News: Suppliers
19 October 2021
5N Plus agrees long-term II-VI substrate supply deal with Samsung for next-gen medical imaging systems
Specialty semiconductor and performance materials producer 5N Plus Inc of Montreal, Québec, Canada has announced a long-term agreement with Samsung Electronics Co to supply engineered substrates based on II-VI semiconductor materials for the detector core of the next generation of medical imaging devices. The detector is based on photon counting detector (PCD) technology, and will be incorporated into computed tomography (CT) by Samsung’s subsidiary NeuroLogica Corp of Danvers, MA, USA.
Market driver for PCD technology
The global market for medical imaging based on CT is estimated to over $5bn. The detector element comprises 5-10% of the cost associated with the device. Over 95% of the CT imaging devices produced today are non-PCD-based. The increased demand for enhanced diagnostics, radiation reduction and cost efficacy have made this market ripe for innovation, says 5N Plus. PCD technology is at the forefront of addressing the latent demands associated with this market. In recent years, the advances in product and process technologies have delivered PCD-based imaging systems with superior image quality and reduced radiation levels not achievable with the existing mainstream technology.
Collaborative innovation delivering breakthrough technology
Over the last several years, 5N Plus has been developing engineered substrates for high-performance detectors essential for applications in medical and security markets. These efforts have recently yielded a family of semiconductor substrates facilitating what is claimed to be unrivalled performance in both PCD-based CT imaging and various applications in the security market. Through its close collaboration with Samsung and NeuroLogica, 5N Plus has developed an engineered substrate product optimized to uniquely fulfill requirements for PCD-based CT medical imaging devices. The success of this program has prompted both parties to engage in a long-term supply relationship.
“5N Plus is uniquely positioned to become the leading global supplier of engineered substrates for PCD-based medical imaging applications,” believes president & CEO Arjang Roshan. “We would like to thank Samsung and NeuroLogica for cultivating a collaborative ecosystem which not only fostered innovation but enabled its expedient implementation.”
Expansion of specialty semiconductor value chain and product portfolio
Over the past several years, 5N Plus has expanded its value chain for specialty semiconductor materials through its site in St. George, Utah, utilizing these compounds to develop engineered substrates. These efforts have resulted in an array of engineered substrates facilitating what is claimed to be unsurpassed performance in customer applications ranging from PCD-based solutions in medical imaging to engineered substrates for infrared imaging and other applications within the security industry.
In early June, the firm announced that it is investing $8.5m in its Montreal campus to expand the development and manufacturing of critical and strategic materials (including those containing tellurium) for advanced II-VI semiconductor compounds and engineered powders. The investment is supported and has received funding from governmental agencies for about a third of the total investment.
Strategic alignment with AZUR acquisition
While 5N Plus has organically expanded its II-VI semiconductor value chain, its III-V semiconductor value chain has required a combination of organic growth initiatives and strategic investments. The firm is in the last stage of the regulatory approval process to acquire AZUR SPACE Solar Power GmbH. This acquisition is expected to be transformational for 5N Plus.
AZUR brings established businesses within III-V semiconductor materials which are complementary to 5N Plus’ current activities. This, in combination with 5N Plus’ expanding business in II-VI semiconductor materials, serves as a catalyst for future growth, reckons the firm. The synergies of AZUR and 5N Plus should result in a higher total addressable market beyond space and enable entry into larger markets such as high-power electronics, electrification, advanced communication and other areas in the security market.
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