Cyberjaya, 20 January 2022 – SilTerra Malaysia Sdn Bhd has announced the availability of a new manufacturing technology for microelectromechanical systems (“MEMS”) and Photonics devices based on Cavity Silicon-On-Insulator (“C-SOI®”) wafers produced and customised by Okmetic, a high value-added silicon wafer supplier based in Finland.

C-SOI® wafers are customised for SilTerra’s needs and suitable for applications in piezosensor, micromirror, accelerometer, microphone, inertial MEMS, resonator and microfluidic devices across such vertical markets as consumer, medical, industrial and automotive for the frequency range of 500kHz or below. The technology can also be used to build sensors that use MEMS-based actuation and Photonic-based sensing.

C-SOI® substrates have embedded large cavity dimensions with improved and repeatable yields, and SilTerra has successfully integrated and qualified the MEMS and Photonics process modular blocks on the C-SOI® substrates. In essence, with the technology SilTerra can offer precise, high yield and faster time to market MEMS and Photonics devices fabrication to customers.

“We are pleased for SilTerra as one of the early adopters in pure play foundry to introduce C-SOI®-based technology for MEMS and Photonics devices, which will strengthen and broaden SilTerra’s offerings in this market,” said Tan Sri Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, Group Managing Director of Dagang NeXchange Berhad (“DNeX”), and also Executive Chairman of SilTerra.

“Moving forward, we will continue to invest and enhance our technical offerings to satisfy the market demand. This is all part of our commitment to turn SilTerra into a world-class specialty foundry player in terms of operational excellence and technology advancement,” he said.

According to Tan Sri Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, the demand for semiconductor chips will remain elevated this year, on the back of major technological shifts occurring around the globe such as the 5G network transition, Industry 4.0, rapid adoption of electric vehicles, and renewable energy.

“These macro trends will persist in the coming years, not only in 2022 and these will provide vast business opportunities to the local technology companies, which help fortify Malaysia’s standing in the global Electrical and Electronics (“E&E”) industry. Local tech firms, including SilTerra, are well-poised to ride on the growth trajectory,” he said.

SilTerra is a strategic investment of DNeX, and Beijing Integrated Circuit Advanced Manufacturing and High-End Equity Investment Fund Center (Limited Partnership) (“CGP Fund”).