Win Semiconductors to Venture into Solar Cell Market with New Aixtron Reactor
CompoundSemi News StaffJuly 11, 2007...Aixtron reports that Win Semiconductors Corporation of Taiwan, a developer
and manufacturer of microwave integrated circuits, will delve into the solar
cell manufacturing with the purchase of an Aixtron reactor. Aixtron says that
Win’s new AIX 2600G3 IC epitaxy reactor will be used to produce triple
junction solar cells on germanium wafers for terrestrial solar cells.
A spokesperson of Win Semiconductors, commented, “Our decision for
the Aixtron equipment was confirmed by the fact that the major players in the
solar cell epitaxy market in Europe are successfully using the Aixtron MOCVD
systems. We are convinced of this track record of Aixtron tools in solar cell
manufacture in Europe and are confident that the new system will clear the way
for our success in the solar cell market.” Aixtron
News Release
Strategy Analytics: GaN Laser Diode Market Will Double from 2006 Through 2011
CompoundSemi News StaffJuly 11, 2007...Strategy Analytics predicts that the market for gallium nitride (GaN) laser
diodes will basically double in size from 2006 through 2011. SA expects total
growth in the GaN laser diode market sector will be 103 percent over the period.
SA says that the driving force behind the growth will primarily come from consumer-based
optical data storage market including GaN laser diodes used in gaming, PCs,
and home theaters. By 2011, SA says that there will be a significant increase
in demand for Blu-ray and HD-DVD players. Unlike the gaming consoles which use
low power GaN laser diode, Blu-ray and HD-DVD applications require higher-power
laser diodes.
Asif Anwar, Director of the GaAs service noted that despite early setbacks
in manufacturing yields and lack of competition, “Continuing advances
in substrates and growth technology removed many of the IP issues, so this is
allowing traditionally strong manufacturers of consumer laser diodes to enter
the market in order to drive volume and lower costs.”
“The “format war” between Blu-ray and HD-DVD in the home
is still there to be won. It will be dictated by the price of players/recorders
and the choice of available titles,” notes Stephen Entwistle, VP
of the Strategy Analytics Strategic Technologies Practice. “Since
both formats essentially use the same technology, the GaN laser diode manufacturers
will be the winners regardless of which technology loses the format war.”
Company
News Release Anadigics Breaks Ground on GaAs Wafer Fab in China
CompoundSemi News StaffJuly 11, 2007...Anadigics broke ground for its new GaAs wafer fabrication facility in Kunshan
‘s New and Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone (KSND). Party secretary
of Kunshan Mr. Guohua Zhang, mayor of Kunshan Mr. Aiguo Guan and vice mayor
Feng-Quan Zhu, and several government officials were in attendance at the ceremony
that was part of a city-wide celebration in the city of Kunshan in the Jiangsu
Province in China. Anadigics’ President and CEO, Dr. Bami Bastani, Executive
Vice President and CTO, Dr. Charles Huang, Vice President of Worldwide Human
Resources John Warren, and other members of Anadigics’ workforce were
also on-hand at the ground breaking ceremony.
Andigics anticipates growth in the wireless and wireline markets beyond the
capacity of the company’s primary wafer fabrication in Warren, New Jersey
USA. The company and KSND plan to complete construction of the new facility
in the first half of 2008, and they hope to begin operation at the plant in
the second half of the year.
Vice Mayor Feng-Quan Zhu of Kunshan said, “The addition of the Commercial
six-inch GaAs wafer fab to the development zone not only shows our ever growing
interest of the semiconductor industry but marks a historical first for the
city of Kunshan and the country of China.” Company
News Release Ascent Solar Gets $20 Million from Warrant Conversion; Plans 1.5 MW Pilot Production Start by Year's End
CompoundSemi News StaffJuly 9, 2007...Ascent Solar, a developer of thin-film CIGS photovoltaic modules, reported
that it received $20 million as a result of the conversion of Class A public
warrants. The company also said it has achieved “significant pre-manufacturing
milestones.” “The additional capital received as a result of
the Class A public warrant conversion and our partnership with Norsk Hydro have
enabled us to achieve significant milestones ahead of plan. We are currently
conducting pre-manufacturing testing on our roll-to-roll rapid prototyping tools
in order to baseline the PV manufacturing processes. This is in preparation
for the commencement of manufacturing operations on the 1.5 megawatt (MW) pilot
production plant scheduled for completion by year end,” Ascent Solar
President and CEO Matthew Foster stated. “The additional capital received
will support construction of the first of four 25 MW scale production lines,
the first of which is planned for completion in 2009. Our pathway to the market
with large volume production has been greatly enhanced and will be strengthened
further once we complete qualification of our pilot production plant.”
