Consul-General Visits UWC Berhad
2026/10/16
On October 16th, Mr. Shinya Machida, Consul-General of Japan in Penang, visited UWC Berhad in Batu Kawan, Penang, where he exchanged views with Mr. Ng Chai Eng, Group CEO, and Dr. Matin Ng Chin Liang, Deputy Group CEO, and toured the company’s manufacturing facilities. Founded in 1990, UWC Berhad is a Malaysian precision engineering company that has expanded its capabilities in precision metal fabrication, equipment assembly, and automation. Today, its activities focus on semiconductor manufacturing equipment, while also covering medical and life sciences, telecommunications, and other industries.
During the meeting, the company’s executives explained UWC Berhad’s growth over the years, increasing demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment driven by the expansion of AI and data centres, its activities in both front-end and back-end semiconductor equipment, and its efforts to advance manufacturing technologies. They also exchanged views on UWC’s initiatives to develop young technical talent through scholarships and technical and vocational education and training (TVET), as well as its development of in-house automation technologies.
During the factory tour, Mr. Machida was briefed on precision machining, sheet metal fabrication, welding, the assembly of parts and modules for semiconductor manufacturing equipment, various testing systems, and automation facilities. The visit provided an opportunity to deepen his understanding of UWC’s advanced precision manufacturing capabilities, quality management practices and in-house automation and inspection technologies, as well as the increasingly important role played by Penang-based companies in the global semiconductor supply chain.
Mr. Machida also expressed his interest in UWC Berhad’s growth from a relatively small company into an important participant in the international semiconductor manufacturing equipment industry. They exchanged views on human resource development, the future prospects of the semiconductor industry and cooperation with Japanese companies. Representatives of a Japanese company’s Malaysian subsidiary, which has business ties with UWC, also joined the visit, providing an opportunity to strengthen connections between companies of the two countries. The Consulate-General will continue to make every possible effort to strengthen ties between Japanese and Malaysian companies and promote cooperation in industry, technology and human resource development.
During the meeting, the company’s executives explained UWC Berhad’s growth over the years, increasing demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment driven by the expansion of AI and data centres, its activities in both front-end and back-end semiconductor equipment, and its efforts to advance manufacturing technologies. They also exchanged views on UWC’s initiatives to develop young technical talent through scholarships and technical and vocational education and training (TVET), as well as its development of in-house automation technologies.
During the factory tour, Mr. Machida was briefed on precision machining, sheet metal fabrication, welding, the assembly of parts and modules for semiconductor manufacturing equipment, various testing systems, and automation facilities. The visit provided an opportunity to deepen his understanding of UWC’s advanced precision manufacturing capabilities, quality management practices and in-house automation and inspection technologies, as well as the increasingly important role played by Penang-based companies in the global semiconductor supply chain.
Mr. Machida also expressed his interest in UWC Berhad’s growth from a relatively small company into an important participant in the international semiconductor manufacturing equipment industry. They exchanged views on human resource development, the future prospects of the semiconductor industry and cooperation with Japanese companies. Representatives of a Japanese company’s Malaysian subsidiary, which has business ties with UWC, also joined the visit, providing an opportunity to strengthen connections between companies of the two countries. The Consulate-General will continue to make every possible effort to strengthen ties between Japanese and Malaysian companies and promote cooperation in industry, technology and human resource development.