ASM breaks ground on new state-of-the-art innovation and
manufacturing center in Hwaseong, Korea
Almere, the Netherlands – Seoul, South Korea
May 23, 2023
ASM International N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam:
ASM) will take its symbolic first step in bringing its US$100
million multi-year investment in Hwaseong (Dongtan), South Korea,
to fruition, with the groundbreaking ceremony tomorrow on its
expanded innovation and manufacturing center. The development
follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between ASM
and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of
Korea (‘MOTIE’) earlier this year, around ASM’s intention to carry
out this investment by 2025.
The groundbreaking ceremony marks a strategic
expansion for ASM and an important step in meeting the foreseen
growing demand for semiconductors for the years to come. The
investment will boost ASM’s research and product-development
infrastructure, as well as adding more manufacturing capacity.
With the investment, ASM is also committed to
creating new job opportunities, especially in engineering, R&D
and manufacturing that will contribute to training and workforce
development in Korea.
The milestone groundbreaking event will be
attended by ASM’s CEO, Benjamin Loh and Pauline Van der Meer Mohr,
Chair of the Supervisory Board. Guests include political
dignitaries such as Kim Dong-Yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province,
Wan Ki Kim, Deputy Minister for Trade & Investment, Jeong
Myeong-Guen, Mayor of Hwaesong city, and Joanne Doornewaard,
Ambassador of the Netherlands, alongside customers and business
partners, and other ASM colleagues.
Speaking ahead of the launch event, Benjamin Loh
said this commitment to Hwaseong’s expansion was a bold step
forward in ASM’s growth journey. “We couldn’t be happier that it’s
taking place in Korea. Ever since we began our operations here back
in 1989, we have been impressed by the potential, drive, and
dedication of the Korean people. Right from the start, we sensed
ASM would be able to do great things here.”
Loh added that the investment in Hwaseong is
about so much more than just expanding space. “It confirms our
commitment to Korea, as well as our ambition to continue growing
our business here. Going forward, we aim to enable the continued
development of advanced technologies, which will also increase
Korea’s ability to facilitate domestic world-class semiconductor
innovation.”
Hwaseong has been instrumental in ASM’s growth,
with the facility delivering advanced R&D and technology for
Korean and global customers. Korea is also the global center for
ASM’s PEALD business. Technologies developed by ASM’s local R&D
team have been at the heart of breakthrough innovations in the
semiconductor industry, such as the ALD quad chamber module (QCM)
architecture, the TENZA™ ALD for ultra-high aspect ratio
(>100:1) gap-fill, and high-quality PEALD silicon and metal
oxides and nitrides for spacers, liners, and other patterning
applications.
ASM currently has more than 450 people working
at its Hwaseong facility, and the number is expected to rise as the
facility expands. The current building measures just over 20,000
m2, and the new extension will add another 31,000 m2, spread across
eight floors. The expansion will more than double the Hwaseong
facility’s R&D area while manufacturing area will almost
triple.
YK Kim, Chairman of ASM Korea, said the
expansion of ASM’s Hwaseong facility will create more space for the
company’s fast-growing number of employees in Korea and reflects
the country’s increasing importance to help the company meet
growing global customer demand for advanced semiconductors in the
years to come.
“It’s an investment in people and in the
semiconductor ecosystem in Korea. We wish to cooperate closely with
the Korean government, customers, and suppliers to foster and
accelerate Korea’s semiconductor industry growth,” Kim said. He
expressed his gratitude for support shown to ASM by the government
and industry partners in Korea, saying it has been “invaluable in
bringing us to this moment”.
About ASM International
ASM International N.V., headquartered in Almere, the
Netherlands, and its subsidiaries design and manufacture equipment
and process solutions to produce semiconductor devices for wafer
processing, and have facilities in the United States, Europe, and
Asia. ASM International's common stock trades on the Euronext
Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol: ASM). For more information, visit
ASM's website at www.asm.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements: All matters discussed in this press release, except for
any historical data, are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to,
economic conditions and trends in the semiconductor industry
generally and the timing of the industry cycles specifically,
currency fluctuations, corporate transactions, financing and
liquidity matters, the success of restructurings, the timing of
significant orders, market acceptance of new products, competitive
factors, litigation involving intellectual property, shareholders
or other issues, commercial and economic disruption due to natural
disasters, terrorist activity, armed conflict or political
instability, changes in import/export regulations, epidemics and
other risks indicated in the Company's reports and financial
statements. The Company assumes no obligation nor intends to update
or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future
developments or circumstances.
Contact
Investor and media relations
Victor BareñoT: +31 88 100 8500 E:
investor.relations@asm.com
- 20230523 ASM breaks ground on new state-of-the-art innovation
and manufacturing center in Korea
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