A former Panasonic silicon ingot manufacturing plant in Salem, Oregon, has been sold, and its contents will be available in a public auction on May 9, 2018.
Sanyo Solar, a subsidiary of Panasonic, first opened the factory in 2009 to make wafers and silicon ingots for solar cells. When Panasonic’s central Japan solar cell and module facility announced it would stop production this year, there was no longer a need for wafers being made in Oregon. Local newspapers reported almost 100 people lost their jobs.
Auction and acquisition company Reich Brothers announced the acquisition of the 129,850-sq ft production and warehouse facility last month. The building will be re-purposed for light manufacturing or distribution, in an effort to generate jobs and stimulate the local economy.
“We are committed to preserving the integrity and infrastructure of the site, and will invest heavily in certain improvements to make the building suitable for another tenant,” said Alex Reich, co-director of business development and acquisitions at Reich Brothers. “We know that several jobs were lost when this facility closed, and we look forward to hopefully bringing in a new business that can utilize the facility for its utmost potential.”
Reich Brothers will sell the entire contents of the Oregon facility via public auction on May 9, 2018. The auction can be viewed at www.gaauction.com and www.reichbros.com. The auction will feature roughly 70 crystal growers and other production equipment related to silicon ingot manufacturing. Reich Brothers is open to entertaining a turnkey offer of the machinery equipment and real estate before the May 9th auction sale.
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