still confident of another record earnings year
Summary
Pentamaster is keeping to its projections despite the potential dampener it sees on sales from the ban on Huawei Technologies Co Ltd in the US, according to its co-founder and chairman Chuah Choon Bin. This is why Pentamaster is taking the opportunity to do more research and development (R&D), said Chuah, adding that even its customers are looking into new technologies which will result in them looking to test the new solutions. Apart from its flagship chip testers, Chuah said the company is also broadening the group’s exposure and development of 3D sensing technology for VCSEL (vertical-cavity surface emitting laser) — which is used in smartphones and is in high demand — as well as the automotive segment. For 2019, Pentamaster plans to spend RM30 million of its internal funds to expand its existing plant in Penang, with the upgrade works involving a warehouse, a multilayer car park and an R&D centre. If the extra is not returned, he said, it will be carefully spent or reinvested in the group to expand its business or improve operational activities.