B2B Portal Electronics

Semiconductor fabrication is known as the process to create chips. Today chips are integrated in most devices which we use as end consumers in our everyday lives, but also in most automatic industrial manufacturing processes. The semiconductor fabrication process is characterised by many photographic and chemical steps.

 

But what exactly is a semiconductor? It is a solid whose electrical conductivity can be controlled. As semiconductors are used in various applications today, semiconductor technology has gained quite remarkable importance – technologically and economically. Silicon is the most common material which is used in semiconductor manufacturing. Other semiconductor materials can quite often be gallium arsenide or germanium.

 

When looking at semiconductors manufacturing, the process lasts – from the beginning of the production to semiconductor packaging and shipment – between six to eight weeks. The first step for semiconductor manufacturers is the so called wafer fabrication. The used material is generally pure silicon. Step 2 is the fabrication of integrated circuits which are placed on the wafers. The third step is to assemble the device in a finished product. The process is finalised by testing the product.

 

Semiconductor applications have entered our every day lives and the industrial high technology sector. Semiconductor chips are used in computers, mobile phones and digital audio players. Certain semiconductors emit light supporting a light-emitting diode (LED). Semiconductors influence the automation of many processes. Semiconductor technologies play a vital role in the electronics device fabrication for the end consumer market as they facilitate mass production.

 

The semiconductor market has gone international: a semiconductor manufacturer or semiconductor supplier interconnects with an international network. Production sites can be found in the US, Singapore, Taiwan and Korea as well as in Ireland or Japan. There are approximately 5,000 semiconductor and electronic components manufacturers in the United States.

 

Throughout the last years, falling prices, planned obsolescence, shorter product innovation cycles and the rapid successive marketing of follow-up models have tremendously changed the consumer goods market. This also effects the semiconductor fabrication. Today end customers demand more intelligent electronics equipment with a high level of automation and easy usage. Nowadays, disposal and dismantling systems and electronics recycling play a crucial role when it comes to electronic waste. A challenge is that there is no common and accepted definition of E-waste valid for the international market. E-waste is created when consumers or companies no longer use electrical devices or throw away broken and unrepairable appliances such as computers and televisions.