US-based water and wastewater solutions company Gradiant has completed its scope of work for a major new semiconductor manufacturing facility in Dresden, Germany, saying the project supports one of Europe’s largest semiconductor manufacturing expansions and strengthens the region’s chip production capacity.
According to Gradiant, the new manufacturing facility represents an investment of approximately €5 billion and is one of Germany’s largest industrial projects.
Located in Silicon Saxony, Europe’s largest semiconductor cluster, the expansion is expected to double manufacturing capacity at the customer’s Dresden site and create around 1,000 highly skilled jobs.
In a media release, Gradiant said the project is supported by approximately €1 billion in public funding through initiatives including the European Chips Act and the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI), with the investment aimed at strengthening European semiconductor supply chains and improving resilience for industries that depend on advanced chips.
The facility is designed to produce power semiconductors and analog and mixed-signal technologies on 300-millimetre wafers. According to the company, these components are used in AI data centres, electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, power grids and industrial applications.
As part of the project, Gradiant supplied ultrapure water and water recovery systems designed to meet the stringent purity, reliability and process consistency requirements of semiconductor manufacturing.
The company said water is used extensively throughout wafer production and rinsing processes, where even trace contaminants can affect product quality and manufacturing yield.
Gradiant also said its rinse-water recovery systems enable water from selected production processes to be captured and reused for suitable applications within the facility, supporting more efficient resource use.
According to the company, the plant uses industrial water rather than drinking water for manufacturing operations and has a target of recycling up to 45 per cent of its production water by 2033 through internal water reuse processes.
The company said it completed its project scope three months ahead of schedule, attributing the outcome to close coordination with the customer and project partners, as well as its experience delivering infrastructure for advanced semiconductor manufacturing.
“Semiconductors are the foundation of the AI economy, but their potential is ultimately constrained by the availability of water,” said Prakash Govindan, chief executive officer of Gradiant.
“Gradiant has spent more than a decade building the technologies and operating expertise required to make water certain for the world’s most advanced industries. This project demonstrates how we help manufacturers scale with confidence by delivering the purity, reliability, and water efficiency required for the next era of technology.”
Philipp Sausele, managing director of Gradiant Europe, said the project reinforces Europe’s semiconductor manufacturing ambitions.
“We are proud to support a project that strengthens Europe’s semiconductor manufacturing capabilities and enables a more digital and energy-efficient future,” Sausele said.
“Completing our work ahead of schedule demonstrates the technical expertise of our teams and the strength of our collaboration with the customer and project partners.”
According to Gradiant, the project further strengthens its position as a supplier of water and wastewater infrastructure for the global semiconductor industry, supporting new manufacturing facilities, plant expansions and operational improvements focused on water efficiency, production resilience and environmental performance.
