KPCT Advanced Chemicals, a joint venture between Kanto Group, a leading semiconductor chemical supplier based in Taiwan, and Chemtrade Logistics Inc., the leading North American producer of electronic grade sulfuric acid, announced today plans to build an electronic grade sulphuric acid manufacturing plant in Casa Grande, Arizona. The site will occupy 10 acres and is expected to be operational by 2025, creating approximately 65 jobs.
KPPC Advanced Chemicals Inc. CEO, Jerry Lu commented, “Kanto Group is pleased to partner with Chemtrade and to leverage both parties’ strengths to bring new high-quality sulphuric acid capacity to serve the growing North American electronic chemicals market. The facility in Casa Grande is based on the sulfuric acid technology currently supplying the most advanced semiconductor fabs in Asia and will be an integral part of the advanced semiconductor ecosystem in the United States.”
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The Casa Grande facility will have a total annual capacity of 100,000 metric tons of electronic-grade acid, serving the growing North American semiconductor market. This facility will be the first greenfield construction of an electronic-grade sulfuric acid plant in North America and is expected to provide superior reliability and consistent quality while minimizing emissions.
Beyond the current project scope, Kanto and Chemtrade jointly recognize their role in working toward a more sustainable future for the industry. As such, they are studying the possibility of incorporating a sulfuric acid recycling system at the Casa Grande facility. The goal is to recover and purify used sulfuric acid from the semiconductor waste stream so the industry can use it again.
“We’re excited to welcome another globally-recognized manufacturing operation to Arizona’s robust semiconductor supply chain,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “Arizona continues to attract the world’s leading semiconductor companies. We thank CEO Lu and the entire team at Kanto and look forward to supporting their success in Arizona for many years to come.”
KPCT’s facility will produce chemicals critical to semiconductor manufacturing, expanding our supply chain and fueling Pinal County’s rapid economic growth.
Kanto and Chemtrade jointly decided to invest in Arizona as it is the center of advanced semiconductor manufacturing in the United States. Choosing a location close to the customers allows them to better supply products and services with quality, reliability, and consistency. The proximity also minimizes the carbon footprint from transportation and enables sulfuric acid recycling, making responsible use of water and chemical resources.
“This joint venture, bringing KPCT Advanced Chemicals to Greater Phoenix, is critical to the market and will strengthen our semiconductor ecosystem by bolstering the local supply chain while allowing uninterrupted service to a burgeoning hub of semiconductor suppliers and fabs in the region,” said Chris Camacho, President, and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. “We’re excited to see another semiconductor supplier investing in Casa Grande and look forward to partnering in their continued growth and success.”
“Casa Grande looks forward to KPCT Advanced Chemicals making the heart of Arizona’s innovation and technology corridor its home,” said Mayor Craig McFarland. “Our local economy welcomes the potential increase in job and revenue growth.”
“On behalf of the entire Board of Supervisors, I want to express our appreciation for KPCT’s significant capital investment in the county,” said Stephen Miller, Pinal County Supervisor for District 3, “The County’s strategic location in the state makes it an outstanding area to serve the nearby semiconductor industry. We look forward to working with the partnership to help ensure their long-term success.”
The KPCT facility adds to Pinal County’s economic momentum. In the last few years, companies including Solvay, Chang Chun, Lucid, Kohler, Nikola, and Owens Corning have commenced or announced manufacturing operations in Casa Grande, Coolidge and Eloy.
