ATMI's Epitronics Unit Partners With Sterling Semiconductor; Silicon Carbide Wafer Manufacturing and Development Agreement
DANBURY, Conn. and STERLING, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 14, 1998--ATMI, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATMI), and Sterling Semiconductor, Inc. today announced that ATMI's Epitronics business has signed a multi-year, multi-million dollar strategic alliance agreement in silicon carbide wafers with Sterling Semiconductor, based in Sterling, Virginia.
Under the agreement, Epitronics is licensing certain technology and transferring ISO 9002-certified wafer manufacturing processes and equipment to Sterling. Sterling and Epitronics will share responsibility for silicon carbide wafer development and manufacturing, while Sterling will have exclusive responsibility for wafer sales and marketing.
Gene E. Lewis, Chairman and CEO of Sterling, said, "We believe Epitronics' silicon carbide wafer manufacturing process positions us to become one of the world's leading silicon carbide semiconductor companies. Through the integration of Sterling's proprietary silicon carbide production process and Epitronics' manufacturing know-how, we expect to increase production to meet customer demand for our products."
Duncan Brown, President of Epitronics, stated, "Epitronics is focused on providing thin film deposition services, particularly the growth of epitaxial thin films, while establishing strategic positions in wafer supply. Through our alliance with Sterling, we can continue to contribute to advancing silicon carbide wafer technology, while increasing our ability to focus our resources on silicon carbide epitaxial thin film development."
As a semiconductor material, silicon carbide (SiC) has unique electronic, thermal, physical, and chemical properties. SiC-based devices and integrated circuits may be able to operate at higher temperatures and powers than common silicon-based semiconductors. Because of these attributes, SiC-based devices are expected to play an important role in future automotive, avionics, radar, space, and communications systems. SiC wafers with epitaxial thin films are increasingly important in the development of blue and green light emitting diodes for displays and laser diodes for high-density optical memories.
Sterling Semiconductor, a subsidiary of Novecon Technologies Corp., was established in 1996 to manufacture silicon carbide and advanced electronic device components made from silicon carbide. Sterling's team of SiC crystal growth experts provides high-quality 6H-SiC and 4H-SiC to end-users.
Epitronics is a leading supplier of specialty epitaxial services to the semiconductor industry. Wide bandgap materials, including silicon carbide and gallium nitride, are produced in ATMI's Danbury, CT facility. Epitronics' Silicon Division in Mesa, AZ provides silicon epitaxial services for single and multiple layers, growth on buried layers and patterned wafers, and advanced device structures on wafers up to 200 mm. The III-V Division in Phoenix, AZ provides III-V epitaxial services for devices whose ultimate applications are for products used in wireless communications, satellites, and optoelectronics. All Epitronics facilities are ISO 9002-certified. |
