II-VI EpiWorks expansion to support datacenter, VCSEL, 5G wireless markets
The II-VI EpiWorks Division of II‐VI (NASDAQ:IIVI; Saxonburg, PA), which manufactures compound semiconductor epitaxial wafers, has begun construction of a new production facility in Champaign, IL. The expansion is expected to be complete by mid-2017 and will enable a quadrupling of capacity over the next three years. In addition to substantial epitaxial wafer production space, the new cleanroom will house a state-of-the-art wafer characterization and test laboratory.
To operate the new facility, EpiWorks is recruiting managers, engineers, and technicians to help expand EpiWorks’ position in the global compound semiconductor industry. Its products support the performance and volume requirements in markets such as InP and GaAs-based optoelectronic communication components for cloud computing and datacenters, VCSELs for 3D sensing, and wide bandgap devices for 5G wireless infrastructure.
Giovanni Barbarossa, Chief Technology Officer and President of the Laser Solutions Segment, said, “The new capacity will support our RF and photonics businesses, and we will have more resources to research and develop new materials and products.” Immediately after merging with II-VI in February, the company ordered three new MOCVD production tools and filled its existing cleanroom space.
Here are related articles on II-VI’s continued growth in photonics. It had acquired both EpiWorks and Anadigics in January and then Direct Photonics in October 2016.
II-VI buys laser diode innovator Direct Photonics
VLOC will integrate with II-VI Optical Systems
LightWorks Optical Systems now named II-VI Optical Systems
II-VI adds Oclaro's micro-optics and amplifier business to its laser diode acquisition
Source: II-VI EpiWorks
Conard Holton
Conard Holton has 25 years of science and technology editing and writing experience. He was formerly a staff member and consultant for government agencies such as the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and engineering companies such as Bechtel. He joined Laser Focus World in 1997 as senior editor, becoming editor in chief of WDM Solutions, which he founded in 1999. In 2003 he joined Vision Systems Design as editor in chief, while continuing as contributing editor at Laser Focus World. Conard became editor in chief of Laser Focus World in August 2011, a role in which he served through August 2018. He then served as Editor at Large for Laser Focus World and Co-Chair of the Lasers & Photonics Marketplace Seminar from August 2018 through January 2022. He received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, with additional studies at the Colorado School of Mines and Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.