18 October 2011
AZ Electronic Materials is today holding a ground-breaking ceremony to commemorate the start of work on its new manufacturing facility in Hsinchu, Taiwan.
AZ is investing US$5m in the plant, which marks a further expansion of the company’s operations in Hsinchu, and will enable AZ to serve customers in Taiwan more effectively. AZ is a leading global producer and supplier of high-quality, high-purity speciality chemical materials, operating in the high-growth electronics market. Its materials are used in integrated circuits and devices, flat panel displays, LEDs and photolithographic printing. AZ has operations in China, India, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, the USA, France and Germany, as well as Taiwan, and is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
AZ has a strong market position in the Taiwanese integrated circuit market, and the new plant in Hsinchu will produce TARC (Top Anti-Reflective Coating) products which are essential in enhancing yields in the manufacture of many leading edge semiconductors. The plant will further strengthen AZ’s collaborative activities with its customers in Taiwan, provide them with increased time and cost efficiencies and enable greater customisation in the manufacturing process.
The new plant is located on the TangRong Technology Industrial Park, which is adjacent to AZ’s existing facilities in the Hsinchu Science Park. Trial production at the site will begin in the second quarter of 2012, when the first sample products will be shipped to customers.
Geoff Wild, CEO of AZ, who was joined at the ceremony by various customers, suppliers and government officials, commented: “We are delighted to make this further significant investment in our manufacturing operations in Taiwan. Developing innovative products and providing excellent customer service are our highest priorities, and bringing production closer to our semiconductor customers in Taiwan further fulfils that aim.”
Mike Douglas, Managing Director of AZ’s IC Materials business, commented: “Over the last 7 years, AZ Taiwan has grown to be our largest business by 3rd party sales, and is our highest volume production facility. With the continuous support of the government we have built two factories and an R&D centre, and are starting our third facility today. Over that same period, we have invested more than US$25m and added approximately 100 employees. We look forward to growing the business with this latest investment, which demonstrates our commitment to both our customers in terms of localised and secure production, and the wider community in term of permanent additional employees.”
AZ currently employs 133 people in Taiwan, and once the new plant is fully operational that number will rise to 142 people.
Enquiries:
Majid Nazir
Head of Investor Relations
AZ Electronic Materials
+ 44 (0) 208 622 3825
majid.nazir@az-em.com