ASML has started construction of a new industrial campus in the Netherlands that could eventually support 20,000 workplaces, expanding the semiconductor equipment maker’s manufacturing and operations footprint in the Brainport region.
The company marked the start of construction at Brainport Industries Campus North, or BIC North, in Eindhoven on September 8. The development will be built in phases and is planned to cover about 350,000 square meters when fully developed.
The first phase is expected to be completed in 2029 and will bring together at least 3,000 employees. Production, logistics and office functions will be located within the same industrial campus, primarily bringing teams over from existing ASML sites.
The expansion comes as demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment continues to grow. ASML says the new campus will give it additional space to expand production while keeping key operations connected within the Brainport region.
Factory floor gets smarter
One of the main features planned for BIC North is ASML’s new flow factory, a manufacturing model designed for its TWINSCAN lithography systems. Instead of treating production as a series of separate steps, the model is intended to create a smoother flow of materials, modules and work through the factory.
The approach is designed to increase the speed and scale of module production and installation while maintaining quality. ASML says the model draws on manufacturing practices already used in industries such as automotive and aerospace.
“The growing global demand from the semiconductor industry requires continuous investments,” said Christophe Fouquet, President and CEO of ASML. “As part of our global expansion plans, BIC North provides the space and flexibility we need to continue innovating and supporting our customers around the world.”
The new campus will complement ASML’s existing facilities rather than replace them. The company’s Brainport footprint will eventually consist of three campuses: its headquarters campus and industrial campus in Veldhoven, plus the new industrial campus in Eindhoven.
That gives ASML more room to separate and organize different types of work while keeping them within the same regional ecosystem.
20,000 jobs could fit
The full BIC North development could eventually accommodate up to 20,000 workplaces, although the final scale will depend on ASML’s future requirements.
The size of the project reflects the company’s position in the global semiconductor supply chain. ASML supplies the highly specialized hardware, software and services chip manufacturers use to produce integrated circuits. Its lithography systems are central to the production of increasingly advanced chips.
For ASML, however, expanding physical capacity is only part of the strategy. The company says BIC North is also intended to strengthen collaboration with governments, suppliers, research organizations and other regional partners.
The development is being supported through public-private partnerships focused on longer-term priorities including talent development, housing and equal opportunity in the Brainport region.
Fouquet said the milestone was made possible through collaboration with local, regional and national authorities, particularly the City of Eindhoven.
With construction now underway, the immediate milestone is the first phase, which is expected to be ready in 2029. The larger vision is a manufacturing campus that can scale alongside semiconductor demand while bringing production, logistics and supporting operations under one roof.
The BIC North project marks ASML’s second major industrial campus in the Brainport region.