Materion Expands Sputtering Target Production
Progress Update on New Facilities in Germany & U.S.
With the construction of its state-of-the-art factory in Alzenau, Germany on schedule and its expanded new facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico completed, Materion has enlarged its global capacity for manufacturing planar and rotary targets. The combination of the engineering capabilities of the two facilities strengthens Materion’s ability to meet the need for precious and non-precious target materials for the architectural and automotive glass, photovoltaic, display and semiconductor industries as well as broadening its reach in Europe, Asia and the United States.
Construction in Alzenau on Target
Materion is close to finalizing the construction and technical installations of its 10,000 square meter leading-edge factory in Alzenau, Germany. Its enhanced capabilities are a result of the arch 2017 acquisition of the existing Heraeus target materials business in Hanau, Germany and its subsequent relocation to the new facility Materion is erecting in Alzenau. The modern building with advanced equipment will allow for a larger production area, increased capacity, optimized material flow, and include a sputtering applications laboratory. The relocation of the existing plant and equipment from Hanau to Alzenau will commence in March 2018 and is expected to take three months until completion.
Serving Customers Cutting Edge Technology
The Alzenau facility will enable Materion to expand R&D and new product development and enhance several key production technologies. One of these initiatives is the introduction of a new state-of-the-art Coater for next generation applications that will provide full SPC control of the coating conditions. In addition, Materion is investing in new advanced rolling technologies with modern control systems and enhanced process controls via an integrated force measurement system.
In relocating the Hanau facility to a new building, great emphasis was placed on choosing a reasonably close location to ease the transition for our customers and minimize possible disruption to the workforce. Materion recognizes the knowledge and experience the current personnel bring to the company. The new facility is being custom built to optimize safe working conditions for employees.
New Albuquerque, New Mexico Facility Up and Running
The expanded facility in New Mexico consolidated Heraeus’ large area glass target manufacturing from its previous location in Arizona with Materion’s existing operations into one new plant in Albuquerque. The combination added 25% capacity to the site and additional capabilities such as rotatable target manufacturing.
Progress during 2017 entailed installing equipment and setting up main processes including plasma spray, casting and form spray. Manufacturing was able to start May 2017 and all products were qualified by October. With the addition of new equipment and expanded capabilities, Albuquerque can manufacture a new suite of large area glass target materials, particularly silver and other metals, compounds and alloys. The Chandler facility is fully staffed and achieved >93% on time delivery in Q4 2017. The plasma spray process is now running 24 hours daily as of January 2018.
With the new construction in Alzenau and expansion in Albuquerque, Materion offers the broadest selection of high quality precious and non-precious target materials globally. It also provides access to the latest technologies and R&D experts that underpin its commitment to customers’ needs.
For More Information
About Alzenau, Germany, Contact: Guido Beyss, President EMEA, Guido.Beyss@Materion.com. About Albuquerque, New Mexico, Contact: Richard Vitale, Plant Manager, Richard.Vitale@Materion.com.