Sico Technology
Rapid Market Delivery of High-Quality, Custom and Advanced Components

Silicon has been the cornerstone of the semiconductor industry’s evolution for more than four decades. Yet, as technology advances, the limitations of using silicon alone have become increasingly evident, particularly in high-performance and high-stress environments.

Established in 1984, Sico Technology has been at the forefront of designing and producing parts made of quartz glass, silicon and ceramics by employing advanced materials and patented manufacturing methods to enhance the performance and functionality of semiconductor components in advanced and legacy tech nodes.

The company excels in manufacturing components like process chambers, carriers, pedestals, process tubes, liners and injectors, utilizing advanced materials like high-purity silicon, renowned for its exceptional thermal and chemical stability. These materials are crucial in applications requiring high resistance to extreme temperatures and corrosive environments, making them indispensable and durable in Front-End wafer processing.

The products’ market differentiation is further enhanced by Sico’s patented bonding process. This innovative method of machining high-purity Silicon components and joining them with a patented crystallization process is unique to the industry. This technique furthermore allows certain parts to be refurbished and put back in use extending their lifetime, answering the demand for sustainability in the Semiconductor industry.

That said, Peter Schlueter, President of Sico East Coast, emphasizes that while Sico’s core strength lies in its products’ superior performance, another critical advantage is their speed to market. “Our products reach the market faster than the industry-standard silicon carbide (SiC) products,” he states.

The challenge with SiC products lies in their prolonged lead times, which can extend up to two years due to a high backlog and constraints in its manufacturing capacities. “We are committed to mitigating these extensive delays, which can impede semiconductor manufacturers’ ability to plan effectively for future capacity, enhance capabilities and manage their supply chains,” explains Schlueter. This approach emphasizes Sico’s role as a responsive and strategic partner in the semiconductor industry, adept at meeting and adapting to its evolving demands.

Along with 100 percent outgoing inspection of product, the material quality and purity of Sico’s silicon parts are guaranteed as its products are crafted from the same high-purity boule as silicon wafers. This ensures identical purity and thermal expansion properties because it is literally cut from the same source. A commonly known problem called backside slip, which is the scratching of the wafer on its carrier during thermal processing due to different thermal expansion coefficients, can be drastically reduced.

Sico’s specialty lies in its variety of technologies to process material from an early stage in the process, whether ingots, boules or tubing of any dimension and transform them into precision-engineered components. Specifically, for quartz process tubes, Sico has the in-house capability to modify dimensions as needed. This autonomy over size adjustments lets the team begin with what is commonly known as ‘feedstock’— or drawn tubing—and adapt it to meet the client’s precise specifications. This becomes handy for offering clients certain sizes that are scarce in the U.S market.

As the need for solutions that balance efficiency and resilience becomes more predominant, Sico’s blend of innovation, performance and an emphasis on sustainability positions the company as a valuable resource for future growth and continued contributions to the semiconductor supply chain.