Gradiant Supports Major Semiconductor Production Expansion in Dresden
Gradiant, a global leader in advanced water and wastewater treatment solutions, has announced the successful completion of its scope for a major new semiconductor production facility in Dresden. The project is one of the most significant industrial investments in Germany, valued at approximately €5 billion, and is a key expansion within Silicon Saxony, Europe’s leading semiconductor cluster. It is expected to double the customer’s local production capacity and create around 1,000 highly skilled jobs.
The initiative is supported by roughly €1 billion in public funding through programmes such as the European Chips Act and the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI). The investment aims to strengthen the European semiconductor supply chain and increase the resilience of industries dependent on advanced chips. Designed to produce semiconductors on 300-millimetre wafers, the Dresden facility will manufacture power semiconductors and analogue/mixed-signal technologies, which are critical for AI data centres, electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, power grids, and various industrial applications.
Gradiant supplied the ultrapure water and water recovery systems essential for the facility’s advanced semiconductor fabrication processes. Water is used throughout wafer production and rinsing, where even trace contaminants can impact product quality and yield. Gradiant’s systems ensure the stable, reliable water supply required for these highly sensitive processes. The rinse water recovery system allows water from certain production steps to be captured and reused within the facility, supporting more efficient resource utilisation and enhancing operational resilience. The site uses industrial water rather than drinking water for its operations, conserving valuable potable water resources, and internal recycling processes aim to achieve a water recycling rate of up to 45% by 2033.
Gradiant completed its project scope three months ahead of schedule, reflecting close coordination between Gradiant, the customer, and the overall project team, as well as the company’s capability to execute complex infrastructure projects under the semiconductor industry’s stringent quality, safety, and timeline requirements. Prakash Govindan, CEO of Gradiant, stated that semiconductors are the foundation of the AI economy but are ultimately limited by water availability, and that Gradiant’s technologies ensure the purity, reliability, and efficiency needed for the next era of technology. Philipp Sausele, Managing Director of Gradiant Europe, expressed pride in supporting a project that strengthens Europe’s semiconductor production capabilities and enables a more digital and energy-efficient future.