Vishay to invest £51m in Newport Wafer Fab

Vishay is to invest £51 million in Newport Wafer Fab, now called Newport Vishay, which it bought for £142 million in November 2023  in a government-enforced sale from Nexperia which is a subsidiary of  Wingtech of Shanghai..

The Welsh government supported the investment with £5 million.

Nexperia’s China connection raised security concerns and the deal with Vishay was made on condition that the UK government should be told if Vishay ever plans to dispose of the plant.

Welsh government Economy Secretary Rebecca Evans said that Wales is “increasingly a world-leading nation” in semiconductor production.

 “Compound semiconductors are all around us – in our homes and in our phones, our trains and our turbines,” said Evans, “they are a vital, if miniature, piece of what makes the modern world tick, with extremely strong global growth projections. And we in Wales are increasingly a world-leading nation in their production and manufacture. Today that is more evident than ever, with our international reputation attracting significant inward investment, the provision and occupation of state-of-the-art facilities, clear links with R&D and well-paid opportunities for employment and apprenticeships. We are now, after a decade of seeding the cluster, reaping the rewards of our commitment which we will continue to drive forward.”