Longtime HSC employee has held a variety of roles over 24-year career
HEMLOCK, Mich. ― Hemlock Semiconductor Operations (HSC), the country’s largest manufacturer of ultra-pure polysilicon used in solar panels and semiconductors, has named Linda Gruber to be the site manager of its newly acquired trichlorosilane (TCS) facility in Midland, Mich.
Gruber, 51, began her career at HSC in 1996 as a plant engineer. After gaining four years of valuable product knowledge, she joined the Marketing Group dealing with technical sales of chlorosilanes from 2000-2002. In 2003 she moved to the Dow Corning Midland Plant to develop, train and implement the Global Shipping Responsible Care Audit Process, and returned to HSC in 2005 as the Sales and Supply Chain Coordinator. In 2015, her role expanded to include overseeing global supply chain responsibilities for raw materials, site inventory management, customer service and regulations affecting transportation, logistics, exports and imports.
In her new role, Gruber will oversee the facility that makes trichlorosilane (TCS), the primary raw material used in producing the ultra-pure polysilicon HSC supplies to the semiconductor and solar industries. The Midland plant, purchased earlier this month from DuPont, is about 20 miles north of HSC’s sprawling operation just west of Saginaw, Mich.
“Linda’s in-depth knowledge of chlorosilanes and the many critical roles she’s held at HSC will ensure the smooth integration of the TCS plant into HSC’s operations,” said Andy Ault, HSC vice president of manufacturing. “Her role as site manager is key to accelerating our growth in the solar sector. This is a major milestone in our ability to offer high quality ultra-pure polysilicon that reduces the cost and carbon footprint of producing solar panels.”
A resident of Hemlock and graduate of Hemlock High School, Gruber spends much of her free time volunteering in the community. She and her husband, Lynn, were named the 2018 Junior Achievement Volunteers of the Year for interacting with students by teaching personal finance each semester at Hemlock High School for many years. Gruber is a member of the HSC/HIMS/Hemlock Public Schools Business Partnership, has served on HSC’s United Way committee for the past three years and participated in Leadership Saginaw in 2018. She and her husband, who is HSC’s procurement manager, also volunteer at their family church.
“HSC has enabled me to give back to the community that I was raised in. I love volunteering,” Gruber said, praising the corporate culture created at HSC that rewards excellence and emphasizes serving the community. “My roots are here, but being given the chance to extend that culture into a new HSC operation in Midland is a great opportunity.”
The years she has spent learning and overseeing the many facets of HSC’s supply and logistics operations “have given me an understanding that will be a tremendous help in my new role,” she said. “It’s an incredible opportunity to strengthen HSC and continue growing with the company.”
Gruber holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University. She has four children — one a college graduate, one attending Michigan Technological University, one attending Delta Community College and one finishing his final year at Hemlock High School. Besides volunteering, she also likes to golf, boat, ski, hike, and spend time with family and friends.
About Hemlock Semiconductor
Hemlock Semiconductor Operations (HSC) is a leading provider of ultra-pure polycrystalline silicon and other silicon-based products used in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, solar cells and modules. At HSC, we’re passionate about silicon-based technology and its unique potential to connect and energize the world we share. HSC’s polysilicon enables customers to produce high-tech electronics and solar energy, and our efficient manufacturing process delivers products with an ultra low-carbon footprint. HSC began operations in 1961.
A headshot of Gruber is available here.
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