TAINAN, TAIWAN: Applied Materials held a groundbreaking for an expansion project of its Tainan Manufacturing Center.

This expansion, with a total investment estimated at around US$17 million, will increase the company's ability to meet the demand for both its AKT flat panel display equipment and SunFab Thin Film Solar manufacturing equipment. The new facility is expected to be completed by the middle of next year.

"This year's strong demand for flat panel equipment and the added requirements to support our fast growing SunFab business in Asia have created a need to increase our capability in Asia," said Gilad Almogy, group vice president and general manager of Applied Materials' Display and Thin Film Solar Products Group. "Having greater manufacturing and supply chain capabilities close to our customers will enable a faster response and provide additional value to customers."

The Applied Materials Tainan Manufacturing Center will supplement existing operations for display and solar in the United States and Germany. The expansion will add 7,200sqm of new production area, bringing the total manufacturing area in Tainan to 14,000sqm. When complete, the campus will have about 150 employees.

"We are pleased that Applied Materials, the world leader in nanomanufacturing technology, has chosen to expand their operations in Taiwan," said Dr. Lou-Chuang Lee, Minister of the Taiwan National Science Council. "Here in Tainan they will be able to take advantage of a number of Taiwan's manufacturing advantages, including our strong talent pool, extensive local flat panel display customer and supplier base, and favorable location."