BAC to invest RM614 million in regional manufacturing hub in Nilai
The Negeri Sembilan facility is expected to create up to 200 high-skilled jobs by 2035.
PETALING JAYA: Global sustainable cooling solutions provider BAC has launched construction of its new manufacturing facility in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, with an investment of US$150 million (about RM614 million) to strengthen its manufacturing, innovation and engineering capabilities in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.
The investment, to be rolled out over 10 years, is expected to create up to 200 high-skilled jobs by 2035, reinforcing Malaysia's position as a regional advanced manufacturing and innovation hub.
Two-phase development
The facility will be built on an 18.2-acre site in two phases. The first phase, scheduled for completion by end-2027, comprises a 30,000 sq m manufacturing plant along with regional engineering and manufacturing offices.
The second phase will focus on setting up a research and development (R&D) centre and deploying advanced manufacturing technology, with the entire facility expected to be fully completed by 2030.
The plant will produce a range of BAC cooling products including closed-circuit cooling towers, adiabatic coolers, hybrid cooling systems and liquid cooling solutions. It is also expected to raise production capacity, strengthen the supply chain, shorten delivery lead times and meet customer demand in the data centre, industrial and commercial infrastructure sectors across APAC.
BAC will also house the first climate-controlled product development and testing laboratory of its kind in APAC, enabling local engineering teams to develop and validate cooling technologies suited to tropical climates and high-density applications.
Global investor confidence
Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) deputy chief executive officer (investment development) Zuaida Abdullah said BAC's investment reflects global investor confidence in Malaysia as a high-value and sustainable manufacturing destination.
"It also creates high-skilled job opportunities, opens up space for local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the supply chain and supports the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030 and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR)," she said in a statement.
BAC president Don Fetzer said Malaysia plays an important role in the company's long-term global growth strategy.
"This investment strengthens our commitment to expand our manufacturing footprint, enhance innovation capabilities and support customers worldwide through sustainable cooling solutions," he said.
Global vice-president and APAC head Ted Lim said the new facility brings BAC closer to customers and partners in the region, improving operational efficiency and speeding up delivery of solutions.
BAC also plans to collaborate with local universities and offer industrial training programmes. The facility is targeting LEED Gold and FM Approved certification through energy-efficient features to cut greenhouse gas emissions. – UTUSAN
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