Newport Vishay – Securing jobs and new investment at the Fab

Vishay Newport

A New Start for Newport Wafer Fab

Vishay Newport - securing jobs and new investment at the Fab

In March 2024, Vishay acquired Newport Wafer Fab, the UK’s biggest semiconductor manufacturing facility. This will bolster the semiconductor industry in South Wales, securing and increasing the number of well-paid, skilled jobs at Newport Wafer Fab, working closely with the local community.

While Newport Wafer Fab has had several owners in recent years, we are committed to the long term, and want to bring stability. As a company with sixty years’ experience in manufacturing, we believe the workforce in Newport have the skills and commitment to ensure a bright future for the Fab.

Newport Wafer Fab is one of the few semiconductor plants which has the potential to grow. Working in partnership with the Welsh and UK Governments, we want to expand the site to enable new research and development and bring new technologies to market such as compound semiconductor power conversion (a more efficient technology than silicon-based semiconductors).

This will bring more high-skilled, well-paid manufacturing jobs to Newport.

Committed to Newport

South Wales is recognised as a global hub for developing new technologies that support cutting edge industry. There isn’t a region in the world which has the breadth of compound semiconductor capability that exists in Newport.

High Skilled Jobs

With a long-term expansion, which could unlock hundreds of millions of pounds of investment, Newport Wafer Fab has the potential to help the semiconductor cluster develop as a global centre of excellence.

We see an incredible opportunity to invest in the future of Newport. Vishay already works closely with universities across the UK, including the Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials at Swansea University. We have had a partnership to support PhD students in Swansea and some of those graduates are now working at the Fab. This is part of the reason we want to invest again; we recognise the depth of STEM talent that exists in Wales.

Community Partners

As the UK’s biggest semiconductor manufacturing facility, we are keen to open up the Fab and work with researchers and scientists in the local cluster to support them to test new technologies and help bring them to market. We want to work with partners in schools, colleges, universities, the government and the wider community to develop this capacity and bring more high-skilled, well-paid jobs to Newport.

Evidence from other countries shows that for every job created in the semiconductor industry, nearly six other jobs are created in related industries and supply chains.

We know that whenever there are new owners, it can create feelings of uncertainty for workers and their families. Our reason for investing here is because of the skilled workforce, which we want to retain and expand. We’ll work closely with workers and the trade unions to keep them informed of our investment plans.

Our Values

After surviving persecution as a young man, Dr. Felix Zandman launched Vishay with a purpose: “Do not take advantage of others. What matters is how you treat the next person—it will come back to you. Be just and be helpful.” We strive to live those values of integrity, openness and taking responsibility in everything we do.

Social and Environmental Responsibility

Vishay is committed to being a good neighbour in Newport and working closely with communities to ensure we operate in a socially responsible, ethical and sustainable manner. In everything we do, we want to protect the environment, ensure the safety and health of our employees, customers, visitors and surrounding communities.

Vishay is a proud member of the Responsible Business Alliance, the world’s largest industry coalition dedicated to corporate social responsibility in global supply chains. We implement the RBA code of conduct – a set of social, environmental and ethical industry requirements derived from international standards including from the UN and the ILO.

The components we will be manufacturing at Newport Wafer Fab have important applications for supporting the energy transition, by reducing energy loss and waste, and helping the UK to meet its Net Zero commitments.

Working in partnership, we believe Newport Wafer Fab has a bright future.

Support

“We welcome the announcement that Vishay is investing in the thriving semiconductor cluster in Newport. This is a great example of a Welsh economic strength with truly global reach attracting major global investment.

“Global demand for semiconductors is set to explode in the coming years and Newport is perfectly placed to turn that growth into more long term, quality careers. The committed, skilled workforce which Wales already boasts, with strong buy in from academic, business, local and Welsh Government partners, makes this a great, ambitious place to invest.”

“This is very good news for the skilled and dedicated employees of the former NWF. The continuity that this deal brings is highly encouraging for the economy of Newport, the wider Region and the UK as a whole, especially given the critical and increased importance of semiconductors globally. Newport is proud to host the world’s first Compound Semiconductor Cluster and the Cardiff Capital Region has invested considerable sums into this sector. We look forward to establishing close relations with the Vishay team.”

“Vishay’s decision to invest in Newport Wafer Fab is very welcome and demonstrates a huge vote of confidence not just in this great company but also in the Region. Newport Wafer Fab is already the largest semiconductor manufacturer in the UK and we are pleased to see that Vishay will invest in even more facilities and expertise. The global footprint in the semiconductor manufacturing world is expanding and it’s vital that Southeast Wales retains its place at the forefront.”

“Really good news which cannot be underestimated for the dedicated and experienced staff and for Newport and Wales more generally.”

“I welcome the news that Newport Wafer Fab has been bought, safeguarding hundreds of Welsh jobs…I am confident that the future of the domestic microchip industry is further secured by this news. As a resident of Newport, without a doubt there has been a lot of uncertainty in relation to the future of the Wafer Fab site and now I hope that this acquisition helps the Wafer Fab site not only survive but thrive on a local, national and international platform.”

“Hugely positive news that Newport Wafer Fab has attracted a buyer to take it over. These highly skilled and well-paid jobs are not just vital to the local economy but the national economy. Well done to all involved in securing the future of the plant.”

About Vishay
Vishay manufactures one of the world’s largest portfolios of discrete semiconductors and passive electronic components that are essential to innovative designs in the automotive, industrial, computing, consumer, telecommunications, military, aerospace, and medical markets. Serving customers worldwide, Vishay is The DNA of tech®. Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. is a Fortune 1,000 Company listed on the NYSE (VSH). More on Vishay at www.Vishay.com.

Contact us
info@newportvishay.co.uk