The New Hampshire- based provider of sapphire crystal-based c-axis growth technology for LED solid state lighting markets, Advanced Renewable Energy (ARC Energy) has signed contracts with manufacturers in Asia.
According to the terms of the $96.9 million worth contract, ARC Energy will supply LED sapphire manufacturing equipment to each of the manufacturers. It includes turnkey solutions as well as automated c-axis Controlled Heat Extraction System (CHES) Furnaces.
An official statement from ARC Energy also revealed that the expansion plans are underway in its manufacturing facility to increase the manufacturing capacity by three fold. An additional 30,000 sq ft will be completed by the fourth quarter of 2011, thus making ARC Energy one of the world’s biggest LED sapphire furnace manufacturers.
The Senior Vice President of ARC Energy, Hap Hewes stated that several manufacturers have installed ARC Energy’s technology to mass produce large diameter sapphire. Hewes added that the capacity expansion and the new contracts will bring to light the advantages offered by ARC Energy’s one-of-a-kind c-axis sapphire platform and related turnkey solutions.
The optimum orientation offered by the ARC Energy c-axis wafers in LED applications allows for c-axis growth, which reduces overall manufacturing costs as compared to other sapphire growth technologies available.