Business

Friday September 11, 2009

Penang launchpad for Agilent Technologies

By DAVID TAN


GEORGE TOWN: Agilent Technologies Malaysia is using Penang as its base to launch a new range of compact and portable test and measurement instruments into emerging economies of Asia, says president Gooi Soon Chai.

In line with its plans, parent company Agilent Technologies Inc had appointed RS Components, a company listed on the London Stock Exchange, as distributor of its new measuring instruments, he said.

“These test and measurement instruments come in the form of bench-top, handheld, and modular solutions,” Gooi said.

“They can be reprogramed for use in a variety of applications such as testing manufacturing processes, power currents, as well as research and development (R&D) results.”

Agilent Malaysia general manager Ee Huei Sin said the global market for such compact test and measurement products was estimated to be US$175mil at present.

“The figure is expected to grow by 8% to 10% annually.

“The driver of growth comes from the escalating costs of test integration, drive to improve test efficiency, and increased demand for high mobility test equipment,” she said.

Agilent Malaysia invested in R&D of these compact and portable test and measurement instruments three years ago, according to Gooi.

“We started to release these instruments late last year and we are now increasing production with a complete range of compact test and measurement instruments.

“These products are researched and developed, designed and manufactured in Bayan Lepas, which houses Agilent’s largest facility worldwide,” he said.

He added that Agilent Malaysia was now recruiting more R&D engineers for the Penang plant.

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