ASML has started construction on its second major campus in Eindhoven’s Brainport region, a site that will “eventually span approximately 350,000 square meters” and house 20,000 workers.
The global giant marked the event this Tuesday with what it describes as a “groundbreaking ceremony”, held at Brainport Industries Campus (BIC) North.
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten even turned up for the occasion, according to the press release, alongside “representatives from government, customers, suppliers, knowledge institutions and regional partners”.
What exactly is ASML building?
This new campus is part of a multi-phase development project that ASML hopes will provide capacity for a whopping 20,000 workers.
The first phase is expected to be completed by 2029 and will house at least 3,000 workers. However, these won’t all be new hires, as the multinational notes that these workplaces are “primarily intended for teams relocating from existing ASML locations”.
Once finished, the site will bring production, logistics, and supporting office activities together in one place, where ASML intends to trial its new flow factory.
This is a manufacturing model borrowed from the automotive and aerospace industries, designed to ramp up production by building its machines faster and at a bigger scale.
Why is ASML expanding in the first place?
In short, the world can’t get enough of microchips. And for good reason: these tiny circuits in your mobile, laptop, and other electronics act as your device’s brain, performing a range of functions from data processing to storage.
With ASML as the leading supplier of hardware and software for chip manufacturers, keeping up with rising demand is key.
“The growing global demand from the semiconductor industry requires continuous investments,” says ASML CEO Christophe Fouquet. “As part of our global expansion plans, BIC North provides the space and flexibility we need to continue innovating and supporting our customers around the world.”
The company already runs its headquarters and an industrial site in nearby Veldhoven, with offices across EMEA, the US, and Asia.
ASML will also invest long-term in “affordable housing”
If you already live in or around Eindhoven, expect the city to grow busier once BIC North is up and running.
ASML currently employs over 44,500 people worldwide, and that number is expected to grow by 20,000 in the coming years in Brainport alone. Of course, more regional jobs mean more newcomers and greater competition for housing.
The good news is, ASML seems aware of the strain on infrastructure.
The company cites its intention to “continue to invest in long-term priorities such as talent development, affordable housing and equal opportunity, helping to support sustainable growth for both the company and the Brainport region”.
How do you feel about ASML expanding in Eindhoven? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
