Highlink hikes GaN LED production capacity
Highlink Technology Corporation has ordered two huge MOCVD reactors in a bid to significantly step up its wafer fabrication capacity.
The Taiwanese LED manufacturer will take delivery of the two Aixtron machines, which will be used to make high-brightness GaN emitters, over the next few months.
The AIX 2800G4HT tools are the largest-capacity offerings from the German equipment vendor and support 42 x 2-inch wafer manufacturing.
As well as providing a large ramp-up in capacity, the new tools feature an improved gas inlet that is said to significantly improve both wafer yields and device uniformity.
Highlink president Gary Yu said, "The build-up in customer demand means that we now require a major increase in production capacity."
Sales of MOCVD equipment to Taiwan-based LED manufacturers have picked up strongly in the first half of 2006, with both Aixtron and its US rival Veeco Instruments reporting stronger order books.
The upturn follows a period of retrenchment and consolidation in the Taiwanese LED sector, caused by an overcrowded market and overcapacity of supply.
Mergers and acquisitions between some of the region's key companies, such as United Epitaxy Company and Epistar, have since stabilized the industry.
