New test center in Penang, Malaysia

The high demand for chips in the automobile and consumer goods industries has resulted in Bosch is expanding its semiconductor business. As part of this expansion, the company constructed a new semiconductor test center for chips and sensors in Penang, Malaysia – one of the Automotive Electronics division’s sites. The expansion of this site increased the capacities of the global manufacturing network for semiconductors.

The new test center boasts more than 18,000 square meters of space. It encompasses cleanrooms, office space, and laboratories for quality assurance and manufacturing. Sustainability played a major role in the construction process. The buildings and systems conform to the latest technological standards, which ensures that they deliver a high level of energy efficiency and sustainable operations.

Another primary objective of the construction project was to create a connection between the associates and the natural environment. A large number of Malaysian plant species were planted in order to transform the landscape into a forest. The intention was to create a habitat for dragonflies, butterflies, birds, and other wild animal species and to increase biodiversity. A green corridor connects the habitat to a natural stream, and a line of trees protects it from the noise and pollutants of the adjacent road.

For rainwater management purposes, organic depressions were made in the ground in order to effectively regulate the flow of rainwater. It slowly filters through a layer of sand, which serves as a preliminary method of filtration. The pre-filtered rainwater is then collected at the lowest point, routed into a retention pond, treated, and re-used
for irrigation.

Thus far, the costs of the entire project have amounted to approximately 65 million euros. Further investments totaling 285 million euros are planned by mid-2030.