IQE launches Germanium on Insulator (GeOI) wafe...

Cardiff, July 6th 2009: IQE, the leading global supplier of advanced
semiconductor wafer products and services to the semiconductor
industry, announces the launch of extremely high crystal quality
germanium-on-insulator (GeOI) engineered substrates for
high-performance devices.

Engineers at IQE's Cardiff-based silicon epitaxy facility have
developed innovative new manufacturing techniques to overcome
long-standing challenges to produce GeOI material with extremely high
crystalline quality.

The launch introduces production-ready Germanium on Insulator (GeOI)
as the latest addition to IQE's broad portfolio of advanced wafer
products.

The new engineered GeOI substrate offers extremely high crystal
quality and is available now, allowing device designers to look
beyond the performance constraints imposed by existing silicon
technologies.

Ali Hoy, Sales and Business Development Manager for IQE's electronics
products said:

"IQE already offers the broadest range of engineered wafer products
and this addition of high-mobility GeOI material for next-generation
processor, memory, MEMs and solar applications, shows our commitment
to ensuring that our customers maintain their competitive advantage
through rapid access to leading-edge technology solutions."

GeOI development kits are available now in 4" (100mm) and 6" (150mm)
diameter wafer sizes and the new addition to IQE's diverse product
range will be showcased at Semicon West, the semiconductor industry's
premier event, which will be held in San Francisco from 14th to 16th
July 2009. 8" (200mm) wafers will be available later this year.


VISIT IQE at SEMICON WEST, July 14-16: South Hall, Booth #1013




Contacts:

TECHNICAL/SALES
IQE plc ([phone], [e-mail])
Ali Hoy
Rob Harper


PRESS / INVESTORS
IQE plc ([phone], [e-mail])
Chris Meadows
Drew Nelson

Noble & Company Limited (+ 44 20 7763 2200)
John Llewellyn-Lloyd
Sam Reynolds

College Hill ([phone])
Adrian Duffield
Carl Franklin


Note to editors:

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
mobile handsets and wireless infrastructure, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, base
stations, GPS, and satellite communications; optical communications,
optical storage (CD, DVD), laser optical mouse, laser printers &
photocopiers, 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 six manufacturing facilities located in Cardiff (two)
and Milton Keynes in the UK; in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and Somerset,
New Jersey in the USA; and Singapore. The Group also has 11 sales
offices located in major economic centres worldwide.


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