Latest news with #Eastern&OrientalHotel
Barnama
5 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
SCHOTT Marks 50-year Milestone In Malaysia, Reaffirms Continued Investment In Innovation
KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 (Bernama) -- International technology group SCHOTT recently celebrated 50 years of operations in Malaysia, reaffirming its commitment to advancing innovation in high-end specialty glass for the semiconductor, augmented reality (AR), medical and industrial sectors. The milestone event, held on May 23 at the Eastern & Oriental Hotel in George Town, Penang, was attended by the Honorary Consul of Germany for Penang, Datuk Hans Peter Brenner, representatives from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), industry partners and members of the media. SCHOTT's manufacturing facilities in Penang and Kulim are key production sites in Asia, delivering high-precision glass processing for global markets. Its Penang facility, established in 1975, was the company's first glass processing hub in Asia, while the latest plant in Kulim, Kedah, began operations in September 2024 to meet rising demand. 'In the 1970s, as the SCHOTT brand grew in global prestige and recognition, we wanted a site that could service markets within the Asian region. Due to its strategic location, we decided to set up our first Asian production site here in Penang,' said SCHOTT Penang site manager Peter Berberich in a statement. 'Since opening our doors in 1975, we have grown from strength to strength, with a tenfold increase in the number of employees and a substantial expansion of our offerings for diverse high-tech industries, from AR gadgets and foldable devices, next-generation chips, space exploration to medical technology,' he added. Berberich also highlighted SCHOTT's commitment to nurturing local talent through ongoing training and innovation initiatives, supported by sustained investments and facility enhancements in Malaysia. SCHOTT Malaysia plays a vital role in the group's global supply chain, delivering advanced glass-based solutions for next-generation semiconductors and AR devices. The company is also exploring emerging applications, including waveguides for smart glasses and glass core substrates for chip packaging, technologies that are key to advancing AI, high-performance computing and autonomous systems.
Malaysiakini
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- Malaysiakini
Pushing the boundaries of semiconductor and Augmented Reality: SCHOTT celebrates 50 years of cutting-edge glass processing in Malaysia
The international technology group SCHOTT celebrated the 50th anniversary of its presence in Malaysia at Eastern & Oriental Hotel Penang today. The event was graced by Dato' Hans Peter Brenner, Honorary Consul of Germany and representatives from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA). Its production plants in Penang and Kulim are two of SCHOTT's leading facilities in Asia to provide high-end processing for global high-tech industries, including semiconductors, augmented reality, consumer electronics, medical, space, and other industrial applications. The Penang plant was founded 50 years ago as the Germany-based company's first high-tech glass processing hub in Asia, and the Kulim site was inaugurated in September 2024 to further build up production capacity. 'In the 1970s, as the SCHOTT brand grew in global prestige and recognition, we wanted a site that could service markets within the Asian region. Due to its strategic location, we decided to set up our first production site in Asia here in Penang, and it has played a crucial role in serving customers not just in Southeast Asia, but also leading companies in Korea, China, Europe, and the US ever since. Since opening our doors in 1975, we have grown from strength to strength, with a tenfold increase in the number of employees and a substantial expansion of our offerings for diverse high-tech industries, from AR gadgets and foldable devices, next-generation chips, space exploration to medical technology,' said Mr. Peter Berberich, Site Manager of SCHOTT Penang. Mr. Ralf Derferner, SCHOTT AG Head of Global Sales for Advanced Optics welcoming everyone to the launch event of 50 Years SCHOTT in Malaysia. Among those present were Board Members from SCHOTT AG, representatives from MIDA Penang, members of the media, staff and customers. 'Through the government's support, our continued investment and the expansion of our facilities in Malaysia, we aspire to consistently build and develop local talents through knowledge and training, allowing a space for the younger generation to keep innovating and pushing the boundaries of specialty glass,' he added. SCHOTT has positioned Malaysia at the core of the company's success as it greatly contributes to serving global customers in high-tech industries today. In September 2024, SCHOTT expanded further with the opening of a new facility in Kulim, Kedah, to allow its continued development in Malaysia and to further contribute to shaping the future of technology, not only locally, but also globally. "I am truly delighted to celebrate SCHOTT's 50th anniversary in Malaysia, a remarkable milestone that speaks to the power of enduring partnerships. For five decades, SCHOTT has been an integral part of our country's industrial fabric, bringing with them innovative technologies, expertise, and a commitment to creating meaningful jobs. What I find particularly inspiring is how their continued investment in Malaysia aligns with our own aspirations for the future, as outlined in the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030. It is a testament to the fact that, together, we can achieve great things and create a brighter future for our people. I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to the entire SCHOTT team and look forward to many more years of collaboration and success,' said Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, CEO of MIDA. 