17 May 2018

II-VI opens compound semiconductor material center of excellence in Champaign, Illinois

© Semiconductor Today Magazine / Juno PublishiPicture: Disco’s DAL7440 KABRA laser saw.

Engineered materials and optoelectronic component maker II-VI Inc of Saxonburg, PA, USA has opened its new compound semiconductor material center of excellence in Champaign, Illinois, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner.

II-VI says this represents a milestone in its ongoing investment in its manufacturing footprint to ramp up its production capacity for compound semiconductor epitaxial wafers (e.g. for 3D sensing, optical networking, wireless communications and power electronics). Since the groundbreaking for this expansion in November 2016, II-VI continues to recruit managers, engineers and technicians to join its experienced team.

Picture: Ribbon-cutting ceremony at II-VI EpiWorks. From right to left: Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, II-VI Inc’s president & CEO Dr Chuck Mattera, II-VI EpiWorks’ general manager & co-founder Dr Quesnell Hartmann, and co-founder Dr David Amari.

“I would like to express my thanks to the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity for its ongoing support and unwavering commitment to our success,” says Quesnell Hartmann, general manager & co-founder of II-VI EpiWorks. “Completion of this phase in our expansion provides us with the critical infrastructure to scale our production, advance our technology, and enable us to serve the rapidly growing demand from our global customer base,” he adds.

“II-VI and the State of Illinois have formed a strong partnership, sharing a vision that businesses with leading-edge technology and advanced manufacturing capabilities are the most competitive over the long-term,” says II-VI Inc’s president & CEO Dr Chuck Mattera. “With support from Illinois, we expect to continue to invest in this Champaign facility, by adding state-of-the-art manufacturing capacity, improving process capabilities, broadening the product portfolio, and recruiting and developing a lot of talent to fill the anticipated growth in jobs and opportunities for career growth.”

The opening “showcases how local industry, strong university systems and state government can partner to realize a bold vision for a globally competitive semiconductor manufacturing center of excellence,” comments Rauner.

Tags: II-VI Inc

Visit: www.ii-vi.com