9 Silicon Wafer Manufacturers in 2024
This section provides an overview for silicon wafers as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 9 silicon wafer manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked silicon wafer companies as of November, 2024: 1.Alfa Chemistry, 2.Wafer World, Inc., 3.WaferPro.
Table of Contents
What Is a Silicon Wafer?
Silicon wafer is a material for semiconductor products. Silicon means silicon and a wafer is a thinly sliced cylinder. Therefore, a silicon wafer is a thinly sliced silicon single crystal.
Silicon is a typical material for electronic devices. Electronic devices support our lives. As the demand for electronic devices increases, the need for silicon wafers will also increase.
Uses of Silicon Wafers
Though we may not be aware of the uses of silicon wafers in our daily lives, they are in all electronic devices. Silicon wafers are used as substrates for semiconductor products. Typical examples of the use of semiconductor products are listed below.
- Office automation equipment such as smartphones and personal computers
- Control units of mobile equipment such as automobiles and aircraft
- AI and robot internals
- Solar batteries
Principle of Silicon Wafers
Silicon wafers are fabricated from the element silicon. Silicon is the second most abundant element on the earth's surface after oxygen. It is a common element found in soil and rocks, but using quartz, the material for silicon wafers is refined.
A cylindrical silicon rod called a silicon ingot is used to make silicon wafers. Silicon wafers are produced by slicing silicon ingots into thin slices.
Silicon ingots are made from high-purity silicon crystals using two major methods: the CZ method (Czochralski method) and the FZ method (Floating Zone method).
- The CZ Method
In the CZ method, raw silicon materials are melted in a high-temperature furnace at temperatures exceeding 1,000℃. A silicon ingot is completed when a seed silicon rod is inserted into the furnace and levitated while rotating at high speed.
- The FZ Method
The FZ method uses polycrystalline silicon material in rod form. The raw material is attached to the seed monocrystalline silicon material, and the boundary surface is inductively heated. The polycrystalline silicon material becomes monocrystalline, and a silicon ingot is completed.
Other Information on Silicon Wafers
- Silicon Wafer Manufacturing Process
Silicon wafers are manufactured using silicon ingots produced by the above two methods. The manufacturing process is as follows:
- Cutting of Ingots
- Ingots are cut using diamond blades to produce wafers of the desired thickness.
- Polishing of Wafers
- To maintain the quality of the circuit pattern, the surface of the wafer is polished to a mirror-like finish. Thus, it is free of particulates and other impurities.
One of the reasons for the significant development of large-scale integrated circuits using silicon semiconductors is the establishment of a technology that enables the mass production of high-purity, defect-free silicon single-crystals at a relatively low cost. The manufactured silicon is of ultra-high purity of 99.999999999% or higher and is called "eleven-nine" because there are eleven nines in a row.
Silicon ingot fabrication technology also continues to improve. Ingots have so far grown in diameter from 20 mm to 200 mm.
- Silicon Wafer Market Share
The global electronics market is expanding yearly, and the semiconductor industry is becoming increasingly essential to support this growth. The market for silicon wafers was $11.9 billion in 2018.
Silicon Wafer Share by Consumption Region
The market shares by consumption region are South Korea (35%), North America (29%), Taiwan (16%), China (10%), and Japan (7%), with higher shares in North America, South Korea, and Taiwan, where semiconductor manufacturers are based.
Silicon Wafer Sales Share by Vendor Nationality
The share by vendor nationality is Japan (55%), Taiwan (20%), Germany (14%), and South Korea (10%), with Japanese companies holding a high share.
2020 "Survey on Industrial Infrastructure of Electronic Equipment Manufacturing" from Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry data.
List of 9 Silicon Wafer Manufacturers
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
- Default
- Company Size: largest first
- Year Founded: oldest first
- Year Founded: earliest first
Sort by Area
- United States of America
- China
- Germany
- Japan
- United States
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Wafer World, Inc.
Silicon Wafer
Distributor Overview
Wafer World is a Florida-based supplier of wafers and semiconductor materials of various thicknesses and orientations composed of a range of materials including gallium arsenide, quartz, germanium, and sapphire. Established in 1997, the company serves clients in over 45 countries across six continents. The company’s manufacturing facility can accommodate a wide range of product specifications and qualities, offering Clean Room Packaging services which involve environmental controls to minimize risk of contamination. Industries served by Wafer World, Inc. include aerospace, solar, semiconductor, and biotech.
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WaferPro
SILICON WAFERS
Distributor Overview
WaferPro is a supplier of silicon wafers and other semiconductor materials used in microelectromechanical systems, optics, and solar energy. Founded in 2016, the California-based company’s product line includes float zone (FZ), silicon thermal oxide, silicon on insulator (SOI) and silicon nitride wafers. The company offers services such as worldwide shipping and customer support in the form of technical advice, quotes and online shopping for added convenience. WaferPro products have been used by various corporations in the tech sector, including Intel, Apple, Nvidia, and Tesla.
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LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd.
Monocrystalline Silicon Wafer
Manufacturer Overview
LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (LGET) is a manufacturer of solar modules based in Xi'an, China. Originally founded in 2000 before its rebrand from Xi'an Longi Silicon Materials Corporation in 2017, the company produces various solar photovoltaic (PV) solutions that supply clients in electronics, power generation and nanotechnology. The company's product portfolio includes monocrystalline wafers, cells, and modules with a range of integrated technologies such as PERC, TOPCon, multi-busbar and smart tracking. With clients like Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy and the ATP tour, LGET is among Xi'an's largest developers of solar power projects today.
