ESCATEC expands global production footprint with new site in Bulgaria
Requests to nearshore cost-effective production in Europe has prompted electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider ESCATEC, which has been in rapid expansion mode the past several years, to establish a new production facility in Bulgaria. Located in the city of Plovdiv, the new site will be ESCATEC’s ninth production complex globally and further strengthens the Group’s reputation for going the extra mile to meet the needs of its customers.
The 4000m² facility in Bulgaria is already operational with the necessary equipment, processes, and skilled workforce, to vertically integrate plastic moulding and electronics assembly, and has begun to support ESCATEC’s production commitments in Europe. The Group has signaled its willingness and ability to rapidly expand capacity and capabilities at this new facility as order volumes pick up.
“ESCATEC Bulgaria is an important new site in ESCATEC’s portfolio as we move to complete our global manufacturing footprint. Customers of ESCATEC can expect that we deliver a best-value solution, regardless of region, as we continue to harness the benefits of our multi-site strategy,” said Charles-Alexandre Albin, ESCATEC’s Executive Director and Director of Strategic Development.
ESCATEC’s customer base largely comprise of major OEM brands based in Europe and North America. Headquartered in Penang Island, Malaysia, the Group’s production network now comprises of two facilities each in Penang and Johor Bahru, Malaysia; two in Chomutov in the Czech Republic; one in Lutterworth in the United Kingdom; an advanced production facility in Heerbrugg, Switzerland; and this latest facility in Bulgaria. In addition, the Group operates a Design & Development (D&D) Centre in Switzerland and has strategic partnerships in Croatia and the United States.
Albin notes that, over the long-term, ESCATEC Bulgaria could well become the Group’s main production facility in Europe for plastic moulding and electronics assembly, due to Bulgaria’s membership in the European Union and Plovdiv’s strategic location, sizeable population, its large industrial base, and its transport links providing convenient access to the wider European market.
“ESCATEC remains committed to expanding its global production footprint and capabilities to cater to customers that are in the process of bringing new technologies and products to market,” added Albin. “Across the Group, ESCATEC offers a complete and integrated value chain of EMS services, from D&D to product certification to mass manufacturing and after-sales services, ranging across electronics, electro-mechanical, MOEMS, box build, and plastic moulding.”
ESCATEC also firmly believes in the importance of continuous training and providing career pathways for its employees, with Albin attributing the Group’s rapid growth to its committed and highly skilled workforce. “We continue to grow and build more opportunities for our staff and are eager to see people take up international challenges and build their careers in new and exciting ways,” he concluded.