Semiconductor manufacturers are facing some of the most challenging market conditions they will ever encounter – and many are struggling to find a way through the storm.
The headwinds are familiar to anyone working in the industry. They include:
Taken together, these developments illuminate just how critical it is for semiconductor makers to have a consistent and resilient supply chain.
This is where a long-established partner like Materion can be of great value. We combine a global manufacturing footprint with localized service around the world. Our broad product portfolio includes sputtering targets, evaporation materials, ALD precursors, and reclaim/refining services for material recovery.
Precious metals are a prominent example of a semiconductor material that can be challenging. Mining is limited to a few regions, some of which are politically unstable, while environmental and ESG scrutiny is intense.
Materion helps mitigate these factors through its in-house/in-region recycling and refining services, responsible strategic sourcing, and pool account offerings to minimize supply disruption. We are based in the U.S. and have expansive operations there, while also maintaining Europe’s largest target manufacturing facility along with a significant presence in the Asia Pacific region.
In the same vein, tantalum is key to the manufacture of some semiconductors but presents challenges related to uncertain supply, price volatility, and compliance pressure.
Materion helps to address these issues in several ways through its:
Even scandium, an emergingly important material in the semiconductor supply chain, is subject to price volatility, supply disruption, and capacity constraints. Materion again comes to the rescue with diverse supplier relationships, cooperation with China’s ministry of Commerce, and internal production with demonstrated proof of concept for refining.
Materion’s long history serving the semiconductor market, its wide-ranging metals expertise, its significant (>$500 million in the last five years) investment in manufacturing, and its commitment to partnering with R&D teams all provide peace of mind when it comes to your global supply chain.
We would love the opportunity to talk with you to understand the specific challenges you face and how we can best navigate the complicated geopolitical supply chain together.