Applied Materials (AMAT) is opening its new Xi'an China Global Development and Technology Support Center to expand its reach into China's electronics sector.

"The Xi'an center is a major expansion of our capabilities and positions us strategically to benefit as growth continues throughout China, particularly in the west," said Mike Splinter, president and CEO of Applied Materials. "We are attracting quality employees from local technical universities, and this development and support center will be a cornerstone of our growth strategy throughout China and, indeed, all of Asia."

The 106,000 square foot facility on 25 acres offers state-of-the-art laboratory, tool demonstration and assembly space in its cleanrooms.

"We are proud to have a company with Applied Materials' reputation for business and technology leadership open such a versatile facility here in Xi'an," said Chen Baogen, Mayor of Xi'an. "We are confident that Xi'an will provide the infrastructure and base of employees needed to accomplish their growth plans and we offer our continued support as we move forward toward mutual prosperity."

In the 22 years since establishing itself as the first semiconductor equipment company in China, Applied Materials has opened seven offices located in Beijing, Kunshan, Shanghai, Suzhou, Tianjin, Wuxi and Xi'an and employs more than 500 people. The company provides sales and services for both domestic and international chip manufacturers at these locations. In Xi'an the company will perform product development, system localization, engineering and software support and sourcing throughout Asia-Pacific. The Center will also serve as a customer demonstration facility for 200mm wafer processing and Applied Materials' most advanced metrology and inspection products.

Applied Materials continues to concentrate its volume system manufacturing in Austin, Texas, and the majority of its product development in California's Silicon Valley.