Source: MIDA
A number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are investing more in research and development (R&D) activities, as they move up the value chain to supply the changing needs of multinational corporations (MNCs).
In Penang, DSEM Technology Sdn Bhd, Aemulus Corp Bhd and Ceedtec Sdn Bhd are among the companies that have increased their investments to beef up their operations including in R&D.
DSEM, a LED thermal substrate manufacturer, is investing about US$15million (about RM48million) over the next two years to undertake R&D and installing equipment to make solar cell receivers or concentrated photovoltaic receivers and light emitting diodes (LED) light engines or high-power LEDs. The current expansion is expected to be completed by year-end.
DSEM Chief Executive Officer, Davindra Singh Gendeh said the company had inked an agreement with a US-based customer to jointly develop the high-power LEDs and solar cell receivers for solid state lighting and solar panels respectively.
Davindra expects the company to produce an initial few hundred thousand solar cell receivers in the third quarter and by year-end to be able to produce 25 million high-power LEDs a month compared with the current two million units a month.
Aemulus, is investing RM7million to increase its production capacity as well as its R&D on the next generation of analogue test modules. Of the amount, about 50% will be for R&D compared with the RM1.5million for R&D last year.
Going forward, the company would invest some RM14 million next year, with 50% going into R&D, Aemulus Chief Executive Officer, Ng Sang Beng said.
Aemulus' analogue modules are supplied to its US clients for use in testers for testing the functionality of telecommunications devices and computers.
Analogue modules form the circuitry platform of testers, which the company designed and built, he said, explaining that the new range of analogue modules is able to source signals and power for testing and measuring at faster speeds.
Based on estimates from its US customers, Ng expects the company to increase its exports to the US to 300 testers this year, a three-fold jump from the 2009 delivery.
Meanwhile, Ceedtec is set to invest RM9million over the next two years to make a new range of test and measure power supply systems for measurement applications used in the electronics industry.
Managing Director, Heng Fook Main said the new investment was to develop 17 new models, including some with programmable features and the capability of supplying multiple power output.
According to Heng, these new models enable new measurement applications to perform multiple R&D tasks more efficiently. He expects the first shipment of the models to be out early next year.
Ceedtec would produce over 100 units of each model a month, translating to more than 1,000 units a month overall, he said, expecting the company to achieve turnover of RM30 million a year from the sales of the new test and measure power supply systems for a five- year period from 2012.
Adapted from StarBiz 7 April 2010