Heck said Silfex will help to expand the reach of Springfield and Clark County’s workforce.
“What this allows us to do is to diversify our economy,” Heck said. “Much of our industry is based around automotive and food. This allows us to introduce that high-tech manufacturing component.”
» PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Silfex buys Springfield manufacturing plant for $11M, adding 400 jobs
Silfex, which is based in Eaton and is a division of Lam Research Corporation, announced in 2017 it would be expanding into Springfield. The city was selected from nearly a dozen finalists sites.
“And it was the right decision,” said Kevin Jennings, senior vice president of Lam Research.
The 350,000-square-foot warehouse located on Titus Road in Springfield, near the PrimeOhio Industrial Park, was purchased by Silfex for $11 million in September of 2018, according to records with the Clark County Auditor’s Office.
Since then, Silfex has poured more than $223 million into their Springfield facility and has vowed to bring 400 jobs to the area within the coming years as a part of an incentive package with the Ohio Tax Credit Authority.
As another part of the deal, the company also is required to maintain operations at the Springfield location for at least 10 years and maintain an annual average payroll of $20.7 million.
At the Springfield facilities grand opening and ribbon cutting on Thursday, Kit Armstrong, general manager of Silfex said the company is already following through on the pledge.
“The project itself will bring on, in the next two to four years, about 400 jobs,” said Armstrong. “We have about 150 employees working right now.”
» READ MORE: Manufacturing company to hold hiring event for new Clark County facility
Some of those employees were hired during a job fair the company host at OhioMeans Jobs Clark County in April 2018, Armstrong said.
Armstrong said one of the reasons Silfex had to expand was because the electronics industry is seeing rapid growth.
Silfex builds silicon components for several industries, including everything from computer processors to cell phones to cars. The firm also grows silicon crystals at its existing plant in Eaton and will perform similar functions in Springfield.
With the addition of the new facility, Silfex’s total footprint in Ohio is more than 500,000 square feet between Springfield and Eaton.
In addition to the employees already working in the new facility, Armstrong said company is looking to hire, “all kinds of talent,” including engineers, machinists, technicians and support staff.
“Operating technicians, inspection technicians, engineers, chemistry,” Armstrong said. “As well as back office type folks.”
Those interested in a career at Silfex or would like more information about jobs at the company can visit SilfexCareers.com, Armstrong said.
The Springfield News-Sun has provided continued coverage of Silfex since the manufacturing company announced in 2017 that they would be expanding into Springfield.
350,000: Square-foot-warehouse
$223M: Company’s investment in the Springfield facility
400: Jobs pledged over the next couple of years
150: Employees currently working at Springfield facility
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