Graphite products for use in the semiconductor industry

As part of the investment budget for the Business Unit Graphite Solutions set out in the medium-term planning, a mid-range double-digit million-euro amount will be made available for the expansion of production over the next two years. The company is thus responding to the strong growth in demand in this sector and strengthening its commitment to the global megatrend of digitalisation.

The expansion programme will take place in several steps over the next two years. In St. Marys, North America, and at the Chinese site in Shanghai, capacities for purification and for high-precision, computer-controlled processing of graphite components and felts will be expanded. In Meitingen (Germany), a new plant for the production of carbonised and graphitised soft felt is under construction. Further capacity expansions at various locations are being planned.

"SGL Carbon is very well positioned along the entire value chain of Si and SiC-based semiconductors. In order to be able to accompany the market growth and the strong increase in demand from our customers, we need to significantly increase our capacities. We would like to thank our customers, with whom we planned this expansion together and were able to secure it through their orders," said Burkhard Straube, Head of Business Unit Graphite Solutions at SGL Carbon, adding: "This is a first step. In the future, we will continue to support and accompany our customers in their growth."

Components made of specialty graphite are indispensable in semiconductor production. This applies both to crystal growth and the subsequent finishing of the wafers, for example by means of epitaxy or ion implantation. These processes take place at very high temperatures and in extremely corrosive environments. At the same time, the highest purity and absolute precision are required. SGL Carbon supplies graphite-based solutions along the entire semiconductor production chain.

With its silicon carbide coatings, SGL Carbon is also one of the leading suppliers to the semiconductor industry and a preferred supplier to numerous manufacturers. Specialty graphites from SGL Carbon support not only silicon-based semiconductors but also the increasing use of silicon carbide-based semiconductors in the fast-growing power electronics market, enabling more efficient control and conversion of electrical energy. Silicon carbide-based semiconductors are needed for higher performance electric vehicles, automation processes or telecommunications infrastructure, among other applications.