i-TRANS Global s.r.o., the European entity of Taiwanese logistics group i-TRANS Express Co., Ltd., plans to establish a key logistics hub for supplying the European semiconductor industry with ultra-pure chemicals and specialty gases in northern Czechia. The facility is expected to primarily serve the Dresden-based Silicon Saxony cluster, one of Europe’s most important semiconductor manufacturing centers, and expand over time to support additional semiconductor hubs across Europe.
The facility, provisionally named Central Hub, is designed to serve as a European logistics and compliance hub for Taiwanese suppliers of ultra-pure chemicals and specialty gases used in semiconductor manufacturing. With a footprint of nearly 17,000 m2, it is set to become one of the largest specialized logistics operations of its kind in Central Europe. In terms of scale, safety standards and technological sophistication, the project will significantly exceed the scope of a conventional chemical warehouse. Central Hub is being developed as
a regional distribution and strategic supply security node for the semiconductor industry, combining warehousing, quality control, inventory management, distribution and regulatory representation for suppliers.
“Our goal is to bring part of Taiwan’s semiconductor chemical logistics expertise to Europe and establish a hub in the Czech Republic that strengthens supply security across the entire Central European region. Over time, we aim to build a European network of specialized semiconductor logistics hubs that will grow alongside Europe’s expanding semiconductor manufacturing capacity. The Czech Republic is our first step and it is a strategic one, because it combines proximity to Silicon Saxony, a strong industrial tradition and the regulatory advantages of operating within the European Union,” said Gary Chiu, who leads i-TRANS’s European expansion.
The facility will handle ultra-pure chemicals and specialty gases used in semiconductor manufacturing, including hydrofluoric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrogen peroxide and specialty process gases used in deposition and etching applications. These materials are a critical component of front-end semiconductor fabrication, the stage in which the actual chip structures are formed. They are used in wafer cleaning, photolithography, etching, chemical mechanical planarization and thin-film deposition processes. Even the slightest deviation in material purity or quality can halt an entire semiconductor production line.
The importance of this type of infrastructure has increased significantly following the events of 2020 to 2023, when the pandemic, geopolitical tensions and disruptions in maritime shipping exposed the vulnerability of European supply chains dependent on Asia. Central Hub is intended to establish a multi-month strategic inventory buffer for critical materials in Europe, accelerate deliveries to customers and simultaneously provide regulatory services in accordance with European REACH, CLP and ADR regulations.
“The project aligns with Europe’s broader effort to strengthen the semiconductor industry and reduce dependence on non-European supply chains. Through the EU Chips Act, the European Union is seeking to reinforce the resilience of the semiconductor ecosystem and increase Europe’s share of the global semiconductor market. However, investment in fabrication plants alone is not enough unless it is accompanied by a secure, certified and locally available flow of critical input materials. Central Hub represents the type of infrastructure that can connect Czech industry to Europe’s rapidly growing semiconductor ecosystem,” said René Samek, director of the Investment and Foreign Activities Division at CzechInvest.
The company expects the facility, during its initial ramp-up phase, to be capable of handling approximately 19,500 tons of chemicals and specialty gases annually across 38 product lines. The site is expected to maintain an on-site inventory buffer equivalent to roughly four months of supply, totaling approximately 6,500 tons.
The Ústí Region as a Gateway to Silicon Saxony
The project’s primary target market is the Silicon Saxony semiconductor cluster in the greater Dresden area. In addition to Saxony, Central Hub is expected to support Czech semiconductor operations, Austrian manufacturing facilities, Dutch customers and, as needed, more distant European semiconductor markets.
With the support of CzechInvest, the investor is currently searching for a suitable location in northern Czechia. Lease execution and site handover are expected by the end of 2027, while warehouse and logistics operations are scheduled to begin in early 2028 under the current timeline.
“For us, the Ústí Region represents a unique combination of proximity to Silicon Saxony, strong industrial heritage and access to multimodal transport infrastructure. We see significant potential here to build infrastructure capable of supporting the European semiconductor industry over the long term under an operating model comparable to what exists today in Asia,” said Gary Chiu of i-TRANS.
Central Hub is expected to create approximately 60 new jobs and generate opportunities for local ADR-certified transport operators specializing in last-mile deliveries to Saxony and other European destinations. In the project’s second phase, the i-TRANS Group is also considering deeper cooperation with Czech chemical manufacturers.
The company is further evaluating partnerships with vocational schools, universities and technical institutions to support workforce development in chemical logistics, analytical services and semiconductor supply chains. Potential academic partners may include Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem and the University of Chemistry and Technology Prague.
“For the Czech economy, it is important that participation in the semiconductor value chain is not limited to end-product manufacturing or traditional industrial supply activities. Significant opportunities also exist in materials, logistics, quality control, specialized services and regulatory expertise. Projects like this can further strengthen the Czech Republic’s role within the European semiconductor ecosystem,” said Adam Wrobel, Senior Project Manager of CzechInvest.
Contact for the media:
Zdeněk Vesecký
PR Manager, spokesman
zdenek.vesecky@czechinvest.gov.cz
+420 724 591 667