'Malaysia and Germany are major trading partners and have always supported each other, especially in the business and education industries. SCHOTT's presence in Malaysia is a great example of how both countries have come together, combining resources and manpower to create products and services that shape the future of technology in the world. As time goes on, we hope to continue this incredible partnership with Malaysia, further strengthening our ties through teamwork and resilience,' said Dato' Hans Peter Brenner, Honorary Consul of Germany. Dato' Hans Peter Brenner, Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Penang expressed his hope for a continued partnership with Malaysia and Germany, as evidenced by SCHOTT's local presence in Malaysia for the past 50 years. To further demonstrate SCHOTT's dedication towards enhancing the technology sector in Malaysia, the 50th anniversary event offered its attendees a sneak peek into the future through the setup of exhibits that allowed attendees to take a closer look at ongoing SCHOTT projects. From semiconductors to medical technology, SCHOTT Malaysia empowers innovations from industry leaders around the world, allowing the continuous development of future-oriented technologies. SCHOTT is actively exploring new innovations and building up manufacturing and processing capability in Malaysia, with a focus on two areas, namely augmented reality and semiconductors. Augmented Reality Augmented reality (AR) smart glasses can open up new possibilities such as live translation, navigation, as well as applications in medical practices, training, and manufacturing. This is made possible by waveguides that act as displays for the glasses. These waveguides possess the ability to augment natural vision with digital content. Seeing how SCHOTT produces optical glass and SCHOTT RealView® glass wafers with high refractive index, it enables the production of smart glasses with high image quality and a wide field of view, and are also lightweight and aesthetically pleasing, therefore increasing convenience. SCHOTT also offers reflective waveguides for AR and has built up capacity for mass production to enable the introduction of this growing technology to the consumer market. Semiconductors Specialty glass is transforming the rapidly growing semiconductor market, which is driven by AI and high-performing computing (HPC) applications, autonomous driving, and Big Data. To further advance Moore's law, leading players, such as Samsung, Intel, and Absolics, have been developing and testing glass-based solutions as a promising alternative to replace conventional substrates. For over a decade, SCHOTT has provided the semiconductor industry with solutions based on specialty materials. For example, our glass panels that offer strong precision for glass core substrates (GCS). From front-end to back-end manufacturing, SCHOTT offers glass solutions that meet the highest requirements for performance, integration and energy efficiency - crucial for applications in AI, high-performance computing and autonomous systems. More than 140 years of material innovation In an act commemorating the 50th Anniversary of SCHOTT Malaysia, SCHOTT AG's Management Board signed a plaque marking this prestigious milestone. Signing here is Mr. Andrzej Grzesiak, Head of Advanced Optics, SCHOTT AG SCHOTT made its appearance in the technology industry over 140 years ago through its invention of specialty glass attributed to its founder, Otto Schott. Until then, the company invented major materials that have changed the world, e.g. borosilicate glass, the world's 'gold standard' for pharmaceutical packaging to date; the first black glass-ceramic for cooking (SCHOTT CERAN®); Guinness world record holding ultra-thin glass (SCHOTT UTG®); high-index lightweight glasses which made major improvements to high diopter eyeglasses by researcher icon Marga Faulstich; or ZERODUR® glass-ceramics for the world's largest optical and near-infrared telescopes, including the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). SCHOTT is a 100% subsidiary of the Carl Zeiss Foundation, which was founded in 1889 by physicist and entrepreneur Ernst Abbe, with the support of Otto Schott, to promote the research of science and technology, and to create an open environment for scientific breakthroughs. Long-term thinking and responsible action act as guiding principles of the Carl Zeiss Foundation in order to accommodate generations of innovators and the sustainability of resources. SCHOTT's commitment to decarbonizing its glass production through its ongoing technological breakthroughs, e.g., by building a fully electric melting tank in Germany, or successfully piloting large-scale glass production using 100% hydrogen. This content is provided by GO Communications. The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini. Interested in having your press releases, exclusive interviews, or branded content articles on Malaysiakini? For more information, contact [email protected] or [email protected]
West Australian
24-05-2025
- West Australian
Italian flavours add to Penang's famed street food variety
