ERIKS has been active in Asia for over 45 years and is a reliable and specialised supplier in that region for a wide range of international manufacturers. With the new branch in Malaysia, the company focuses mainly on the semiconductor and high-tech industries, thereby strengthening its local presence in Asia from mid-2026.
ERIKS strengthens its role in the Asian ecosystem
‘In Asia, the focus for us is shifting increasingly towards the high-tech industry’, says Jan Brabander from Singapore. He is a Business Development Manager – Semicon at ERIKS and responsible for the realisation of the new production branch in Malaysia. ‘Well-known Dutch companies such as VDL, ASML, KMWE, Besi, and ASM are also located in this part of the world. We’ve been working with them for many years, both in the Netherlands and over here, and that collaboration is only getting more intensive. Also, local presence is essential. We follow our customers around the world, enabling us to make deliveries more efficient for them and save costs. Opening the new branch in Malaysia plays a crucial role for our customers in that part of the world.’
Production to Asia
‘One reason for manufacturers like ASML to move (some of) their production to the Far East is to free up space and flexibility in European branches for the development and production of machines with new groundbreaking technologies’, says Norman Witsel. He is Head of Semicon and works from the ERIKS office in Alkmaar. ‘In this global business, our international clients should at a local level be able to rely on the same experience, knowledge, and expertise that we’ve built up in the Netherlands over the years. To support this, we’re building a new factory in Malaysia with a large cleanroom, where we can assemble components cleanly and dust-free. The contribution of our knowledge, skills, and experience from the Netherlands does of course play an important role in this.’
Safeguarding quality
Does Malaysia have sufficient expertise to ensure the new factory and cleanroom facilities meet the high standards of the semiconductor industry? ‘Oh, yes, absolutely’, Brabander emphasises. ‘Don’t forget that we’ve been active in Asia since the early 1980s. But obviously, we leave nothing to chance. We fly people from Malaysia to the Netherlands to let them see how we do things in the Brainport region of Eindhoven. And here, they’re also trained in specific areas. The focus, also at the new factory, is on just-in-time deliveries with the desired quality, reliability, and accuracy. We work with local specialists who have the right knowledge and experience to contribute to the construction of the new factory. In addition, the major semiconductor companies will of course send their own auditors to validate the processes in our new factory. So we make sure that everything is in perfect order.’
Strengthening the ecosystem
‘Together with other partners in the ecosystem, a close-knit network of collaborating suppliers has also emerged in Southeast Asia’, says Witsel. ‘This ecosystem is very diverse, because in addition to Dutch OEMs and suppliers, many American and Asian companies are also active. This applies not only within the semiconductor and high-tech sectors, but also in sectors such as med-tech, oil & gas, (petro)chemicals, shipbuilding, and general mechanical engineering. Although we’re currently investing mainly in the semiconductor and high-tech markets, this shows we can effectively absorb the volatility that is so typical of these markets through business development in the other sectors. With the opening of our new premises in Malaysia, we’re also strengthening our competitive position, because in addition to the technical and operational aspects, delivering quality at a good price remains a key priority for us, in order to capitalise on the strong outlook.’
International player
ERIKS is active in various sectors and has extensive in-house expertise in the fields of seals and rubber technology, industrial plastics, flow technology, industrial hoses, flange seals, hydraulics, drive technology, and tools. But also maintenance and safety products, while, alongside a wide range of mechanical components (over 800,000), the company also provides technical and logistical services. In addition to its headquarters in the Netherlands, ERIKS has various branches in Europe, China, Malaysia, and Singapore. The company develops and manufactures industrial components and supports its customers with the engineering of tailor-made solutions. Key markets targeted by ERIKS are pharmaceuticals, (petro)chemicals, food & beverages, basic industry, shipbuilding, new energy, and mechanical engineering (general and semiconductor). Internationally, the group has more than 4,500 employees, just under 1,200 of whom in the Netherlands.
