Kuala Lumpur, September 10, 2025 - The recently held Altair Technology Conference (ATC) Malaysia 2025 was more than a platform for showcasing emerging technologies. It marked a pivotal moment in Malaysia's manufacturing evolution, underscoring how industry players, government agencies, and technology providers are collaborating to shape a future anchored in innovation and sustainability.
At the heart of this transformation were three manufacturing leaders: APM Automotive Holdings Berhad (APM), Aluminium Company of Malaysia Berhad (ALCOM), and the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics, and IoT Institute (MARii). Together with global technology provider Altair, these organisations are driving Malaysia's advancement into the industry 4.0 era.
APM: Accelerating Development with Simulation and Skilled Talent
As one of the country's leading automotive component manufacturers, APM utilizes Altair's simulation and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to accelerate product development and reduce reliance on costly physical testing. This digital approach allows APM to meet the ever-increasing demands of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for virtual validation and shorter production cycles.
"Our development time is much shortened, and Altair provides a full simulation solution," said APM Automotive Holdings Berhad, Head of Group Operations, Chee Kok Wolrence Siew.
[From Left to right] APM Automotive Holdings Berhad, Chee Kok Wolrence Siew and Altair Engineering Sdn Bhd, Sales Director, Lim Seng Tat.
Beyond technology adoption, APM is also addressing the pressing need for skilled talent. By collaborating with Altair to tap into a pipeline of pre-trained engineering graduates, APM is significantly reducing onboarding time and ensuring its workforce is equipped with the tools and knowledge needed for digital manufacturing.
"If graduates already know the tools, we don't have to start from scratch. That shortens our training time significantly," Siew added.
ALCOM: Enhancing Visibility and Sustainability Through Data
In the aluminium sector, ALCOM is taking bold steps toward sustainability with its ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2035. The company is retrofitting its legacy machinery with sensors and Altair's AI-powered analytics solutions to enable real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance.
[From Left to right] ALCOM, Group IT Head, See Hui Ling and Altair Engineering Sdn Bhd, Sales Director, Lim Seng Tat.
"Productivity has already increased by 2 to 5% in just a few months. We're reducing wastage and improving efficiency," said ALCOM Head of IT, Hui Ling.
The impact goes beyond productivity. With real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance now embedded in its operations, ALCOM has begun to see reductions in unplanned downtime and energy usage-key indicators in its broader ESG strategy. These improvements are helping the company optimize costs and reinvest in further digital upgrades.
This transformation has empowered ALCOM's plant engineers to respond to operational anomalies within seconds, significantly reducing downtime and enhancing product quality. With these systems in place, ALCOM plans to expand the integration to new production lines as part of its long-term digitalisation strategy.
"Altair didn't just give us software-they guided us throughout the journey. Now our team trusts the technology," Hui Ling noted.
MARii: Strengthening the Ecosystem for Industry 4.0
Supporting these transformations is MARii, a government agency under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), which plays a key role in enabling Malaysia's shift toward a smart industrial economy. At ATC Malaysia 2025, MARii reaffirmed its commitment to building a robust Industry 4.0 ecosystem through policy support, capability development, and public-private partnerships.
MARii's initiatives-including intelligent manufacturing assessments, technology roadmaps and talent development programmes are helping manufacturers like APM and ALCOM scale their adoption of advanced technologies.
"The future of Malaysian industry lies in collaboration, between public institutions like MARii, best-in-class technology providers like Altair, and forward-thinking manufacturers," said a MARii spokesperson during the event.
Altair's strategic role as a technology enabler was evident throughout the conference. By offering a suite of solutions that integrate simulation, data analytics, and AI, the company supports Malaysian industries in becoming more efficient, innovative, and globally competitive.
"We don't just offer technology; we offer a partnership. Our mission is to empower Malaysian companies to design better, operate smarter and innovate faster. APM and ALCOM are proof that when the right tools meet the right mindset, transformation becomes inevitable," said Altair Sales Director, Lim Seng Tat.
Altair's collaborations with APM, ALCOM and MARii reflect more than isolated success stories, they signal a national shift toward smarter, more sustainable manufacturing. From automotive innovation to aluminium efficiency and ecosystem-wide enablement, these partnerships are proof that targeted innovation can drive systemic change.
Transformation doesn't happen in isolation, it happens through partnerships that empower people, solve real-world problems and engineer smarter futures.
Malaysia's Industry 4.0 journey is no longer theoretical, it's being engineered in real time, through partnerships that blend innovation, talent and trust.