Technical Insight
Manufacturers Boost Compound Semiconductor Output (News from Japan)
Japanese compound semiconductors makers plan to boost output in response to rising demand from manufacturers of optical communications equipment, cellular phones and DVD players, according to industry sources. Showa Denko KK has provided more details of its recently announced 3 billion ($25.6 million) investment to more than triple capacity of InP substrates and epiwafers at its plant in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture [see CS 6(7), p. 37]. The company says it will build a production facility for InP wafers at the plant and is targeting a monthly output capacity of 2,200 units by the end of 2001. Anritsu says it plans to triple output capacity of semiconductor laser parts for fiber-optic communications equipment by fiscal year 2003. The company, which currently turns out 10,000 units a month, aims to meet rising demand from networking manufacturers for WDM systems.
