Wafer & crystal demand for LEDs, MEMS, and semiconductor chips fuels plant expansions

Switzerland, Austria, and Santa Rosa, CA--Sensirion, EV Group (EVG), and Thermal Technology are all undergoing plant expansions to keep pace with growing demand for semiconductor wafers and crystals needed for light-emitting diodes (LEDs), semiconductor chips, and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based devices.

To help Sensirion avoid capacity bottlenecks and insure on-time and reliable delivery of millions of needed MEMS-based sensors, it has moved into a newly purchased production plant in Stäfa, Switzerland, situated just a few hundred meters from its main building. The additional space is necessary as a result of the growth in recent years. In the near future, the building will house the entire production of the company, while the development and sales departments will remain in the main building along with the administration. Automated production lines have been built on more than 10,000 square meters of space on three floors to manufacture MEMS sensors that measure moisture, temperature, gas and liquid flows, as well as differential pressure.

EVG, a supplier of wafer bonding and lithography equipment for the MEMS, nanotechnology, and semiconductor markets, broke ground on expanding the company's manufacturing capacity at its headquarters in Austria. The company has seen a 40% increase in order intake in fiscal year 2011 compared with fiscal 2010, and is currently looking to recruit approximately 100 additional employees. The new building will more than double the company's production floor space and is scheduled to be completed before the end of this year.

Thermal Technology, a manufacturer of crystal growth equipment and high-temperature furnace systems, added a new production facility that triples its manufacturing space. The new location is dedicated to Model K1 sapphire crystal grower production and neighbors Thermal’s sales and manufacturing site in Santa Rosa, CA. Thermal Technology is shipping multiple sapphire growers weekly. The new high-volume production facility enables Thermal Technology to meet their customers’ rising demand for the Model K1.

SOURCES: Sensirion; www.sensirion.com/en/pdf/PR-Texts/PR_NewBuildingLR26.pdf and EV Group; www.evgroup.com/en/about/news/2011_07_hqexpansion/ and Thermal Technology; www.thermaltechnology.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=160&Itemid=22