HAZAMA ANDO CORPORATION (“HAZAMA ANDO” or “the Company”) has made additional investments in Novel Crystal Technology, Inc. (NCT, Head Office: Sayama City, Saitama Prefecture; President & CEO: Akito Kuramata). The Company agreed to underwrite a third-party share allotment capital increase to be implemented by NCT, which is conducting R&D into β-type gallium oxide（Note1） that is showing promise in applications as a semiconductor for the new-generation power devices（Note2）Japan is working to create.
A ‘carve-out’ venture from Tamura Corporation, NCT develops, manufactures, and sells gallium oxide epitaxial wafers and possesses top-level technologies in gallium oxide substrate manufacturing, thin film growth, and power device development. Its share in R&D applications for such wafers being almost 100%, NCT is a world-leading company in the characteristics of diodes and transistors in development.
Flagship semiconductor products of Novel Crystal Technology
Through this investment, HAZAMA ANDO will strengthen its partnership with NCT. At the same time, by accelerating the Company’s current energy business-related initiatives (renewable energy business, ZEB technology development, next-generation energy projects, etc.) and promoting the "create environmental value" strategy adopted in the HAZAMA ANDO VISION2030 long-term vision, the Company aims to realize a carbon-neutral society by creating technologies and services that contribute to reducing environmental impact.
Company Profile
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β-type gallium oxide
Currently, 99% of power device materials are made of Si (silicon), but it is difficult to significantly reduce power loss (loss that occurs when switching power on and off). SiC (silicon carbide) and GaN (gallium nitride), which are expected to be the next-generation materials, possess low loss characteristics, but their material costs are high, and they are facing challenges in terms of their widespread adoption.
The possibility being high that gallium oxide will have lower loss and be easier to manufacture than those materials, it is thus expected that gallium oxide will be applied to a wide range of products, from medium-voltage, general-purpose products to high-voltage special products. -
Power devices
A general term for semiconductor devices that control and convert electric power, and devices that handle high voltages and currents. Parts that control voltage and current are incorporated in all types of electrical equipment, including home appliances, electric vehicles, railways, industrial equipment, solar power generation and wind power generation. Also called power semiconductors.