Menlo Microsystems (Menlo Micro), the company responsible for reinventing the electronic switch with its Ideal Switch® technology, announced that it has finalized an asset purchase in Tompkins County, N.Y., which will house the company’s first domestic production facility, the Ideal Fab™. Menlo Micro will invest $50 million in the Ideal Fab over the next three years, creating over 100 high tech jobs at the site within the next five years.
Additionally, the company is committing to a multi-year growth strategy through diverse funding sources – including the potential of additional government funds – to grow the Ideal Fab and further expand its U.S.-based manufacturing. As part of Menlo Micro’s strategy, the company’s future domestic expansion would see an additional investment upwards of $150 million and the phasing in of an additional 100+ jobs, commensurate with growth.
Menlo Micro has begun retrofitting the building function to meet the unique and proprietary material science manufacturing requirements for its Ideal Switch®, with U.S.-based manufacturing estimated to begin in 2024. The new Tompkins County-based fab is expected to produce thousands of wafers per month and create high-quality, skilled, and in demand jobs over the coming years as the company continues to invest in American manufacturing.
“Today’s announcement represents the first step toward significantly increasing the domestic production capacity of our Ideal Switch to help secure critical infrastructure and further strengthen America’s technology leadership,” said Russ Garcia, CEO of Menlo Micro.
“We want to thank Senate Majority Leader Schumer for his leadership on the CHIPS and Science Act, which is directly supportive of and aligned with our plan to onshore our manufacturing capabilities. We look forward to continuing to work with Sen. Schumer, Gov. Hochul, Sen. Gillibrand, Rep. Molinaro and the entire New York delegation as we begin ushering in the next generation of electrification, delivering unprecedented cost and energy savings to essential U.S. industries. We believe this fab modernization project is in 100% alignment with the presidential directive on bringing semiconductor manufacturing back to the United States.”
New York State’s dedicated and skilled workforce, top-notch universities, and research institutions, along with its bustling innovation ecosystem made it the top choice for Menlo Micro’s first domestic fab. As the company continues to grow its manufacturing presence in the U.S., it is building on its deep roots in the state.
Built out of a decade-long effort at General Electric’s Global Research Center in Niskayuna, N.Y., Menlo Micro’s Research and Development arm is located at the Albany NanoTech Complex in Albany, N.Y. In addition to the work based at General Electric, New York-based Corning Glass was an initial investor and key R&D partner.
“With my CHIPS & Science Act as the lighting rod, Menlo Micro will invest $50+ million to build their first domestic manufacturing facility for their cutting-edge technology right here in Tompkins County! Last year, I personally called Menlo Micro’s CEO to tell him that Upstate New York is the next frontier for microelectronic and semiconductor manufacturing, and I’m thrilled they are now bringing 100 new good-paying jobs to Tompkins County,” said Senator Chuck Schumer.
“I applaud Menlo Micro for this major investment that will help drive Tompkins County and America’s economic future in tech manufacturing, and thank Governor Hochul for her partnership to help transform Upstate NY into a global center for innovation, high tech and advanced manufacturing jobs. The greater Ithaca area is unquestionably leading the charge in research and development and building the future of technology, and Menlo Micro will help further supercharge the region’s leadership, while helping secure America’s critical microelectronics supply chains that power everything from 5G communications to the power grid to aerospace engineering with their switch technology made right here in Tompkins County.”
The company has active university partnerships with the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) and University at Albany with hopes to expand its research and workforce development partnerships to Cornell University and the Finger Lakes region with the launch of its new MEMS (Micro Electromechanical Systems) fab in the Tompkins County, N.Y. Menlo Micro plans to continue expanding in New York, with additional announcements planned in the coming months. To support their expansion in New York State, Empire State Development has awarded Menlo Micro up to $6.5 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Tax Credits in exchange for 122 new jobs at their new Ithaca Facility.
“With this agreement to bring Menlo Microsystems to Tompkins County, we are once again declaring New York State as Chips Country,” Governor Kathy Hochul said.
“Menlo Micro’s groundbreaking chip technology powers the tools and electronics that New Yorkers rely on every day, and thanks to a remarkable partnership between local, state, and federal officials, their New York production facility will create more than 100 high-tech jobs and unlock millions of dollars in investment to support the entire region. I am excited to welcome Menlo to New York’s chip-making ecosystem as we continue our work to attract the innovative, 21st century businesses that will provide good-paying jobs, grow our advanced manufacturing sector, and move our economy forward.”
Menlo Micro’s Ideal Switch has applications across dozens of critical U.S. industries, including energy distribution and management, telecommunications, aerospace and defense, medical devices, consumer electronics and more. The Ideal Switch will provide unprecedented reductions in size, weight and cost while creating increased reliability, linearity, and power due to key breakthroughs in material science.
Click here to learn more about Menlo Micro.
