Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. has decided to construct a new plant in Japan for semiconductor lithography materials. The company came to this decision to expand its semiconductor lithography materials business. Specifically, the new plant, which will become Shin-Etsu’s fourth production base for this business, will be in Isesaki City in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

Shin-Etsu has acquired a business site of about 150,000㎡ in the city where it will build a new manufacturing and research-and-development base for semiconductor lithography materials. After considering several potential sites for the new plant, the company chose the site in close cooperation with both Gunma Prefecture and Isesaki City. It plans to invest in the new plant in phases, with the first phase to be completed by 2026. The investment, including the land acquisition, is expected to reach about ¥83 billion at the end of the first phase of construction. The company will fund the investments entirely using its own funds.

Fourth Production Base

Shin-Etsu Chemical launched its photoresists business in 1997. Then, it started production of the cutting-edge KrF photoresists at the Naoetsu Plant in Niigata Prefecture. Since then, it has successfully developed and commercialized a succession of semiconductor lithography materials. These include photomask blanks, ArF photoresists, multilayer materials, extreme ultraviolet (EUV) resists, and others. The second production base was established in Fukui Prefecture in 2016. Meanwhile, the third production base was built in Yunlin County in the western part of Taiwan in 2019. Subsequently, it has achieved a stable supply of these products.

The demand for semiconductor lithography materials is growing as indispensable materials for the manufacture of cutting-edge semiconductors. Moreover, quality requirements are continuing to increase in sophistication. To respond to the strong demand from customers, Shin-Etsu has decided to establish a fourth production site. This will enable the company to diversify risks related to business continuity. Particularly, this site has been positioned as an advanced base for semiconductor materials. It plans to expand it in the future as a production base for semiconductor lithography materials and other products, including research and development. It expresses its deepest gratitude to Gunma Prefecture and Isesaki City for their full cooperation in this matter.

Shin-Etsu Chemical will continue to focus on the development of the new base as well as its semiconductor lithography materials business to meet the expectations of its customers and society.

-18 April 2024-