In order to better understand these developments, our colleague Rik Peeters recently visited Malaysia. He focused his visit on exploring market opportunities, engaging with local stakeholders and gaining first-hand insights into the region’s dynamics.

“During my visit, I spoke to a wide range of organisations, from government and investment agencies to universities and manufacturing companies. Each organisation offered a different perspective on building operations in Malaysia. Those conversations provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the market. It became clear that Malaysia is not only an emerging manufacturing destination; it is also a region that is actively and rapidly reshaping itself and presenting real opportunities for international companies considering expansion.”

Rik Peeters – Business Development Asia – Rik Peeters – Business Development Asia

This visit builds on the experience we have had in the region since 2021. Nobleo Manufacturing currently supports customers with operations in Southeast Asia, and we are continuing to expand our presence there.

One of the most notable observations during his time in Asia was the speed at which the advanced manufacturing and semiconductor industry is expanding. New facilities are being set up, investments are flowing in, and the ecosystem surrounding high-tech production is maturing at an impressive pace.

“You can read the growth figures in any industry report, but standing in the middle of it, visiting sites and talking to the people driving it makes the scale of what is happening far more tangible.”

Rik Peeters – Business Development Asia – Rik Peeters – Business Development Asia

Moreover, the local ecosystem’s openness to international collaboration was notable. There is a lot of interest in bringing in expertise to help improve the quality and sophistication of manufacturing operations. Malaysian companies are looking for more than just investment; they are looking for partners who understand the requirements of structured, high-quality production at scale.

This creates opportunities for collaboration, particularly with organisations that have experience of working in high-tech environments.

For companies planning a high-tech manufacturing market entry in Asia, understanding these dynamics is essential. Success is not only determined by technological capability, but also by the capacity to implement scalable, reliable and well-governed processes.

At Nobleo Manufacturing, we support organisations in developing and improving their foundations. Our experience of supporting market entry in the high-tech manufacturing sector in Asia enables us to contribute to the development of structured, scalable and future-proof operations.

This visit reinforced the relevance of our services on both sides of the equation. Dutch and European companies that are already, or plan to, establish operations in Malaysia need a partner who understands both worlds, the engineering standards they are used to at home and the realities of setting up and scaling in a new environment.

However, Rik also thinks that Malaysian manufacturers who are growing quickly and want to expand their operations can directly benefit from the structured approaches that we at Nobleo Manufacturing offer.

Planning a high-tech manufacturing market entry in Asia, or already there and looking to raise the bar? We are happy to explore what structured, scalable operations could look like for your organisation. Start the conversation here.

 

Want to know more about our services in High Tech? Read more here.

 

Achieving New Level Manufacturing Together

A particular highlight of the evening was the case study presentation by Homes Factory, a valued client of Nobleo Manufacturing. They explained how their factory has embedded the fundamentals of modularity and standardisation by adopting the philosophy of purposeful improvement, supported by the KATA method.

Thanks to this approach, Home Factory has made impressive improvements to its production environment. The result is a breakthrough in productivity that aligns perfectly with what we at Nobleo Manufacturing describe as ‘New Level Manufacturing’.

On behalf of Nobleo, we would like to thank Homes Factory for sharing their experiences, insights, and inspiration. Their case study showed not only what is possible, but also how a culture of continuous improvement can lead to sustainable growth.

The next session will focus entirely on digitalisation and automation, two essential pillars for the factory of the future. This event will take place in 2026.

Would you like to attend? Please contact us at info-manufacturing@nobleo.nl.

The day began with a substantive session on professional commissioning and cooperation between municipalities, housing associations, developers, and builders. For both Nobleo and Fontys, this provided valuable insights into how this collaboration works and what role conceptual and industrial construction plays in it. During the morning sessions, Stijn and Marco also spoke with various network members about developing a specific field of study for the new roles within the conceptual and industrial construction sector, something Nobleo and Fontys already have ideas about.

