Parts of Phenom and FEI to Innovation Powerhouse at Strijp T in Eindhoven

Parts of Phenom and FEI to Innovation Powerhouse at Strijp T in Eindhoven

EINDHOVEN - The former energy plant of Philips at Strijp T, now known as the Innovation Powerhouse, will have a new user with Thermo Fisher Scientific. This manufacturer of electron microscopes, formerly known as FEI and Phenom, will move with 150 employees to this space during the course of this year, fully occupying it at once.

Harrie Verrijt

It concerns a part of the Phenom team and a small part of the former FEI Eindhoven team. Both companies have been part of the large American Thermo Fisher Scientific for two years. The product marketing department of this company is moving from the headquarters on Achtseweg to the space in the Innovation Powerhouse. From the approximately sixty-person Phenom team, currently housed in the NTS Group building on the De Hurk industrial estate, the part involved in research and development is moving to this space. The rest of the Phenom team will work in the cleanrooms near the headquarters.

Lack of space
According to Thermo Fisher's Netherlands director Hein Gijsbers, the relocation is necessary due to lack of space. "We are currently growing so fast that we also need to expand at the Achtseweg. We have already relocated the service department to another former Philips building. By moving the product marketing to Strijp T, we free up space in our headquarters to accommodate further growth. Additionally, we believe that department fits well there. It is the place where innovation happens and where we want to be present."

Phenom, which develops and manufactures tabletop electron microscopes, has emerged from regional companies including Sioux and NTS. At the latter company, the production of these devices is outsourced and will remain so, says Gijsbers. "The department working in the pilot plant of that division, where prototypes of new models are made, will work in the cleanroom in Acht. More than half of the sixty people work in research and development, and they will do that at Strijp T."

Fully booked
With Thermo Fisher on board, the Innovation Powerhouse is completely fully booked according to a spokesperson. The presence of the manufacturer of electron microscopes is about the same size as that of VanBerlo, where also about 150 people work. In addition, the facility includes users such as Amber, Van de Laar, Eaxt, and Log10.

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