Quapaw to benefit from energy facility
06/05/2009
Umicore, the world leader in the production of germanium wafers for use in the high-efficiency solar cells, is nearing completion on a new facility in Quapaw, OK. The facility will complement Umicore’s existing production in Olen, Belgium, effectively doubling the Group’s wafer production capacity to 900,000. Quapaw’s location has the advantage of being close to a sizeable customer base in the United States.
Germanium wafers have been used, most currently, in launched satellites and also longer range missions such as NASA’s current Phoenix Mars Lander. Initially, Umicore will invest $35 million and create 50 new jobs. The company projects future expansion of an additional $16 million and 115 new jobs with an annual payroll of $8.5 million. This investment will strengthen Umicore’s offering of materials for usage in fast-growing clean technology applications. The investment will also enable Umicore to keep pace with the fast-growing demand from its key customers.
The Umicore Group has industrial operations on all continents and serves a global customer base: it generated a turnover of $8.3 billion ($1.9 billion excluding metal) in 2007 and employs some 15,000 people.
“Umicore believes that sustainable development and renewable energy are ways to preserve our natural resources for future generations. We provide materials for a better life,” Dennis Thomas, Facilities & Services Director for Umicore Optical Materials USA, Inc., said. “We have been very pleased with the quality and commitment of the workforce in Northeast Oklahoma and we hope to develop new products and expand further in the future.”
Other area leaders agree.
“The Miami Area Economic Development Service, along with the State of Oklahoma and Ottawa County Commissioners, are thrilled with this announcement. Umicore is a world leader in technology and these are the type of jobs MAEDS strives to attract to our area," Chuck Neal, President of MAEDS, said. "We are committed to improving the economic climate in all our communities and will continue to work diligently to improve the quality of life for all our citizens We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with Umicore.”
Judee Snodderly, Executive Director of MAEDS, says Umicore is a leading technology company and will help the region.
"Quapaw and Northeast Oklahoma are very fortunate to have been selected from hundreds of communities as the site for their expansion," Snodderly said. "The site search was narrowed down to three communities: Phoenix, AZ, Albuquerque, NM and Quapaw, OK. Having the existing Umicore Optical facility located in Quapaw was a definite plus, but did not insure Quapaw would be selected. It was a very tight decision for the executives of Umicore. The State of Oklahoma, Ottawa County Commissioners and the MAEDS organization have made a significant investment in Umicore. I cannot say enough about the economic impact this company will have on Northeast Oklahoma.”
“Umicore is making a significant investment in Oklahoma’s economy," Sandy Pratt, Deputy Director for Business Services at the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, said. “This manufacturing facility is a great example of the knowledge based industry jobs that we want to attract to Oklahoma. We are excited that Umicore has decided to build this new facility in Northeast Oklahoma.”