Semiconductor Equipment Firm Axcelis Technologies Secures Overseas Manufacturing Base in Pyeongtaek

U.S. semiconductor equipment company Axcelis Technologies held a ground-breaking ceremony for the 'Axcelis Asia Operations Center (AAOC)' expansion at a site in Pyeongtaek's Oseong Industrial Complex on the 20th.

U.S.-based Axcelis is recognized as one of two leading companies in the global semiconductor ion implantation equipment market. The AAOC, for which the ground-breaking ceremony was held, is Axcelis Technologies' sole overseas manufacturing base. Through this investment, the company is expected to significantly expand annual production capacity for ion implantation equipment, accelerating the realization of South Korea's semiconductor technological superiority strategy.

In South Korea, through the AAOC established in 2021, the company supplies ion implantation equipment to domestic demand companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, and directly exports to countries in the Asia-Pacific region including China, Japan, and Singapore.

The ground-breaking ceremony held that day was attended by Russell Low, Axcelis President and Chief Executive Officer, Park Young-geun, CEO of Axcelis Korea, along with approximately 50 government officials including Kang Gam-chan, Director-General of Trade and Investment of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Choo Mi-ae, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, and Choi Won-yong, Mayor of Pyeongtaek, as well as representatives from key clients such as KOTRA Invest Korea, Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix.

Director-General Kang Gam-chan said in his congratulatory remarks, "Axcelis' investment this time is a meaningful investment that demonstrates confidence in South Korea's semiconductor industry. Through the AAOC expansion, we hope to further strengthen South Korea's semiconductor supply chain and provide an opportunity for Axcelis' business to advance to the next level."

Governor Choo Mi-ae said, "I sincerely congratulate Axcelis Asia Operations Center for embarking on a new leap forward here in Pyeongtaek, trusting in Gyeonggi Province. I believe this investment is a meaningful start that expands functions from production and logistics to customer education, based on the manufacturing capabilities built up in Pyeongtaek. As much as you have invested with trust in Gyeonggi Province, we will repay that trust with concrete results."

The AAOC expansion represents the implementation of an investment plan announced at an investment declaration ceremony held by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy in the United States on the occasion of the G20 Innovation Ministers Meeting in September this year.

Axcelis Technologies plans to develop the AAOC from a production-focused hub into a comprehensive operations center encompassing functions such as R&D, prototype production, and technical education, positioning it as a key hub in the Asia-Pacific region. Through this, the company is expected to respond more quickly and stably to equipment demand from domestic and international enterprises, and to actively contribute to expanding cooperation with domestic parts and materials companies and fostering specialized talent through technical education.

Axcelis will invest approximately 57.5 billion won ($41 million) on a site of approximately 22,326.5 square meters in the Pyeongtaek Oseong Foreign Investment Zone to develop an Asia Operations Center with a total floor area of approximately 18,800 square meters. This investment is an expansion and relocation of the existing Pyeongtaek Asia Operations Center (AAOC), with the completion targeted for the first half of 2028.