News
Umicore starts its new germanium substrate plant
Umicore has completed construction of its new germanium substrate production facility in Quapaw, OK, USA, adjacent to the firm’s existing site. Construction was started in July 2008.
The 40,000 square foot facility is now undergoing process start-up and qualification runs. The new substrate facility is on the same campus as the Umicore germanium optics and high-purity chemicals operation for the US market and will be integrated in the existing IS014001, 2004 system during 2010. Umicore says that this allows for a completely integrated supply chain operation, emphasizing prompt internal recycling (minimizing inventory stocking requirements of valuable germanium metal).
The production operation is modeled on Umicore’s Olen facility in Belgium. Joint capacity of these two plants makes 1 million germanium wafers (4” equivalent) per year.
The 40,000 square foot facility is now undergoing process start-up and qualification runs. The new substrate facility is on the same campus as the Umicore germanium optics and high-purity chemicals operation for the US market and will be integrated in the existing IS014001, 2004 system during 2010. Umicore says that this allows for a completely integrated supply chain operation, emphasizing prompt internal recycling (minimizing inventory stocking requirements of valuable germanium metal).
The production operation is modeled on Umicore’s Olen facility in Belgium. Joint capacity of these two plants makes 1 million germanium wafers (4” equivalent) per year.
