Hemlock Semiconductor, the nation’s leading manufacturer of hyper-pure polysilicon used in the semiconductor and solar industries, broke ground on a major expansion project in Saginaw County Friday, Oct. 21.
Company officials say this expansion project will modernize the manufacturing process HSC uses to refine its semiconductor-grade polysilicon and represents a planned $375 million investment by HSC in Thomas Township. The project is expected to create 170 new permanent jobs and more than 200 construction jobs.
The next-generation technologies HSC will deploy through the project will increase the purity of the company’s semiconductor-grade polysilicon and improve supply to meet rising global demand, according to a company news release.
The expected timeline for the project, which includes three new buildings, is 2022 to 2025.
A ground-breaking ceremony for the new polysilicon finishing plant took place Friday afternoon. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, State Sen. Ken Horn and other state and local dignitaries joined HSC’s leadership team and employees for the ceremonial groundbreaking at the company’s manufacturing facility.
“Our future is bright,” HSC chairman and CEO AB Ghosh told the crowd Friday. “Together, we are making Michigan home to the vital industries of today and the future.”
In a statement, Whitmer said, “Michigan is becoming a global hub of semiconductor chip manufacturing and we will continue bringing these critical supply chains home so we can create jobs, bring billions in investment to our communities, and lead the future.”
“Hemlock Semiconductor, a Michigan-made company whose hyper-pure polysilicon is found in nearly all electronic devices in the world, is betting on Michigan once again, expanding their presence in Thomas Township with a planned investment of up to $375 million creating 170 jobs. Powered by bipartisan economic development and state-supported improvements of critical public infrastructure, Hemlock’s planned investment will foster economic opportunity for Michiganders for generations to come.”
This investment would not be possible without major improvements in critical public infrastructure in Thomas Township, where HSC’s manufacturing facility is located, and neighboring Saginaw Township, according to company officials. The Michigan Legislature recently approved $37 million in state funds to assist the two townships in building out the local wastewater capacity needed to enable HSC’s expansion.
“Our investment simply would not be possible without the strong support of federal, state and local government leaders,” Ghosh said in a statement. “We couldn’t ask for more effective advocates who clearly understand the critical role our cutting-edge technologies will play in building out a robust domestic supply chain for semiconductors and in strengthening HSC’s competitive position on a global scale.”