BOC Edwards opens new European semiconductor HQ in Grenoble, France
BOC Edwards announced that it has opened a new European semiconductor headquarters in Grenoble, France. BOC Edwards' decision to transfer its European semiconductor team from Crawley, West Sussex, UK, to Grenoble was made in a bid to be closer to key customers in the well-known "cluster of competence" of the European semiconductor industry.
The company initially relocated 50 employees from its sales, business management and applications engineering functions into the new location. BOC Edwards also intends to leverage the R&D concentration in the area to hire for technical positions in engineering, project management, and service and support.
"BOC Edwards has more than doubled in size over the past decade to well above US$1Billion," said Olivier Blachier, general manager, Europe semiconductor business, BOC Edwards. "This success has been due to organic growth and a series of strategic mergers and acquisitions, mainly focused on on-tool vacuum, gas and liquid extraction, and treatment technologies," said Blachier. "We intend to increase our presence in key markets such as the photovoltaic industry, compound semiconductor devices and outsourcing services."
The move into the new 900m2 office will support this growth. The new headquarters, which was officially opened during a ceremony on 20 September 2006, is located in the Bernin Industrial Zone adjacent to the Crolles fabs.
