IQE plc recently opened its new facility, marking the occasion with an opening ceremony with 200 guests that included Paul Madden, British High Commissioner in Singapore, Dr. Drew Nelson (pictured), CEO of IQE and Lim Swee Nian, Executive Director of the Singapore Economic Development Board. This new plant is the relocation of the company’s former facility at the Singapore Science Park to the new industrial development in Tampines, Singapore.
The 8,500 square metre facility has over 2,000 square metres of specialised cleanroom, will produce advanced semiconductor wafers for wireless applications (such as mobile phone and WiFi devices) and allow for the capacity of new products such as materials for advanced electronics and high-efficiency solar cells. The new facility also allows for future expansion of the company’s manufacturing capacity. In addition to moving the tools from the previous facility, the new site also has equipment which has been transferred from its sister operation in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Dr. Nelson reacted to the opening of the new facility by remarking, “Whilst it is unclear at this point what the impact of the global financial crisis will have on the wireless communications industry, the long term demand drivers for the industry are as strong as ever and the demand for wireless products appears set to grow rapidly over the coming years and this new facility provides us with the capability to add capacity as and when required.”
