Ridgefield”™s Photronics has opened a pair of manufacturing facilities in China at a total cost of $320 million. Their purpose is for research and development, manufacture and sale of photomasks, and to help Photronics become a major supplier to the China integrated circuit and flat panel display (FPD) industries.
The facility in Xiamen is the result of a $160 million investment agreement with The Administrative Committee of Xiamen Torch Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone, a national-level hi-tech zone in China. It will support semiconductor manufacturing for a wide range of technologies and nodes in both logic and memory. When in full operation, the facility will employ approximately 170 people, including a combination of manufacturing, engineering, sales, facilities, finance and other support functions.
The facility in Hefei is wholly owned and focused on the FPD industry. Created under a $160 million investment agreement with another national-level hi-tech zone, the Hefei State High-tech Industry Development Zone, the factory is equipped to support Generation 10.5+ substrate production.
Photronics is the first producer of G10.5+ photomasks in China, with more capacity than any other company. The factory will employ approximately 70 people in manufacturing and supporting functions.
“We are proud to play a part in the development of these industries in China, and look forward to future growth opportunities,” Photronics CEO Peter Kirlin said. “With the opening of these facilities, which are among the most advanced sites in our global network, we are well on our way to extending our leadership position in the merchant mask market.”
