Applied Materials, Inc., one of the world's global leaders in Nanomanufacturing Technology™ solutions, recently broke ground for the construction of its new Singapore operations facility. The plant will serve as a hub for the company's business activities throughout Asia. The US-based company presently employs about 400 employees in Singapore but this figure looks set to double with the new Center.

To be completed in late 2009, the Center will be a base for the company's global purchasing, sales, manufacturing, engineering and financial groups to support the rapidly growing solar markets in India and China and the semiconductor chip industry in the Asian region. These new operations will help the company reduce material cost and delivery time to the various markets, as well as expand its global supply chain capabilities.

"Sitting at a virtual crossroads between India and China, Singapore has proven to be a friendly and great place to do business with its strong transportation and logistics network, extensive supplier base and talented workforce," says Mike Splinter, President and CEO, Applied Materials, Inc.