Sumika Increases Production Capacity at Its Compound Semiconductor Wafer
Foundry in the U.S.
Growing Customer Demand and Projected Market Growth Lead Foundry to Add to its
Installed Manufacturing Base
PHOENIX, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- To address growing market demand for its
compound semiconductor epitaxial deposition services, used primarily in making
high-frequency ICs for wireless communication applications, Sumika Electronic
Materials is installing an additional Aixtron 2600 G3 epi reactor to its
foundry operation in Phoenix.
"Our capacity expansion is in response to the steadily increasing demand we're
seeing for our GaAs (gallium arsenide) epi wafer services from producers of
HBT (heterojunction bipolar transistors) devices and other microelectronics
requiring compound semiconductor materials," said Ken Campman, general manager
of Sumika Electronic Materials' epi operations. "These customers are ramping
up their orders for epi wafers that meet their needs for repeatability and
stability, especially in terms of gain performance - a key requirement in
processing advanced HBT devices."
Market research firm Strategy Analytics estimates the worldwide
semi-insulating GaAs epitaxial substrate market, merchant and captive, to be
21.1 million square inches in 2009, growing to 26.6 million square inches in
2013 for a projected CAGR of 6 percent.
The Aixtron tool can be easily integrated into Sumika's existing installed
base, which includes several other 2600 G3 systems as well as other epi
reactors from multiple equipment suppliers.
Sumika's 150 mm epi foundry in Phoenix has been in operation since the
company's formation in 2003. In addition to serving the market for compound
semiconductor ICs, the foundry also provides III-V epi services for customers
making discrete semiconductor components, pHEMTs (pseudomorphic high
electron-mobility transistors), LEDs (light-emitting diodes), and solar cells
for CPV (concentrated photovoltaic) systems.
About Sumika Electronic Materials
Founded in 2003, Sumika Electronic Materials, Inc. is a wholly owned U.S.
subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. At its headquarters in Phoenix,
Sumika operates a compound semiconductor epi foundry that complements Sumitomo
Chemical's facility in Japan. Sumika also handles distribution and customer
service for Sumitomo Chemical's photoresists and super engineering polymers in
the U.S. market.
SOURCE Sumika Electronic Materials, Inc.
Company: Ken Campman, General Manager of Epi Operations, +1-602-659-2529,
kcampman@sumikamaterials.com; or PR: Bruce Hokanson, +1-360-258-1260,
brucehokanson@comcast.net
