A South Korean supplier to Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. that first came to the U.S. by buying a Milwaukee-area company plans to build a $46 million facility on a 24-acre plot it purchased near Austin, Texas, earlier this year.
Wonik Materials Co. Ltd., which manufactures specialty gases and chemicals for the semiconductor industry, has three phases planned at the site in Manor, Texas, along Old Kimbro Road that will include elements like distribution, quality assurance and quality control and production capabilities, according to a July 23 announcement.
The Austin Business Journal, a sibling publication of the Milwaukee Business Journal, in March reported that Wonik Materials North America LLC — a Germantown-based entity tied to the South Korean parent company — purchased the two parcels along Old Kimbro Road. The company at the time would only say it "purchased land to support our customer's requirements for electronic specialty gases and advanced materials."
The Wonik Group is a multinational business conglomerate with over 6,000 employees around the world. Wonik's U.S. outpost was established in 2016 after Korean company Wonik Materials Co. purchased partial interest in Nova-Kem LLC in Germantown. Wonik acquired the Wisconsin company in full in 2018.
The parent company notes on its website that it supplies "Korean companies such as Samsung, SK Hynix, and LG Philips, as well as global semiconductor and equipment companies around the world."
Wonik expects to supply current and future customers from the facility including Samsung, NXP Semiconductors NV, Infineon Technologies AG and Texas Instruments Inc.
Representatives from the company and the city of Manor said in an announcement that they signed a joint letter of support earlier this month during a ceremony that included representatives from the company, city and Wonik's development partner, a Korean company called BuildBlock Inc., that is coordinating infrastructure for the project.
The first phase of the project is slated to be a $46 million investment, officials said. The company plans to apply for incentives from the city, in exchange for creation of at least 15 jobs in the initial phase and an undetermined amount in later phases to be completed by 2027. Wonik plans to annex the site into the city of Manor this year, and company representatives have already met with city leadership and the Manor Independent School District about a workforce development initiative for high school students.
"Wonik Materials is recognized as an innovator in the semiconductor industry and will be developing next-generation materials used in the semiconductor process and will be bringing that focus to Texas, promoting new environmentally friendly and safer materials for semiconductor processes," according to the announcement. "The city of Manor welcomes all the aspects of projects such as this partnership with Wonik offers: capital investment, job creation, increased ad valorem taxation, new workforce training programs, green industry technology, and annexation/development of vacant real estate outside the current city limits.”
Wonik becomes Samsung supplier
Wonik signed a 22.8 billion Korean won contract with Samsung in 2016 to provide semiconductor manufacturing equipment, according to Reuters. Korean outlets reported in November that Wonik's high-end scrubber — which is used to purify toxic gases emitted during chip and display panel production — was going through quality tests. That could be partnered with gas supply and monitoring systems that Wonik already provides Samsung.
The project is a potential boon to Manor, which is about 15 miles northeast of downtown Austin and has a population of about 19,000. Other big employers setting up in and around the city include Tesla supplier HBPO Plastic Omnium Modules; Chinese company Han's Laser Corp., which supplies Samsung and Tesla; and industrial piping company 5F Mechanical Group Inc.
Wonik is one of many Samsung suppliers expanding in the area. Others include Soulbrain Holdings Co. Ltd., HTNS America Inc. and ENC Inc. in Taylor; iMarket America Inc. in both Taylor and Round Rock; MSS International and KoMiCo Technology Inc. in Round Rock; Fine Semitech Corp. in Hutto; EcoMicron Inc. and Hanyang Eng USA Inc. in Cedar Park; LS Electric Co. Ltd. in Bastrop; and MGC Pure Chemicals America Inc. in Killeen.
