GlobalWafers Co., Ltd., the world's third-largest semiconductor silicon wafer supplier, officially opened its new advanced 300mm wafer manufacturing facility—GlobalWafers America (GWA)—in Sherman, Texas, on May 15 (U.S. local time). The grand opening was attended by key U.S. and Taiwanese officials, industry partners, and suppliers, marking a major milestone in the effort to rebuild a resilient U.S. semiconductor supply chain.

At the event, Chairperson Doris Hsu announced a bold expansion plan: GlobalWafers intends to invest an additional $4 billion in its U.S. operations, bringing the company's total investment in the country to $7.5 billion. The expansion includes Phases 3 and 4 at its 142-acre Sherman campus, which is designed to accommodate up to six phases of development.

“On the third anniversary of our decision to build GWA, I'm pleased to announce GlobalWafers' intention to expand our current U.S. investment to $7.5 billion,” Hsu said. “This investment will ensure a stable supply of advanced wafers for the next generation of technologies, supported by strong policy alignment and favorable tariff structures under the Trump Administration.”

GWA is the only fully integrated advanced silicon wafer manufacturing facility participating in the CHIPS for America Program, and the first fab of its kind built in the U.S. in more than 20 years. The U.S. Department of Commerce is supporting the project with $406 million in CHIPS funding as part of the U.S. Investment Accelerator initiative.

Michael Grimes, Executive Director of the U.S. Investment Accelerator, emphasized GWA's importance to national resilience: “GlobalWafers' investment is a powerful example of advanced manufacturing returning to the United States. With this expansion, we are securing a critical piece of the chipmaking supply chain—right here at home.”

GlobalWafers broke ground on the Sherman facility in December 2022 after announcing the project in May 2022. The $3.5 billion project has already generated 1,200 construction jobs and 180 permanent roles, with plans to employ up to 650 engineers, technicians, and operations professionals by 2028.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott welcomed GlobalWafers' expansion, stating: “Texas is proud to be the only state in the nation with advanced silicon wafer manufacturing. GWA strengthens our leadership in the semiconductor space and adds depth to our high-tech ecosystem.”

The new Sherman fab will eventually run on 100% renewable energy and produce cutting-edge 300mm wafers used in everything from smartphones and AI applications to electric vehicles and infrastructure. As one of only five global suppliers of advanced semiconductor wafers—and the only one expanding production in the U.S.—GlobalWafers' move is viewed as a strategic step toward greater supply chain localization.

Ashlie Wallace, SVP of Global Supply Chain at GlobalFoundries, echoed customer sentiment: “We're pleased to see GlobalWafers expanding its U.S. supply of critical silicon wafers. These materials are vital to the essential semiconductors we produce.”

From construction to ramp-up, GlobalWafers has partnered with hundreds of top-tier suppliers and engineering experts to bring GWA online. “This project has brought out the best of our entire supply chain,” said Wyatt Watson, GWA VP of Operations. “We're now delivering the quality and reliability that our customers have come to expect—at scale, and on U.S. soil.”

GlobalWafers operates 18 manufacturing and operational sites across nine countries and three continents, and continues to lead the industry in enabling sustainable semiconductor innovation through advanced technology and environmentally responsible practices.