AOI Opens New Manufacturing Facility, Moves Operations
Source: Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.
Sugar Land, TX. Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (AOI) announced today that it has completed the first phase of its move into the company s new manufacturing facility located in Sugar Land, Texas. AOI s new 24,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility will consolidate the fast-growing company s administrative offices, laboratories and three production lines in one headquarters.
"This move represents a very important milestone for AOI. We are now transforming ourselves from a great research company into a great research and manufacturing company," said AOI President and CEO Thompson Lin. "Our team is very excited about the move because, with our enhanced capabilities here, we ll be able to accelerate product deliveries," said Lin.
The new production capability will allow AOI to enhance volume shipments of its groundbreaking single-mode DFB quantum cascade lasers with emission wavelengths of 4.6 and 5.2 microns. These lasers are suitable for sensing applications, such as detecting carbon dioxide and ammonia. As well, the new plant provides production capacity for AOI s upcoming line of mid-infrared photodetectors and Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs).
The new facility was specially designed for the company and includes 6000 sq. ft. of class 1,000 and 10,000 clean room space to house the company s array of advanced semiconductor crystal growth and processing equipment.
Laboratories, additional production equipment, and office space for more than 75 employees occupy the remaining space. Following the first phase of the move, AOI employees are busy qualifying the packaging, testing and materials characterization facilities. In mid-December the company will initiate phase two of its move when it takes delivery of three new multi-wafer MBE systems including two 3x2-inch systems and a single 4x4-inch system. The company anticipates that the MBE systems will be operational in January.
To accommodate its rapid growth, the company plans to start construction of a second building in April 2001. That building will contain more than 50,000 sq. ft. of clean room and office space.
About AOI
Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (AOI) is a vertically integrated optoelectronics company that designs, grows, processes and packages advanced semiconductor optoelectronic components, including lasers, photodetectors and LEDs primarily for the biosensing and telecommunications markets. The company currently employs more than 30 people and is headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, south of Houston. AOI is a privately held company.
For additional information: www.ao-inc.com
Contact: Sheldon Smart Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. Public Relations Tel: 281/295-1807 smart@ao-inc.com
Sheldon SmartApplied Optoelectronics, Inc.
Public Relations
Tel: 281/295-1807
smart@ao-inc.com
E-mail: smart@ao-inc.com
Web site: http://www.ao-inc.com
