SMART Modular Technologies inaugurates lithium polymer battery factory in Atibaia – São Paulo
Leader in production of integrated circuits and memory modules in Brazil further diversifies its business in the country
SMART with Investe SPSMART Modular Technologies Brazil inaugurates today its lithium polymer ion battery factory in Atibaia, state of São Paulo. The company takes a major step in the diversification of its product line and innovates by bringing state-of-the-art battery manufacturing technology to Brazil.
With a focus on keeping up with the market's growing demand for batteries with multiple applications, the company begins the production with models aimed to smartphone – which have changed to lithium polymer batteries because they are more compact and have larger storage capacity. The factory will have initial production capacity of over six million units per year.
As a partner of one of the world's largest manufacturers of lithium polymer battery cells and qualified to meet the demand of existing customers, SMART aims to quickly achieve a 20% market share. The goal is to expand the product portfolio and offer lithium batteries used in notebooks and other segments, such as tablets, Internet of Things devices (IoT), among others.
The new investment is part of SMART's expansion plan, announced this May. The company intends to invest R$ 700 million in the country until 2021, focusing on expanding its production capacity, developing the technology of its semiconductor encapsulation unit, and launching new products, such as the solid-state drives (SSD) and stationary batteries for IoT modules and electric vehicles. For the success of these important projects, the company will also continue to invest significantly in Research & Development and the training of its human resources. "We are very happy to open our new factory and expand our business in Brazil. We know the country's potential in the technological field and our investments here reinforce our belief in the local market," says Rogério Nunes, CEO of SMART in Brazil.
Having inaugurated the first laboratory for testing and prototyping semiconductor components in Brazil in partnership with Eldorado Institute, the Campinas-based company develops, designs, produces and commercializes in the country world-class components and memory devices for the largest global smartphone manufacturers, personal computers, servers and smart TVs.
Both the new factory started-up in Atibaia and the laboratory in Campinas were supported by Investe São Paulo – São Paulo's Agency for the Promotion of Investments and Competitiveness. For the battery factory, the agency provided tax support. "All initiatives focused on the innovation help to promote the economic development in the State of São Paulo. They are priorities for this state," says Sérgio Costa, director of Investe SP.
About SMART Brazil
A member of SMART Global Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: SGH), SMART is leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of components and memory devices for the most diverse segments, with its own technology fully developed in Brazil.
SMART's history in Brazil began in 2002 with the acquisition of a local memory module assembly business. Three years later, the company developed the complex encapsulation of integrated circuits process, starting to produce them on a commercial scale in the country. Since then, SMART Brazil has focused on the development, design, production and marketing of semiconductor electronic memory components and memory modules, which are widely used by the world's largest and most important electronic and computer equipment manufacturers, who employ SMART Brazil products on their smartphones, tablets, notebooks, desktop computers, servers and smartTVs, in particular. SMART Brazil products are qualified by the world's leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and meet all the internationally required quality and reliability requirements of the industry.