New research building with a capacity for 600 R&D workplaces completed for the 50th anniversary.

Business & Financial Press

Oct 07, 2020

50 years ago the production of electronic components in Villach started. In its anniversary year, Infineon Austria is not only looking back into the past, but above all into the future: the new research building with a capacity for around 600 workplaces in research and development has been completed.

 

50 years of the Villach site - 50 years of Infineon in Austria
On October 1, 1970, Siemens started the production of electronic components with 24 employees in a rented building in Villach. Glass and plastic diodes for the then new color televisions and other consumer electronics were manufactured by hand. The company moved to its current location in Siemensstraße in 1972. In 1999 the Siemens semiconductor division became Infineon Technologies AG. Diode assembly developed from an extended workbench to one of the most modern semiconductor locations in Europe and the strongest research company in Austria.

 

Sabine Herlitschka, CEO of Infineon Austria: "Microchips developed and produced in Austria have now conquered the world market. Even at the start of the anniversary year we have a clear view of the future. I am therefore very pleased that we have been able to create new space for research and development even now. In addition to the construction of our chip factory, this is a major boost for Infineon and for Austria and Europe as a technology location. We are creating space for high-tech jobs and offering attractive opportunities for skilled workers even in times of high unemployment”. Due to the Corona pandemic, the anniversary will not be celebrated with a jubilee party, but with various internal and external activities in the coming months.

 

New research building completed
Preparations for the construction of the building began in December 2018. Since the beginning of September 2020, the employees have been moving into their new offices as well as the laboratory and measurement engineering areas. A total of around 600 workplaces for research and development and around 3,800 m² of state-of-the-art laboratory and measurement engineering space are available on 21,000 m² and six floors. The researchers there are mainly working on future solutions for the automotive sector, such as electromobility, and for various industrial applications.

 

The three bridges that connect the new building over Siemensstraße with the existing building stock are striking. Also integrated is a new, ultra-modern canteen and kitchen area, which extends the existing canteen. In the final stage, the restaurant will have 900 seats and serve about 3,000 people per meal. The new canteen area is also a real eye-catcher: some of the employees are already sitting on one of the three bridges directly over Siemensstraße while eating.

 

Energy efficiency & digital twin
It is above all the architecture of the building that makes it so special. Oliver Heinrich, CFO of Infineon Austria: "With over 70 meeting rooms of all sizes, great attention was paid to meeting zones and opportunities for innovation exchange. The planning focused on a contemporary office concept, an ideal indoor climate and high energy efficiency. Due to high technical building standards with a comprehensive ventilation system, cooling ceilings and selective external shading, the building has the energy consumption of a low-energy building." The supply energy is provided by heat recovery from the cooling energy for the factory and from a highly efficient refrigeration plant. The building is also an application example in what is currently the largest European research project on digitization and industry 4.0, "Arrowhead Tools". A "digital twin" provides data in real time and will continuously optimize the building technology.

 

Everything under one roof: reliability, measurement engineering and development
The measurement engineering and laboratory spaces currently divided between several buildings will now be concentrated in the new research building. On the one hand, test processes for products that are currently under development will take place there. On the other hand, reliability and feasibility tests as well as product and technology qualifications for existing products are carried out there. They provide important information on product life and optimization. Among other things, the components are tested there for their marketability.

 

The consolidation of these activities in one location brings major efficiency gains through equipment synergies, shorter distances and a massive reduction in logistics expenses. In addition, the new premises are located next door to the development areas for automotive and industrial applications, which are the main "customers" of the laboratories and measurement engineering. A total of around 260 large systems and 600 smaller measuring devices are currently being moved to this area.

 

The entire building will be occupied by the end of the year. The renovations currently underway in the existing canteen will be completed by early 2021.

About Infineon Austria

Infineon Technologies Austria AG is a group subsidiary of Infineon Technologies AG, a world-leading provider of semiconductor solutions that make life easier, safer and greener. Microelectronics from Infineon reduce the energy consumption of consumer electronics, domestic appliances and industrial facilities. They make a major contribution to the convenience, security and sustainability of vehicles, and enable secure transactions in the Internet of Things.

Besides Germany, Infineon Austria is the only subsidiary within the group that pools competencies for research and development, production as well as global business responsibility. The head office is in Villach, with further branches in Graz, Klagenfurt, Linz and Vienna. With 4,609 employees from around 68 countries (including 1,977 in research and development), in the financial year 2019 (ending in September) the company achieved a turnover of € 3.1 billion. An R&D expense rate of €525 million makes Infineon Austria the strongest industrial research company in Austria.

Press photos

Research and development building Villach

Research and development building Villach

New R&D building at the Infineon Villach site

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Research and development building Villach

Research and development building Villach

New R&D building at the Infineon Villach site

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Alexandra Wachschuetz

Spokesperson R&D Communication

+43 5 1777 18169

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