ON Semi to expand Idaho fab, adding jobs, capacity

ON Semi will invest $11 million to add production equipment to an 8-inch fab, upping job count by 35 positions and capacity by 50%

Suzanne Deffree -- EDN, June 7, 2010

ON Semiconductor has announced plans to add $11 million in productionequipment to its 8-inch Pocatello, Idaho, wafer manufacturing facility, a movethat will add jobs at the location and significantly increase its capacity.

"Having weathered the economic storm brought on by therecession, we are now focused on moving forward to address the increased demandand opportunities in the semiconductor market," said Chuck Spinner, ON Semi'svice president of eight-inch manufacturing operations at the Pocatello facility,in a statement. "Expansion in Idaho is part of the company's overall strategyto maximize its in-house manufacturing capabilities to address increasedcustomer demand."

The Pocatello campus houses Fab 10, an 8-inch waferproduction facility specializing in the manufacture of ASICs and standardproducts for the automotive, medical, industrial, and mil/aero markets.

The company said it will begin installing additionalequipment at its Fab 10 manufacturing facility in Pocatello beginningimmediately.

ON Semi expects to realize increased capacity and productproduction for customers by the end of the year. John Spicer, ON Semi'sPocatello site manager, estimated the expansion will increase the location'scapacity by 50%.

ON Semi's Pocatello facility currently employs approximately630 people in its manufacturing and business operations. According to Spicer, theexpansion will add about 35 jobs by the end of 2010. Positions added willinclude facilitiessupport, process engineering, administration, and cleanroom techs.

Spicer also noted that governmental incentives provided bythe Idaho governor's office, the Idaho Department of Commerce, the City ofPocatello, Bannock County, and the Bannock Development Corporation all played arole in the company's decision to invest in and expand its operation inPocatello.