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Greater St. Louis, Inc. joined silicon wafer manufacturer MEMC and parent company GlobalWafers Co., Ltd. to celebrate the pending completion of more than $300 million in capital improvements to MEMC’s O’Fallon, Missouri, manufacturing facility.
Wafers manufactured by MEMC are a critical component of computer chips used in industries ranging from telecommunications to automotive and aerospace. The improvements, which were originally announced in June of 2021, aimed to expand wafer production during an acute global chip shortage. This expansion adds capacity for 300mm silicon-on-insulator wafer manufacturing, including the creation of 100 new jobs, and brings more manufacturing capabilities back to the U.S.
“The investment these global companies have made in the St. Louis region speaks to their confidence in our talented workforce, reliable infrastructure, and efficient supply chain,” said Maggie Kost, Chief Business Attraction Officer for GSL. “This expansion welcomes more opportunity for global innovation and growth in the St. Louis metro.”
In 2021, MEMC and GlobalWafers Co., Ltd. completed a global search to determine the location of their expansion. The support they received from the State of Missouri, Missouri Department of Economic Development, the City of O’Fallon, Ameren Missouri, Spire, and Greater St. Louis, Inc. helped guide their final decision.