Husted, Cupp break ground on semiconductor biz hub in Cairo

CAIRO — A groundbreaking ceremony for Chemtrade to construct a $50 million investment to support the semiconductor industry was held at the company’s Cairo plant on Friday.

The event celebrated the company’s expanded operations in Ohio to increase its production capacity by 60% for high purity sulphuric acid, a critical component in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. Chemtrade is the largest producer of high purity sulphuric acid for the semiconductor industry in North America and continues to choose Ohio for investments in production and workers.

Scott Rook, President and Chief Executive Officer of Chemtrade, said, “Expanding our site in Cairo is a testament to the hard work of the facility team which is dedicated to operational excellence, quality and performance.”

Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted said, “This investment is really a result of landing Intel. Because we’re going to be making semiconductors, this company can produce the chemicals that clean the chips in the final processes. So this investment that we are making today, a $50 million investment which will create new jobs, is a direct result of growing a semiconductor industry in Ohio. When we made that announcement, we said watch, the supply chain jobs will follow.”

Husted explained why businesses like to invest in Ohio. “Over the course of a long period of time, we got our act together in terms of making Ohio a good business environment. We have reasonable tax rates, have reasonable regulatory environment. Businesses want to be in the Midwest. All of these things together create a climate in Ohio where big companies like Intel choose to invest. Once they do that, supply chains follow. Investment is going to come from companies all around the world investing here because we make the things that people need.”

Rook explained the expansion in more detail. “We are pleased to announce our $50 million expansion to produce ultra pure sulfuric acid which we will supply to the semiconductor industry. The total demand for ultrapure acid in North America will have tripled over the next five years based on the number of expansions from Intel, Samsung and others. So our demand has been growing rapidly. We’re selling everything that we can make. But with our investment here, we’re adding to our capacity. We’re improving the quality and we’re also increasing our reliability. With this investment that we’re making here in Cairo this will be the first line in North America capable to meet the next generation requirements for chips in North America.

Ohio House Speaker Bob Cupp said, “Things that happened in some places in Ohio have spillover effects and this is one of the spillover effects of Intel company to make semiconductor chips in Ohio. All parts of Ohio are going to benefit from this. Right here in Allen County, we’re seeing a very visible sign of what that means. That is a really good thing for the state of Ohio and for all of our communities for a long time to come.”

Based on timelines for construction, the expansion is scheduled to be completed in 2024.

Reach Dean Brown at 567-242-0409

Dean Brown
Dean Brown joined The Lima News in 2022 as a reporter. Prior to The Lima News, Brown was an English teacher in Allen County for 38 years, with stops at Perry, Shawnee, Spencerville and Heir Force Community School. So they figured he could throw a few sentences together about education and business in the area. An award-winning photographer, Brown likes watching old black and white movies, his dog, his wife and kids, and the four grandkids - not necessarily in that order. Reach him at [email protected] or 567-242-0409.