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Sony Corp has announced that it plans to close its Penang factory in Malaysia next year to consolidate its operations at its other plants for efficiency. The Perai factory, which has been in operation for 36 years, mainly produces home audio products, headphones and batteries.
Some notable Sony products that were produced at the factory include the acclaimed Active Noise Canceling (ANC) headphones, the WH-1000XM3. The plant was also responsible for designing and producing the MHC-V81D sound system that could be connected and synchronized with compatible home audio systems via Bluetooth.
The company told Reuters in an email that it had considered market conditions, business growth potential and other factors before making the decision. The move was part of the Japanese electronics giant’s ongoing review of its investments and business operations.
The head of Sony’s Penang-based human resources division, Ric Ong, said the move was part of Sony’s review process and the company is consolidating its manufacturing operations by transferring its Penang operations to Selangor for further improvement. operational efficiency.
Sony said the factory will close in stages and stop operating in September next year. The factory closure will affect about 3,400 of its workers in Penang. About 1,800 of the workers are local, while another 1,600 are foreigners.
According to Penang’s commercial chairman Abdul Halim Hussain, who told Free Malaysia Today that some of Penang’s employees will be transferred to Sony’s other plant in Bangi, which makes LCD TVs and Blu-ray players. He added that the laid off workers will receive help from the state government to find new jobs.
Penang has for decades been a manufacturing hub for many foreign brands of electrical and electronic products, including Intel Corp, Panasonic Corp, and Dell Technologies.
According to Sony’s website, the company had started its operations in Malaysia in 1973. Over the years, Sony’s business in Malaysia included the marketing, sale and service of consumer electronics products, as well as broadcast products and solutions. and professionals.
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