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56 min ago 3 min read
Massachusetts-based EFC Gases and Advanced Materials (EFC) has broken ground on its McGregor, Texas, advanced manufacturing facility to strengthen domestic supply chains for the semiconductor and aerospace markets.
The site will feature chemical synthesis operations for electronic gases and deposition precursors, specialty gas transfill facilities, a central laboratory, a logistics hub, and an administration building.
EFC’s campus is expected to be a long-term platform for continued investment, enabling new products and capabilities to support the Texas and US semiconductor market.
EFC said it selected the 195-acre McGregor site to be close to the customers and semiconductor fabrication facilities it plans to support.
In July 2024, the high-purity rare gas technologies company announced its new facility would be backed by an initial .
Pavel Perlov, President and CEO of EFC, said, “[This] marks an important first step in onshoring critical material supply for advanced manufacturing in the semiconductor and aerospace industries and strengthening the domestic supply chain for these essential technologies.”
The City of McGregor will support the project with infrastructure improvements, including extending water and wastewater lines and assisting in the construction of an industrial rail spur to enhance operational efficiency.
Since 2023, EFC has also grown the number of semiconductor product qualifications in its portfolio by more than 40%.
In January, the company was by global specialty chemical company Element Solutions to be better positioned to expand its role as a supplier of high-purity specialty gases and advanced materials.
“[Element Solutions] commitment to EFC-McGregor and our vision has been instrumental in bringing this project to life,” Perlov noted.
Texas’ semiconductor market
Regional semiconductor investment is projected to drive demand for specialty gases to support advanced manufacturing in Texas.
In July, industrial gas major Messer Americas announced a in a new air separation unit (ASU) complex in McGregor, Texas, to meet growing demand for industrial gases across key industries, including semiconductors.
The Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund (TSIF), established under the Texas CHIPS Act legislation, has also allocated $948m to support regional semiconductor research, manufacturing, and design since June 2023.
Notably, in May, US space exploration company SpaceX plans to build a $55bn semiconductor manufacturing and advanced computing fabrication facility in Grimes County, Texas.
