SEH America recently announced plans to expand its Vancouver facility. The company said expansion is involved with the production of epitaxial silicon wafers, which are used in advanced electronic items.
The decision to expand comes after a meeting between Washington state Governor Chris Gregoire and Shin-Etsu Chemical Chairman Chihiro Kanagawa during a recent trade mission to Japan.
“This is wonderful news for Vancouver, and the entire state of Washington,” said Gregoire in a statement. “This important investment in manufacturing technology will allow Washington state to retain its leadership in semi-conductor manufacturing and is a vote of confidence in our skilled labor force and positive business climate.”
The SEH America site produces some of the largest and most sophisticated silicon wafers produced in North America. Production equipment related to the expansion is being shipped from Japan with qualification order samples expected in the first quarter of 2012.
