Earlier this month, JX Nippon Mining & Metals USA, Inc. (JX USA) broke ground on the company’s new state-of-the-art electronic materials manufacturing plant in Mesa, Arizona. JX USA has had a presence in the East Valley for more than 30 years and in that time has grown to over 125 employees. The new plant is expected to be operational in early 2024 and will create more than 100 additional jobs by 2025.
The planned 273,000 square-foot facility located on 63 acres will produce sputtering targets for semiconductors for North American and European markets and is expected to produce more than double the production of JX USA’s existing plant in Chandler, Arizona. The facility itself will contain a large production area and office space in addition to “welfare facilities” and garden and will also serve as an incubator for new business development. JX USA intends to make the new Mesa facility the center of its business in the advanced materials field in the United States and is continuing its work to “achieve stable provision of even higher-quality products” in an environmentally and socially responsible way. The company has a goal of reducing its carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with a variety of measures to achieve those targets including the use of carbon-free electric power, creation of renewable energy, and reduction of energy consumption.
The company has received numerous industry and company-specific awards, including from Intel, ON Semi, and TSMC, all of which have a presence in Arizona. Most recently, JX USA was awarded Intel’s 2022 EPIC Distinguished Supplier Award. In order to qualify, a supplier must “exceed expectations, meet aggressive performance goals, and score 80 percent or higher in performance assessments throughout the year. Suppliers must also meet 80 percent or more of their improvement plan deliverables and demonstrate formidable quality and business systems.” JX USA was one of only 26 suppliers in Intel’s global supply chain to earn this recognition.
Of the groundbreaking and JX USA’s Arizona expansion, Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, said, “Today’s groundbreaking showcases Arizona’s premier attractiveness for the semiconductor industry. JX USA has been a leading advanced materials developer in Arizona for more than 30 years, and we are excited to see them expand their legacy in Mesa.”
President and CEO of JX Nippon Mining and Materials USA Masago Kuwabara said, “We are proud to be moving forward on our commitment to manufacture electronic materials in the City of Mesa. With an outstanding team of designers and engineers, and a product strategy, we expect today to be just the start of a longstanding presence in this dynamic city.”
According to an Arizona Commerce Authority press release, JX USA chose Arizona based on “numerous positive factors, including business climate, infrastructure, talent, geographic location, and supply chain for the semiconductor industry.”
The City of Mesa is already a vibrant and growing city in the Phoenix metropolitan area and has proven to be an attractive location for the high-tech industry, now home to companies like Amazon, Apple, AT&T, Boeing, Facebook (Meta), and Northrop Grumman. Mesa is expected to continue to grow as a center for advanced industry and, of the announcement, City of Mesa Mayor John Giles said, “JX’s investment and commitment to Mesa further demonstrate the desire for leading advanced manufacturers to grow their business in our city.” Echoing that sentiment, Kevin Thompson, District 6 Councilmember, said, “I could not be more thrilled to welcome JX USA to Mesa. With their new plant in Mesa, JX Nippon Mining & Metals USA, Inc. (JX USA) is not only a win for Mesa, but a win for the region as well. Their commitment to manufacturing will allow them to further expand their production capacity for the semiconductor sector. Together, the investment and jobs that JX USA brings will be wonderful assets for this already active area.”