KLA Completes First Phase of US$200 Million Singapore Operations Expansion
October 4, 2024 | KLAEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
KLA, a world leader in developing industry-leading equipment and services that advance innovation throughout the electronics industry, today celebrated the completion of Phase 1 of its newest manufacturing facility.
This Phase 1 building of the new facility is part of a US$200 million investment by KLA to grow its presence in Singapore, which currently serves as a key manufacturing and engineering hub for KLA. Encompassing about 200,000 square feet, the new building has been designed strategically to address the increasing demand for process control solutions developed with the most stringent requirements for vibration control and cleanroom protocol. It features a 46,000-square-foot Class 100 cleanroom and a 12,000-square-foot Class 10K cleanroom.
With Phase 1 complete, KLA will soon begin work on a second phase to expand the facility, which is projected to be completed by 2026. The Phase 2 structure will add more critical space, bringing the total facility capacity to 420,000 square feet, further expanding cleanroom space as well as KLA’s local research and development (R&D) facilities. In addition to expanding its production capabilities, when finished the new site is also expected to add an estimated 400 new employees to KLA’s local workforce.
"From KLA’s first foray in Singapore close to 30 years ago, we have grown in step with the maturing of Singapore’s semiconductor manufacturing industry and talent base,” said Theo Kneepkens, KLA Singapore country president and KLA senior vice president of Global Operations. “We’ve steadily expanded our operations here over the years to serve both regional and global customers. This new facility is a testament to the strategic importance of Singapore and the remarkable growth of our business in the region, further strengthening our manufacturing and innovation capabilities.”
The announcement comes at a crucial time as Singapore focuses on building its presence as a leading manufacturing hub globally, with the goal of expanding the value-add of its manufacturing sector by 50 percent by 2030. With the increasing global demand for semiconductors, Singapore continues investing in infrastructure to support the semiconductor ecosystem and supply chain.
“KLA is a valued partner in the growth of Singapore's semiconductor equipment industry. Its latest manufacturing facility will contribute to the development of new semiconductor capabilities in Singapore, and offer exciting roles and career pathways to Singaporeans,” said Mr. Chang Chin Nam, EDB senior vice president and head of semiconductors. “KLA's expansion here is testament to the competitiveness of Singapore's semiconductor ecosystem and will strengthen our position as a critical global node for semiconductor equipment to meet growing global demands.”
In addition to boosting the regional manufacturing capabilities, this investment also underscores KLA's commitment to developing and nurturing local highly skilled technical talent in line with the government’s plans to establish Singapore as an innovation and manufacturing hub. As of 2023, 15,000 training sessions have been conducted, including training programs to hone the niche skills needed for the industry.
Suggested Items
Amtech Electrocircuits’ CEO Jay Patel Launches Petition Advocating for 10% Tax Credit to Support U.S. Electronics Manufacturers
05/28/2025 | Amtech ElectrocircuitsAmtech Electrocircuits, a leading provider of manufacturing solutions, announces that CEO Jay Patel has initiated a petition urging policymakers to implement a 10% tax credit for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) sourcing from U.S. electronics manufacturers.
Smart Automation: AI—Revolutionizing Inspection in Electronics Manufacturing
05/27/2025 | Josh Casper -- Column: Smart AutomationArtificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a staple in our personal and professional lives. In electronics manufacturing, integrating AI to combat common inefficiencies and to contextualize data will open new doors into how we supplement our traditional processes. In some specific areas of the electronics manufacturing process, integration of AI on the factory floor is already having a tremendous effect. One such area is PCBA inspection, particularly 3D automated optical inspection (AOI) systems.
ClassOne Technology, IBM Research Jointly Developing Non-NMP Solvent Processing for Semiconductor Manufacturing
05/26/2025 | ClassOne TechnologyClassOne Technology, a leading global provider of advanced electroplating and wet processing tools for microelectronics manufacturing, announced it has signed a joint development agreement with IBM Research focused on wet processing for advanced packaging.
Evolve Manufacturing Celebrates 100 Years of Combined Leadership in Medical Device Manufacturing
05/26/2025 | Evolve ManufacturingEvolve Manufacturing Inc., a leading provider of end-to-end contract manufacturing services for medical device and life sciences instrument companies, proudly celebrates 100 years of combined medical device leadership among its expert team.
American Made Advocacy: Lobbying Congress Supports the Supply Chain
05/27/2025 | Shane Whiteside -- Column: American Made AdvocacyThe upheaval in world markets is driving daily headlines. The global supply chain has seemed “normal” for the microelectronics industry because over the past three decades, an increasing percentage of microelectronics components and materials have been made overseas. For many years, other countries, primarily in Asia, invested heavily in their microelectronics industry while U.S. companies offshored manufacturing services in pursuit of the lowest cost.