Wedoany.com Report-Dec.4, Solstice Advanced Materials, a specialized electronic materials company formerly part of Honeywell, has officially started construction on a $200 million expansion and modernization project at its facility in Spokane Valley, Washington. The upgrade will double the plant's production capacity for high-purity sputtering targets by the end of 2029, addressing strong and growing demand from the semiconductor sector.

Southside view of Solstice Advanced Materials Spokane Facility, highlighting 110K sq. ft expansion groundbreaking site.

"This groundbreaking represents more than an investment in our Spokane operations – it's an investment in our customers and in the future of American semiconductor innovation," said Solstice President and CEO David Sewell. "As demand accelerates for artificial intelligence, high-speed computing and connected technologies, we are preparing the Spokane facility to deliver the quality, reliability and scale our customers need to drive innovation. The expansion project underscores our commitment to strengthening supply chain resilience, enhancing production efficiency and driving sustainable manufacturing innovation in this exciting growth market."

Sputtering targets produced at the site are essential components in physical vapor deposition processes used to create ultra-thin metal layers that form high-performance interconnects in advanced logic and memory chips. The expanded capacity will support the development of smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient semiconductors.

"Our customers are pushing the boundaries of what's possible in chip design, and they depend on partners who can move with the same speed and precision," said Simon Mawson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Electronic & Specialty Materials at Solstice Advanced Materials. "This expansion is about giving them reliable access to the highest-quality materials, shorter lead times and the confidence that Solstice will be there to support their innovation and growth every step of the way."

The project will generate substantial economic benefits for Washington state. Approximately $80 million of the total investment will flow to local suppliers, while more than 80 new jobs will be created. Existing staff will receive enhanced training to operate the upgraded facility.

New automated manufacturing systems, combined with advanced digital monitoring, will increase productivity, improve consistency, and reduce customer lead times by around 25 percent. The facility will feature 100% laser-vision quality inspection, real-time process control, complete product traceability, and rapid diagnostic capabilities to ensure superior yield and reliability.

Sustainability measures form a core part of the upgrade. Optimized logistics and localized production are projected to cut annual carbon dioxide emissions by more than 300 metric tons once completed, equivalent to the carbon sequestration of over 5,000 tree seedlings grown for ten years. Additionally, Solstice will expand its metal reclamation program, recovering and reusing valuable materials from spent targets returned by customers, thereby reducing dependence on newly mined resources and advancing circular-economy principles in the semiconductor supply chain.

The Spokane Valley expansion positions Solstice to meet rising global requirements for critical electronic materials while reinforcing operational resilience and environmental performance in one of the industry’s fastest-growing segments.