VCSEL Production Update

IQE plc

VCSEL Production Update

Cardiff, UK. 24^th July 2019: IQE plc (AIM: IQE; "IQE"), the leading global supplier of advanced wafer products and materials solutions to the semiconductor industry, announces the commencement of initial VCSEL production for a second major customer at the Newport Mega Foundry and further positive qualifications.

Initial production has now commenced with a second major customer, serving the Android supply chains, and several more are in advanced stages of qualification. Performance data from the Newport Foundry has exceeded previously attained performance levels, and several new qualifications are now in long term reliability testing.

As a result, IQE has signed a contract extension with one of its largest VCSEL customers, extending the current contract until the end of 2021. In addition, two other existing contracts have also been extended with several other new contracts in final negotiations.

Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) are a key component in multiple current and future 3D sensor systems, using both structured light and Time of Flight (ToF) technologies. Applications range from 3D Facial Identification (front facing) systems and world facing cameras on mobile handsets to LiDAR and in cabin sensing for autonomous drive vehicles, range-finding and 3D sensing systems for a wide range of industrial and commercial applications. Production volumes are expected to ramp strongly over the next few years as adoption across multiple mobile platforms and other use cases proliferate. In anticipation of such strong growth, IQE has invested heavily over the last two years in building the worlds’ largest VCSEL epi-wafer facility in Newport, UK (IQE’s Mega Epi Foundry).  IQE is involved in multiple engagements across all of the aforementioned applications, and is currently qualifying more than a dozen volume customers at the Newport Mega Foundry.

Dr Mark Furlong, Executive VP , Global Business Development, Photonics and InfraRed  commented:

“The initiation of production for a second major customer at our Newport Mega Epi Foundry, is another important milestone in cementing Newport as the premier location globally for large scale, state of the art, VCSEL production. The availability of the large-scale production capacity which has been established over the last 18 months at Newport, and consequent improvement in production efficiency and performance, is highly valued by our customers as they address mass market adoption across multiple applications.”

CONTACTS:

IQE plc
[phone]
Drew Nelson
Tim Pullen
Mark Furlong
           
Peel Hunt LLP (Nomad and Joint Broker)
[phone]
Edward Knight
Nick Prowting             
           
Citigroup Global Markets Limited (Joint Broker)
[phone]
Christopher Wren
Peter Catterall           

Headland Consultancy 
+ 44 (0) 20 38054822
Andy Rivett-Carnac: [phone]
Chloe Francklin: [phone]

ABOUT IQE

http://iqep.com

IQE is the leading global supplier of advanced semiconductor wafers that enable a diverse range of applications. 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.

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, and satellite communications; optical communications, optical storage, printing, thermal imagers, leading-edge medical technologies, automotive and aerospace technologies, a variety of advanced silicon based systems and high efficiency concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) solar cells.

IQE is headquartered in Cardiff UK and operates manufacturing and R&D facilities worldwide.