Applied Materials opens global hub in Singapore for manufacturing semiconductor equipment

SINGAPORE: Applied Materials Inc., the world’s leading supplier of equipment to the semiconductor, flat panel display and solar photovoltaic (PV) industries, has opened its new Singapore Operations Center, Applied’s first facility in Asia for manufacturing its advanced semiconductor equipment.

The 32,000m2 Center, located in the Changi North Industrial Park, will serve as a hub for Applied’s semiconductor equipment manufacturing around the world, as well as support its worldwide supply chain operations and other corporate functions.

“The opening of our Singapore Operations Center is a significant milestone for Applied, and will be especially important in meeting an expected multi-year increase in demand for our advanced semiconductor production technology,” said Mike Splinter, chairman and chief executive officer of Applied Materials. “With more than 70 percent of our semiconductor business in Asia, we expect 50 percent of our global semiconductor equipment supply to flow through this Center in the next few years as we consolidate key parts of our manufacturing and various global and pan-Asian support functions here.

“Singapore is an ideal location for this facility due to its proximity to many of our semiconductor customers and suppliers, solid business infrastructure and strong government support,” added Splinter. “We are excited by the opportunity to participate in Singapore’s manufacturing ecosystem with its strong talent pool and local suppliers, while working more closely with our customers to advance technology and reduce costs.”

Applied plans to double its workforce at the Center in the next few years to 800 employees, including positions for highly skilled workers.Designed to meet stringent environmental standards, Applied’s Singapore Operations Center was recently awarded Singapore’s highest environmental honor – the Green Mark Platinum award – by the Singapore Building and Construction Authority.

The Center features the largest thin film solar system in Singapore, a 400 kilowatt peak system that annually generates 450 megawatt hours of electricity – enough energy to power more than 100 apartments for a year.

This system uses 5.7m2 PV solar panels, the most powerful in the world, that have been manufactured on a customer’s Applied SunFab Thin Film Line. Other fixtures include low-e glass curtain walls and a rainwater recycling system. These and other features are expected to result in energy savings of up to 30 percent.