NO SUPPLY CHAIN DIP FOR THESE CHIPS
A new $13 billion semiconductor packaging plant has been announced in the North Chungcheong Province of South Korea. By April 2026, South Korea-based chips manufacturer SK Hynix will break ground in the province’s capital city of Cheongju, marking one of the country’s largest semiconductor project investments to date. The company has said it will target advanced packaging for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, commonly used within artificial intelligence applications. Construction in Cheongju Techno Polis Industrial Park is expected to last until the end of 2027, with operations anticipated to launch by 2028. As global demand for HBM chips continues to rise — with projections expecting a 33% annual growth rate until 2030 — this new location was selected due to its ability to support future supply chain efficiency and operational stability.
Rendering courtesy of Arvato
NEW FACILITY SORTS OUT REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION NEEDS
Last month, supply chain services company Arvato, part of German publishing conglomerate Bertelsmann, broke ground on an over-430,000-sq.-ft. logistics center in Turkey’s Kocaeli Province. The initiative will introduce the company’s 11th location in the country, aiming to streamline delivery speed and efficiency across its warehousing operations. “While we are continuing to expand our operational capabilities in Turkey, the new site will significantly enhance Arvato’s storage and operational capacity for e-commerce and retail brands and open new potential for additional growth,” says Arvato Managing Director, Turkey and UAE Umur Özkal. Arvato’s new facility will feature advanced security protocols, extensive monitoring and access-control systems and specific climate-controlled zones throughout the facility to ensure products are safe and easily traceable. Construction of the new facility is expected to be complete by October 2026. Around 20,000 employees work at some 100 Arvato locations worldwide. An interview with Andreas Podwojewski, managing director of Arvato North America and Brazil, about the company’s expanding site in Louisville will appear in the forthcoming 2026 edition of the Kentucky Economic Development Guide from Conway Custom Content.
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TEXAS STARTUP ESTABLISHES NEW FLIGHT PATH
An Austin-based aerospace engineering startup is heading about 30 minutes northwest to the city of Bee Cave to officially plant its roots. CesiumAstro has announced a $500 million investment to establish a new manufacturing facility and its global headquarters in the region, creating 500 new jobs by 2031. The company produces connectivity solutions, like satellites, for the aerospace & defense and aviation industries. New manufacturing activity will be housed across a three-building campus in the city, offering 270,000 sq. ft. of production space. “Our expansion in Texas marks a transformative step for CesiumAstro as we advance cutting-edge space and defense technologies in the United States,” said CesiumAstro Founder and CEO Shey Sabripour. “Texas is at the forefront of the new space economy, combining vision, top-tier talent and powerful public-private partnerships. This is a project that could only be realized in Texas and will play a critical role in securing America’s future.”
Reports compiled and written by Alexis Elmore
