Momentive Performance Materials announced that its Quartz & Ceramics business is celebrating the groundbreaking ceremony to expand its specialty quartz production plant in Geesthacht, Germany.
The expansion will enable the company to meet the growing demand for its high purity specialty quartz materials used by the semiconductor industry for computer chip production and the photovoltaic industry for solar wafer production. Momentive’s Quartz & Ceramics manufactures a wide range of specialty products , including the large-diameter fused quartz rods and tubing, solid ingot used to make microchips and fused quartz crucibles employed to grow silicon ingots.
The $14 million project is expected to be completed at the end of 2012. It will boost the production capacity of the large-diameter fused quartz crucibles by about 100% at the Geesthacht site. These materials are used as containers, in which monosilicon ingots are produced, which are later converted into silicon wafers.
Ray Kolberg, President of Quartz & Ceramics, stated that the increase in semiconductor and photovoltaic production drives the growing worldwide demand for high-purity specialty quartz products. Hence, the company is committed to enhancing its specialty quartz production capabilities to address the continuing needs of its global clients in several industries. Quartz and Ceramics division of Momentive serves electric vehicle markets, specialty lighting, solar energy electronics and various other industries.
Source: http://ww2.momentive.com/