Dive Brief:
- Linton Crystal Technologies announced last week that it plans to make semiconductor and solar manufacturing equipment in the U.S. as it looks to take advantage of federal incentives for domestic production.
- Efforts are underway to secure a site to house the plant, which will produce furnaces for making silicon, as well as wire saws and solar manufacturing machinery, according to the release. The company expects to break ground on the facility in Q2 2023.
- President and COO Todd Barnum cited geopolitical tensions as a factor in choosing to reshore production. “As a U.S. company with Chinese ownership, Linton Technologies Group, the geopolitical issues have been difficult to navigate. Our company used to manufacture in Rochester and we’re eager to get back to the United States.”
Dive Insight:
Linton’s plan follows a spate of production announcements by solar manufacturers including First Solar and Q Cells, who have committed billions of dollars to establish or expand operations in the U.S.
The investments come on the heels of the Inflation Reduction Act signed in August, which contains a range of incentives and tax credits aimed at boosting domestic clean energy production.
Linton also stands poised to capitalize on the CHIPS and Science Act, which offers incentives related to semiconductor and clean manufacturing. The furnaces for silicon ingots that Linton manufactures are both semiconductor and solar grade, according to the release.
“I’m excited to break ground,” Barnum said in a statement. “The IRA and CHIPS Act have created a pathway for manufacturing investment to fulfill the need for U.S.-made products.”
Linton’s initial investment will go toward opening a new facility, establishing an equipment demonstration line and building production capacity by the end of its first year, according to the release.
“We’ve been working on this plan for a while now and are looking forward to reshoring manufacturing to the United States,” Barnum said in the release.