What can you tell me, an Italian, about our street food, that's not the typical square cuts of pizza you may have enjoyed at any of the panettieri (bread shops) you found while travelling to Rome, Florence, Venice or Milan? That's all good — it's delicious. But let me tell you, as a northern man from Lombardy, that the yummiest street food in my native Italy is found south of Rome — for example in Apulia, a beautiful region of cerulean seas and white-tinged cities like Lecce and Bari, which however still remains incredibly under the radar. I wouldn't be surprised if you admitted that you know nothing about its yummiest quick bite, the panzerotto. A bit like a mini calzone but deep-fried, not baked, panzerotti are divinely fried half moons that may remind you of an Argentinian empanada, but softer and filled with delights ranging from a classic pizza-like tomato and mozzarella to more elaborated concoctions spanning anything from seafood to sliced nuts and boiled eggplant. Dismissed in the gourmet menus of Italy, the panzerotto decided to travel to shores that are oceans away from mamma Apulia: believe it or not, you can now taste this southern Italian treat in Penang, Malaysia, thanks to Gianluca (Luca) De Biasi, a long-time resident and former restaurant manager at Java Tree, the classy bistro of the island's historic Eastern & Oriental Hotel opened in 1884. 'The panzerotto is new to Malaysians, but they appreciate it,' says Luca as I meet him inside Luca's Panzerotti, his new venture on the northern end of Carnarvon Street, set right on the busy corner of George Town's main tourist thoroughfare, Chulia Street. 'In Malaysia, roti means bread, and I tell my customers that this is simply a bread with a panza, which is Italian for a belly,' quips Luca. Assisted by his Penang-born wife Phoebe, after taking a much-deserved break to travel back to Italy and southern Europe to check out the local street foods, Gianluca and wife decided to return to the local hospitality game by opening this mom-and-pop store on the ground floor of a central Sino-Portuguese shophouse. Compared to his lush former employer Eastern & Oriental Hotel, small Luca's Panzerotti is a homey bistro with a shiny red Vespa parked out front and only a handful of wooden tables and stools set against the walls — a very casual and different set-up from the rest of Penang's Italian restaurants such as Il Bacaro, Via Pre and Nero Nero, which focus on the gourmet, high-end spectrum of Italian cuisine. 'Let's say that Penang is famous for street food — Chulia Street's hawker stalls are right in front of our door — and I wanted to do something different on my own terms, not be the umpteenth typical Italian running yet another general Italian restaurant,' says Luca as he passes a hot Panzerotto Classico — the Apulian staple fried pouch filled with melt-in-your-mouth mozzarella and fresh, lava-like tomato — from the frying pan onto the plate in front of me. I know better, but a poster on the wall candidly instructs how to best enjoy the Apulian fried dough: by biting off the top corner, letting the steam come out and inclining the head and torso forward to avoid spilling the hot insides of the belly bread on yourself. An technique born standing on the street, stuffing the mouth with panzerotti while traipsing down an alley. Luca's Panzerotti has a simple yet varied menu on offer. Besides closed staple panzerotti like the Classico — priced at a very affordable $3.60, 'cheaper than Italy,' says Luca — there's mushrooms and potatoes, the tuna and eggplant-based taras and the Luca, a deliciousness of smoked tomato, mozzarella, fried eggplant, basil and aged goat cheese. There are also gourmet panzerotti prepared open on one side like a fried sandwich, or a Belizean fry jack. I try the smoked salmon, garnished with Atlantic salmon, melted mozzarella burrata (a creamy specialty of Apulia) and sprinkled with fresh arugula. It's as authentic as those I tried on the sunny streets of southern Italy. I top my lunch with a slice of focaccia with dried tomatoes, a thick yet soft slab of bread that Luca prepares with masterful skills. Luca Panzerotti's also has a few sweet-tooth treats that go down especially well with their homemade, slow pressed juices that infuse tropical fruit like mango, coconut and nutmeg, a local spice. Besides sweet panzerotti filled with chocolate and a homemade dried fig jam, 80 per cent dark chocolate and nut crumble, there are hearty little boxes of Italian-style tiramisu. It's served either halal style for local Muslims, or drenched in a thick layer of rum, which you will really feel. 'In my region, if you take tiramisu with rum, then there must be rum, not drops,' says Luca, as I feel the heat of the alcohol mixing with the spongy chocolate and coffee-based sweetness in every spoonful. For having opened only six months ago, Luca's Panzerotti has already rounded up a tight-knit following of local Malaysians and higher-profile international Chinese and Indian tourists who want to go for something simple and street-savvy, but are still afraid of trying the local Penang street food that's often cooked and served out in the open. 'We give them the street food they crave for in a little more refined space, yet right in the thick of George Town's central food offerings,' says Luca, who takes care of everything himself and, following his past managerial acumen, anticipates that he may consider expanding into a little franchise after at least another year. 'I'll teach them everything, how to make panzerotti from scratch — but as these are some of my grandmother's original recipes, they'll have to love them as I do, or the magic of the best bread with belly won't happen.' For now, the best place to have authentic panzerotti on this side of the world is from Luca's hands, here in George Town, Penang.
