Semiconductor Equipment Firm Axcelis Technologies Secures Overseas Manufacturing Base in Pyeongtaek
U.S. semiconductor equipment company Axcelis Technologies held a groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of its 'Axcelis Asia Operation Center (AAOC)' at the Oseong Industrial Complex in Pyeongtaek on the 20th.
U.S.-based Axcelis is recognized as one of the two leading companies in the global semiconductor ion implantation equipment market. The AAOC, which held the groundbreaking ceremony this time, is Axcelis Technologies' only overseas manufacturing facility. Through this investment, the company is expected to significantly expand its annual production capacity for ion implantation equipment, accelerating the realization of South Korea's semiconductor competitive advantage strategy.
In South Korea, through the AAOC established in 2021, the company has supplied ion implantation equipment to domestic demand companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, and has directly exported to countries in the Asia-Pacific region including China, Japan, and Singapore.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Russell Low, President and CEO of Axcelis, Park Young-keun, CEO of Axcelis Korea, as well as
Kang Gam-chan, Director of Trade and Investment, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Choo Mi-ae, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, Choi Won-yong, Mayor of Pyeongtaek, and around 50 other government officials and representatives from major customers including KOTRA Invest Korea, Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix.
Kang Gam-chan, Director of Trade and Investment, said in his congratulatory remarks, "Axcelis' investment demonstrates meaningful confidence in Korea's semiconductor industry," and expressed, "Through the expansion of the AAOC, we hope to strengthen Korea's semiconductor supply chain further and provide an opportunity for Axcelis' business to advance to the next level."
Choo Mi-ae, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "I sincerely congratulate Axcelis Asia Operation Center's groundbreaking for a new leap here in Pyeongtaek, trusting Gyeonggi Province," and added, "This investment is a meaningful start to expand functions from production and logistics to customer education based on the manufacturing capabilities accumulated in Pyeongtaek. As much as you have invested your trust in Gyeonggi Province, we will repay that trust with concrete results."
This AAOC expansion implements the investment plan announced at an investment notification ceremony held in the U.S. under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy Minister in September this year on the occasion of the G20 Innovation Ministers Meeting.
Axcelis Technologies plans to develop the AAOC from a production-centered hub into a comprehensive hub encompassing R&D, prototype production, and technical education functions, positioning it as a core hub for the Asia-Pacific region. Through this, the company is expected to respond more quickly and stably to equipment demand from domestic and international companies, and is anticipated to actively contribute to expanding cooperation with domestic materials, parts, and equipment companies and fostering specialized talent through technical education.
Axcelis will invest approximately 57.5 billion won ($41 million) on a 22,326.5㎡ site within the Pyeongtaek Oseong Foreign Investment Zone to develop an Asia operation center with a total floor area of approximately 18,800㎡. This investment is an additional investment to expand and relocate the existing Pyeongtaek Asia Operation Center (AAOC), with a target completion date in the first half of 2028.