We’ve all heard about the shortages in standard components like semiconductors and chips. Cars, phones and computers, items we use every day, are no longer being produced at the speedy rate we’ve come to expect. The cause of this shortage is, in part, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is especially noticeable in Europe and America, where production has often been outsourced to Asia in the past.
So who are the latest companies expanding operations, and how much are they spending? Check out our quick run-down of factories and when they should open:
Company: Intel
Location: Ohio, USA
Product: Chips
Completion date: 2025
Cost: $20 billion (£14.7 billion)
The latest, and possibly greatest, announcement on our list comes from Intel. The corporation revealed in January that they would be committing to building two chip manufacturing plants in New Albany, Ohio. The move is said to be due to supply chain issues with Intel’s manufacturers in Asia, and should boost the American industry with the creation of at least 3,000 jobs. Construction should begin this year.
Company: Samsung Electronics
Location: Texas, USA
Product: Semiconductors
Completion date: 2024
Cost: $17billion (£12.5billion)
The household name announced late last year that they would begin work on a new semiconductor-manufacturing plant in Taylor, Texas. The Korean company stated the project was Samsung’s largest single investment in America, and is due to be operational by the middle of 2024.
Company: Infineon
Location: Villach, Austria
Product: Chips
Completion date: 2021
Cost: €1.6 billion (£1.3 billion)
After being in construction since 2018, Infineon’s Austrian plant became operational in September last year. The chip factory for power electronics, also called energy-saving chips, on 300-millimeter tin wafers began shipping three months ahead of schedule in 2021, and its main customer base will be in the automotive industry.
Company: Northvolt
Location: Gdańsk, Poland
Product: Batteries
Completion date: 2022
Cost: $200 million (£148 million)
The Swedish battery manufacturer is expanding its operations with a new factory in Poland. While initial operations are supposed to begin this year producing 5 GWh of batteries, it hopes to further develop to produce 12 GWh in future. Northvolt has also just begun operations at its new battery factory in Skellefteå in Sweden.
Company: Vingroup
Location: Hà Tĩnh, Vietnam
Product: Batteries
Completion date: 2022
Cost: $174 million (£128 million)
The Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer is due to start production at its new factory later this year, where it will produce lithium batteries for its electric cars and buses. The factory will be designed to produce 10,000 battery packs per year initially, but in a second phase the manufacturer said it will upgrade to 1 million battery packs annually. VinFast, a member of Vingroup, is also planning on expanding operations to America and Germany.
Company: EMD Electronics
Location: Arizona, USA
Product: Gas and chemical delivery systems
Completion date: 2022
Cost: $28 million (£20.7 million)
The member of the multinational Merck Group is expanding operations with the construction of a new factory in Phoenix, Arizona, to manufacture equipment for its Delivery Systems & Services business. The factory is due to be operational by the end of the year, and will produce GASGUARD and CHEMGUARD systems for the company.
A bright future
These electronic component factory openings signal a great increase in business, and will aide in the easing of the component crisis. But it will take a while for these fabs to be operational.
Can’t wait? Cyclops is there for all your electronic component needs. We have 30 years of expertise, and can help you where other suppliers cannot. Whether it’s day-to-day or obsolete electronic components, contact us today at sales@cyclops-electronics.com, or use the rapid enquiry form on our website.
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