Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd (TYO: 4005) announced plans to increase its photoresist production capacity for advanced semiconductor processes. The processes include ArF (argon fluoride) immersion and EUV (extreme ultraviolet) lithography.
The expansion project is likely to be completed in 2022 according to the company. It will be achieved by the addition of new production lines at its Konohana-Ku plant, Osaka.
Strong growth in the semiconductor device market is encouraging the company to invest in further expansion of its photoresist (light-sensitive resin materials deployed in semiconductor photolithography) materials. In particular, demand for immersion ArFs and other advanced photoresists is poised to register over 6.3% CAGR over the decade.