BEAVERTON, OR — Merix Corp. plans to invest $15 million to expand the capacity and capabilities of its PCB factory in Huiyang, China.

The expansion will take place in two phases over the next 18 months.

The first phase will involve adding $2 million worth of equipment to the Huiyang facility. The second phase will involve constructing a larger building and adding additional equipment, at a total cost of about $13 million. The improvements will bring the plant's layer count capability to the low 20s, with an average layer count of 12 to 14 layers, the company said.

In a statement, president and CEO Michael D. Burger said, "This layer count capability is significantly higher than our current offering in Asia, as well as most of our competitors in the region."