Rogue Valley Microdevices has decided to more than double its investment into its new Palm Bay semiconductor fabrication facility that's still under construction.
Initially, President and CEO Jessica Gomez said the factory would represent a $25 million capital investment, but a game-changing decision upped that number. Now, she said, “We expect the combined cost of Phase 1 and Phase 2 to represent an investment of over $70 million.”
Gomez decided to outfit the 50,000-square-foot microfabrication facility with the tech needed to handle larger, 300mm silicon wafers known as MEMS (microelectromechanical systems). Gomez expects to produce its first MEMS devices in Palm Bay in 2025.
“300mm MEMS capability is an important investment in the future of our company that will a have a positive impact on MEMS manufacturing capacity in the U.S. We expect our additional Palm Bay facility will allow Rogue Valley Microdevices to double annual revenue over the next five years. We are purchasing equipment for thin film deposition, photolithography, etch and metrology."
The company plans to hire 75 employees during the first five years of operation with an average annual salary of $65,267, along with a comprehensive benefits package including full medical coverage, 401(k) with company match, and tuition reimbursement, Gomez said.
Chief Technical Officer John Allgair of Bridg, the nonprofit that oversees the Kissimmee semiconductor hub NeoCity, said a 300mm MEMS fab can support a range of components which can be integrated further into specialized microsystems using advanced packaging technologies in support of aerospace, defense, medical and other product sectors. “The capability is a good addition to our growing manufacturing ecosystem in Florida,” he said.
Oregon-based Rogue Valley Microdevices chose 2301 Commerce Drive in Palm Bay for its second site in large part because of its proximity to the Florida Institute of Technology.
“One of the challenges of our Oregon location is that we don’t have an engineering school within a reasonable distance ... Having FIT in the Palm Bay corridor allows us to collaborate more with higher education. So much leading-edge technology is being developed there,” Gomez told Orlando Inno.
“Like many of us in the industry, we've been struggling with workforce challenges. Many of the amazing technical people who grew up in this industry are getting closer to retirement, so we were looking for a place where we would have access to a strong workforce of people who have a technical background. Brevard County and Palm Bay have the raw ingredients and strong manufacturing base that appeal to us.”
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