The company had closed the Merano facility in December of 2011 as part of the restructuring plan to improve overall cost competitiveness.
Though it had explored various steps for the past two years to improve the cost effectiveness of the facility, the company has failed to identify viable option to sustain the economic viability of the plant in the current market environment.
The move will affect around 200 employees at the Italian facility, as well as 35 workers at an associated electronic grade TCS (trichlorosilane) operation for the next 12 months that is likely to record around $37m of fixed asset impairments for 2013.
As part of the consolidation of semiconductor operations being implemented over the next 12 months, small diameter crystal activities at the Missouri facility will be transitioned to the company’s other facilities in Korea, Taiwan and Italy, affecting 100 employees.
SunEdison Semiconductor Materials executive vice president and president Shaker Sadasivam said the latest move is necessary to preserve the company’s strong competitive position and strengthen its future and assured of providing the necessary assistance to the affected employees.
"The decision to close the Merano polysilicon and TCS operations and to transition crystal operations is the result of our continuous efforts to improve the performance of our business through solutions that will keep these facilities economically strong," added Sadasivam.
