
An investment of US$2 million is planned by SAFC Hitech, a division of the Sigma-Aldrich to boost production of of trimethylgallium (TMG) at its Bromborough, Wirral, UK manufacturing plant. Additional funding of £300,000 was given by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).
"Expanding our TMG capacity not only draws on our Bromborough facility's core competencies, but also reinforces Sigma-Aldrich's overall strategy of leveraging proprietary technologies and capabilities into new, fast growing market segments, thus differentiating ourselves and our materials offerings through technical innovation," commented Dr. Geoff Irvine, VP, Business Development, SAFC Hitech. "This investment is expected to accelerate the delivery of TMG to a growing market position and reinforce our position as a leading global manufacturer and distributor for the growing LED market worldwide, as well as create jobs in the area, which is positive news given the current economic climate."
TMG has been manufactured at SAFC Hitech's Bromborough facility for a number of years, primarily for supply to the global semiconductor industry. However, as TMG also fulfills the technical criteria for devices designed for the LED, laser, communication and other markets, the boom in demand for LEDs has led to the expansion of the plant.