Based in the St.GallenBodenseeArea, VAT, a supplier of high-vacuum technology, is set to invest 160 million Swiss francs up to the year 2025. According to a press release, this sum is to be put towards the construction of a new innovation center at the company’s headquarters and production location in Haag in the canton of St.Gallen. Moreover, VAT will also be investing in the expansion of its production facilities in Penang, Malaysia, the press release states further. According to the information provided, the company, which operates across several countries around the world, will be creating 600 new jobs by 2024. This is the largest investment program in the company’s history and is aimed at strengthening the foundations for sustainable future growth. VAT is the leading supplier of high-vacuum technologies for the semiconductor, digital display and other high-precision industries.
Acording to the press release, the VAT Innovation Center in Haag will house the global research and development (R&D) department and combine all R&D activities in Switzerland under one roof. The center will serve as a hub within the VAT campus. As such, it will include meeting rooms and modern catering facilities for all VAT employees and visitors, while it will additionally offer extra office space for the business units and certain administrative functions.
The total investment volume for the new innovation center, which is expected to be ready in the second quarter of 2024, will come to approximately 40 million Swiss francs. The VAT innovation team in Switzerland will be supplemented by more than 100 scientists and engineers at the new center.
Michael Zickar, Head of Core Technologies at VAT, explains in the press release that the new center will enhance the company’s innovation capacity and technology leadership, thereby allowing VAT to further expand a key competitive advantage. “Together with our particle lab in California and expanding engineering capabilities in Malaysia, we’re creating a more powerful and efficient global R&D network to better serve our customers”, he concludes.
