FormFactor Chooses Farmers Branch Texas for Advanced Chip Testing Facility

FormFactor, a major supplier of test equipment for the semiconductor industry, has selected Farmers Branch, Texas as the site for a new advanced manufacturing facility, the company announced. The facility is part of an aggressive qualification and ramp plan that includes over $140 million of capital investment in 2026 and a stated commitment by the company to become an active employer in the community.

FormFactor is best known for producing microelectromechanical systems probes. The company has shipped billions of MEMS probes to date and maintains an installed base of more than 10,000 probe systems worldwide. Those tools are essential to chip manufacturing because they allow wafer level electrical testing that certifies semiconductor devices before they are separated and packaged. Locating production closer to major fabrication centers could reduce lead times for testing hardware and help customers streamline production cycles.

The choice of Farmers Branch places FormFactor in the Dallas Fort Worth metropolitan area, a region that has seen substantial semiconductor related investment in recent years. The new facility is expected to support the company as it seeks to qualify products for high volume manufacturing and to scale output to meet demand from chip fabs expanding in the United States and abroad. The announced capital spending in 2026 signals a rapid initial build out, though company officials have not released specific figures for headcount or the full timeline for hiring.

Industry analysts say investments in test and measurement equipment are a necessary complement to new fabrication capacity. Equipment such as probe systems and test handlers determines how quickly wafers can be validated during the production process, and shortages or long lead times for those tools have in the past constrained fab throughput. By increasing domestic capacity for critical test equipment, FormFactor’s facility could help reduce one of the chokepoints in chip supply chains.

The move also arrives against a backdrop of broader policy and market shifts aimed at boosting domestic semiconductor production. Federal incentives and private capital have encouraged both wafer fabrication and the supporting supply chain to expand in the United States. For communities, new technology manufacturing projects typically raise expectations about job creation and local economic activity, including demand for skilled technicians, engineers and supply chain specialists.

There are practical challenges ahead. Building advanced test equipment requires precise manufacturing, specialized materials and a trained workforce. Process qualification to the standards required by leading fab customers can be lengthy. FormFactor’s public outline of a qualification and ramp plan indicates the company anticipates those hurdles and intends to accelerate deployment.

Local officials and economic development organizations are likely to monitor the project for its impact on employment and supplier networks. For FormFactor, success will hinge on translating its installed base and product volume into reliable higher capacity production at the new site. The community and the industry will be watching as the 2026 investment moves from announcement to action and as the company begins to advertise positions and partnerships tied to the Farmers Branch facility.