Edwards Vacuum breaks ground on $319 million facility in Genesee County

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The groundbreaking for Edward Vacuum’s new $319 million semiconductor dry pump manufacturing facility in Genesee County took place Tuesday afternoon with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and state and local officials in attendance.

Edwards Vacuum, a major Britain-based semiconductor supply chain manufacturer, chose the Western New York Science and Technology Advancement Manufacturing Park as the location for their new facility back in Nov. 2022.

The facility, which will be the first of its kind in the United States, spans 240,000 square feet and includes manufacturing, warehouse and administration facilities with the ability to produce 10,000 dry pumps every year.

Schumer said the new facility will create 600 new jobs, which includes local construction jobs.

“I urged Edwards Vacuum to expand in Western New York because I knew that it would be a win for Edwards Vacuum, a win for Western NY’s economy, and a win for America’s semiconductor supply chain, and today that is becoming a reality,” he said.

Tuesday’s groundbreaking was for the first $127 million phase of construction, which started in April. Operations are anticipated to begin in late 2025, Schumer said.

Kent Stobbart, the vice president of operations for Edward Vacuum’s semiconductor division, said the facility will be world-leading and more sustainable than any of its predecessors.

“I’m also proud that this facility will be entirely emission-free, fully electric, using no fossil fuels, and with most of our power coming from hydroelectric sources,” Stobbart said. “We estimate a saving of around 13,000 tons of CO2 a year.”

The new facility is also working with Monroe Community College, Erie Community College and the Northland Workforce Training Center to help hire and train hundreds of new workers, according to Schumer.

Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here .