SDK Plans Third Expansion of High-Grade SiC Wafer Production Facilities in Two Years
03 Luglio 2018 - 5:00AM
JCN Newswire (English)
Showa Denko (SDK; TSE:4004) will further expand the production
capacity for high-quality-grade silicon carbide (SiC) epitaxial
wafers for power semiconductors - marketed as 'High-Grade Epi '
(HGE) - following the current expansion work on HGE production
facilities. When the current work which is finished in September,
HGE production capacity will have increased from 5,000 wafers(1) to
7,000 wafers per month. After the additional expansion work,
scheduled for finish in February 2019, capacity will have increased
to 9,000 wafers per month.
Compared with conventional silicon-based semiconductors, SiC-based
power semiconductors operate under higher-temperature high-voltage
and high-current conditions, while substantially conserving energy.
These features enable smaller, lighter and energy-efficient
next-gen power control modules which allow dispersion type power
sources to utilize new energy sources. Used in power modules for
servers in data centers and inverter modules for railcars,
SiC-based power semiconductors are also replacing conventional
semiconductors in on-board battery chargers and rapid charging
stations for EVs, with the rapid expansion of the EV market.
SDK's SiC epitaxial wafer business is rated by power semiconductor
manufacturers for the lowest incidence of crystal defect and the
highest wafer homogeneity in the world. In the last two years, SDK
started expansion of its HGE production facilities twice, in
September 2017 and January 2018( 2). SDK has decided to further
expand its HGE production facilities in order to respond to the
growing needs of customers for HGE, resulting from rapid growth in
the market for SiC-based power semiconductors.
SDK will continue improving the quality of its SiC epitaxial wafer
products and supply them to the rapidly growing SiC power
semiconductor market in a timely and stable manner, while securing
top-level market share.
(1) This number is based on a conversion into SiC epitaxial wafers
for power devices having withstanding voltage of 1,200 V.
(2) "SDK to Re-expand Capacity to Produce High-Grade SiC Epitaxial
Wafers" - January 23, 2018.
About Showa Denko K.K.
Showa Denko K.K. (SDK; TSE:4004, ADR:SHWDY), a major manufacturer
of chemical products, serves a wide range of fields from heavy
industry to electronics and computer industries. The Petrochemicals
Sector provides cracker products such as ethylene and propylene,
the Chemicals Sector provides industrial, high-performance and
high-purity gases and chemicals for semicon and other industries,
and the Inorganics Sector provides ceramic products, such as
alumina, abrasives, refractory and graphite electrodes and fine
carbon products. The Aluminum Sector provides aluminum materials
and high-value-added fabricated aluminum, the Electronics Sector
provides HD media, compound semiconductors such as ultra
high-bright LEDs and rare earth magnetic alloys, and the Advanced
Battery Materials Department (ABM) provides lithium-ion battery
components. For more information, please visit
www.sdk.co.jp/english/.
Source: Showa Denko K.K.
Contact:
Public Relations Office
Phone: 81-3-5470-3235
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