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Fremont, Calif. — Oct. 29, 2015 — Soraa, the world leader in the development of advanced lighting products and gallium nitride on gallium nitride (GaN on GaN) LED technology, announced that it will open a new semiconductor fabrication plant in Syracuse, N.Y.
In partnership with the state of New York, the company will construct a new state-of-the-art GaN on GaN LED fabrication facility that will employ hundreds of workers. The new facility, being coordinated with the SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (SUNY Poly CNSE), is on pace for shell completion by the end of this year, with production beginning in the second half of 2016. Soraa currently operates an LED fabrication plant in Fremont, Calif., one of only a few in the United States.
"Central New York's economic growth is due in large part to high-tech companies like Soraa that recognize the region’s wealth of assets and resources," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. "Today's announcement not only means economic stability for the region, but it also strengthens Central New York as leader in the development of the clean technology that will help light and power the future."
Jeff Parker, CEO, Soraa, said, “Syracuse is an optimal location for the new fabrication facility for a number of reasons, including the innovative high-tech vision and strategy of Gov. Cuomo; the ability to attract some of the best and brightest scientists and engineers in the world; and the capacity to tightly control the product quality and intellectual property around our lighting products through our partnership with SUNY Poly CNSE.
"Since we launched our first product in 2012, global market reception for our high quality of light LED products has been phenomenal and sales have soared. The new facility will significantly increase our manufacturing capacity to meet this growing demand.”
Soraa announced in late 2013 that it would expand its manufacturing operations to the Riverbend Commerce Park in Buffalo, N.Y., sharing space with solar module manufacturer Silevo. However, following SolarCity's acquisition of Silevo, the Riverbend facilities could no longer accommodate both Soraa’s fabrication facility and the necessary square footage for SolarCity’s expanded operations. As a result, it was back to the drawing board.
“Following the change with the Riverbend space, we remained focused on finding an optimal solution that worked for the state, Soraa, and the talented workers that call upstate New York home,” Parker said. “We’re back on track with a great location and are targeting to employ at least 300 people to support a revenue stream of over $1 billion, once fully functional.”
For more information on Soraa’s GaN on GaN LED technology and products, visit www.soraa.com.
