IQE plc : $3m contract wins for IQE's Infrared division

19 april 2016

Increasing demand for IQE's InSb infrared products

Cardiff, UK, 19 April 2016 - IQE plc (AIM: IQE; "IQE", the "Group"), the leading global supplier of advanced semiconductor wafer products and services, announces that during March 2016 it has received record volume purchase orders worth just over $3M, to be delivered over the next twelve months, for its indium antimonide (InSb) and gallium antimonide (GaSb)substrate materials.

The purchase orders are from three long term customers of IQE's Infrared Business Unit and are for various specifications of InSb and GaSb substrate materials, including large diameter products that are used to fabricate state-of-the art infrared detector products.  InSb and GaSb are key materials for a wide range of infrared detector technologies in consumer, defence, security, medical and industrial imaging applications.

Further details of the specific customer, product and application cannot be disclosed at this time due to confidentiality designed to protect our customers' IP and allow them to retain a competitive advantage.

IQE Infrared is uniquely positioned as a global market leader in the supply of antimonide materials to the IR detector industry, with IQE's US (Galaxy Compound Semiconductors) and UK (Wafer Technology) operations providing its customers with a secure dual source of 2"-5" InSb and GaSb wafers.  IQE has the World's largest antimonide wafer production capacity in the industry, using multiple production tools (pullers), volume double side polishing platforms and state-of-the art product metrology.

Dr Mark Furlong , VP of IQE's Infrared Business Unit, commented:

"We are pleased to have received these new orders as they reflect the high quality of the antimonide substrate products that we supply as well as the confidence that our customers have in Galaxy Compound Semiconductors and Wafer Technology to support their longer term requirements for a wide range of InSb and GaSb substrate materials up to 5" in diameter.  

Contacts

Press/Investors investors@iqep.com
Chris Meadows

Technical info@iqep.com
Mark Furlong

ABOUT IQE 
www.iqep.com  

IQE is the leading global supplier of advanced semiconductor wafers with products that cover a diverse range of applications, supported by an innovative outsourced foundry services portfolio that allows the Group to provide a 'one stop shop' for the wafer needs of the world's leading semiconductor manufacturers. 

IQE uses advanced crystal growth technology (epitaxy) to manufacture and supply bespoke semiconductor wafers 'epi-wafers' to the major chip manufacturing companies, who then use these wafers to make the chips which form the key components of virtually all high technology systems. IQE is unique in being able to supply wafers using all of the leading crystal growth technology platforms.

IQE's products are found in many leading-edge consumer, communication, computing and industrial applications, including a complete range of wafer products for the wireless industry, such as smartphones and wireless infrastructure, Wi-Fi, base stations, GPS, and satellite communications; optical communications, optical storage, printing, thermal imagers, leading-edge medical products, barcode, ultra high brightness LEDs, a variety of advanced silicon based systems and high efficiency concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) solar cells.

The manufacturers of these chips are increasingly seeking to outsource wafer production to specialist foundries such as IQE in order to reduce overall wafer costs and accelerate time to market.

IQE also provides bespoke R&D services to deliver customised materials for specific applications and offers specialist technical staff to manufacture to specification either at its own facilities or on the customer's own sites. The Group is also able to leverage its global purchasing volumes to reduce the cost of raw materials. In this way IQE's outsourced services, provide compelling benefits in terms of flexibility and predictability of cost, thereby significantly reducing operating risk.

IQE operates multiple manufacturing and R&D facilities facilities worldwide.     

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