News

1 July 2008

 

IQE’s New Jersey order book grows to record $20m

Epiwafer foundry IQE plc of Cardiff, UK says that it has received significant orders from its largest customers for various products from its facility in Somerset, NJ (grown by MOCVD) that bring the total order book for this site to a record high of over $20m (deliverable within the next 12 months).

The record orders follow last week’s announcement of a multi-year contract extension worth about $20m for its business unit in Bethlehem, PA as sole supplier of GaAs-based pHEMT epiwafers (grown by MBE) to a major US wireless component maker. Both of these orders are in line with the Board’s expectations for the current financial year.
The New Jersey orders come as IQE is increasing production capacity, particularly in terms of its MOCVD capability for wireless products manufactured at its Somerset, Cardiff and Bethlehem facilities. Overall, MOCVD production capacity is planned to grow by more than 50% by the end of 2008 compared with 2007, in order to meet the increasing demand. Primary drivers for this growth are components for 3G and other high-speed wireless applications such as WiFi 802.11n and WiMAX.

“As a result of the growing demand for our products, we continue to bring on line further capacity to meet the needs of our customers,” says Alex Cerruzzi, general manager and VP of IQE-RF in Somerset.

“Coming on top of our recent announcement of a large contract extension for products manufactured by MBE tools at our Bethlehem, PA facility; this increase clearly demonstrates the continuing high market growth for high-end wireless mobile components and the strength of our business model,” says Dr Drew Nelson, IQE’s president and group CEO.

IQE reckons that its customers are attracted to its global, multi-site manufacturing (using the latest volume-manufacturing epitaxial tools, including both MBE and MOCVD); a complete ‘one-stop-shop’ product range; R&D for rapid new product development; and a global support network.

See related items:

IQE wins contract extension as sole supplier to US wireless component maker

IQE’s 54% growth in 2007 drives return to operating profit

IQE wins its largest commercial GaN epiwafer order

Search: IQE Epiwafer foundry MOCVD MBE GaAs pHEMT WiFi 802.11n WiMAX

Visit: www.iqep.com