Aachen/Germany, October 23, 2012  - AIXTRON SE today announced that Asahi Kasei Corporation ("Asahi Kasei") has ordered an AIXTRON Close Coupled Showerhead (CCS) 6x2-inch MOCVD system to develop its next generation arsenide-phosphide-based optoelectronic devices and antimonide-based sensor devices. The order was placed in the first quarter and delivery is due in the fourth quarter of 2012.

AIXTRON has a proven track record in Japan. Asahi Kasei chose the AIXTRON system based on its flexibility for R&D purposes combined with its ability to grow on small and large wafers. CCS-based processes can also be easily scaled-up later for volume production. Furthermore, the CCS concept also allows high yields with larger area devices. Asahi Kasei has also ordered special features for its system including an EpiTT, an ARGUS multi-channel pyrometer, and Gap Adjustment.

Through its subsidiary, Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation, Asahi Kasei has been developing antimonide-based magnetic sensors for some time, based on the Hall Effect. Antimonide-based sensors benefit from some unique material properties which result in the highest sensitivity compared with sensors made from other materials.

Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation, which is 100% subsidiary of Asahi Kasei, is the world leader in Hall elements and Hall Effect ICs with more than 75% market share. The main applications of Hall elements are brushless motors used in Blu-ray/DVD drives, cooling fans for electrical equipment, current sensors for home appliances and position detection sensors used in image stabilizer systems of digital still and video cameras. Hall Effect ICs are also widely used in position and rotation detection for mobile phones, motors, industrial and automotive equipment.

The term Close Coupled Showerhead® is a registered trademark.

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