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Hundreds of new jobs, more than $140 million in investment and a growing role in the nation's semiconductor industry are coming to Farmers Branch with the opening of FormFactor's advanced manufacturing facility.
The company celebrated the opening of its facility at 4350 Innovation Dr. last week, marking a major economic development victory for Farmers Branch and the surrounding Metrocrest area.
The celebration drew FormFactor's board of directors, customers, suppliers, vendors and industry representatives, including visitors from Singapore, highlighting the facility's role in the global semiconductor industry.
FormFactor expects to hire approximately 600 employees in the next two years as it expands production of specialized technology used to test the semiconductors powering artificial intelligence, data centers and other advanced electronics.
"This is one of the most significant economic development achievements in our city's history," Mayor Terry Lynne said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The facility will manufacture advanced probe cards, specialized technology used in semiconductor testing. These products support the growing demand for high-performance computing, artificial intelligence and advanced semiconductor packaging.
FormFactor CEO Mike Slessor said the Farmers Branch facility is central to the company's plans to double its size by 2030, reaching $1.6 billion in annual revenue.
The company began evaluating potential locations about 18 months ago after determining that its existing facilities would not be able to accommodate anticipated growth.
FormFactor considered sites around the world before selecting Farmers Branch.
Slessor said the existing building offered two important advantages: It was already well suited for semiconductor manufacturing, and the company could bring it into production much faster than a newly constructed facility.
The building includes cleanroom space and infrastructure needed for the company's specialized manufacturing processes.
The property also presented challenges. Its previous owners were experiencing financial difficulties and eventually entered bankruptcy. Another potential buyer was interested in the site, requiring FormFactor to move quickly, Slessor said.
For a company accustomed to carefully evaluating major decisions, the purchase represented an unusually large commitment. Slessor described the project as a significant financial risk, noting that early scenarios involved potentially spending the company's entire available cash reserves.
Since then, growing demand for FormFactor's products has strengthened the company's financial position and helped fund the expansion.
The company began producing probe cards at the Farmers Branch facility during the fourth quarter.
"This facility comes online really just in time," Slessor said.
Farmers Branch competed against five other locations, including a site in Germany, to secure the investment.
Lynne said FormFactor's decision demonstrates the city's growing appeal to high-tech manufacturers.
"This project validates Farmers Branch as a high-tech destination," Lynne said.
The investment is expected to strengthen the city's economic base, create skilled employment opportunities and attract additional businesses connected to semiconductor manufacturing.
The project also received support from the state of Texas.
Larry McManus, director of business development in Gov. Greg Abbott's economic development office, said FormFactor received approximately $24 million through the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund.
McManus emphasized the cooperation required among state, county and local governments to attract major employers.
"The city, the county and the state all had to work together," McManus said.
He also presented an official recognition from Abbott celebrating the opening and the company's contribution to Texas' semiconductor industry.
The governor's recognition described the facility as a leading-edge hub for probe card technology that will support domestic semiconductor manufacturing.
At full build-out, the facility is expected to include advanced cleanroom space for fabrication, assembly and testing.
For District 4 Councilmember Elizabeth Villafranca, the project represents more than a major business investment.
The facility occupies a site that had remained largely inactive for years.
"For years, this site sat quiet," Villafranca said.
She emphasized the importance of the company's decision to invest in the surrounding neighborhood.
"FormFactor did not just choose Farmers Branch," Villafranca said. "They chose this neighborhood, this community."
The project is expected to create opportunities for residents and contribute to the continued redevelopment of the area.
Missy Figueroa, senior vice president of global operators for FormFactor, credited employees throughout the company for transforming the facility from a plan into an operating manufacturing center in just over a year.
She said the project required thousands of decisions and coordination among teams responsible for moving equipment, preparing manufacturing processes and bringing the building into operation.
"A facility may take shape through concrete, steel, tools and technology, but it comes to life through its people," Figueroa said.
She described the opening as both a milestone and the beginning of the company's next phase of growth.
"The real impact of Farmers Branch will be measured by what happens next," Figueroa said.
Slessor said the facility provides the manufacturing capacity needed to support the company's ambitious growth plans, with room for additional expansion beyond its current targets.
The ceremony also marked a permanent change to the surrounding area.
The street serving the facility is being renamed FormFactor Way, creating an intersection with Belt Line Parkway.
For company leaders, the opening represents an investment in future manufacturing capacity. For Farmers Branch, it brings new jobs, additional economic activity and a place in the rapidly expanding semiconductor industry.
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