VICHY — Many Brewer Science employees, executives and community members gathered on Aug. 15 in the company’s Vichy manufacturing center for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the building’s recently completed 11,500-square-foot expansion.

Brewer Science Director of Government Programs Doyle Edwards began by welcoming everyone and introducing the corporate leadership team. He also shared statistics about the construction of the expansion. About 43,000 pounds of construction waste was used for energy instead of a landfill. The project diverted another 3,000 pounds of scrap metal from landfills and instead recycled it.

“One of the great honors that we have at Brewer Science is not only creating and making products but also being stewards of our community,” Edwards said.

The next speaker was Brewer Science Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Sri Kommu. He began by saying that the project is the largest facility expansion since the manufacturing center opened in 2014.

“We are making this timely, strategic investment to increase manufacturing capacity as the industry grows,” Kommu said.

Kommu said that the growth of the semiconductor industry is at a rate of between eight and 10 percent, which would put it on pace to pass $1 trillion in the next decade. He cited the increasing number of uses for semiconductors including in rapidly changing areas of technology such as artificial intelligence, electric vehicles and augmented and virtual reality.

“We, Brewer Science, are positioning ourselves to support this exponential growth,” Kommu said.

He added that the industry is cyclical. This year is a trough with the economy expanding as the recession ends, but he said the future is bright at Brewer Science.

Some of Brewer Science’s customers have announced expansions to manufacturing in the Midwest. Kommu said Vichy is an excellent location to support those expansions because the Rolla National Airport is right next to Brewer Science’s manufacturing center.

“It is so convenient to ship to both the coasts, as well as to the Midwest locations that are going to come soon,” he said.

The newly completed warehouse area of the facility is fully furnished and ready for use. Kommu said Brewer Science will reconfigure the warehouse space that already existed to improve workflow.

Kommu concluded by pointing out Brewer Science’s track record in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. In June, Intel announced Brewer Science as one of 22 recipients of its Excellence, Partnership, Inclusion and Continuous (EPIC) Distinguished Supplier Award, which is chosen from among thousands of Intel suppliers.

“With this manufacturing center expansion, our journey of excellence continues,” he said.

After Kommu spoke, Executive Vice President and Corporate Resources Officer Dan Brewer addressed the crowd.

Brewer discussed reinvention and how it relates to both Brewer Science and the airport.

“The Rolla Airport site has a very interesting history that you all may not necessarily be aware of,” he said. “It represents great success through reinvention over the years.”

Brewer began at the airport’s inception when the United States Army built it during World War II before vacating it shortly after the war. He said the first reinvention of the airport occurred in the late 1950s when ownership of the airport went to the city of Rolla. The area became a flight school.

The next reinvention occurred in the mid-1970s when FedEx began flying shipments at the airport, which still occurs. Brewer also listed the Ozark Extravaganza, a festival held annually at the airport from 1981 to 2001, as a reinvention of the space.

The final reinvention Brewer listed was the opening of Brewer Science’s manufacturing center at the site. He said that to adapt to changes throughout the world, the company has to reinvent itself to maintain relevance.

“It’s an exciting time for us,” Brewer concluded. “We’ve expanded the building. We’re continuing to reinvent and grow ourselves.”

At the end of the ceremony, the executives gathered around a ribbon, and Executive Chairman Terry Brewer wielded giant scissors to cut it.

Representatives from the offices of U.S. Representatives Blaine Luetkemeyer and Jason Smith attended the ribbon-cutting. State Representatives Don Mayhew and Bennie Cook also attended.

“This expansion is great for the entire area, really the entire state,” Cook said after the event.

Cook added that he wants to make an expansion to four lanes on Highway 63 a priority to help expand businesses in the area.