Methode announces major new investment
The Malta plant of Methode Electronics has been selected to be the centre of expertise for the company's Magnetpelastic Sensing Technology.
The announcement was made this morning during a tour by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Finance Minister Tonio Fenech.
"This product represents the culmination of a decade-long research and development project which has resulted in the commercialisation of this patented technology. These sensors, which provide real-time feedback about a variety of operating conditions, will help create intelligent products for the automotive, transportation and industrial markets," the company said.
It said it has already invested $50 million in the development of this technology, which senses parameters such as torque, stress and position without coming into contact with the surface being measured.
President and CEO Donald Dua said: "Methode's business unit in Malta is well-positioned to receive this technology as a result of its excellent design and engineering capabilities as well as their unrivalled manufacturing systems.
"We thank the employees of Methode Malta for their had work and dedication and are looking forward to bringing this exciting technology to the country."
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48 Comments
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J Micallef
Dec 19th 2012, 09:11
This company, along with a number of others, received some sort of aid from the government, which is laudable.
However, we were never given any details whatsoever about the kind of aid. Am sure that the Govt did the right thing and did his homework, but could we have some details of the kind of help give? I'm sure it came from the taxpayers' money.
Paul Micallef
Dec 19th 2012, 09:04
This factory come to its feet as it was given GOVERNMENT help, wake up people.
John Scerri
Dec 19th 2012, 07:25
This was a follow-up visit to meet workers whose jobs were in danger .
These workers have again risen another level in ''Maslow's hierarchy of needs'' for those who would like to Google it and find out what I mean.
Thanks to wise decisions taken during that time each and every job was saved.
Well done to Management and the Government.
Joe Fenech
Dec 19th 2012, 00:30
Who on earth builds an economy on factories? These come and once they find cheaper they relocate!
gil falzon
Dec 19th 2012, 09:37
Presumably you would prefer the investment to be in tourism (an industry that produces nothing and is extremely susceptible to changes in economic conditions) and on services (which let's face it actually means call-centres).
I wouldn't want to live in a country run by you. A country IS what a country MAKES. Manufacturing is the only real way forward. The West is faltering because of this.
Philip Grima
Dec 18th 2012, 18:50
Gonzi brilliant and focused as ever. Labour advocates a change in direction. What direction? Like reverting back to low added value investments and to the glory glory days of the Dry Docks, Air Malta (post monopoly days) and Sea Malta,subsidies and all. The dirty work has been done. All Labour requires is to convince that Muscat and his team are better administrators than Gonzi and his.
Anthony Paris
Dec 19th 2012, 09:04
You are right. PL must show they can build on the current successes, administer better, eliminate waste and corruption.
R. Azzopardi
Dec 18th 2012, 15:49
While any new investment is more than welcome, may I point out the abandoned and defunct ex-Trelleborg plant just a stone's throw away from the Methode plant. It was supposed to house the corporate village but that project seems to have been shelved. Wouldn't it be better if the plot was used to construct a new factory or an extension to existing ones?
C. Bartoli
Dec 18th 2012, 16:16
and something has to be done as regards the 75,000 vacant properties as well.
R. Azzopardi
Dec 19th 2012, 09:33
C. Bartoli, yes you have a point but what I'm talking about is the fact that Methode is expanding and needs more space, yet there's a vacant abandoned building less than 100 metres away.
S Portelli
Dec 18th 2012, 15:46
Lets be happy about any positive news that we receive regarding investments. Unlike Malta other countries are experiencing an outflow of investment. Lets not try to make fun of investors like we have done for the Barzilian company/smart city/HSBC etc etc etc. i wonder what Joseph Muscat will tell to bazilian enterpreneurs? Come to Malta and we will make fun of you!
R. Balzan
Dec 18th 2012, 16:11
@ S. Portelli - it was Dr Gonzi himself who brought ridicule on that particular Brazilian company by the huge gaffe he made on public television whilst trying to ridicule the leader of the Opposition.
Anthony Scicluna
Dec 18th 2012, 17:28
R Balzan, the gaffe was Dr Muscat's. Despite his doctorate in business he ignores the REALITY than companies come and go and that no government can guarantee the success of private investment. I have seen hundreds of failed investments because of market conditions. I have seen many successful enterprises. Oddly, about 90% of all start-up operations fail within the first 5 years. Yet MLP laugh
Anthony A. Mifsud
Dec 18th 2012, 15:17
Last week they were laying people off, now the new investment ?
Some one better explain.
