In brief: Aixtron, Emcore, Rohm and Haas, Fox Group
Samsung goes for quick LED ramp
Samsung Electro-Mechanics (SEMCO), the LED chip manufacturing subsidiary of consumer electronics giant Samsung, has ordered two more MOCVD systems from Aixtron to ramp production of blue and white emitters based on GaN.
The German equipment vendor, currently the subject of unconfirmed rumors regarding a takeover bid by California-based Applied Materials, says that it received the orders in January.
Aixtron said, "[SEMCO s] nitride planetary reactors have been performing very satisfactorily, but with market demand so high an additional reactor is now needed."
Two AIX 2600G3HT machines are set to be delivered to SEMCO s fab in Kyungki-Do, Korea, where they will be used to make GaN epiwafers.
Emcore stays on Nasdaq
Fiber-optic component and solar cell maker Emcore has been allowed to remain listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange - provided that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) receives its complete financial results for the most recent fiscal year and quarter no later than May 10.
Emcore had been threatened with expulsion from the Nasdaq after failing to comply with regulations over the late filing of these results in its official 10-K and 10-Q forms with the SEC.
The Somerset, NJ, firm has also negotiated a new deal with the owners of senior convertible notes that slightly alters its debt position. Noteholders have agreed to waive any defaults on the loans relating to the delayed fiscal reports until February 29, 2008. In return, the interest on the notes has increased from 5% to 5.5%, and their conversion price has been reduced.
Rohm and Haas licenses new materials
Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials has signed an exclusive deal to manufacture and market a new class of semiconductor precursor materials developed at Harvard University.
The metal-organic materials developed in Roy Gordon's chemistry laboratory are known as metal amidinates, and could be used in atomic layer deposition (ALD).
ALD is expected to become a key technique for next-generation silicon wafer processing, when feature sizes will be less than 45 nm in size.
Rohm and Haas will produce the new compounds at its North Andover, MA, facility, and collaborate with the Gordon team to further develop the technology.
Opton and Fox Group hook up
GaN-based LEDs made by the Canadian company The Fox Group are set to be distributed in France by Opton Laser International.
The exclusive deal includes design-in and sale of 360 nm, 320 nm and 420 nm LEDs, whether in epiwafer, individual die, or packaged LED form.
The LEDs are expected to find applications in biotechnology and analytical chemistry systems based around UV fluorescence techniques.
