ASM moves US HQ in $300m expansion
European equipment maker ASM International (ASMI) is spending $3300m to expand its operations in Scottsdale, Arizona to support fabs being built by TSMC and Intel.
The investment will focus on technology development, research, design and engineering capabilities, and pilot manufacturing capacities
ASMI is one of the fastest growing semiconductor equipment companies as a global market leader in equipment for Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) which is being adopted for leading edge process technologies.
The $300m over the next five years will be used to design, construct and facilitate a new US headquarters building on a 20 acre site over the next three years. It also 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 centre 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 on the recently purchased plot will cover 250,000 square feet (20,000 m²), more than double the size of the current HQ in Phoenix and will include a global technology and innovation centre that will allow ASM departments to collaborate more efficiently.
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This includes 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 Centre, and the Global Software Team.
Sustainability is a major theme for the new headquarters, as ASM will pursue LEED rating for the new facility while also driving programmes 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.
“Arizona is proud to celebrate ASM’s high-tech expansion, a project that further cements Arizona’s semiconductor leadership and bolsters U.S. resilience and competitiveness,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “We’re grateful to celebrate this new milestone in the Arizona-Netherlands partnership and thank ASM for their continued commitment to Arizona.”
ASM first established its North American headquarters in 1976 and was one of the first semiconductor equipment companies in Arizona. ASM has seven R&D centres and several manufacturing facilities around the world, with its global headquarters in the Netherlands.
“Arizona and the US are valuable partners in the Netherlands’ mission to co-create solutions that promote innovation and partnerships in the global semiconductor value chain,” said Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands. “It is through these types of cross-border collaborations that we are shaping the future of advancements in this growing industry.”
“ASM’s expansion in Arizona is one example of how we are looking to establish opportunities for Dutch and U.S. companies to exchange knowledge and establish meaningful partnerships,” said Micky Adriaansens, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy of the Netherlands. “With its new North American headquarters, ASM will support its key customers’ expansion of leading-edge device manufacturing in Arizona, in the rest of the U.S., and globally, contributing to a more resilient, innovative and competitive semiconductor supply chain.”
“ASM’s expansion further positions Arizona as the nation’s leading center for semiconductor innovation and manufacturing,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “ASM has been a longtime industry partner in Arizona, and we look forward to supporting their continued success.”
ASM currently employs over 800 people in Arizona and plans to hire an estimated additional 500 people over the next six years in engineering as well as research and development.
“The burgeoning relationship between Greater Phoenix and the Netherlands is strengthened by partners like ASM that drive the advanced manufacturing ecosystem, create important jobs, and commit to sustainable efforts around the region,” said Greater Phoenix Economic Council President and CEO Chris Camacho. “This massive investment goes beyond the dollars, with plans to improve irrigation and river systems in Arizona as ASM continues to show good stewardship of its U.S. home.”
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