Under the Radar: (SPECIALS) How far has Micro-Mechanics’ move to decentralise production help it navigate global trade tensions, and what are the opportunities in the global semiconductor industry? Its CEO spills the beans.

Semiconductors are the invisible foundation of our digital world – powering everything from data centres and electric vehicles to smartphones and even satellites.  But behind the global chip ecosystem lies precision engineering firms that make tools and parts used in the manufacturing process.  And our guest for today, Micro-Mechanics, is one of them. Founded in 1983, and listed on the SGX-Sesdaq in Singapore in 2003, the company designs and manufactures a range of consumable tools and parts used in the assembly and testing of semiconductors.  The company also engages in the contract manufacturing of precision parts and tools used in process-critical applications for the semiconductor wafer-fabrication and other high-technology industries.  In July 2008, the listing and quotation of Micro-Mechanics’ shares were upgraded to the SGX Mainboard.  Today, Micro-Mechanics’ boasts a headcount of 450 globally, with five factories located in Singapore, China, Malaysia and the Philippines, as well as in Silicon Valley in the US.  Micro-Mechanics is a company that we want to talk about right now, given how ongoing trade tensions and tariff spat between the US and China have thrusted the semiconductor industry and supply chain into the spotlight. Despite global headwinds, Micro-Mechanics said it was somewhat sheltered given how it had plants set up in both China and the US.  So how is the firm capitalising on its relative advantage in the global semiconductor supply chain right now, and what are the growth opportunities present within the industry right now? How does the firm assess the role of its presence in Singapore, and the vibrancy of the local stock market in boosting its valuation? In this Special episode of Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Kyle Borch, CEO, Micro-Mechanics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.