Manufacturing hub: (From left) AME group managing director Kelvin Lee Chai, Kümmerle, Lee, Bucher Emhart Glass vice-president of logistics and manufacturing Juan P Montes and AME executive director Simon Lee at the ceremony.
KULAI: Leading international glass container supplier Bucher Emhart Glass has made Johor its home by setting up a RM135mil manufacturing plant in Senai here.
According to Johor investment, trade and consumer affairs committee chairman Lee Ting Han, the construction of the Swiss company’s 300,000 sq ft facility is expected to be completed in the third quarter of next year.
He said the groundbreaking ceremony on June 1 was a reminder of how far Johor has come as a prominent manufacturing hub in the country.
“Johor’s manufacturing sector contributes about 30% of the nation’s gross domestic product.
“It is one of the most resilient ones in the post-Covid-19 era.
“Looking ahead, we aim to improve our economic complexity and build a stronger industrial ecosystem in order to create more and better-paying jobs for the Bangsa Johor people.
“I was told that Bucher Emhart Glass is also ready to hire 150 workers, mostly Malaysians, with engineering and technical backgrounds,” Lee said after witnessing the groundbreaking ceremony at i-Park @ Senai Airport City.
He also thanked the company for its confidence in the state’s abilities to meet its requirements and for offering more job opportunities for the locals.
“According to Bucher Emhart Glass president Matthias Kümmerle, who was also present at the event, once completed, the facility will produce 10% to 20% of the world’s glass containers,” he added.
