Soitec, the France-based supplier of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers, has unveiled an expansion development strategy aimed at what it sees as “growing worldwide demand for SOI and other engineered substrates”.
The firm is expanding its existing production capacity base in France and also setting up a production plant in Singapore.
According to Andre-Jacques Auberton-Herve, president and CEO of Soitec, the firm’s historical research alliance with the CEA Leti Research Laboratory in Grenoble remains a cornerstone of the business.
“Our ongoing investments allow us to address volume markets. To meet anticipated rising demand from chipmakers worldwide, including Asian foundries, we are further bolstering our global production capacity with a new production plant in Singapore,” said Auberton-Herve.
Two new 300mm lines will be installed at the firm’s Bernin facility during the first half of the year. The company has also recently purchased 1,300 square metres of equipped cleanroom space, which is located adjacent to Soitec's Bernin facility.
This boosts Soitec's potential maximum production capacity to an estimated (mid-term range) of one million 300mm wafers annually, compared to current potential of 720,000 wafers per year.
The company's investments are expected to exceed €500m when fully equipped, with a total workforce in Bernin of approximately 1,000 staff.
The firm also plans to create a 300mm SOI fab in Singapore and work will start in August.
The total investment is expected to reach €350m once the fab is running at full capacity. With production starting mid-2008, final capacity is expected to be one million wafers per year.