Toshiba Medical Systems picks Penang for first SEA plant
Published on: Thursday, February 12, 2015
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Penang: Toshiba Medical Systems Manufacturing Asia Sdn Bhd (TMMA), a wholly-owned Malaysian subsidiary of Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation, has picked Penang as the site of its first manufacturing plant in South East Asia. The group has spent RM50 million on the building and manufacturing facilities and the plant will offer about 200 job opportunities in future. Satoshi Tsunakawa, President and Chief Executive Officer of healthcare company Toshiba Corporation, said the Penang facility which began operations in December last year, currently produces diagnostic ultrasound systems, while manufacturing of printed wiring boards will start next month. He said all the production lines will be fully operational by July this year and cater to demand from global markets. "We are pleased to be able to produce ultrasound systems from our new manufacturing site in Malaysia and reaffirms Toshiba's commitment to expanding its footprint to the country," he told reporters during a briefing on the new plant here today. Tsunakawa said the health care component currently contributed about six per cent to the group's total turnover annually and the hope is to achieve about 10 per cent over the next three years. The 93,000 sq ft manufacturing Penang plant based in Bayan Lepas is part of Toshiba Corporation's US$1 billion investment over the next five years. According to Tsunakawa, the plant currently produces the Aplio A300, Aplio A400 and Aplio A500 ultrasound models which are expected to be exported to Europe in the first quarter of this year. He said the plant currently employs 114 workers and this is expected to increase to 200 once it is fully operational by the second half of the year. "The facility's main product is the ultrasound diagnostic system and over 90 per cent of production is geared towards the export market," he added. – Bernama TMMA is a leading worldwide provider of medical diagnostic imaging systems and comprehensive medical solution, such as CT, X-ray and vascular, ultrasound, nuclear medicine and MRI systems, as well as information systems for medical institutions. – Bernama
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