The UK’s biggest semiconductor factory welcomed two government ministers this week looking ahead to the publication of the Government’s Industrial Strategy, and plans to unlock hundreds of millions of investment into the Welsh economy.
Vishay Newport Limited, which is part of Vishay Intertechnology, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors and passive electronic components, welcomed Secretary of State for Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle MP and Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens MP to the Newport Wafer Fab this week (Monday).
In December, Vishay and the Welsh government announced an investment of £51m into Newport Wafer Fab, including a £5m investment from the Welsh government. The semiconductors have a wide range of applications to support the UK’s automotive industry and the transition to Net Zero.
The ministers visited the site’s state of the art, automotive certified cleanroom and met with a group of bright, forward-thinking engineers dedicated to shaping the future of the semiconductor industry. The visitors wore protective gowns to avoid contaminating the chip-making process. The visitors had air showers – the air in a fab clean room is filtered so there are 1,000 times fewer airborne particles than a sterile hospital operating theatre.
Michael O’Sullivan, Executive Vice President at Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.. said: “We were delighted to welcome the ministers to Newport today. Working closely with the UK and Welsh Governments, we now have an exciting opportunity to unlock hundreds of millions of pounds’ worth of investment. This will not just drive economic growth in South Wales – creating highly-skilled, well-paid jobs – but also across the wider UK supply chain.
“We were also very pleased to celebrate our female engineers today, who showed the ministers how a cleanroom works – one of the most advanced manufacturing processes in the world.”
The Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens MP said: “The world-leading South Wales semiconductor cluster is vital for our economy and contributes to areas ranging from clean energy, aerospace and healthcare to national security. The UK Government is backing our innovative businesses to continue to create high-skilled and well-paid jobs and to drive economic growth as part of our plan for change. “We have got all the ingredients here in Newport. We have got the talent, the research, the skills and the investment site.”
Mr Kyle said: “KLA and Vishay showcase the incredible innovation happening in the Welsh semiconductor cluster, which powers vital technology, from our phones to life-saving medical technology. By seizing new funding opportunities through the Chips Joint Undertaking, British researchers and businesses can develop semiconductor technologies for critical sectors like healthcare, aerospace and automotive, opening new growth areas for the UK and supporting our industrial strategy. This strengthens the UK’s position in a competitive, global semiconductor landscape and supports long-term growth for our economy.
The funding represents the first phase of a planned £1bn investment which would see the addition of more than 400 jobs at the site by 2030.
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