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Stainless steels play a crucial role in the semiconductor industry . Image © Merck
Expanded semiconductor capacity at world ’ s largest speciality gases facility
EMD Electronics will expand its semiconductor manufacturing capacities for the world ’ s largest integrated speciality gases facility .
Text by Merck
EMD Electronics , the Electronics business of Merck KGaA , Darmstadt , Germany in the US and Canada , will expand its semiconductor manufacturing site in Hometown , Pennsylvania , USA . The expansion is part of the company ’ s Level Up growth program , announced by its electronics business sector in late 2021 , which aims to invest over USD 3.5 billion in innovation and capacity expansion projects by 2025 . The roughly USD 300 million investment in the Hometown site will create the world ’ s largest integrated specialty gases facility and support the success of the company ’ s Semiconductor Solutions business , one of its “ Big 3 ” growth engines . “ Despite near-term cautions due to the industry ’ s cyclical nature , the demand for semiconductor materials remains very promising long term ,” said Kai Beckmann , Member of the Executive Board of Merck KGaA , Darmstadt , Germany , and CEO Electronics . “ Having domestic production capacity for critical electronics components has become a high priority for many economies . As the brains of modern electronics , semiconductors enable technology critical to economic growth and global competitiveness . We ’ re poised to support our customers as the most local of global partners in the inextricable rise of semiconductor innovation .”
Growing business “ Together with EMD Electronics , we are planting a flag here in
Pennsylvania and showing the rest of the country that we are going to be a leader in the semiconductor industry , helping our country produce vital high-tech products that power everything from our smart phones to our cars ,” said stated Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro . The agreement includes incentive targets associated with at least 68 new jobs and roughly USD 300 million in potential investments that will enable Merck KGaA , Darmstadt , Germany to capture and grow its semiconductor materials business in North America and Europe and provide supplemental capacity to supply Asia . “ EMD Electronics has been an anchor manufacturing facility in Schuylkill County for decades during which time
52 Stainless Steel World September 2023 www . stainless-steel-world . net