IQE has announced significant orders from its largest customers for various products from the semiconductor wafer manufacturer's New Jersey facility which bring the total order book for this site to a record high of over $20m, deliverable within the next 12 months.

Last week, IQE announced an approximate $20m multi-year contract extension as sole supplier of GaAs based pHEMT epi-wafers to a major US wireless component manufacturer at the Group's Bethlehem business unit. 

The latest orders come at a time when IQE is increasing production capacity, particularly in terms of its MOCVD capability for wireless products manufactured at its Somerset, Cardiff and Bethlehem  facilities.

"Global demand for our products for wireless devices continues to go from strength to strength. This increase clearly demonstrates the continuing high market growth for high-end wireless mobile components and the strength of our business model," said Dr Drew Nelson, president and group CEO.

Overall, MOCVD production capacity is planned to grow by more than 50% by the end of 2008 compared with 2007. Primary drivers for this growth are components for 3G and other high speed wireless applications such
as WiFi 802.11n and WiMAX.