Tánaiste Announces 49 Jobs Created At New High Tech R&D Centre For Limerick

The new Center will create 49 high calibre jobs for semiconductor designers and engineers.

ON Semiconductor designs, manufactures, and markets power and data management semiconductors, and standard semiconductor components worldwide.

The new R&D centre for Limerick will become a Centre of Expertise in digital power management and thermal management for next generation processors.

It will develop controller and driver integrated circuits for next generation processors in servers, gaming consoles, desktop and laptop computers.

At full capacity the Centre will employ 49 people, 28 of whom are already in place.

The Tánaiste, who was at the official opening of the new premises, said, "This investment is a step-up in product complexity and value for ON Semiconductor and is expected to represent a higher level of technical innovation.

"The choice of Limerick for this investment is a major endorsement of Ireland's ability to successfully implement such technologically advanced R&D projects, and to meet the company's recruitment needs for high calibre R&D semiconductor designers and engineers.

"It is also an important vote of confidence in the existing Limerick group, particularly as it was won against strong competition for the project from other ON Semiconductor sites worldwide. This investment is a further important development for the growing cluster of IC Design companies in the mid-west region."

"The success of ON Semiconductor to-date has been based on our competency to manufacture and supply high quality, high volume individual products at competitive cost," said Bill Schromm, ON Semiconductor senior vice president and general manager of Computing Products.

"This investment will enable ON Semiconductor to develop its global market share and to successfully compete in the increasingly challenging and ever-changing industry in which it operates.

"We are confident that our choice of the Limerick group for this investment is the right decision because of the success of that operation to date and our experience of Ireland's can-do, flexible, pro-business environment which is ideal for our business."

With its global logistics network and strong product portfolio, ON Semiconductor (Nasdaq: ONNN) is a leading supplier of high performance energy efficient silicon solutions to customers in the power supply, automotive, communication, computer, consumer, medical, industrial, mobile phone, and military/aerospace markets.

The company's broad portfolio includes power, analog, DSP, mixed-signal, advance logic, clock management and standard component devices. Its world headquarters are located in Phoenix, Arizona and the company operates a network of manufacturing facilities, sales offices and design centers in key markets throughout North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific regions.