“By processing approximately one hundred feet each week in our roll-to-roll
rapid prototyping tools, we have systematically proven out the entire end-to-end
manufacturing deposition process. We believe that we can achieve repeatable
and controllable processes that yield excellent uniformity,” Dr.
Prem Nath, Senior VP of Manufacturing, said. “We now intend to focus
on deposition process optimization and the remaining module patterning and encapsulation
areas as we prepare for the staged delivery of our pilot plant production tools
beginning in September 2007.” Company
News Release Global Solar Energy's Thin Foldable CIGS Solar Panels Achieve Military Certification
CompoundSemi News StaffJuly 9, 2007...Global Solar Energy of Tucson, Arizona USA, a maker of thin-film copper indium
gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar cells, received MIL STD-810E certification from
the US military. MIL STD-810E certification requires continued operation after
being under water, under vibration, after being stored at extreme high or extreme
low temperatures, during a fast temperature change, at high altitude, after
being dropped, and while exposed to sand and dust.
“We anticipated that our P3 products would pass the tests; Global
Solar Energy has been manufacturing quality solar products for several years,
now we have the certification to confirm it," said Michael Gering,
President of Global Solar. “To my knowledge no other flexible solar
product has this military certification," added Mr. Gering. Company
News Release Norstel and ETRI/AIST to Collaborate on SiC Growth Methods
CompoundSemi News StaffJuly 9, 2007...Norstel AB of Norrköping, Sweden, and the Energy Technology Research Institute
(ETRI), part of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
(AIST) of Tsukuba, Japan, have signed a collaboration agreement for the development
of silicon carbide (SiC) material manufacturing methods for semiconductor applications.
In work that began in 1995, Norstel has developed High Temperature Chemical
Vapor Deposition (HTCVD), its own method for growing SiC single crystal ingots.
Norstel indicated that it is currently ramping production at its new facility
in Sweden. The HTCVD method, which is under the supervision of Dr. Alexandre
Ellison, utilizes controlled purity gases in the growth process and it has produced
very high purity wafers for advanced semiconductor processing.
AIST has developed SiC growth techniques based on the sublimation method (where
silicon carbide is transported from a solid source to a seed crystal) under
the supervision of Dr. Shin-ichi Nishizawa during the past 7 years. AIST achieved
impressive results on material quality of up to 4” diameter. In April
2007, Dr. Nishizawa joined ETRI of AIST. Norstel said that the primary purpose
of the collaboration will be to optimize SiC crystal growth quality and manufacturability.
Norstel
News Release Strategy Analytics Says CS Companies Need to be Flexible to Succeed
CompoundSemi News StaffJuly 9, 2007...Strategy Analytics (SA) released its regular overview of the compound semiconductor
industry news including microelectronics and optoelectronics materials and equipment
makers. SA’s latest report explains that much of the industry is concerned
with methods and strategies for manufacturing compound semiconductor products.
SA’s explains that in order to manufacture with a strategy that optimizes
the fab utilization, and profitability, while giving the customers what they
want, companies have chosen either outsourcing or internal manufacturing strategies.
Either way, intellectual property issues have kept patent lawyers busy. Some
have chosen the route of cross-licensing such as the Nichia-Stanley electric
deal. Others such as Philips (Royal Philips Electronics) have chosen to acquire
all of the companies and technology to produce the most advanced products in
a vertically integrated arrangement.
“When it comes to manufacturing, no single strategy will prevail.
Companies need to develop a methodical approach that takes account of fab utilization,
customer base and profitability among other factors, when considering the question
of outsourcing vs. internal investment," commented Asif Anwar, GaAs
service Director. “It is important to recognize and maintain your
existing strengths while maintaining the flexibility to consider external solutions.”
Stephen Entwistle, VP of the Strategic Technologies Practice, added, “IP
is another area where it is crucial to know your strengths and weaknesses so
that partnerships are two-way relationships.” SA asserts that flexibility
will be the key to success in the industry. Strategy
Analytics News Release Our news features are reported
by the CompoundSemi News staff writers.
For submissions or content suggestions, you can contact us using
editor -at - compoundsemi.com
For more information and to reserve promotion space contact
Info7 -at - compoundsemi.com
or call +1 (512) 257-9888
|
