AOI picks Oxford Instruments to scale InP production
Oxford Instruments, a developer of plasma processing solutions, has announced a plasma equipment supply agreement with Applied Optoelectronics (AOI), a provider of advanced optical and hybrid fibre-coaxial networking products that power the internet, for several etch and deposition cluster systems at their facility in Sugar Land, Texas.
The agreement will support AOI’s expansion and technological advancements in InP for optoelectronic device manufacturing, as the company rapidly scales to increase production capacity within the US.
As AOI undergoes a growth phase, the company is upgrading its production capabilities to meet increasing demand for high-performance InP optoelectronic devices. Oxford Instruments’ plasma etch and deposition processing systems will play a key role by supporting AOI with fully automated 3-4-6-inch capable production systems for InP processes.
“AOI is expanding its US manufacturing capacity in Texas to support demand for our optical transceivers in AI datacentres, and key suppliers like Oxford Instruments will help us continue to upgrade our fully automated production line,” said Fred Chang, SVP and North American general manager at AOI. “With our combined technology, we can speed the processing of multiple wafer sizes, ranging from 3 to 6 inches, while improving overall quality and reducing costs.”
“AOI has been a valued long-term partner, and we are thrilled to have earned their trust as the chosen supplier for their production expansion and technology upgrades. Our unique high-temperature Electrostatic Chuck (ESC) design, which enables advanced processing capabilities, was a key factor in their decision. AOI also conducted an extensive vendor qualification process, including a visit to our brand-new purpose-built manufacturing facility in Bristol, UK, where we received high praise for our technology and production capabilities,” said Emiel Thijssen, VP of sales and business development USA, Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology.
“We are also investing significantly to ensure we continue to deliver world-class service capability in the Texas region, focusing on the availability of spares and expanding our field service and process engineering teams, to support the rapid expansion of leading manufacturers in the region such as AOI.”
