Overview
IQE offers a range of III-V substrates and associated materials from it's substrate divisions: Wafer Technology (UK) and Galaxy Compound Semiconductors (USA).
IQE's substrate divisions specialise in GaSb and InSb materials for infrared applications.
A Wealth of Experience
Wafer Technology Ltd is a U.K. based producer of III-V materials and epitaxy-ready substrates. The company has a long and well established history in the manufacture of III-V materials and offers the widest product range in the business. Wafer Technology’s unrivalled choice of material types and forms enables it to support almost any customer application.
Based in Spokane, WA USA, Galaxy is the
world's leading supplier of GaSb and InSb materials.
Beginning with the highest purity starting elements
available, we grow our antimonide crystals by the
Czochralski boule pulling method. Using advanced equipment
and ISO 9001:2008 certified processes, we assure our
customers of a continuous and highest grade supply of these
critical antimonide based substrates. Our GaSb and InSb
wafers provide the most advanced solutions for today's
stealth, space, transportation, biomedical, and other key
military and commercial infrared (IR) markets.
The origins of Wafer Technology can be traced back to 1957 when it was a pioneer in the growth of single crystal gallium arsenide. Recognising the potential importance of III-V compound semiconductors, the company focussed its efforts on establishing manufacturing technologies for such materials and thereafter lead the way in being the first to offer production sources of gallium arsenide in various forms. Today sees Wafer Technology benefit from a rich history of materials development which has positioned the company as an industry leading authority on a diverse range of compound semiconductor types.
Galaxy's history can be traced tangentially to Percival
Johnson who formed a London gold assaying company in 1817.
George Matthey joined the company in 1851 to form Johnson &
Matthey, largely a gold and platinum assayer company. Over
130 years later, in 1989, Johnson & Matthey purchased
Cominco Electronics in order to enter into the growing
semiconductor material business and began to fabricate
Czochralski grown InSb and GaSb boules. Allied Signal
acquired the Johnson & Matthey Electronics Division in 1996.
Just prior to a pending merger with Honeywell in 1999.
Galaxy Compound Semiconductors was a spin off from this
company with an expertise in the fabrication of antimonide
based Czochralski boules. Starting with 3 employees in 1999,
Galaxy has grown to 20 employees in 2011. In October of
2010, Galaxy Compound Semiconductors, Inc. was purchased by
IQE plc (www.iqep.com), coming full circle back to a UK
based company. The merger provides significant advantages
which include captive wafer supply to epitaxial wafer
foundry operations within the IQE Group, an added customer
base and access to state of the art materials
characterization techniques and expertise. All Galaxy
manufacturing processes remain in Spokane, WA USA.
Group Strength
Wafer Technology and Galaxy Compound Semiconductors are both wholly owned subsidiaries of IQE plc, the world’s leading MOCVD and MBE epitaxial wafer foundry. Group membership provides customers with the credence and confidence that is required to support the purchase and qualification of III-V materials and substrates. Close relationships with all Group member companies supports its substrate divisions thorough understanding of the latest material and device market trends which in turn are utilised by the company to develop new product types.
Wafer Technology (UK): www.wafertech.co.uk
Galaxy Compound Semiconductors (USA): www.galaxywafer.com