Sumitomo Metal Mining Expands Sapphire Substrate Output

Sumitomo Metal Mining expanded the sapphire substrate output when the firm expects the higher demand for white light emitting diode. The firm expanded the output of products with 3 inches diameter or more to monthly 10,000 units in October at Oume plant from 5,000 units. The firm eyes additional output increase depending on the market.

Oume plant has integrated production system from CZ sapphire crystal to substrate started the operation with 5,000 units per month in 2007. The firm utilizes the technology from gallium phosphate substrate.

Artificial sapphire substrate with gallium nitride epitaxial layer is used for white LED. The LED application expands to automobile headlight while the main applications are for backlight for cell phone and laptop computer. The application is expected to expand to interior light due to the performance with a fifth electricity consumption and 10 times life compared with filament lamp.

White LED world market will expand to 28 billion units in 2011 from 11 billion units in 2007, according to Tokyo based research company, Fuji Keizai. The demand will increase for backlight of liquid crystal along with automobile headlight and general light.