Okmetic

Okmetic is a Finnish semiconductor-materials company that manufactures and supplies silicon wafers for the global semiconductor industry. Its products are used as starting materials for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), sensors, radio-frequency components, power devices, memory, logic, mixed-signal integrated circuits, discrete semiconductors and analog circuits. The company is headquartered in Vantaa, Finland, where most of its silicon-wafer manufacturing takes place. The company was formally established in 1985 as a joint venture associated with Nokia and Outokumpu. Its origins lay in research and pilot-production work conducted at Helsinki University of Technology during the late 1970s and early 1980s. That work demonstrated that high-quality silicon crystal growth could be carried out in Finland. Support from the Finnish Ministry of Trade and Industry, together with the industrial participation of Nokia and Outokumpu, helped turn the research program into a commercial enterprise. Okmetic opened its first crystal-growth and wafer-production facility in Espoo in 1987. It later expanded its Finnish manufacturing base with the commissioning of a Vantaa plant in 1997. Vantaa subsequently became the company’s principal production location. During the late 1990s, Okmetic broadened its international commercial presence by establishing sales offices in North America and Asia. Its customer reach and sales network later extended across Europe, North America and Asia, including operations or sales coverage in Finland, Germany, France, the United States, Japan, Singapore and China, as well as an agent relationship in South Korea. A key technological development was the start of volume production of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers in 2001. SOI became an important part of Okmetic’s specialty-wafer offering, particularly for applications such as MEMS, sensors and RF devices. The company has developed in-house manufacturing capabilities for 150 mm and 200 mm silicon and SOI wafers. It also supplies 300 mm wafers through partner-manufacturing arrangements. In addition to its Finnish operations, the company has used contract manufacturing arrangements in Japan and China. Okmetic became a publicly traded company in 2000, when it was listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange, now Nasdaq Helsinki, under the trading code OKM1V. Its public-company period ended in 2016, when it was acquired by China’s National Silicon Industry Group, commonly known as NSIG, and delisted. Following the acquisition, NSIG retained the existing management structure and stated that it would preserve Okmetic’s Finnish operations and workforce while supporting additional research, development and production investment. Under NSIG ownership, Okmetic has continued to position itself as a specialty silicon-wafer supplier rather than a high-volume commodity wafer producer. Its business is centered on customized wafer technologies, process capability and long-term relationships with semiconductor manufacturers. The company has expanded production technology and cleanroom capacity at Vantaa, with a major site-expansion program intended to more than double capacity and add hundreds of jobs. Okmetic’s present identity therefore combines Finnish manufacturing and engineering with the resources and international reach of a Chinese-owned semiconductor group.

Okmetic’s history began with Finnish research into silicon crystal growth. Collaborative research and pilot-manufacturing projects at Helsinki University of Technology in the late 1970s and early 1980s demonstrated the feasibility of producing high-quality silicon crystals in Finland. The work received support from the Finnish Ministry of Trade and Industry and attracted the participation of Nokia and Outokumpu. These industrial and public-sector links led to Okmetic’s formal establishment in March 1985, with company registration completed in May of that year. The company entered manufacturing in 1987, when it opened a crystal-growth and silicon-wafer facility in Espoo. Its early activities established the technical base for producing silicon materials for semiconductor customers. Okmetic expanded its Finnish footprint in 1997 by commissioning a plant in Vantaa. That site later became the company’s principal manufacturing location and remains central to its identity as a Finnish producer. Internationalization followed in the late 1990s. In 1999, Okmetic established sales offices in North America and Asia, allowing it to serve customers outside Finland more directly. The company became publicly listed in 2000 on the Helsinki Stock Exchange, now Nasdaq Helsinki, under the symbol OKM1V. Its public-market status provided a platform for further development as the semiconductor industry increasingly demanded specialized wafer structures and larger wafer formats. In 2001, Okmetic began volume production of silicon-on-insulator wafers. SOI technology became particularly relevant to MEMS, sensor and RF applications, where wafer structure and electrical isolation can be important to device performance. The company subsequently maintained in-house production of 150 mm and 200 mm silicon and SOI wafers, while supplying 300 mm wafers through partner-manufacturing arrangements. Its manufacturing and commercial model also included contract manufacturing in Japan and China. The decisive ownership change came in 2016, when China’s National Silicon Industry Group acquired Okmetic. The transaction resulted in Okmetic’s delisting from Nasdaq Helsinki. NSIG retained the company’s existing management and committed to maintaining its Finnish operations and workforce. The new owner also supported additional investment in research, development, production technology and plant capacity. Since the acquisition, Okmetic has continued operating as a specialty wafer company with its headquarters and majority of manufacturing in Finland. Its products serve a broad set of semiconductor applications, including MEMS, sensors, RF, power, memory, logic, mixed-signal, analog and discrete devices. The Vantaa site has undergone further development, including expanded cleanroom and production capacity. A major expansion program has been described as more than doubling the site’s capacity and creating hundreds of jobs. Through this combination of Finnish production, international sales and Chinese group ownership, Okmetic occupies a specialized position in the global semiconductor supply chain.

