New £100 million centre could create 750 jobs in city
Newport City Council welcomed the opening of a new research and development and manufacturing centre in the city by KLA Corporation.
The facility cost around 138 million dollars and is equivalent to just over £100 million.
KLA is a global leader in process control and process enabling technology for the semiconductor industry.
KLA's division in Wales, SPTS, has been at the forefront of semiconductor equipment innovation in the area since 1984.
The new facility located in Celtic Lakes in Newport will create and provide 750 highly skilled jobs.
Councillor Dimitri Batrouni, leader of the council, said: "People ask why I'm bullish on Newport's future. Well, this is why.
"KLA's new $138 million world-class facility will bring 750 skilled, high-paying jobs to our city, to build the machines that make the chips, powering the AI revolution, around 98 per cent of which are exported.
"This is the future of advanced manufacturing, right on our doorstep, and it is proof of KLA's belief that Newport is the perfect place to do business."
Beverly Owen, chief executive of the council, added: The opening was a fantastic celebration of what our city has to offer.
"We are absolutely delighted to welcome KLA's further investment into Newport, into our city and our people.
"The council has worked closely with the team at KLA throughout as this investment has come to fruition.
"Not only will this bring great employment and economic benefits, it will also further enhance our standing as a hub for global businesses, and our reputation as a place to do business."
Dan Collins, site leader and general manager at KLA, said: "KLA brings together expertise in process and process control, providing customers with the breadth and depth they need to innovate and improve device performance.
"As industry drivers like AI increase demand for advanced chips, our expansion in Wales and strong product portfolio position us to meet that demand—building on our rich history and investing in new technology, talent and long-term community partnerships.
"We have a globally renowned compound semiconductor cluster here in Wales and the UK Government recognizes that this industry is a key driver for economic growth, and the U.K. Government has recently announced nearly £5 million to help build the talent pipeline."
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: "KLA's investment in this new facility further strengthens our position as a leader in this vital and growing industry.
"This announcement is a celebration of KLA's commitment to innovation and to Wales as a growing hub of technological excellence and leadership."
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