FUJIFILM Cultivates CMP Slurries for EU Semiconductor Growth
FUJIFILM Corporation has announced plans to install new production facilities for CMP slurries — advanced semiconductor materials — at its manufacturing site in Belgium.
The company will also enhance existing facilities for photolithography-related materials.
With demand for automotive and industrial semiconductors in Europe set to rise due to digital transformation in manufacturing, Fujifilm is investing approximately 4 billion yen (US$26.75m)to expand its Belgium site in Zwijndrecht, Antwerp.
"We are pleased to announce Fujifilm's continued commitment to expanding our semiconductor materials production capabilities here in Zwijndrecht" says Hans Vloeberghs, President & Managing Director, FUJIFILM Electronic Materials Europe.
"In response to the increasing demand from our customers, particularly in the automotive and industrial sectors, this 25 million EUR investment will enable us to establish new production facilities for CMP slurries, while also enhancing our existing facilities for photolithography-related materials."
Growing global demand for semiconductors
The world has experienced the consequences of large scale semiconductor shortages, and nobody wants to go back.
From 2020 to 2023 the global supply of semiconductors was lower than demand, due to myriad factors including COVID-19, trade restrictions and supply chain vulnerabilities.
This shortage had a profound impact on many manufacturing industries, from consumer electronics to the automotive sector.
Prices for semiconductors surged and safety standards were frequently overlooked due to the scale of demand.
Today global semiconductor supply has stabilised, but demand is growing exponentially due to a wave of rapid AI innovations.
These include 5G and 6G, the expansion of autonomous driving and the spread of virtual technologies and the metaverse.
In alignment with this, efforts to produce semiconductors must increase.
If they do not, global manufacturing may experience another shortage - a more devastating one, due to the critical role AI is playing across critical operations and technologies.
FUJIFILM's investment will help to address this, strategically supporting semiconductor materials business.
Over the three-year period from 2024 to 2026, the company plans to invest a total of 170 billion yen globally in research and development as well as capital investments.
As part of this initiative, Fujifilm is rapidly expanding its production capacity for semiconductor materials.
Recent investments include enhancements to development, production, and quality evaluation functions for advanced resists at its Shizuoka site in Japan and its Pyeongtaek site in South Korea, along with an expansion of CMP slurry production facilities at its Kumamoto site in Japan.
The expansion of its CMP slurry production facilities is essential both in Japan and at its site in Belgium to advance semiconductor manufacturing.
The relationship between CMP Slurries & semiconductors
CMP (Chemical Mechanical Planarisation) slurries are vital to semiconductor manufacturing, with their adoption forecasted to grow at an annual rate of 13%.
CMP is a type of chemical mechanical polishing, where surfaces are smoothed through the introduction of specific chemical and mechanical forces.
These slurries enable the precise smoothing and planarization of wafer surfaces, required to achieve the required levels of uniformity and precision in semiconductor fabrication.
It is this planarization that ensures the performance and reliability of advanced chips.
CMP slurries contain a mixture of abrasive particles and chemical agents that help remove excess material while maintaining a high degree of control over surface smoothness.
As semiconductor devices become increasingly complex with smaller nodes and more layers, the presence of high-performance CMP slurries is even more important.
FUJIFILM understands this, investing in this technology at a critical time to boost its diverse semiconductor offerings.
The manufacturer's product portfolio includes photoresists, photolithography-related materials, CMP slurries, post-CMP cleaners, thin-film chemicals, polyimides and high-purity process chemicals.
Additionally, the company offers WAVE CONTROL MOSAIC™, which includes colour filter materials for image sensors.
Embracing both cutting-edge and legacy semiconductor manufacturing processes, FUJIFILM is dedicated to addressing customer challenges and driving industry growth.
The company leverages its global supply network and advanced research and development capabilities to provide comprehensive, one-stop solutions for semiconductor manufacturers.
With the investment in its Belgium site, the company is helping to specifically address the needs of manufacturers across the EU.
Serving the EU semiconductor market
"Building upon our strategic investment announced in April 2023, which last year marked a significant milestone with the partial start of production operations, this new expansion underscores our dedication to supporting the growth of Europe's semiconductor industry," Hans continues.
"As part of the continued growth of Fujifilm's global semiconductor materials production network globally, this development further strengthens Fujifilm's position in the market and demonstrates our commitment to meet the evolving needs of our customers."
With this expansion, the Belgium site will join Fujifilm’s existing CMP slurry production network, which includes facilities in the US, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan.
The addition of the Belgium facility will establish a global network spanning six locations, ensuring a more stable and reliable supply of CMP slurries to customers worldwide.
In addition to CMP slurries, Fujifilm will also improve the production facilities for developer solutions used in the photolithography process at its Belgium site.
This will enable the company to better meet growing European demand for automotive and industrial semiconductors.
According to the European Union, Chip demand is expected to double between 2022 and 2030, with significant increases in future demand for leading-edge semiconductor technologies.
Revenue in the European semiconductor market is expected to reach US$68.44bn this year, posing a distinctive opportunity for semiconductor leaders like FUJIFILM.
With this investment in its Belgium suite, European manufacturers will be better placed to access a consistent supply of premium semiconductors for industrial and automotive applications.
The new CMP slurry production facilities and upgraded developer production facilities are scheduled to begin operation in spring 2026.
"This investment is not only a testament to our confidence in the European semiconductor industry's growth potential but also a crucial step towards ensuring we have the local capacity and capability to deliver high-quality materials needed for cutting-edge semiconductor production here in Europe," Hans concludes.
Explore the latest edition of Manufacturing Digital and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Manufacturing LIVE.
Sign up to our weekly newsletter here.
Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.
Manufacturing Digital is a BizClik brand.
