INCHEON — Dongwon Parts, a key supplier to global semiconductor equipment maker Lam Research, will build a large manufacturing facility in Incheon's Namdong Industrial Complex, marking a turning point for a district long dominated by traditional manufacturing as it moves into advanced chip materials, parts and equipment.
The company will invest a total of $27 million to build its seventh plant in the Namdong Urban High-Tech Industrial Complex, Namdong District said on the 12th. The facility will have a site area of 3,876 square meters, a total floor area of 15,468 square meters and six above-ground stories. Construction begins in October, and the company plans to complete equipment installation and test runs to be ready for full operation by September 2027. The new plant will house high-precision production lines, machining equipment, clean rooms and 3D printers across its floors.
Dongwon Parts makes high-precision components essential to semiconductor manufacturing processes. As a major partner of Lam Research, one of the world's leading equipment makers, the company posted revenue growth of more than 50% from a year earlier on the back of technology investment and supply chain expansion. The seventh plant is expected to become a strategic production hub to meet rising component demand from Lam Research and other global customers.
Once the new production lines are running, quality jobs will be created in precision machining, quality inspection and design. As hiring of advanced technology workers picks up, employment opportunities for young people in the area are expected to expand significantly. The growth in technology-intensive jobs is also seen helping to draw younger residents and revive local commerce.
Namdong District plans to use the investment to substantially strengthen the local base for chip materials, parts and equipment. Once a leading company tied directly into global supply chains is established, the district expects momentum to build for attracting related firms and developing a value chain. The aim is to shed the image of an aging industrial complex and transform into an advanced industrial cluster representing the western part of the greater Seoul area.
"Attracting Dongwon Parts, which has secured its position in the global semiconductor market, is an achievement that raises Namdong District's future industrial competitiveness," Namdong District Mayor Lee Byung-rae said. The mayor added that the district will spare no administrative support to help the company settle in the area and grow. The district also said it will continue to push structural upgrades at the Namdong complex centered on advanced industries.