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Alfa Chemistry
Silicon/Silicon Dioxide Wafers
Manufacturer Overview
Alfa Chemistry, founded in the year 2015 is based in New York, USA as a biotechnology company and manufacturer of graphene materials. Their product portfolio includes graphene oxide, CVD graphene film, graphene modification services, graphene series, graphene-like material, carbon nanomaterials, quantum dots, upcoming nanoparticles, and graphene transfer services. The company also provides services in custom manufacturing, and graphene analysis with quality assurance. The products are used in various industries which include energy, digital electronics, environment, textile, coating, and biomedical science.
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Okmetic
Silicon wafers
Manufacturer Overview
Okmetic is a large-scale manufacturer of custom silicon wafers used in the production of radio frequency filters, sensors and micro electronic mechanical systems (MEMS), Originally founded in Finland in 1985, the company is now owned by China's National Silicon Industry Group, which is based in Shanghai. The company produces various semiconductor materials, including patterned wafers for cost-effective or efficient manufacturing, high resistivity wafers for devices operating at high frequencies, and single- and double-side polished wafers that can withstand high voltages. Okmetic also maintains an aggressive R&D department to keep up with new technologies in the semiconductor industry.
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Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
Silicon Wafers
Company Overview
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., founded in 1926 in Japan, is a manufacturer and distributor of synthetic chemicals and electronic materials, such as semiconductor silicon and rare earth quartz. The company offers a wide range of products, including silicone sealants and rubbers, as well as cellulose derivatives used in foods and pharmaceuticals, and rare earth magnets. The company has four core business segments, including infrastructure chemicals, electronics materials, silicone-based functional agents, and specialized engineering for the development of plant design, construction, and maintenance.
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Yutai Optics Co.,Ltd
Zinc Selenide
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SIEGERT WAFER GmbH
Silicon Wafers
Distributor Overview
SIEGERT WAFER GmbH is a multinational supplier of wafers made of various materials, including sapphire, silicon and glass. The company was established in 2012 in Aachen, Germany, with products utilized in OLED displays, solar cells, chemical sensors and touchscreens. The company offers diagnostic services and wafer customization services, as well as detailed inventory inquiries via their website. SIEGERT WAFER GmbH serves clients in the electronics, biotech, and nanotechnology industries, including Infineon Technologies AG and the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT).
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Silicon Wafer Manufacturer Ranking
*Including some distributors, etc.Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alfa Chemistry |
34.3%
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| 2 | Wafer World, Inc. |
16.2%
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| 3 | WaferPro |
10.7%
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| 4 | SIEGERT WAFER GmbH |
8.1%
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| 5 | Fujimi Incorporated |
7.6%
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| 6 | LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd. |
6.9%
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| 7 | Okmetic |
6.6%
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| 8 | Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. |
5.7%
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| 9 | Yutai Optics Co.,Ltd |
3.9%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the silicon wafer page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
- LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd.: 49,967
- Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.: 24,954
- Fujimi Incorporated: 1,031
Newly Established Company
- LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd.: 2000 (24 years ago)
- Wafer World, Inc.: 1997 (27 years ago)
- Okmetic: 1985 (39 years ago)
Company with a History
- Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.: 1926 (98 years ago)
- Okmetic: 1985 (39 years ago)
- Wafer World, Inc.: 1997 (27 years ago)
Silicon Wafer Manufacturers in United States
*Including some distributors, etc.
Global Distribution of Silicon Wafer Manufacturers by Country
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
United States of America
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2 | 28.6% |
Japan
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2 | 28.6% |
China
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1 | 14.3% |
| United States | 1 | 14.3% |
Germany
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1 | 14.3% |
List of Silicon Wafer Products
11 products are listed.
K ＆R Creation
High quality crystalline Pt (111) /Ti /SIO2 on silicon wafer
40+ people viewing
It has been confirmed that it is high -quality crystallinity compared to conventional products on the market. It is also possible to cut it to 10x1...
Tours Co., Ltd.
XCSW compound / semiconductor crystal etching silicon wafer
50+ people viewing
Last viewed: 21 hours ago
■ XCSW XCSW is a compound semiconductor material company founded in Amoi, China in 1990. On the Ⅲ-al, in, as, p based on the Ⅲ-ⅴ tribe silicopop N-...
Tours Co., Ltd.
Semiconductor crystal SI optical crystal substrate/semiconductor silicon wafer
40+ people viewing
■ Purchase country name Japan, China, the United States, the United Kingdom ■ Optical and semiconductor systems Our handling silicon wafers and cr...
Tours Co., Ltd.
XCSW compounds / semiconductor crystal SI crystal substrates, silicon wafers
40+ people viewing
■ XCSW XCSW is a compound semiconductor material company founded in Amoi, China in 1990. On the Ⅲ-al, in, as, p based on the Ⅲ-ⅴ tribe silicopop N-...
Tours Co., Ltd.
XCSW compound / semiconductor crystal FZ method Siliconweha
30+ people viewing
■ XCSW XCSW is a compound semiconductor material company founded in Amoi, China in 1990. On the Ⅲ-al, in, as, p based on the Ⅲ-ⅴ tribe silicopop N-...
Tours Co., Ltd.
XCSW compounds / semiconductor crystals CZ method Siliconweha
30+ people viewing
■ XCSW XCSW is a compound semiconductor material company founded in Amoi, China in 1990. On the Ⅲ-al, in, as, p based on the Ⅲ-ⅴ tribe silicopop N-...
