Walton doubles motherboard production

Walton has doubled its motherboard production capacity as the local technology giant looks to become savvier in high-tech and cut reliance on imports for advanced technologies.

It inaugurated its second motherboard manufacturing plant at its factory in Gazipur's Kaliakoir yesterday, where printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) is being produced.

Motherboards are used in the vast range of products that Walton manufactures, including computers, televisions, remote controls, LED lights, and mobile phone chargers.

Just like the first manufacturing unit, the second plant also has the capacity of installing 72,000 components per hour.

"We also use our own PCBs and PCBAs for Internet of Things (IoT)-based products and their market is expanding rapidly," said Liakat Ali, deputy managing director of Walton Digi-tech industry.

The IoT-run products include refrigerators, home appliances, and electronic appliances such as fans and switch sockets.

Walton's motherboards have been used in 61.67 lakh digital devices since January 2021. The motherboards are also used in the products it exports to the markets such as the EU and the US.

"This means Bangladesh can establish its footprint in the global tech industry," Ali added.

The electronics giant makes sophisticated and hi-tech-based random-access memory and solid state drives.

"Our target is to raise the local value-addition to 100 per cent by 2030," said Ali.

"That means, we will make all the parts, including microchips and displays that Walton still needs to import, for the production of a digital device locally. This will eliminate import reliance completely."

In order to make that happen, Walton is investing heavily in its research and innovation section where more than 1,000 engineers work.

Walton is marketing PCBs and PCBAs after meeting the domestic demand, said Md Touhidur Rahman Rad, chief business officer at the Walton PCBA department.

A PCB is a crucial electronic component used to mechanically support and electrically connect components inside an electrical device, while a PCBA is a complete package fitted with necessary components ready for deployment for its desired purpose.

Matador Group is sourcing PCBAs from Walton for fan regulators while many other companies are also showing interest in PCBs and PCBAs.

"The second unit of the motherboard plant has been set up to meet the growing demand," said Rad.

In 2020, Walton announced that it is starting the commercial production of single-layered, double-layered and multi-layered PCBs, the first of its kind in Bangladesh.

Symphony Mobile began experimental production of PCBAs for mobile phones at its second manufacturing unit in Ashulia.