Novara (NO), Italy – 18 February 2022 – MEMC Electronic Materials SpA (MEMCSPA), GlobalWafers Group (GWC)
On February 10th 2022 , MEMCSPA Board of Directors, following up GWC BoD decision, has finally approved the expansion of its existing facility located in Novara (Italy), that’s currently producing 200mm silicon wafers, by adding a new 300mm wafers production module.
This investment decision, in line with recent GWC announcement of expanding its presence in Europe thanks to the endorsement of the Italian Government (MISE) the European Union as well as some key European microelectronic device manufacturers, will further strengthen GWC historical presence in Italy where both Merano and Novara facilities are operating since 1974-1976 respectively.
The approved expansion will be concentrated on 300mm polished and epi wafers development and production to be utilized in the most advanced technology applications. Moreover, by mean of this expansion into Italian Piedmont region, GWC will achieve the full 300mm line integration in Italy since 300mm crystal growth new development and expansion was already occurring in its facility located in Merano (BZ).
This advanced 300mm line will be operating starting mid-2023. Mass production will follow according to customers’ qualifications and then first industrial deployment phases to ramp up to the needed volume of the new products being developed and produced by this advanced and fully automated facility.
Given the significant capital associated to the start-up of this new 300mm advanced line, conditions for which the project will become executive are: 1. Financial participation of the partners with whom the project is being developed; 2. Access to the Government/European funds associated to the investments Microelectronic supply chain in Europe/Italy (i.e. IPCEI-ME/CT).
The whole Novara area as well as the Piedmont region will benefit from the spill over of this very advanced technology investment. In this respect, collaborations with very important universities and research centers as well as with microelectronic firms, operating in Europe and abroad, are already in place for guaranteeing the continuous growth of the local semiconductor industry ecosystem that everybody knows it’s strategic for both Italian and European economies.