The facility will serve as a hub for Applied throughout Asia. The 32,000-square-meter facility, which is located in the Changi North Industrial Park, is expected to be completed in late 2009.

The center will be a base for global purchasing, sales, manufacturing and engineering. It will support the Asia region chip industry and the growing solar markets in India and China.

Applied has served customers from locations in Singapore for 17 years and currently has approximately 400 employees in the country.

''Sitting at a virtual crossroads between India and China, Singapore has proven to be a friendly and great place to do business with its strong transportation and logistics network, extensive supplier base and talented workforce,'' said Mike Splinter, president and CEO of Applied Materials (Santa Clara, Calif.), in a statement.