Intuitive to build surgical robotics plant in Penang, Malaysia

Intuitive Surgical Inc has announced a major expansion of its Asia-Pacific operations by signing a lease agreement with the Penang Development Corporation for a new manufacturing site in Bandar Cassia Technology Park, Malaysia.

The company plans to invest approximately 2 billion Malaysian ringgit (nearly 500 million U.S. dollars) over the next five years. The 316,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to begin operations in 2028 and is expected to create 1,200 highly skilled jobs by 2032. The plant will focus on producing electromechanical devices and surgical instruments for the da Vinci robotic-assisted surgical system.

This facility marks Intuitive’s first manufacturing site in Southeast Asia. The move is intended to meet rising demand for minimally invasive surgical technology across the Asia-Pacific region, where the company’s systems have already treated more than 2.5 million patients across 13 markets.