Moulder combines Malaysian manufacturing with UK design
23 November 2006 – A company set up by a UK businessman has opened a new injection moulding factory in Malaysia to target European markets from a low-cost manufacturing base.
Avantis International, set up by Mark Bromley last year, has invested £1.7m in a new 27,500 square feet facility at Sungai Petani in northern Malaysia employing 145 people.
The Malaysian subsidiary Ovantis Hightech (Malaysia) has installed injection moulding machines, with capacity of up to 600 tonnes, from suppliers in Japan, Taiwan and China. Full commissioning of 18 machines is expected to be completed at the end of November and the total will rise to about 26 machines commissioned by February next year.
Avantis also has toolmaking facilities in China, but has based its design facility, Avanco Design, in Cannock in the UK.
Bromley said: “What makes Avantis different is our complete control over our own Asia-based manufacturing facilities – with the associated benefits of lower manufacturing costs – while at all times retaining overall management and quality control from the UK.”
It has already started manufacturing a range of products to ISO 9001 quality standards for customers in the UK, Germany, Australia and the Middle East. Markets include building/construction, domestic appliances, the hardware sector and measuring equipment.
Bromley said Avantis sees its growth coming from markets in the UK and Europe, but is also focusing on North America and the Middle East.