After the main programme, there was a visit to the Fijn Wonen demo homes on Suikerlaan in Groningen. There, various configurations and variants were on display. These were produced by the Fijn Wonen factory in Heerenveen. The wide range of options, including façade elements, enables the creation of customer-oriented homes, while ensuring that production remains manageable via the Configure-to-Order customer order decoupling point.

The day ended in Heerenveen with a visit to the housing factory itself. Here, Stijn and Marco observed the industrial manufacturing process of the homes, which involves complex, largely automated procedures.

It was a special visit, and it was wonderful to see the link between the end product and the complex and largely automated production in the factory, especially since Nobleo Manufacturing has been supporting the Fijn Wonen factory for some time in optimising production planning, sequencing, scheduling and volume ramp-up to full capacity.

All in all, it was a valuable day that motivates us to take the next steps in conceptual and industrial construction together with our partners!

At Nobleo Manufacturing, we recognize strong parallels with developments in the automotive and high-tech industries. In these sectors, industrialisation has not been an ambition but a reality for a long time. We believe that our expertise in digitalisation, process optimisation and smart manufacturing can help precast manufacturers to produce faster, more efficiently and in a scalable way. We are bringing exactly that experience to the construction industry.

That is why, alongside several of our customers, we have joined the Conceptual Construction Network (NCB): a network of leaders in the conceptual construction chain, from developer to manufacturer.

The Conceptual Building Network is commited to make sustainable and affordable housing feasible again. By encouraging cooperation between clients and suppliers, the network aims to contribute to faster and better building, accessible for everyone.

Nobleo Manufacturing brings years of experience in manufacturing excellence from the high-tech and automotive industries to the construction industry. We support construction companies in standardising processes, optimising production flows and smart application of digitalisation.

Our aim: to make conceptual construction scalable, repeatable and flexible.

With our approach, companies can reduce failure costs, shorten lead times and increase production capacity, without compromising on quality. Together, we make the step from traditional construction to industrial efficiency.

We are excited to collaborate with fellow member of the NCB to develop solutions that make a difference. Curious how your organisation can transition to industrial housing production? Feel free to contact us!

The event was led by Patrick Lennertz, Technical Director at Mondi Group, who facilitated discussions on the latest innovations in manufacturing. Frank Sperling, Technical Director at Nobleo Technology, guided the attendees with a tour of advanced test setups and an impression of our technical expertise.

The discussions became even more tangible with a deep dive into the Van Wijnen housing factory in Heerenveen, Europe’s largest industrial construction initiative. Hilbrand Katsma, CEO at Van Wijnen Components, was featured on video sharing his experiences building a state-of-the-art, future-proof production facility.

The evening concluded with interactive intervision assignments, where attendees collaborated on real-world industry challenges. The discussions carried on well into the informal networking session, reflecting the strong engagement and enthusiasm for the future of manufacturing.

At Nobleo Manufacturing, we focus on practical innovation and sharing knowledge to drive real impact in the industry. These events highlight the value of collaboration in advancing smart manufacturing. A special thank you to all speakers, and participants for making this an inspiring and insightful evening. We look forward to continuing these valuable exchanges in the future!

Want to learn more about our insights on Smart Industry? Read the full article about SIRI here.

Here is how it started: two years ago, Nobleo Technology and Nobleo Manufacturing started collaborating with Besi, a leading supplier of semiconductor assembly equipment for the global semiconductor and electronics industries.

The main principles where to create detailed and qualified designs based on their requirements. Since then, we have successfully completed three projects together. Two of them consisting of a complete module development for their machines. From prototype realizations to guiding the NPI at an Asian volume supplier, plus supporting integration in their newest Hybrid bonding machines.

This award is a true recognition for what we stand for. We simply don’t follow a ‘black box’ way of working – transparency, co-creation and true partnerships are what we believe in. We would like to thank Besi for this recognition and valuable collaboration.