Applied Materials, a supplier of semiconductor equipment, has opened a new Singapore Operations Center, located in the Changi North Industrial Park, its first facility in Asia for manufacturing semiconductor equipment.
According to Applied Materials, the new centre features thin film solar system, a 400 kilowatt peak system that annually generates 450 megawatt hours of electricity and includes a low-e glass curtain walls and a rainwater recycling system. This system uses 5.7m2 PV solar panels that have been manufactured on a customer’s SunFab Thin Film Line.
The company said that the 32,000m2 centre, will serve as a hub for semiconductor equipment manufacturing around the world, as well as support its worldwide supply chain operations and other corporate functions. The new features are expected to result in energy savings of up to 30%.
Applied said that it is planning to double its workforce at the centre in the next few years to 800 employees, including positions for highly skilled workers.
Mike Splinter, chairman and chief executive officer of Applied Materials, said: “With more than 70% of our semiconductor business in Asia, we expect 50% of our global semiconductor equipment supply to flow through this centre 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.”
