GlobalFoundries Initiates $2.3-Billion Expansion in Malta, NY

GlobalFoundries has announced it is proceeding with a planned $2.3 billion expansion of the cleanroom at its Fab 8 semiconductor facility in Malta, NY with construction set to begin next month.

The expansion will boost capacity to meet “increasingly strong demand” from its customers, the company said. The expansion, which will be completed in December 2013, is expected to add several hundred jobs to the 1,500 already at Fab 8, while increasing the size of the cleanroom facility, where semiconductors are manufactured on 300 mm silicon wafers, to 300,000 square feet from 210,000 square feet currently. That’s roughly the area of six football fields.

The Times Union first reported on July 6 that the company planned to proceed with the expansion, although GlobalFoundries didn’t announce the move officially until Tuesday.

When the expansion is completed and additional manufacturing equipment installed, the semiconductor facility will represent a $6.9 billion capital investment, GlobalFoundries said.

The project received $1.4 billion in cash and tax benefits from New York state.