31 July 2018

5N Plus doubles production capacity in semiconductor engineered materials

© Semiconductor Today Magazine / Juno PublishiPicture: Disco’s DAL7440 KABRA laser saw.

Specialty metal and chemical products firm 5N Plus Inc of Montreal, Québec, Canada is doubling the capacity of its ultra-high-purity Semiconductor plant to enable its Electronic Materials division to satisfy the growing demand for its specialty semiconductor materials for advanced sensing and imaging technologies in a new generation of medical devices, and in security and defense applications.

5N Plus provides purified metals such as bismuth, gallium, germanium, indium, selenium and tellurium, and also produces related II-VI semiconducting compounds such as cadmium telluride (CdTe), cadmium sulphide (CdS) and indium antimonide (InSb) as precursors for the growth of crystals for solar, LED and eco-friendly materials applications.

Launched in 2016, the company’s strategic plan 5N21 identified the specialty semiconductor sector as a key growth area, aiming to grow the revenue contribution from this sector to 15% of total revenue by 2021. This investment should be completed by mid-2019 and is included in the overall investment envelope envisioned under 5N21 which aims to deliver adjusted EBITDA of US$45m along with 17% return on capital employed by 2021.

The portfolio of ultra-pure semiconductor engineered materials produced by 5N Plus reaches purity levels of more than 99.99999% (7N) and are increasingly being used in sensing, imaging and optoelectronic applications across growing industries.

In the medical industry, these materials are critical for detectors in dental x-ray imaging systems, bone mineral density measurements and advanced single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) molecular imaging systems. Recently, the firm has developed ultra-pure semiconductor products targeting the next generation of x-ray computed tomography (CT) medical imaging systems. These materials enable multi-color imaging capabilities and reduction in radiation dosage, all of which are expected to improve safety and reliability of diagnostics.

In the security industry, the firm is seeing increased demand for materials related to advanced detectors in gamma-ray, x-ray and neutron radiation, with an emphasis on enhanced resolution and expanded capabilities across applications including baggage screening, civil nuclear safety, hazardous material detection, liquid detection and other safety- and security-related applications.

In the defense industry, demand comes from applications related to high-performance infrared imagery, early-detection systems and surveillance applications for which high-purity semiconductor engineered materials play a crucial role in improving system sensitivity and device imagery.

“Over the last two decades, 5N Plus has developed a wide spectrum of precursors which are recognized worldwide as the reference materials for the fabrication of advanced solid-state semiconductor detectors,” says Nicholas Audet, executive VP, Electronic Materials. “Given the emergence of more stringent requirements within healthcare, security and defense industries, 5N Plus is uniquely positioned to address these opportunities,” he reckons. “This investment will not only support the growing market demand but will also reinforce 5N Plus’ global leadership position in this field.” 

See related item:

5N Plus secures new US$79m syndicated credit facility

5N Plus consolidating operations

Tags: 5N Plus

Visit: www.5nplus.com