Applied Materials Extends Leadership in China with New Facility in Xi'an
XI'AN, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 10, 2006--Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT) held a groundbreaking ceremony today to celebrate the beginning of a project to construct a Global Development Capability (GDC) center in Xi'an, China. The GDC center will provide engineering and software support services to Applied Materials locations around the world, helping to extend Applied's long-standing leadership in China.
"Applied Materials' Xi'an GDC center will strengthen our ability to deliver nanomanufacturing technology around the world and is another example of the leadership in China that we have demonstrated for more than 20 years," said Mike Splinter, president and CEO of Applied Materials. "We appreciate the support of the local community as we lay the foundation for a prosperous future here in Xi'an."
Applied Materials' GDC centers offer a variety of strategic advantages including the ability to speed product development cycle times by working across time zones and to perform global engineering project support. The new 106,000-square-foot Xi'an GDC, located on 25 acres, will feature a global support center for continuous improvement projects for 200mm semiconductor equipment. Applied Materials executives and local Xi'an and Shanxii officials, including Shanxii Governor Chen Deming and Executive Vice Mayor of Xi'an city, Chen Bao Gen, participated in the groundbreaking event.
Xi'an Executive Vice Mayor Chen said, "We are delighted that Applied Materials has chosen Xi'an for its latest location, and confident that Applied will find our workforce talented, educated and productive. Attracting a company of Applied Materials' stature and reputation will help us to continue to expand our technology infrastructure, and we are committed to doing all we can to assure our mutual growth and prosperity."
Applied Materials in 1984 became the first semiconductor equipment company to establish a presence in China and now employs approximately 400 people in Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Wuxi, Suzhou, and Kunshan. Applied Materials continues to concentrate its volume system manufacturing in Austin, Texas, and the majority of its product development in California's Silicon Valley.
Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT) is the global leader in nanomanufacturing technology solutions for the electronics industry with a broad portfolio of innovative equipment, service and software products. At Applied Materials, we apply nanomanufacturing technology to improve the way people live. Learn more at www.appliedmaterials.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including those relating to Applied Materials' strategic position, growth opportunities and Xi'an GDC center. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including: the sustainability of demand in the semiconductor and semiconductor equipment industries, which is subject to many factors, including global economic conditions, business spending, consumer confidence, demand for electronic products and semiconductors, and geopolitical uncertainties; business conditions in China; the company's ability to develop, deliver and support a broad range of products and expand its markets and develop new markets; the company's ability to effectively manage its resources and production capability; and other risks described in Applied's SEC filings. All forward-looking statements are based on management's estimates, projections and assumptions as of the date hereof and the company undertakes no obligation to update any such statements.
CONTACT: Applied Materials, Inc.
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SOURCE: Applied Materials, Inc.