Dutch Tech Company ASM to Build New U.S. Headquarters in North Scottsdale, Add 500 Workers Article originally posted on AZ Central on December 6, 2023 Arizona’s Silicon Desert boom is encouraging semiconductor equipment maker ASM and other technology companies to take a close look at building, relocating or expanding in metro Phoenix. The Dutch company, which has been operating in Phoenix for 47 years, plans to build a new U.S. headquarters in north Scottsdale. ASM on Tuesday announced it intends to invest 300 million euros, roughly $325 million at current exchange rates, to construct a 250,000-square-foot facility on a 21-acre parcel near Scottsdale Road and Loop 101. As part of the expansion, ASM plans to bolster its Arizona workforce of 800 people by another 500 staffers over the next six years. The announcement drew dignitaries including Mark Rutte, prime minister of the Netherlands, who praised the strong ties between U.S. and Dutch companies; ASM’s President and CEO Benjamin Loh; and Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs. “It’s an exciting time for ASM and semiconductors in general,” said Loh during a presentation at WestWorld in Scottsdale. “The impact of what we do has never been greater.” Hobbs cited an influx of technology companies locating or growing operations in Arizona, including 32 semiconductor expansions in the past two years. The Scottsdale campus will mark a “new beginning” for ASM in Arizona, she predicted. ASM intends to move its headquarters to Scottsdale in 2026 from its current location just south of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport at 3440 E. University Drive. The current Phoenix campus already serves as the largest of ASM’s seven global research sites, with company manufacturing centers in Singapore, South Korea, Italy and the Netherlands. Close ties to leading manufacturers ASM was one of the first semiconductor equipment companies to be located in Arizona, in 1976. The company said it serves all of the leading-edge fabs, or factories, in the state and has ties to 30 suppliers in Arizona. ASM provides processes, new materials and other products that make integrated circuits or chips smaller, faster and more efficient. The company focuses on making “wafer fab equipment” that can deposit ultra-thin materials on various substances, helping manufacturers pack semiconductor devices into tinier spaces. The company’s technology can be found in all sorts of products from 5G, autonomous driving and artificial intelligence to medical devices, smartphones and laptop computers. ASM’s Arizona workforce of 800 people has roughly tripled since 2019 and accounts for the majority of the company’s employees in the U.S. About 17% of ASM’s employees are women, with the company aiming to raise that to 20% by 2025. Stewardship, amenities at Scottsdale campus The company claims to follow high levels of environmental stewardship, sound labor practices and rigorous safety. It recycles all water used at its Phoenix facility multiple times, with a 60% reduction in water use from 2017 to 2022. Other company goals include transitioning to 100% renewable electricity by 2024 and net zero emissions by 2035. “We will focus on limiting water and energy use as much as possible,” Loh said. The new headquarters will house research and development and other operations including supply chain, engineering and training functions. It will feature employee amenities including a gym, nursing room, yoga room, basketball court, tennis court and full-service staffed cafeteria. The investment in the new Scottsdale campus will substantially expand ASM’s research and development activities and bolster Arizona as a hub for top-notch semiconductor innovation, the company said. The expected hiring of 500 more employees in Arizona over the next six years will focus on engineering and R&D positions. Gearing up for global demand Semiconductors are already one of the five largest U.S. exports after aircraft, refined oil, crude oil and automobiles. Global semiconductor revenue is expected to double by 2030, driven by advances in AI, smartphones, autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, edge computing and other areas. The industry also has been bolstered by the passage of the CHIPS & Science Act in the U.S. and similar legislation in other nations. The ASM announcement adds momentum to Arizona’s semiconductor industry, which has emerged as one of the national leaders in employment, manufacturing job-growth rate, exports and other measures. Key recent catalysts include Intel’s $20 billion expansion at its campus in Chandler and ongoing construction of a new, $40 billion chipmaking campus in north Phoenix by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.