In brief: BOC Edwards, Aixtron, Furukawa, Sirenza
BOC Edwards seals pump deal
UK-based pump supplier BOC Edwards has signed a deal with MOCVD equipment specialist Aixtron that will see the German company incorporate BOC Edwards pump and abatement systems in deposition equipment used for GaAs and InP growth.
The arrangement will allow customers to source the required process tool, vacuum pump and exhaust system from a single supplier.
The deal is based around BOC Edwards' Zenith III-V system for MOCVD, which incorporates inward-fired combustion technology, iHSeries dry pumps, pipework heating and integrated control.
According to BOC Edwards, the system handles toxic exhaust gases, organometallic precursor compounds and hydrogen flow.
Furukawa readies for GaN substrates
Japanese electronics giant Furukawa is to begin making 2-inch GaN substrates at the end of this year, claims a report in the Japanese press.
Online business newspaper Nikkei.net says that the company will target next-generation DVD applications when it begins production.
The report added that Furukawa is planning to produce 5000-6000 units per month by 2008, which is expected to result in sales of ¥8 billion ($77 million) per year.
In Furukawa's process, gaseous GaCl reacts with ammonia to form GaN films. Test production has reportedly begun already, with the company expected to invest a further ¥900 million to expand its production facilities.
Sirenza gets certified
RF component designer Sirenza Microdevices has received ISO 14001:2004 certification for environmental management system (EMS) at its Broomfield, CO, headquarters.
One of the first companies to meet the updated EMS standard, Sirenza said that the award demonstrated its commitment to minimizing the environmental impact of its operation.