Applied Materials just announced the opening of its new global manufacturing hub in Singapore. The Singapore Operations Center will produce advanced semiconductor equipment and is Applied Materials’ first Asian facility of its type. Applied Materials chose Singapore in part because it is close to many of the company’s existing customers and suppliers, and it plans to eventually employ 800 people at the center.
In a press release, Mike Splinter, chairman and chief executive officer of Applied Materials, commented on the news:
“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. With more than 70% of our semiconductor business in Asia, we expect 50% 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.