Rogers Opens New Circuit Materials Production Facility in China: ACMD Suzhou

The grand opening of ACMD Suzhou was held on April 13th and was attended by over one-hundred people, including representatives from customer companies that will use product made in the new facility, Suzhou Innovation Park officials, and Rogers employees from around the World. Michael D. Bessette, Senior Vice-President for Rogers ACMD commented: “I am pleased to see we have with us today our highly valued and greatly appreciated customers. It is for our customers in China and throughout Asia that we have made a $20 million investment in this factory, and another sizable investment in our people here in Suzhou and across Asia. These investments position us well to better serve our customers’ needs.”

The new facility, which includes manufacturing, engineering, quality control and customer service functions, boosts Rogers’ worldwide production capability for its popular RO4000 high-frequency circuit laminates. The materials are widely used as the printed circuit boards (PCBs) for power amplifiers in third-generation (3G) and fourth-generation (4G) cellular wireless communications systems. The facility houses state-of-the art material and electrical analysis capabilities in support of technical service, market development, and sales organizations throughout Asia.

Rogers Corporation first expanded into China in 2002 with a manufacturing facility for its ENDUR division. Between 2004 and 2010, Rogers added another four factories within the industrial park site, opening its sixth facility in April 2011—ACMD Suzhou—as the industrial park itself is making its transition to a science and technology focused innovation park.

At the grand opening event, Mr. Bessette explained that it is the quality of products such as the RO4000 laminates, and in finding new solutions for their customers, that accounts for Rogers ACMD’s steady growth. “Our success in developing innovative new products for growth markets is the primary reason why the Advanced Circuit Materials Division has grown by about a 12% compounded annual growth rate over the past ten years.” He also added: “Our business will only grow if our customers are satisfied. It is our intention with this major investment in the Suzhou Innovation Park to improve our customer satisfaction through product availability in higher volume, shorter lead time, and faster response to surges in demand.”

Michael Sehnert, Vice-President of Global Operations and Technology for Rogers ACMD remarked that Rogers creates products that support markets serving three megatrends: the Internet, mass transit, and clean technology and that China’s growing industries have a similar focus. Despite changing its products, manufacturing locations, and the markets it serves, as circumstances warrant, Mr. Sehnert noted that Rogers has always maintained “a strong relationship with our customers, our employees, and our communities.”