Hemlock Semiconductor commences new polysilicon production facility

Although the solar photovoltaic (PV) cells are green technology products, but they consume a raw material that is not easy to make. The demand for silicon semiconductor material has gone up ever since the solar semiconductor industry in on fast growth path.

Sensing this market opportunity, US based Hemlock Semiconductor Group is increasing its production capacities to manufacture polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon) used in both VLSI chips and solar industry.

Hemlock has announced it has already started the operation of a new 8,500 metric tons polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon) production facility at its Hemlock, Mich. site.

This new capacity expansion is completed ahead of schedule; the second phase of capacity expansion will begin to come online in 2010 and, together with the first phase, will increase the total annual capacity to approximately 36,000 metric tons.

"The new capacity from our latest expansion is a critical milestone to ensure our customers' confidence that they will have the silicon feedstock needed for the semiconductor and fast-growing solar energy industries," said Hemlock Semiconductor Group President and CEO Rick Doornbos. "It takes a tremendous team effort to be able to deliver an expansion of this magnitude ahead of schedule, and we're very proud of our team for making it happen."

Due to this expansion with an investment of $4 billion, Hemlock Semiconductor said, its capacity will increase nearly 10 times and create 1000s of new jobs.

"Despite the economic recession, the long-term outlook for the solar market remains strong," said Doornbos. "Our demonstrated capabilities to deliver recent capacity expansions on or ahead of schedule and our more than 40 years of technical and manufacturing experience puts Hemlock Semiconductor in a strong position to help our customers succeed in an industry that continues to show promise and growth."

Later this year, Hemlock Semiconductor Group will also begin construction of a new polysilicon manufacturing facility in Clarksville, Tennessee, which is scheduled to be operational in 2012.