Silicon wafer manufacturer Siltronic is modernizing its production in Freiberg and has put an extension building into operation for this purpose. Several hundred million euros have reportedly been invested in the so-called crystal pulling hall. The company did not get more specific at the opening on Thursday. In addition, 60 jobs were created.
The investment is a clear commitment to the Saxon location, emphasized CEO Michael Heckmeier. The modernization strengthens the company's position as the only major Western manufacturer of so-called wafers, he added. Freiberg is one of four production sites in Germany, Singapore and the USA.
In the hall, silicon monocrystals are produced in five to seven days. They weigh several hundred kilograms, are as tall as a man and have a diameter of around 30 centimeters. Under cleanroom conditions, they are then processed into wafer-thin silicon wafers. The customers are chip manufacturers who use them to produce microchips for tablets, smartphones or e-cars, for example.
Siltronic says it has invested more than a billion euros in the Freiberg site since the mid-1990s. The workforce includes about 1000 people.
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