By ASM International N.V.
ASM International N.V. has announced plans for a new North American expansion to accommodate growing demand for research and development in the semiconductor industry.
ASM is investing $323M (€300M) over a period of up to five years to design and construct the new state-of-the-art site on more than 20 acres in Scottsdale. This total investment is a combination of capital expenditures related to infrastructure and lab equipment and includes operational expenses such as the additional research and engineering jobs created with the expansion.
“ASM’s facility in Arizona has always been a key center for development of leading technologies that enabled many breakthroughs in the global semiconductor industry,” said Benjamin Loh, CEO of ASM. “The investment in our new facility in Scottsdale will substantially expand our research and development activities, further strengthening Arizona as a hub for top-notch semiconductor innovation.”
The new North American headquarters will cover 250KSF, more than double the size of the current facility. The global technology and innovation center will house a variety of functions under one roof, allowing ASM departments to collaborate more efficiently. This includes investing in leading-edge lab equipment and state-of-the-art infrastructure not just for research and development, but also for renewable energy, a water recycling facility, and other sustainability features. Some of ASM’s global operations and corporate support functions will also be on site, including supply chain, manufacturing engineering, a Global Training Center, and the Global Software Team.
ASM first established its North American headquarters in Phoenix in 1976 and was one of the first semiconductor equipment companies in Arizona. ASM has seven R&D centers and several manufacturing facilities around the world, with its global headquarters located in the Netherlands.
ASM’s equipment is a key technology for the semiconductor integrated-circuit chips needed to make the electronic products that consumers and businesses use everywhere. Specializing in the wafer equipment market, ASM’s focus is on the deposition of thin films, designing, making, selling, and servicing deposition tools to supply customers with advanced technologies used in wafer fabrication plants. ASM’s customers include the companies that make the world’s top semiconductor devices.
ASM currently employs more than 800 people in Arizona and plans to hire an estimated additional 500 people over the next six years. The site will be designed as a destination to work, with various amenities that will provide support to employees in accomplishing their work and their general wellbeing.
ASM will pursue LEED rating for the new facility while also driving programs for energy and water reuse. ASM is also committed to reclaimed water system improvements to further reduce use and recycling of water, and targets more than 80% reclaimed water in the new facility. ASM’s current facility in Arizona has reduced its absolute water use by 60% from 2017 to 2022, even with substantial growth in its business activities during this period. Construction of the new North American facility is expected to take about three years. (Source)
