SAFC Hitech increases LED precursor manufacturing
Opens multi-million dollar 270,000ft2 facility in Kaohsiung, Taiwan
SAFC Hitech, a division of Sigma-Aldrich Group, has underlined its commitment to the Asia-Pacific electronics markets with the opening of a multi-million dollar facility in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
The 270,000ft2 expansion significantly increases the site's capacity for manufacturing of Trimethylgallium (TMG), Triethylgallium (TEG) and Trimethylindium (TMI) precursors for High Brightness LED (HBLED) applications.
The plant will also produce Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and Chemical VaporDeposition (CVD) precursors for the silicon semiconductor market and offer regional transfilling capability and technical service and support.
Philip Rose, SAFC Hitech president, said one of the firm’s key objectives is to continue to provide leading materials technology solutions to drive functional performance in end use devices in high-growth markets.
Following the production expansion for TMG at the firm’s Bromborough, UK manufacturing site in March 2010, the investment in Taiwan will continue to strengthen SAFC Hitech’s position as a leading global supplier of precursors for the HBLED market.
‘This market is tailored to address the increased focus on improving efficiency and reducing energy costs through design and technology advances, which is driving the electronics sector to introduce more energy-conscious products and systems,’ said Rose.
Geoff Irvine, SAFC Hitech’s vp of marketing and business development, added: “Due to the rise in demand for LEDs, and in particular HBLEDs, we are increasingly engaged in customer collaboration activities throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
“With 30 years’ experience in supplying precursors, our focus is on developing local infrastructure and manufacturing capacity to offer customers a broad product range and novel delivery systems. Our proprietary delivery systems like bubblers/ampoules and EpiFill, EpiVapor and EpiSensor are allied to strong application development and vertical integrated manufacturing.”
In addition to the enhanced manufacturing capacity, SAFC Hitech’s Kaohsiung site can handle and characterise highly specialised laboratory scale chemicals and features a dedicated customer support centre.
It also provides integrated inert atmosphere transfilling stations, analytical instrumentation for the detection of ultra-low metallic and oxygen containing contaminants and dedicated cylinder preparation and packaging areas.