Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1531014
26 SMT007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2025 Tell me about the factory that you're building in Thailand. What are you putting there and what kind of product can customers expect? We plan to build a fully automated factory in ailand because there's a real shortage of skilled workers and experienced engineers in the region. Automation is going to be a game- changer. We're also aiming to invest in mid- or high-level production capabilities. In South- east Asia, most factories stick to lower-end production, but we want to stand out by offer- ing something more advanced. Do you see this new factory as an opportunity to keep your current customers loyal? Is it a way to open new markets? ere are two perspectives. e first comes from our current customers; they're excited about this move. One of them already has a fac- tory in Southeast Asia, so they're very happy that we'll be closer as they shi work from China to the facility there. e second perspective is from developing new customers. We must do this, or we won't get approved as suppliers. When will the Thailand facility open? Our plan is to start construction at the end of 2025, with mass production starting in Q2 2026. That's a rapid stand-up and qualifying process. How will the Thailand facility change your manufacturing capacity as a company? We are aiming for a monthly capacity of 50,000 square meters with PCB and HDI, but we'll roll it out in two phases. In phase one, we're keeping the capacity smaller since we need time to figure things out in ailand. e talent gap is a big hurdle. Man- aging and operating a factory outside of China with a foreign language is uncharted territory for us, so we'll learn as we go. What's interesting is that this industry shi- ing out of China is not the typical cost-driven move we've seen over the past 50 years. Nor- mally, you relocate to cut costs, but this time, it's more about politics—you just have to do it. Whether it's a good move is still up in the air. Costs may go down in the future, but for now, they're higher. Over time, competition in ailand will heat up. More players from China and Taiwan are joining in, and the next couple of years will be a huge challenge. Thank you for taking the time. ank you, Nolan. SMT007