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TTM’s Grand Opening in Malaysia
November 7, 2024 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

When I last spoke with Tom Edman, president and CEO of TTM Technologies (TTM), he provided an update about the company’s new high-tech printed circuit board facility under construction in Syracuse, New York, and how the grand opening of a facility in Malaysia is informing TTM’s overall expansion efforts: a cutting-edge facility spread across 27 acres and providing roughly 1,000 jobs. Now, Tom provides more details about the new automated facility, its regional and global impact, and the importance of having both government and industry support.
Marcy LaRont: Tom, tell me about TTM Malaysia.
Tom Edman: TTM Malaysia is a slightly more than 800,000-square-foot building with a single-level production floor, which allows us to incorporate a high degree of automation. For example, we're combining process steps to accommodate automation using inline equipment when and where we can and between process steps as well. We're also using automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to transport panels. Almost everything inside the facility is automated, including the drills and the drill bit sharpening. That might sound mundane, but it is a very important part of the process in terms of keeping the drill points properly calibrated. We have a large facility just above the production floor where we feed chemistry onto the first floor, and we have a sub-basement for taking the waste which delivers the spent water and chemistry to the adjacent waste treatment center for recycling or treatment.
LaRont: Automation is certainly key, so tell me more about the AGVs.
Edman: They move the panels around from the warehouse to the loaders, between the pieces of equipment for each process step, and finally back to the warehouse. You can see these little robots all over the facility.
We incorporated manufacturing execution system (MES) software to dictate their movements. This software runs the shop floor processes and ties into our Oracle® financial system. As we proceed through the ramp-up, this last step toward automation allows us to minimize scrap because we have eliminated manual handling errors.
We have a very long hallway that runs lengthwise throughout the middle of the facility for evacuation purposes. We put in doors with glass panels so visitors can get a good feeling for the entire process. As you move your way through the different process steps, you see drill, plating, test and inspection, and finally return to where you started.
To read this entire conversation, which appeared in the October 2024 issue of PCB007 Magazine, click here.
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Brent Fischthal - Koh YoungSuggested Items
Automation Meets Sustainability
09/08/2025 | Rick Nichols, GreenSource EngineeringGreenSource Engineering (GSE) is proud to have contributed to the first successful reshoring of a PCB facility on a greenfield site in the United States. While we are honored to have played a key role, full credit for this achievement goes to SEL for its vision, commitment, and professionalism.
TTM Technologies: Bridging East and West with Strategic Expansion
08/25/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007As global supply chains shift and demand for supply chain resiliency grows, TTM Technologies is expanding with purpose: bolstering its U.S. presence while maintaining a strong footprint in Asia. With recent moves in Wisconsin and Malaysia, the company is positioning itself to better support customers amid an evolving geopolitical landscape. In this interview, President and CEO of TTM Technologies Tom Edman discusses TTM’s expansion strategy, the future of manufacturing, and his planned retirement after his long tenure at the helm of the company.
Marcy’s Musings: Continuing to Invent the Future With SEL
08/19/2025 | Marcy LaRont -- Column: Marcy's MusingsTwo years ago, PCB007 Magazine devoted an issue to Schweitzer Engineering Labs (SEL), a new captive greenfield PCB facility in Moscow, Idaho. We highlighted some of the most cutting-edge achievements in facility layout, design, and equipment in the PCB fabrication industry. SEL was a shining example of what was possible, providing insight and inspiration to PCB fabricators looking toward growth and expansion.
August 2025 PCB Magazine: Inventing the Future With SEL
08/18/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamTwo years after launching its state-of-the-art PCB facility, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories shares lessons in vision, execution, and innovation, plus insights from industry icons and technology leaders shaping the future of PCB fabrication. The August 2025 issue of PCB007 Magazine takes you inside the facility to hear from its founder, Dr. Ed Schweitzer, its manufacturing team leaders, and several of the supplier vendors that make this a cutting-edge fabrication plant.
Polymatech Electronics Limited Announces Completion of PCB Manufacturing Facility in Europe
08/15/2025 | PR NewswirePolymatech Electronics Limited is thrilled to announce the successful commissioning of its state-of-the-art Printed Circuit Board (PCB) manufacturing facility in Estonia, Europe. This milestone represents a significant advancement in the company's strategic expansion across the European market.