SUBANG, June 9 — Collins Aerospace today announced a US$63 million (RM256 million) expansion of its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at Subang Aerotech Park, quadrupling its footprint and strengthening Malaysia’s ambitions to become a leading aerospace servicing hub in the Asia-Pacific region.

The investment will expand the facility from 46,000 square feet to 164,000 square feet and establish Subang as the company’s key regional hub for advanced component MRO operations. The transition to the new facility is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Officiating the expansion today, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the investment reflected growing confidence in Malaysia as a destination for high-value aerospace investments.

“Collins Aerospace’s US$63 million facility expansion here is a statement of confidence in Malaysia’s infrastructure, confidence in our regulatory environment, and above all, confidence in our people,” he said in his speech.

Loke said the Asia-Pacific aviation market was on a strong growth trajectory, with regional MRO demand expected to rise alongside fleet expansion across South-east Asia and beyond.

“Malaysia intends to be at the centre of that growth, not as a passive beneficiary, but as an active participant with the skills, the facilities, and the partnerships to compete internationally,” he said.

The expanded facility will perform MRO work on air management systems used in some of the world’s most advanced commercial aircraft, including the Boeing 787, Boeing 777 and Airbus A380.

According to Collins Aerospace, the Subang facility will introduce advanced capabilities supporting air cycle machines, heat exchangers, valves and next-generation starters.

It will also deploy technologies such as digital tier boards, eAndon systems, autonomous mobile robots and real-time location systems to improve productivity and reduce turnaround times.

The company currently employs 150 people in Malaysia and expects its workforce at the facility to grow by between 30 and 50 per cent over the next five to 10 years.

“These are skilled, well-paying, technically demanding jobs in aerospace engineering and maintenance.

“These are exactly the kinds of employment opportunities that Malaysia’s aerospace talent pipeline needs to absorb,” Loke said.

He added that his ministry had recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Defence Ministry to retrain retired military personnel for civilian employment, including in the aerospace sector.

“We found that many retired Air Force personnel are suitable for these jobs.

“And we have a ready workforce, who are just retired and are in their early 40s, who can come in to fill these jobs. So, bring more investment, bring more jobs, and we have more people for you, ready for you,” he said.

Amid global uncertainty and shifting supply chains, Loke also sought to reassure investors about Malaysia’s political stability.

“Even though we will have some elections going on, let me assure you that politically, Malaysia is one of the safe havens.

“You can be assured of political certainty in this country, even though politicians fight all the time.

“But don’t worry, the government will function as usual,” he said.

Loke said Malaysia’s strategic location, technical workforce and open foreign policy position it well to benefit from the restructuring of global supply chains.

“Malaysia has the geography, the connectivity, the technical workforce, and the institutional track record to be the preferred MRO hub for the Asia-Pacific region,” he said.

Irene Makris, president of Power & Controls at Collins Aerospace, said that Malaysia offers the right environment for the company to scale.

“We are planning to double employment opportunities for skilled talent in the region to keep pace with growing demand. The Subang expansion optimises operations and regional support for our customers, providing faster turnaround times and more efficient service,” she said.