DuPont Semiconductor Technologies, unit of DuPont Electronics & Industrial, chose Glasgow, as the site of a $50 million expansion.
The Delaware Council on Development Finance approved DuPont’s application Monday morning. The state’s Strategic Fund will provide a grant of nearly $1.6 million. The grant is based on DuPont reaching employment goals.
Following site search throughout Northern Delaware and Maryland, DuPont Electronics & Industrial decided to expand its Semiconductor Technologies manufacturing operations into a new 385,000-square-foot facility near its existing Newark, Delaware, location. The new facility will become the primary work site for more than 70 existing workers and create about 10 new positions in Delaware.
“The DuPont Company has been part of Delaware’s DNA for 220 years. With this expansion of their semiconductor division, the company is showing their commitment to our state and workforce,” said Gov. John Carney. “This site will bring with it a new 385,000-square-foot facility and 10 new jobs close to its existing Newark campus at a time when semiconductors are needed more than ever. Thank you to DuPont Electronics & Industrial for continuing to make Delaware a part of the DuPont story.”
The DuPont business has deep roots in Delaware, starting out in Newark as Rodel. The company was later sold to Philadelphia-based Rohm and Haas, which was later acquired by chemical giant Dow.
The merger and spinoff led to DuPont gaining the semiconductor business. After spinning of many of its businesses, DuPont is focusing on electronics and has a pending merger with supplier Rogers Corp., which has operations in Bear.
DuPont Semiconductor Technologies delivers materials for semiconductor fabrication, packaging and assembly. In Delaware, the Semiconductor Technologies team manufactures materials used in chemical mechanical planarization (CMP), a step in modern semiconductor fabrication processes.
The semiconductor industry is projected to become a trillion-dollar industry by 2030. With its latest investment, DuPont will be well positioned to serve customers in this growing industry from its Delaware facilities.
The industry got a boost from recent legislation signed by President Biden that works to move more manufacturing onshore while boosting semiconductor research.
A growing concern has been a concentration of semiconductor manufacturing in China and other offshore areas and the impact on defense, automotive, and other industries. New vehicle inventories remain tight, often due to a semiconductor chip shortage.
“DuPont materials for chemical mechanical planarization are an essential part of the semiconductor supply chain, used by customers around the world in highly sensitive semiconductor chip fabrication,” said John Singer, vice president, Integrated Operations, DuPont Electronics & Industrial. “As we expand to meet industry growth, we’re pleased to have identified a new facility near our existing CMP manufacturing operations in Delaware, where we can continue to have close collaboration with our experienced colleagues in operations, engineering, quality and other interconnected teams.”
Delaware Business Times reported the site for the plant is located on land off Route 896, Old Cooches Bridge Road and Old Baltimore Pike that is being developed as a distribution center site.
It was the first time the company in recent memory sought money from the state. DuPont has been in downsizing mode in Delaware for decades, as it slashed administrative and research staff and sold off businesses. However, it has been investing in manufacturing and earlier relocated and expanded a Newark-area plant.
Click here for an earlier story on the purchase of the land for the logistics center.
