【Flash | TOP Nanometal Discontinues Indium Tin Oxide Film Production and Converts Equipment to Sputtered Copper】

[SMM: Limited Arrivals Keep Silicon Metal Social Inventory Destocking] SMM statistics show that on October 15, silicon metal social inventory in major regions fell by 10 kt WoW.

JX Advanced Metals Corporation plans to invest up to JPY120 billion over four years to substantially expand its production capacity for Indium Phosphide (InP) substrates used in optical communications. Including previously announced projects, the company’s cumulative investment in this area will reach approximately JPY150 billion. In addition to expanding its existing Isohara Works in Ibaraki Prefecture, JX Advanced Metals will establish additional capacity in the Hitachinaka area, targeting an increase in InP substrate production capacity to approximately seven to ten times its current level. The company said customer requests for additional supply associated with their own expansion plans have risen substantially and that demand is now growing beyond its previous expectations. It will also discuss price revisions with customers to establish a stable supply framework. SMM believes this is one of the clearest large-scale overseas InP substrate expansion plans announced to date and will generate substantial long-term demand for high-purity indium. Detailed construction phases, commissioning dates, wafer-size distribution and corresponding indium consumption were not disclosed.

Trymax Semiconductor Equipment has secured a substantial multi-year, multi-million-dollar purchase order from Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. Trymax will supply plasma ashing and ultraviolet curing systems for residue removal, surface etching and material treatment during wafer fabrication. The equipment can process Indium Phosphide (InP) wafers ranging from 3 inches to 6 inches and will be integrated into Applied Optoelectronics’ wafer fabrication facility in Sugar Land, Texas. Applied Optoelectronics grows and fabricates InP wafers internally to produce laser chips for high-speed optical transceivers used in data-center connectivity. The company said the equipment will support the rapid expansion of its laser-chip production capacity in Texas. SMM believes the multi-year order indicates th