Spire buys back Bandwidth Semiconductor
Bandwidth Semiconductor was formed in December 1999 when Methode Electronics purchased Spire s Optoelectronics division, a long-established epiwafer manufacturer. In 2000, Methode Electronics spun off its optical products business, including Bandwidth Semiconductor, as Stratos Lightwave in an initial public offering.
Bandwidth Semiconductor is a semiconductor foundry specializing in III-V materials and devices for defense and telecommunications applications. It designs, develops and manufactures optoelectronic and other devices including lasers and radiation detectors on an OEM basis.
Since its formation, Bandwidth has expanded into its own state-of-the-art facility in Hudson, New Hampshire and operates a complete compound semiconductor growth and device fabrication line in class 100/1000 clean rooms. It can now make large production volumes of wafers and devices, and can support customer R&D programs. Bandwidth is currently a supplier to Spire Biomedical.
Roger Little, president and CEO of Spire Corporation, said, "With new clean rooms and state-of-the-art equipment, Bandwidth has become a first class compound semiconductor foundry. I believe that Bandwidth can continue to grow its underlying defense and telecommunications business while providing key optoelectronic device building blocks to allow Spire and other manufacturers to take proprietary positions in the life sciences instrument market."
"We intend to expand Bandwidth s biophotonics activities to support Spire s important Life Sciences initiative," continued Little. "I am pleased to welcome back to Spire the capable and dedicated Bandwidth staff."
