26 Jun 2008
IQE wins contract extension as
sole supplier to major US wireless component manufacturer.
IQE plc (AIM: IQE) (“IQE” or the “Group’) is pleased to
announce that its Pennsylvania based business unit has been
awarded a multi-year contract extension as sole supplier of
GaAs based pHEMT epi-wafers to a major US wireless component
manufacturer. The contract extension, which is with an
existing IQE customer, is valued at approximately US $20
million in revenue over the next two years and is a long
term agreement designed to support the customer’s planned
growth over the coming years. The contract also extends the
coverage of IQE’s range of other products.
The GaAs based pHEMT epi-wafers are manufactured using the
Group’s advanced Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) tools and
provide the enabling technology for mobile handsets and
other wireless communication devices.
Steve Gergar, VP and General Manager of IQE’s Bethlehem PA
business said: “The extension of this contract by a major
player in the RF/wireless components arena demonstrates a
great deal of confidence in IQE’s ability to support its
customers, particularly during periods of high growth.”
Dr Drew Nelson, President and Group CEO added: “IQE’s
continued status as sole supplier to one of the world’s
leading wireless components manufacturer shows the growing
commitment by the industry towards outsourcing and confirms
the strength of IQE’s business model. It is also testament
to the quality of service provided by IQE over the last few
years and strength of relationship that the customer feels
confident in extending their business with IQE.”
Contacts:
IQE plc (+44 29 2083 9400)
Drew Nelson
Phil Rasmussen
Chris Meadows
College Hill (+44 20 7457 2020)
Adrian Duffield
Kate Norton
Noble & Company Limited (+ 44 20 7763 2200)
John Llewellyn-Lloyd
Sam Reynolds
Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited (+44 20 7459 3600)
Aubrey Powell
Ashton Clanfield
NOTE TO EDITORS
ABOUT IQE www.iqep.com
IQE plc is the leading global supplier of advanced
semiconductor wafers with products that cover a diverse
range of applications. It is able to provide a 'one stop
shop' for the wafer needs of the world's leading compound
semiconductor manufacturers, who in turn use these wafers to
make the chips which form the key components of virtually
every high technology system.
IQE has particular focus on the growing global wireless
sector for applications including; mobile handsets, wireless
infrastructure, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, base stations, GPS and
satellite communications; as well as for the optical
communication sector including; optical storage (CD, DVD),
laser optical mice, laser printers & photocopiers, thermal
imagers, leading-edge medical products, bar-coding, high
efficiency LEDs and advanced solar cells.
The manufacturers of these chips are increasingly seeking to
outsource wafer production to specialist foundries such as
IQE in order to reduce overall wafer costs and accelerate
time to market. IQE is unique in being able to supply wafers
using all of the leading crystal growth technology platforms
including Metal Organic Vapour Phase Epitaxy (MOVPE) and
Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) and the Group is able to
leverage its global purchasing volumes to reduce the cost of
raw materials.
IQE also provides bespoke R&D services to deliver customized
materials for specific applications and offers specialist
technical staff to manufacture to specification either at
its own facilities or on the customer's own sites. This is
backed by a strategy of duplicating each key product
processes over multiple sites to assure customers of
security of supply as well as provide compelling customer
benefits in terms of flexibility and predictability of cost,
thereby significantly reducing operating risk.
IQE operates six manufacturing facilities; two in Cardiff
and one in Milton Keynes in the UK; two more in Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania and Somerset, New Jersey in the USA; and its
most recent acquisition in Singapore. The Group also has 11
sales offices located in major economic centres worldwide.