KLA to build new R&D and manufacturing facility in Wales

US-based KLA Corporation is to build a new ‘state of the art’ R&D and manufacturing centre for its SPTS Technologies division, in Newport, Wales. The proposed 200,000ft² sustainable facility, is expected to include a capital investment of more than $100 million and will include offices, cleanrooms, storage and support facilities for up to 750 people.

Oreste Donzella, executive vice president of the Electronics, Packaging and Components (EPC) Group, at KLA, said: “SPTS has experienced significant growth in its business over the past several years and is a highly successful division of KLA. We are investing in the new site to support SPTS’s growth and to establish additional facilities for the wider KLA European organisation.

Expanding in South Wales allows us to tap into the region’s attractive talent pool and benefit from an appealing quality of life with access to many international sporting events, historic parks and outdoor activities. This area is also home to some of the UK's leading universities and research institutes with strong semiconductor competencies and industry ties for collaborative research.’

Rick Wallace, president and chief executive officer of KLA Corporation, said: “We are committed to continuous innovation and providing solutions that help propel the semiconductor industry forward and deliver technologies that make a meaningful impact on our world.

“This investment and expansion in South Wales will help us continue to develop wafer processing solutions for the high growth secular industries and build on the existing expertise in advance packaging and compound semiconductor processing technologies to strengthen our portfolio of solutions for a variety of sectors including 5G communications, electric vehicles, consumer electronics, datacentres and medical devices.”

economic opportunities
Vaughan Gething, the Welsh government Economy Minister, said: “I am delighted that KLA has made the decision to locate its new site in Newport and look forward to the many economic opportunities this will bring. We have worked closely with KLA behind the scenes to identify the best possible site for its new manufacturing and R&D site and have invested in the energy infrastructure to ensure that the site can offer the company everything they need.

“This is a strong endorsement of the semiconductor cluster in South Wales and the Welsh government’s sustained commitment to it over the past decade. We will continue to support and grow Wales' semiconductor cluster and ensure we are maximising the regional and global opportunities of this cutting-edge technology.”

Adopting the globally recognised science-based sustainable and energy-efficient design standards, the new facility will be designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating, reflecting KLA’s commitment to its environmental goals. The new innovation centre will provide over 25,000ft² of cleanrooms for R&D and more than 35,000ft² of bespoke manufacturing assembly halls.

The building is scheduled to be completed in early 2025.