Eppendorf invests RM190mil in Penang for first Southeast Asian manufacturing hub

KUALA LUMPUR: German life sciences company Eppendorf SE is investing about RM190 million to establish its first manufacturing facility in Southeast Asia at Bandar Cassia Technology Park, Penang.

The investment marks a significant expansion of the company's global production network, with the facility expected to begin production gradually in 2028 and employ about 130 people by end-2029.

The groundbreaking ceremony was officiated by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, alongside Eppendorf Supervisory Board chairman Philipp von Loeper and group chief executive officer Dr Christine Munz.

The project follows the signing of a lease agreement with Penang Development Corporation (PDC) in July 2026.

The facility will manufacture selected products from Eppendorf's Centrifuges & Instruments portfolio, catering to laboratories and scientific workplaces worldwide.

Spanning around 522,049 sq ft, the site will have a built-up area of about 172,222 sq ft, incorporating production, warehousing, offices, quality-related functions and logistics operations.

Chow said the investment would strengthen Penang's manufacturing landscape while supporting the state's efforts to diversify into higher-value industries, particularly scientific and measuring equipment.

"Today's groundbreaking ceremony marks the transition from planning to construction, bringing us one step closer to welcoming Eppendorf's first manufacturing facility in Southeast Asia to Penang.

"It also reinforces our efforts to diversify into high-value industries and strengthen Penang's high-value industrial ecosystem," he said.

Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) chief executive officer Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid said the investment reflected Malaysia's growing position as a destination for high-value, technology-driven manufacturing.

He said the facility, aligned with the New Industrial Master Plan 2030, would strengthen the country's life sciences and medical technology ecosystem while supporting skilled employment, supplier development and integration into global value chains.

Meanwhile, Munz said the investment was part of Eppendorf's strategy to strengthen its innovation capabilities and make its global production capacity more resilient.

The project is the company's first greenfield manufacturing operation in more than 50 years.

She said the Penang facility would become an important pillar of the group's global manufacturing network, improving the competitiveness and flexibility of its centrifuges & instruments business.

Construction is targeted for completion by end-2027, followed by the installation of production equipment and a phased production ramp-up through 2030.

The company is also incorporating sustainability features like energy-efficient building systems, solar photovoltaic panels, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and water-retention systems into the facility, with plans to pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification.

Eppendorf has maintained a presence in Malaysia for more than three decades, establishing its Kuala Lumpur office in 1995.

The Penang investment will extend its existing commercial and administrative operations into manufacturing, establishing a Southeast Asian production base alongside its established manufacturing footprint in Europe and the United States.