2 minute read - 2nd December 2024
Vishay to invest £51m in Newport Wafer Fab
Vishay Intertechnology, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors and passive electronic components, is set to invest £51m in Newport Wafer Fab, the UK’s largest semiconductor facility—bringing new product range capabilities and skilled job opportunities to Newport.
The investment, supported by £5m of Welsh government funding, is the latest positive news for the South Wales compound semiconductor cluster, which continues to attract international interest and recognition.
Other recent investments in South Wales include KLA’s construction of its new European headquarters in Newport. The Welsh government has invested in the grid infrastructure at the site, and the 215,000-square-foot, $100 million development will create a state-of-the-art innovation centre and manufacturing facility, including cleanrooms for R&D and manufacturing. Up to 750 employees are already being recruited at KLA’s new facility.
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Semiconductor manufacturer Vishay Intertechnology is investing £51m in Newport Wafer Fab, the UK’s largest semiconductor facility / Picture: Getty/iStock
The Welsh Government has also supported a world-class facility called Centre 7 as part of its International Strategy. This is already attracting inward investors who recognise Wales as a semiconductor hotspot. MicroLink Devices and CS Connected were the first tenants at the 51,000-square-foot Cardiff Gate site. In addition, a £2.5m net zero research project is underway at Swansea University’s Centre for Semiconductor Materials. This project is pioneering the reduction of building emissions for the semiconductor industry and has research agreements with industrial members such as Vishay.
Rebecca Evans, Welsh government economy, energy and planning cabinet secretary, said: “Compound semiconductors are all around us – in our homes and in our phones, our trains and our turbines. They are a vital, if miniature, piece of what makes the modern world tick, with extremely strong global growth projections. And we in Wales are increasingly a world-leading nation in their production and manufacture.
“Today that is more evident than ever, with our international reputation attracting significant inward investment, the provision and occupation of state-of-the-art facilities, clear links with R&D and well-paid opportunities for employment and apprenticeships. We are now, after a decade of seeding the cluster, reaping the rewards of our commitment which we will continue to drive forward.”