• 2016

  Acquisition by National Silicon Industry Group

  [1]Okmeticen.wikipedia.org

  NSIG acquired Okmetic, after which the company was delisted from Nasdaq Helsinki and continued as a privately owned subsidiary.

• 2001

  Volume production of SOI wafers began

  [1]Okmeticen.wikipedia.org

  Okmetic began volume production of silicon-on-insulator wafers, strengthening its position in specialty applications such as MEMS, sensors and RF devices.

• 2000

  Nasdaq Helsinki listing

  [1]Okmeticen.wikipedia.org

  Okmetic was listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange, now Nasdaq Helsinki, under trading code OKM1V.

• 1999

  International sales expansion

  [1]Okmeticen.wikipedia.org

  Okmetic established sales offices in North America and Asia as it expanded its international customer base.

• 1997

  Vantaa plant commissioned

  [1]Okmeticen.wikipedia.org

  Okmetic commissioned its Vantaa manufacturing plant, which later became the company’s main production site.

• 1987

  First production facility opened in Espoo

  [1]Okmeticen.wikipedia.org

  The company opened its first crystal-growth and silicon-wafer production facility in Espoo.

• 1985

  Okmetic established

  [1]Okmeticen.wikipedia.org

  Okmetic was formally established in Finland as a venture associated with Nokia and Outokumpu after years of silicon crystal-growth research and pilot manufacturing.

A specialty silicon-wafer supplier combining Finnish manufacturing, engineering and research capabilities with international sales coverage and the ownership resources of National Silicon Industry Group. Okmetic focuses on wafers for differentiated semiconductor applications, including MEMS, sensors, RF and power devices, rather than presenting itself solely as a commodity wafer producer.

• Semiconductor wafers

  Silicon wafers

  Okmetic supplies silicon wafers used as substrates in the manufacture of a wide range of semiconductor devices. Its application coverage includes MEMS, sensors, RF components, power semiconductors, memory, logic, mixed-signal and analog integrated circuits, as well as discrete devices. The company manufactures 150 mm and 200 mm silicon wafers in-house and also offers 300 mm wafers through partner-manufacturing arrangements.

• Specialty semiconductor wafers · 2001

  Silicon-on-insulator wafers

  Okmetic’s SOI wafers incorporate an insulating layer within the wafer structure and are designed for semiconductor applications where electrical isolation and specialized device performance are important. The company began volume production of SOI wafers in 2001. The technology has been associated with the company’s supply to MEMS, sensor and RF markets, among other specialty applications.

• 2016

  Accept acquisition by National Silicon Industry GroupM&A

  Background

  Okmetic was a publicly listed Finnish specialty silicon-wafer producer seeking continued development in an increasingly international semiconductor-materials market.

  Action taken

  National Silicon Industry Group acquired the company, after which Okmetic was delisted from Nasdaq Helsinki. The acquirer retained the Finnish operating base and existing management while supporting further investment.

  Aftermath

  Okmetic continued operating as a Finnish-headquartered, Chinese-owned specialty wafer manufacturer and expanded production technology and cleanroom capacity at Vantaa.

  Source

• Expand Vantaa production capacityStrategy

  Background

  Growing demand for specialty silicon wafers prompted further development of Okmetic’s principal Finnish manufacturing site.

  Action taken

  Okmetic launched a major expansion of the Vantaa site, including additional production technology and cleanroom capacity.

  Aftermath

  The expansion was expected to more than double capacity and create hundreds of jobs, although the supplied reference does not provide a confirmed completion date.

  Source

• 2016

  Okmetic acquired by National Silicon Industry Group and delisted from Nasdaq Helsinki[1]Okmeticen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Leadership change

  National Silicon Industry Group acquired Okmetic, ending its public listing under ticker OKM1V. The acquirer indicated that Okmetic’s Finnish operations and workforce would be retained and that further investment in research, development and manufacturing capacity would be supported.

• Okmetic advances expansion of its Vantaa manufacturing site[1]Okmeticen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Following its acquisition, Okmetic expanded production technology and cleanroom capacity at Vantaa. The company’s major site-expansion program was described as capable of more than doubling capacity and creating hundreds of jobs.

1. 1Okmeticen.wikipedia.org