EMD Electronics, the Electronics business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany in the U.S. and Canada, announced an agreement with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to support expansion plans at its semiconductor manufacturing site in Hometown. This expansion is part of the company's Level Up growth program, announced by its Electronics business sector in late 2021, which aims to invest over $3.5 billion in innovation and capacity expansion projects by 2025. The roughly $300 million investment in the Hometown site will create the world's largest integrated Specialty Gases facility and support the success of Merck's Semiconductor Solutions business, one of its "Big 3" growth engines.
"Despite near-term cautions due to the industry's cyclical nature, the demand for semiconductor materials remains very promising long term," said Kai Beckmann, Member of the Executive Board of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and CEO Electronics. "Having domestic production capacity for critical electronics components has become a high priority for many economies. As the brains of modern electronics, semiconductors enable technology critical to economic growth and global competitiveness. We're poised to support our customers as the most local of global partners in the inextricable rise of semiconductor innovation."
"Together with EMD Electronics, we are planting a flag here in Pennsylvania and showing the rest of the country that we are going to be a leader in the semiconductor industry, helping our country produce vital high-tech products that power everything from our smartphones to our cars," said Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro. "I'm proud the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is partnering with EMD Electronics on the largest integrated specialty gases facility in the world. This investment will create high-paying jobs in Schuylkill County and should serve as a shining example of how the Commonwealth and leading businesses can work together to foster innovation and advance economic development here in Pennsylvania."
The agreement includes incentive targets associated with at least 68 new jobs and roughly $300 million in potential investments that will enable Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany to capture and grow its semiconductor materials business in North America and Europe and provide supplemental capacity to supply Asia.
The company expects to hire at least 68 employees at full ramp-up, including technicians and engineers. Those interested in exploring career opportunities at the site should visit the EMD Electronics career website.
"We have been the employer of choice in Hometown for almost 50 years. Our commitment to level up our business in Schuylkill County bodes well for the community and its global impact on the semiconductor industry. We appreciate the efforts on the part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to recognize the value of our growth plans and work with us to make this expansion possible. We would also like to acknowledge the support of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, State Senator Dave Argall, Secretary of Community and Economic Development Rick Siger, and other local elected officials for their support," said Jeff White, President, EMD Electronics.
"EMD Electronics has been an anchor manufacturing facility in Schuylkill County for decades during which time it has grown to be one of the most sophisticated industrial complexes in all of Pennsylvania," noted Frank Zukas, President of the Schuylkill Economic Development Corporation. "These planned expansion projects will allow our community to play a major part in the development of the semiconductor ecosystem in the U.S."