UK SiC fab secures Indian investment
Clas-SiC, the UK’s only commercial SiC wafer fab, has secured a £12 million investment from Indian chemical firm Archean Chemical Industries, based in Chennai.
In exchange, Archean will gain board representation, with Ranjit Pendurthi appointed as a director.
The Scotland-based company aims to use the funds to advance next-generation semiconductor technology.
Jen Walls, CEO at Clas-SiC, said: “This investment secures next-generation technology development and manufacturing. We already export power semiconductors globally, partnering with customers from North America, Europe and Asia.
“This is an exciting time for us and will further secure our place on the global compound semiconductor market.”
UK Science Minister Lord Vallance welcomed the deal, stating: “Attracting investment from around the world is vital in growing the UK’s compound semiconductor sector and supporting the work of innovative companies like Clas-SiC.”
For Archean Chemical Industries, the investment is seen as a strategic move towards potentially building India’s first dedicated SiC power device manufacturing facility in the coming months.
Clas-SiC Wafer Fab is the UK’s only commercial SiC dedicated wafer fabrication facility. It focuses on providing rapid prototyping for early design concepts, reducing time to market with short-cycle time and low-rate production in Scotland.
Founded in 2017, Clas-SiC has grown from 24 employees to around 75 through private investment, achieving a 100 percent rise in turnover over the past two years.