Ninu
jason cassar
Dec 18th 2012, 14:54
this is no new investment , this is back to normal so theres no need to party !
most of methode workers have been on 4 day week for 2 years !
James Ellul
Dec 18th 2012, 15:33
just as my message below
R. Balzan
Dec 18th 2012, 16:14
Whist wishing Methode every future success it would be good to remember its past up and downs. Methode employees want job security, working a full 40 hour week and the opportunity to make some etra money through overtime. All this BS election propaganda does not do anyone any good, not even the PN.
James Ellul
Dec 18th 2012, 14:49
At the moment I favour the PN more than the MLP
....however about Methode ....I can confirm that this company is not doing well at all. Tens of people have been dismissed during the past few years - especially these last few months - to cut costs ...and in fact there is no mention of any new jobs being brought by this investment!
Anthony Scicluna
Dec 18th 2012, 17:29
James, an investment means spending money. What about indirect jobs?
N. Montanaro
Dec 18th 2012, 14:45
This is my reason for giving gonzi PN the vote for the second time in a row... Yes he might not be perfect, but I honestly think that he has done so much for the country. Whereas on the other side there is still a very dizzy blur, and as time is pressing for the vital moment it seems to be far from clearing in any way! I chose the better from the lot...
paul falzon
Dec 18th 2012, 15:26
Couldn't agree more. Certainly not flawless but given the circumstances, the PN surely delivered.
N. Montanaro
Dec 18th 2012, 22:21
Although one must not think that with Joseph in government it would not be the end of the world (as long as it won't be next Friday :p), I think that with Gonzi as a Prime minister for the coming 5 years we would be in much safer hands. The PL made 3 horrible mistakes since 98... i) Re electing Dr Sant in 98 ii)Choosing Muscat over Abela iii) Last Friday's Franco farse on xarabank!
Marion Storace
Dec 18th 2012, 14:34
Methode Electronics (formerly Merit(Malta) has been operating on the Island for the last 30 years so it's not during a PN administration that GonziPN created more jobs and 'xoghol garantit'. During the last 25 years plenty of jobs were lost - i.e. Drydocks, SeaMalta, AirMalta on the verge, etc. etc so please all PN apologists posting their comments should do their research before posting.
C. Bartoli
Dec 18th 2012, 15:28
yet Foreign companies are still willing to invest in Malta and as for all the companies that you have mentioned have closed down we still have only 7,000 people unemployed, so that means that the Drydocks, SeaMalta, AirMalta have found another job and have saved us taxpayers almost a billion euro in subsidiary
Mr patrick mifsud
Dec 18th 2012, 15:30
that is why the unemployment rate is one of the lowest in Europe. what about gaming companies employing a lot of people and the financial services sector? please do it yourself the research before opening your mouth. with your reasoning we still should be paying subsidies to a bankrupt company like malta drydocks.
Marion Storace
Dec 18th 2012, 14:33
Methode Electronics (formerly Merit(Malta) has been operating on the Island for the last 30 years so it's not during a PN administration that GonziPN created more jobs and 'xoghol garantit'. During the last 25 years plenty of jobs were lost - i.e. Drydocks, SeaMalta, AirMalta on the verge, etc. etc so please all PN apologists posting their comments should do their research before posting.
Joseph Scicluna
Dec 18th 2012, 15:44
Marion
Drydocks kull ma kienet hi bejta laburista li kienet qieghda tiswina miljuni tal- liri fis sena.
Sea Malta, staqsi lil Toni Zarb ghaliex ma sarx il-ftehim.
Air Malta maghrufa ahjar bhala air zejtun malta!!!
L'apoligisti huma inthom ghad disastru u tkissir li kontu iggibu l-Malta.
HENRY FENECH AZZOPARDI
Dec 18th 2012, 22:59
Grazzi tall fakkartni fid drydocks sea malta air malta u ohrajn. Hemm huma l ghoxrin elf job li Muscat ma jistax jifhem. Dan barra in nisa li hargu jahdmu l'anzjani li baqqaw jahdmu u l istudenti li jigradraw kul sena. Issa mohna mistrieh jekk jitla Muscat ghax ghandu deputy tal genn.
J Martinelli
Dec 19th 2012, 00:15
Marion, if plenty of jobs were lost, explain the fact that there is an all time record of gainfully employed workers. Notably, the vast majority earn substantially more than the former textile workers ever did. Neither was this government forced to create 'industriji tal-kappar'. Instead the best paying jobs are within the financial, pharmaceutical and aviation sectors.
Stop listening to lies.
A.Felix Busuttil
Dec 18th 2012, 14:23
Are these from Brazil?
