Hutchinson establishes first non-US HDD component assembly operation in Thailand
Bt4-billion facility to boost hard disk drive suspension assembly capacity
Hutchinson, US-based hard disk drive component manufacturer from the US chose Thailand as its first production outside its home market. The 4 billion baht investment will help increase capability of Thailand ’s hard disk drive industry.
Ms. Ajarin Pattanapanchai, Deputy Secretary General of the Board of Investment (BoI), said after the foundation stone laying ceremony of Hutchinson Technology ( Thailand ) Co Ltd, that the project is Hutchinson ’s first overseas investment. The fact that Hutchinson chose Thailand as its overseas production base confirms that foreign investors continue to have strong confidence in Thailand .
Hutchinson’s investment will also boost Thailand ’s hard disk drive manufacturing industry. At present, a number of leading global hard disk drive manufacturers have already set up production facilities in Thailand, namely Seagate Technology, Western Digital, Toshiba, and Hitachi Global Storage. Some hard disk drive part manufacturers have also set their feet in Thailand . The entrance of Hutchinson will complete the hard disk drive manufacturing industry.
Hutchinson Technology ( Thailand ) Co Ltd’s 4.3 billion production facility is located at the Rojana Industrial Park , Ayutthaya province. It will produce suspension in hard disk drive and supply the parts to leading hard disk drive manufacturers both in Thailand and other countries. Scheduled for completion in August 2010, and production before the end of the calendar year, it is expected that the plant will begin production two months after the construction is complete.
Ms. Kathleen Skarvan, President of Disk Drive Components Division, Hutchinson Technology Inc, disclosed that the company decided to choose Thailand as its first overseas production base because of the country’s capability and potential. Hutchinson will also have close connection to hard disk drive producers whose production base is in Thailand . By having its own parts production facility here, Hutchinson will be able to improve speed of product delivery to its customers.
