facility in Batu Kawan, Penang, alongside the celebration of Micron’s 45^th anniversary. A ceremony officiated by Chief Minister of Penang, Yang Amat Berhormat Tuan Chow Kon Yeow, underscored the regional significance of Micron’s expansion, highlighting the company’s four and a half decades of innovation and excellence.

Micron previously invested $1 billion and will add up to another billion including construction and full equipping of this new facility over the next few years in Penang to increase factory space to a total of 1.5 million square feet. This expansion enables Micron Malaysia to boost production output and further strengthen its assembly and test capabilities, allowing it to supply leading-edge NAND, PCDRAM and SSD modules to meet the growing demand for transformative technologies such as artificial intelligence and autonomous or electric vehicles.

“The official opening of our new manufacturing facility in Batu Kawan strengthens Micron’s global manufacturing footprint, enabling us to deliver quality products to our customers on-time, with reduced cycle time and at scale,” said Amarjit Sandhu, corporate vice president of Assembly and Test NAND Operations for Micron Technology. “This expansion reflects our unwavering dedication to advancing semiconductor development and manufacturing excellence.”

The Batu Kawan facility distinguishes itself by adopting smart manufacturing applications to optimize efficiency, yield, and production quality, ensuring Micron continues to deliver world-class products efficiently and reliably.

Micron has an ongoing focus on sustainability, exemplified by the facility’s design which adheres to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system – the world’s most widely-used green building certification. This environmentally conscious approach enables Micron to reduce energy consumption in the new facility by more than 25% in comparison to the American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHAE) standard, setting a high benchmark for eco-friendly semiconductor manufacturing.

In 2022, Micron announced that its facilities in Malaysia are the first within Micron’s global network to be powered by 100% renewable electricity.  The operations for this new facility will also support Micron’s sustainability aspirations to achieve net-zero emission by 2050 and zero hazardous waste to landfills by 2030.

The opening ceremony brought together local dignitaries, industry partners and Micron team members, symbolizing a shared commitment to sustainability, partnership and progress for both Micron and Malaysia in the Penang region. Attendees at the event included the Deputy CEO (Investment Development) of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, Ms. Lim Bee Vian, TalentCorp CEO, Mr. Thomas Mathew, InvestPenang CEO, Dato’ Loo Lee Lian, President of the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA), Dato’ Seri Wong Siew Hai, AmCham CEO, Ms. Siobhan Das, and senior vice president of Global Assembly and Test at Micron, Gursharan Singh.

“We congratulate Micron on achieving yet another significant milestone in their development in Malaysia,” said CEO of Malaysian Investment Development Authority, Datuk Wira Arham Abdul Rahman. “This expansion underscores Malaysia’s appeal as a hub for cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing. Micron’s substantial investment and dedication to sustainable practices align perfectly with our nation’s objectives outlined in the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030). As we advance in this digital era, where technology plays a central role in economic growth, we eagerly anticipate continued collaboration with industry leaders such as Micron to promote innovation, sustainability, and collective prosperity.”

“As Micron marks its 45th anniversary this year, I am pleased to note that we are also celebrating five years of Micron’s presence in Penang,” said the Chief Minister of Penang, YAB Tuan Chow Kon Yeow. “This latest smart manufacturing facility is an expansion of Micron’s site in Batu Kawan and reflects Micron’s confidence in our ecosystem’s capability to bolster the development of leading-edge technologies, encouraging us to further preserve and strengthen Penang’s semiconductor leadership.”

As Micron plays a role in advancing of Malaysia’s semiconductor ecosystem and industry, it fosters a supportive work environment that enables team members to engage in meaningful work and bring their best selves every day. Micron is committed to building an inclusive culture where individuals are valued for their diverse perspectives, thought processes and contributions.