Mitsubishi Materials to Expand Polycrystalline Silicon at Yokkaichi

Mitsubishi Materials announced on Friday the firm expands output capacity of polycrystalline silicon at Yokkaichi plant, Mie, Japan. The firm will increase the capacity to 2,800 tonnes per annum at Yokkaichi in 2010 as the first phase, up by 55% from current 1,800 tonnes. Capital expenditure is 33.5 billion yen including up-front 10 billion yen to organize productive infrastructure for future output expansion.Mitsubishi Materials produces polycrystalline silicon of 11N high purity at Yokkaichi plant and US wholly-owned subsidiary in Alabama, Mitsubishi Polycrystalline Silicon America Corporation. US plant’s capacity is 1,500 tonnes per year. Mitsubishi Materials’ total output capacity will increase by 30% to 4,300 tonnes after expansion of Yokkaichi from current 3,300 tonnes.The firm acquired a new building site of 90,000 square meters near Yokkaichi plant. The firm will construct a new plant on the site to raise capacity by 1,000 tonnes while considering additional expansion by 3,000-4,000 tonnes in future.Demand for polycrystalline silicon is increasing globally when higher information technology is rapidly required in advanced countries and semiconductor is more consumed in emerging countries. Polycrystalline silicon is actively used for solar cells as well.