The Challenge
Semiconductor manufacturing depends on more than the companies that fabricate finished chips. It requires a sophisticated network of specialized suppliers that produce the highly engineered components, materials, and technologies manufacturers rely on throughout the production process.
Silfex, a leading provider of high-purity silicon and quartz components for the semiconductor industry, recognized the need to expand its manufacturing capabilities and workforce to support the industry's continued growth. The company needed a location with the manufacturing expertise, talent, and business environment to support highly specialized production at scale.
The Solution
Silfex made a significant commitment to Ohio, investing $214 million in 2017 to expand its operations and strengthen its ability to serve semiconductor customers.
The investment established a substantial manufacturing presence in Ohio and helped position Silfex for continued growth as demand for semiconductor manufacturing components increased. The company's ongoing expansion demonstrates the long-term value of that initial investment and the state’s long-term ability to support specialized manufacturing operations.
Silfex's growth has also been supported by workforce partnerships. JobsOhio has partnered with the company to help expand its workforce, complementing Silfex's foundational investment with a reliable pipeline of the specialized talent needed to manufacture precision components for the semiconductor industry.
Key Factors in Choosing Ohio Included:
A skilled advanced manufacturing workforce capable of supporting highly specialized production
Ohio's established manufacturing base and expertise in precision manufacturing
Access to a growing network of companies supporting the semiconductor industry
A business environment that supports long-term investment and continued growth
Workforce development partnerships that help Silfex expand its talent pipeline
Support from JobsOhio and community partners in advancing the company's Ohio operations
Economic Impact: Silfex's long-term investment has helped strengthen Ohio's semiconductor supply chain by establishing and expanding the specialized manufacturing capabilities needed to support semiconductor production. The company's continued growth demonstrates how investments in semiconductor suppliers can create lasting economic value while deepening Ohio's advanced manufacturing base.
Strategic Advantage: Silfex's Ohio presence illustrates an important dimension of the state's semiconductor opportunity: the industry extends well beyond chip fabrication. Semiconductor manufacturers depend on specialized suppliers like Silfex to produce the precision-engineered components required to make chips. By supporting companies across this broader supply chain—and helping them develop the talent needed to grow—Ohio is building an ecosystem capable of supporting semiconductor manufacturing from the ground up.
Silfex's continued investment and workforce growth reinforce the company's role as an important building block of Ohio's semiconductor industry, while demonstrating the depth and diversity of the state's advanced manufacturing capabilities.
The team from JobsOhio had an excellent understanding of our business needs and assembled a highly capable and collaborative team to work with Silfex on the project, which resulted in the selection of the Springfield, Ohio, site.
- Christopher “Kit” Armstrong, Silfex divisional general manager (2017)
