Kuala lumpur: Mi Equipment (M) Sdn Bhd is set to expand its research and development (R and D) capabilities and manufacturing capacity in Penang, reinforcing its status as a global leader in the advanced semiconductor packaging sector.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the company's CEO, Teo Chee Kheong, emphasized that their future growth strategy will concentrate on advancing core technologies, particularly in die sorting, artificial intelligence (AI) applications, and bonding solutions. The company is also committed to nurturing local talent to bolster the semiconductor ecosystem. During a media briefing, following a visit by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow to Mi Equipment's facility, Teo highlighted the company's plans to enhance its manufacturing capabilities, create stable employment, and foster stronger employee engagement.
Teo further stated that Mi Equipment will invest millions into new processes, technology, and human capital to support its expansion and cement its role in the semiconductor industry. The company, which was established in Penang in 2007, has grown from a local technology enterprise into a global semiconductor equipment provider through continuous innovation.
Initially, Mi Equipment ventured into the advanced packaging space, developing a turret-based die sorter that gained market access locally before expanding internationally to markets such as the United States, Taiwan, and China. The flagship Mi series gained significant market dominance in 2014, and the company was listed on Bursa Malaysia after a decade of operation, entering a new phase of growth and diversification.
Mi Equipment's Penang facility, established in 2019, has become a critical manufacturing hub, producing hundreds of semiconductor equipment units for global customers. The company has developed a unique AI-enabled die sorter, further solidifying its position in the industry. Currently, Mi Equipment operates a manufacturing facility in Suzhou, China, supported by seven overseas sales and service offices and an R and D center in Singapore. The company employs over 330 people, serves more than 90 customers, and has installed over 1,300 machines worldwide.
Innovation remains central to the company's ethos, with over 110 intellectual property rights granted across its main technology segments: bonding, sorting, and die-level testing. The company is well-positioned to benefit from the AI-driven semiconductor growth cycle, with involvement in key segments such as mobile devices, high-performance computing, and automotive applications like electric vehicles and renewable energy.
Teo noted that 20 to 30 percent of the company's revenue is related to AI applications, with AI components embedded in their latest equipment. Mi Equipment is committed to developing Malaysian talent, with a majority of its management team comprising Malaysians, and aims to build its expertise base in Penang.