HORIBA GROUP TO SET UP FIRST MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN KEDAH BY 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 (Bernama) -- Japanese manufacturer HORIBA Group is set to establish its first manufacturing facility in Kedah, marking its first production base for mass flow controllers (MFCs) in Malaysia.

Slated to commence full-scale operations in January 2026, the facility represents a major advancement from HORIBA’s current representative office in Penang, transforming the company’s presence in Malaysia from a business development hub into a full-scale manufacturing operation.

In a joint statement by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and HORIBA, MIDA chief executive officer Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid said HORIBA’s decision to establish its new production base in Kedah marks a transformative moment for Malaysia’s high-technology manufacturing sector.

“This move validates our nation's emergence as a global technology hub and reinforces the northern region's status as a powerhouse for advanced manufacturing.

“MIDA stands firmly committed to ensuring HORIBA’s success through world-class infrastructure support and competitive incentives. The company’s expansion represents more than just an investment – it's a catalyst for innovation, job creation, and economic growth that will reshape Malaysia's industrial landscape,” he said.

HORIBA Malaysia president Yohei Kawamura said the government has identified the semiconductor industry as a key growth area and has been actively developing a robust ecosystem, formulating industrial policies, encouraging research and development, and cultivating skilled talent.

“Such policies have spurred investment by domestic and foreign companies, and this has been particularly remarkable in Penang and Kedah, places where major European, United States and Asian semiconductor companies have congregated.

“In the semiconductor market that is expected to grow further in the mid to long term, the HORIBA Group will accelerate reinforcement of the global supply structure to fulfill its responsibility as a leading supplier of MFCs as well as to meet various metrology needs in the future,” he said.

The joint statement added that the new facility will also house the Analytical Solution Plaza, a cutting-edge laboratory in Malaysia.

As part of priority initiatives in advanced materials and semiconductors, which are focus areas in its Mid-Long Term Management Plan (MLMAP2028), HORIBA will offer a wide range of solutions, including advanced material analysis, semiconductor process monitoring, and environmental measurement services.

This initiative aligns with HORIBA’s MLMAP2028 and supports Malaysia’s ambitions to become a regional leader in high-tech industries.

Through its newly established base, the HORIBA Group aims to further expand its global share in the MFC market – currently at around 60 per cent – by swiftly and precisely responding to the needs of customers in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.

-- BERNAMA