AYASE CITY, JAPAN -- Meiko Electronics reportedly will invest 38 billion yen (about $437 million) over the next three years to expand production in China and Vietnam.

Meiko Vietnam Electronics built its bare board fabrication plant near Hanoi, in 2008. The company also operates plants in Guangzhou and in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The Japan-based circuit board maker has four plants and two tech centers in Japan.

Meiko also recently signed an agreement with Schweizer Electronic, the longtime German PWB fabricator, covering customer support, production, and eventually technology joint ventures. Under the strategic partnership, Schweizer will be exclusively responsible for European customers and Meiko exclusively for Asian customers.