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$1.5 billion in announced expansions beginning to come
online
 Hemlock Semiconductor
Corporation has begun production at its new
polysilicon facility that will nearly double its output of polycrystalline
silicon (polysilicon) to serve the needs of the semiconductor and
fast-growing solar energy industries.
This new facility – part of a $1.5 billion expansion of the company's
Hemlock, Mich. (U.S.) site announced last year – will produce
approximately 9,000 metric tons of new polysilicon capacity, bringing the
company’s annual capacity to approximately 19,000 metric tons by the end of
2008 and making it the largest single polysilicon facility in the
world.
“Delivering polysilicon from our new facility as quickly as possible was
essential to meet our customers’ expectations," said Hemlock Semiconductor President and CEO Rick
Doornbos. "These customers have put a lot of faith in us and the
additional quantities of silicon feedstock will enable them to advance solar
technology throughout the globe.”
Hemlock Semiconductor expects to complete an additional expansion with
operations and supply beginning in 2010. This expansion will increase the
total capacity from the Hemlock site to 36,000 tons by the end of 2011.
“Hemlock Semiconductor’s more-than 40 years of technical and manufacturing
expertise to supply high-purity polysilicon to the semiconductor and solar
industries was critical to our successful construction and operation of this
new, world-class operation," said Doornbos. "We are proud of our
team for successfully completing this expansion on-time and within budget.”
Hemlock Semiconductor is continuing its search for a second location to
potentially build a new manufacturing facility. Collaborative efforts
with customers are underway and may lead to further expansions as the company
expects high demand for its materials to continue.
“As a leading manufacturer of polycrystalline silicon, we feel honored to be
working so closely with our customers, who represent many of the global leaders
in both the solar and electronics industries," said Doornbos. "Our
goal is to use our polysilicon expertise to help them secure a long-term supply
of high-purity silicon to meet their growth objectives. ”
Hemlock Semiconductor is a joint venture of Dow Corning Corporation and two
Japan-based firms, Shin-Etsu Handotai Co., Ltd. and Mitsubishi Materials
Corporation. In solar applications, polycrystalline silicon is the
cornerstone material used to produce solar cells that harvest renewable energy
from light rays. In addition to serving the solar energy market,
polysilicon is also used in the production of semiconductor devices used in
computers, cell phones and other electronic applications.
NOTE TO EDITORS: A media teleconference will be held on Thursday, June
5 from 10:30-11:00 a.m. (Eastern Time Zone) for media with follow
up/clarification questions regarding this news. Please email Jarrod.Erpelding@dowcorning.com
for teleconference access numbers if you wish to attend. No analysts
please.
About Dow Corning
Dow Corning Corporation provides performance-enhancing solutions to serve
the diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers worldwide. A global
leader in silicon-based technology and innovation, offering more than 7,000
products and services, Dow Corning is equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company
and Corning, Incorporated. More than half of Dow Corning’s annual sales
are outside the United States.
About Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation
Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation (www.hemlocksemiconductor.com) is
a leading provider of polycrystalline silicon and other silicon-based products
used in the manufacturing of semiconductors devices and passive solar cells and
modules. Headquartered in Hemlock, Mich., Hemlock Semiconductor is a
joint venture of Dow Corning Corporation and two Japan-based firms, Shin-Etsu
Handotai Co., Ltd. and Mitsubishi Materials Corporation.
For further information: Please direct inquiries to one of our media
representatives.
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