Joseph Scicluna
Dec 18th 2012, 16:36
No. From China. Bhal kumpaniji tal-elf, tar-rattan talkappar' tal=gallettini u ...............
Anthony Scicluna
Dec 18th 2012, 17:30
China??? Methode is a US investment
Robert Caruana
Dec 18th 2012, 14:17
GONZI GARANZIJA TA IMPIEGI. Prosit
C Muscat
Dec 18th 2012, 15:50
Qed ticcajta? Fejn tidhol din il-kumpannija GonziPN ghamilha difficli biex tikber. Grazzi u prosit methode u l-haddiem malti.
Biex tara x kapaci jaghmel Gnzi b wistin mur smart city, habib.
Ronnie Callus
Dec 18th 2012, 14:12
Proset li nkomplu nkabbru go pajjizna Dr.Gonzi. Biss kont nistenna xi haga fuq li qalilna Dr.Franco u li ma' hallewx ukoll.Kieku l-pajjiz qieghed ferm ahjar milli qieghed zgur u jgawdi kulhadd.
Saviour Fenech
Dec 18th 2012, 14:21
irrilevanti
oliver joseph mangion
Dec 18th 2012, 14:26
i fully agree we keep the same captain because theirs no an alternative
C. Bartoli
Dec 18th 2012, 14:30
@Ronnie Callus, Kulhadd jista jgawdi. Minn irid jitghallem jista jkompli jitghallem u jista jimpruvja ruhu. Jien fl-ahhar hames snin biddilt 3 jobs, ghaliex? biex nimpruvja il-paga tieghi. Kont kapaci noqod immaqdar il-gvern li m'Hawnx xoghol, imma ix-xoghol gera waraja.
R. Azzopardi
Dec 18th 2012, 15:51
Prosit C. Bartoli! Hekk niehu pjacir nisma jien! If you want to improve, stop frigging whining, get off your butt and look elsewhere! thats what i do too! Taf x'inhi l-vilta? Li l-ahhar xoghol li kelli kont overworked and underpaid u l-imghallem li kelli (li huwa strategista laburist) taf x'qalli? qalli biex niccekkja mal-misco kemm suppost ghandi paga. Sibt xoghol b'5k euro aktar!
C. Bartoli
Dec 18th 2012, 16:03
@R.Azzopardi, If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. But if you give him a fishing rod, you feed him for a lifetime! Hope that the mentality in Malta change to the better!
E. Mifsud
Dec 18th 2012, 14:09
Madwarna kumpaniji jkeccu il-haddiema, u f'Malta kuljum tisma' b'investiment godda. Iebsa ftit biex tithajjar tbiddel il-kaptan hux? Aktar ma kienu kbar li-problemi li kellu, aktar harget bic-car il-hila tieghu.
C. Bartoli
Dec 18th 2012, 14:11
I fully agree!
Ronnie Callus
Dec 18th 2012, 14:17
Mhux bis-sahha tal-kaptan imma bil-hegga li ghandhom certu industrjalisti nahseb hux kif qal tajjeb Franco l-bierah.
Mr Joe Micallef
Dec 18th 2012, 14:26
Ronnie you mean the IRRELEVANT franco?
C. Bartoli
Dec 18th 2012, 14:27
@Ronnie Callus inti tinvesti f'bank li taf li se jfalli? Taf li dawn l-industrijalisti huma baranin. Il-baranin jaraw l-istabilita fil-pajjiz u kemm kapaci jsibu haddiema biezlin. F'Malta ghal grazzja t'Alla hawn l-istabilita u ghandna haddiema ta min jiftahar bihom. Ghalkemm il MLP qed jipruvaw juru li Malta hi l-infern, minn ghandu naqa sens mohhu jista jara kemm infethu jew kibru kumpaniji
C. Bartoli
Dec 18th 2012, 14:31
@ Ronnie Callus allura kif madwar id-dinja il-kumpaniji qed jghalqu u jkeccu in-nies? Il-Gvern ghin lil-industrijalisti biex ikabbru il-kumpaniji taghhom u ikollhom iziedu in-nies.
Brian Gatt
Dec 18th 2012, 15:57
Ohh yes Methode is a success story, one that started out about 30yrs ago under Labour. the new investment is more then welcome, however I ask why the operators are being employed on a month per month contracts what is the reason since appearantly the company has sound basis
Malcolm Attard
Dec 18th 2012, 16:19
@ ronnie. tajba kienet din proset. ghogobtni ! il verra jissorprenduni nies li jirragunaw bhalek !
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