Electronics

Central New Mexico’s electronics cluster is more diverse than most. Anchored by Intel, the cluster of about 50 companies includes many lab and university spin-offs and start-ups.

Activities include manufacture of computer chips, silicon wafers and electronic components and equipment; development and production of semiconductor measurement tools and training equipment; and electronics fabrication and assembly.

Intel, which began operations here with 50 employees in 1980, now has 5,000 employees, and the operation is the largest of its kind in the world.

Other major manufacturers include:

CTS Corp., which bought a former Motorola plant, and continues to make communications components.

SUMCO USA Corp. (formerly Sumitomo Sitix Silicon Inc.), which makes silicon wafers for customers in the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Xilinx Inc., which designs and develops logic chips and field programmable gate array chips.

Sennheiser Electronics GmbH, which makes wireless headphones and microphones.

GE Fanuc Embedded Systems, a joint venture between General Electric and a Japanese company, which acquired SBS Technologies and continues to make embedded computers.

 

What Electronics Companies Say

William Jenner, general manager of Sennheiser Electronics GmbH: “We’ve got a good crew here and very little turnover. I would absolutely recommend Albuquerque to other companies.”

Terry McDermott, government relations manager at Intel New Mexico: “Intel has found New Mexico to be a great place to do business. We’ve experienced a solid partnership with local government entities and local vendors and suppliers, and we’ve been able to tap into a good workforce-development pipeline.”

Wim Roelandts, president and CEO of Xilinx Inc.: "With its emerging presence in the technology sector and diverse community, Albuquerque is an ideal location for our employees to work and raise a family."

Workforce Training

Electronics training starts in high school with the Advanced Technology Academy at West Mesa High School, which provides a career path to Central New Mexico Community College(CNM) and UNM. CNM’s electronics and advanced manufacturing programs, developed with industry input, are well established and offer associate degrees and certificates. CNM worked with Intel to develop a program in semiconductor manufacturing that was so successful, Intel has replicated it across its operations.

The University of New Mexico School of Engineering has degree programs in manufacturing engineering, with a semiconductor and electronics track. See http://www-mep.unm.edu/ .

Electronics Assets

Sandia National Laboratories is a world leader in the technology required for development, fabrication, and production of microelectronic devices. Sandia's Electronics Quality/Reliability Center is available to commercial electronics manufacturers and is also used in education and training.

The University of New Mexico offers two unique resources for work in semiconductors and electronics: The Center for High Technology Materials has a national reputation for its work in optoelectronics and microelectronics. The Manufacturing Training and Technology Center trains both UNM and TVI students and provides space for startup companies to prototype devices.

Contacts

Technology Industries Association of New Mexico