Key Asic’s strategic shift to healthcare devices bearing fruits
PETALING JAYA: Semiconductor design company Key Asic Bhd has started to see the results from its strategy shift to focus on healthcare devices.
The company said the business had started turning around in the first quarter ended August 31.
Key Asic Bhd chairman and chief executive officer Eg Kah Yee said Key Asic, together with its partner in Japan, was getting the approval from the Japan government to market its product there.
He said the Japan giant had made the purchase of chips manufactured by Key Asic, which were going to be inserted into a camera device for medical devices.
“We have a big Japanese company that has made purchase of our chips to design and put into cameras for medical use.
“This thing would take several months to design and go through approval process… maybe in another few months before it go into the market,” he said after the company’s annual general meeting, here, yesterday.
The company has been in the red since 2010.
In November last year, it was reported that Key Asic’s plan for a turnaround failed, following the launch of the products and accounting scandals involving two major customers — Singaporebased Trek 2000 International Ltd and Japan-based Toshiba Corp.
Eg said the company was also exploring opportunities to supply its chips for connected car solutions and systems, as well as working with a partner in Russia.
“We cannot disclose the name of the company yet, but it is a major Russian company that is a service provider for the connected car solution in the country.
“Two major markets for us are healthcare, of which we are designing into medical devices, and connected cars,” he added.
Eg said the company was also on the lookout for some local projects, including smart city element such as traffic light system and smart houses.
Asked about any potential partners or ongoing talks, he said one of them was local Internet of Things player, Atilze Digital Sdn Bhd. Farah Adilla