Gelest, Inc., a Mitsubishi Chemical Group company, recently commenced the construction of a new production facility at its global headquarters in Morrisville, PA. The groundbreaking ceremony marked a significant milestone for the company.
The new facility will occupy a 50,000-square-foot building and is scheduled for completion by September 2024. To support the initial phase of production, Gelest plans to hire over 25 employees, with further recruitment phases planned to meet growing customer demand.
Jonathan Goff, Vice President of the Custom Synthesis Division for Mitsubishi Chemical Group and President of Gelest, expressed their commitment to leverage the local workforce’s technical expertise and recruit from nearby universities. Gelest aims to contribute to the on-shoring business and strengthen the U.S. supply chain for critical materials used in advanced manufacturing. The addition of the new facility will enhance Gelest’s production capabilities, catering to a wide range of customer applications, including microelectronics, medical devices, advanced thermal coatings, and mobility solutions.
In a strategic collaboration with Lam Research Corp. of Fremont, California, Gelest will develop and manufacture precursor chemicals for Lam’s groundbreaking dry photoresist technology used in EUV lithography. This advanced semiconductor manufacturing technique is expected to drive the next generation of logic and DRAM technologies in the semiconductor market. The new Gelest facility will house the commercial-scale operation of this key technology, ensuring a reliable supply of precursors.
Neville Lockwood, Gelest’s Senior Vice President of Operations, highlighted the installation of state-of-the-art equipment in the new facility, specifically designed for the development, analysis, packaging, and large-scale manufacturing of highly specialized chemistries. The production facility will adhere to stringent quality and process control systems, meeting the demanding requirements of present and future customers and markets. Notably, the facility includes a 3,000-square-foot ISO 7 clean room featuring advanced analytical instrumentation, ensuring quality and chemical purity.
The construction of the new production facility signifies Gelest’s ongoing expansion in Morrisville. Since establishing its headquarters there in 2001, the company has expanded to include production, R&D, and administration facilities. Gelest previously opened a 154,000 square-foot warehouse in 2011, followed by a state-of-the-art R&D center in 2015. With the addition of the new facility, Gelest’s presence in Morrisville extends to nine buildings, with eight located on-site. The expansion is expected to increase Gelest’s employee count in Morrisville to as many as 50.
It is worth noting that the new production facility will be located on a revitalized U.S. EPA Brownfield site, made possible through the support of US Steel and specialty chemicals. Gelest, serving as the research excellence center of parent company Mitsubishi Chemical Group, contributes to the development of new products and technologies in fundamental materials and five primary markets, including microelectronics. Mitsubishi Chemical Group, with its extensive network of 295 group companies, maintains a strong global presence, including multiple sites in Pennsylvania, such as Morrisville and Glen Rock, where Gelest operates.