EMD Electronics Expands Wisconsin Operations with New Advanced Materials Research Center

EMD Electronics, the North American division of Merck KGaA, has opened a 38,000-square-foot research and development facility in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin focused on developing and scaling advanced materials for semiconductor manufacturing. The new facility consolidates synthesis, scale-up, and technology transfer capabilities to accelerate collaboration with customers on complex materials challenges as the semiconductor industry moves toward more intricate chip architectures. This investment reflects the company's commitment to supporting customers through integrated solutions that combine materials discovery, process expertise, and commercial-scale production capabilities.

EMD Electronics' Wisconsin expansion is part of a broader $1 billion, five-year commitment to strengthen U.S. semiconductor infrastructure that began in 2021. The company is simultaneously developing capabilities across multiple states, with projects completed in California and Oklahoma, while planning additional growth in Wisconsin through 2027. This geographically distributed approach allows the manufacturer to position itself closer to regional customer bases and leverage local workforce expertise.

The eight specialized laboratories within the facility address the complete materials development pipeline, from initial discovery through commercial packaging and safety testing. By co-locating research, manufacturing scale-up, and technology transfer operations, EMD Electronics aims to compress development timelines and enable faster collaboration with chipmakers navigating increasingly demanding performance specifications driven by artificial intelligence applications.