Benchmark sees better demand from Asia-Pacific market
GEORGE TOWN: Angleton, Texas-based Benchmark Electronics Inc sees the AsiaPacific market demand for the company’s products growing faster than Europe’s.
Benchmark has three plants in Penang involved in electronic manufacturing services and precision technologies.
The company’s chief executive officer and president Paul Tufano said that this was the reason why operations in Penang have grown. “Last year, we spent 20% of the group’s worldwide expansion budget for the operations in Penang.
“Since coming to Penang in 2007, we have invested RM300mil here,” he said, adding that the company provides annually business opportunities exceeding RM250mil to local small and medium suppliers in Penang.
Tufano spoke at a press conference held after the opening its third facility in Bayan Lepas, Penang.
Also present were Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Benchmark’s vice-president and general manager of Malaysian operations Balamurugan Sinnasamy.
“These sites also house our Asian design centre and international procurement office.
“They serve as a one-stop centre to support customers from design to the mass manufacturing stage and beyond.
“The key market sectors include industrial controls, telecommunications and large -scale equipment manufacturing.
“In Asia, our important customers are in Korea, Taiwan, and China,” he added.
Benchmark, which has been around since 1979, has 24 sites in eight countries, employing 12,600 employees worldwide and sales exceeding US$2.4bil.