News

6 February 2007

Genesis Photonics orders six further Thomas Swan CCS MOCVD systems for nitride HB-LEDs

Aixtron AG of Aachen, Germany says that in fourth-quarter 2006 it received purchase orders for six more Thomas Swan Close Coupled Showerhead MOCVD tools, as part of a long-term purchase agreement, from Genesis Photonics Inc (GPI) of Southern Taiwan Science-Base Industrial Park in Tainan. The reactors will be used for the production of nitride high-brightness LEDs (HB-LEDs).

Established in January 2002, GPI provides InGaN-based blue and green LED epiwafers and chips (grown on sapphire substrates) for lighting, displays, backlights, and automotive applications as well as for scientific, industrial, and research applications. It claims to be the fastest-growing LED manufacturer in Taiwan. The firm announced an initial public offering of 50 million shares in December.

“With this boost for our MOCVD production, Genesis will be in an excellent position to become one of the top suppliers for the LCD backlighting market,” says GPI’s chairman and CEO David Chung.

The display backlighting application commands about half of the total HB-LED market, says Aixtron. Newer applications such as backlights for camcorders, notebook and desktop PCs and high-definition TVs are continuing to provide good growth. However, while shipment volumes are increasing, the unit price per device is falling steeply, so LED makers are relying on high-yield manufacturing.

Aixtron had previously delivered a Thomas Swan Close Coupled Showerhead MOCVD reactor (with a capacity of 19x2” wafers) to Genesis Photonics in May 2005.

Visit Aixtron: http://www.aixtron.com

Visit GPI: http://www.g-photonics.com