Disco, Leading Japanese Chip Equipment Supplier

Disco, Leading Japanese Chip Equipment Supplier, to Set Up Plant in India

Disco Corporation

Semiconductor company

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Number of employees: 4,091 (as of March 31, 2021)
Subsidiaries: Disco Hi-Tec Europe Gmbh, MORE
Founded: 5 May 1937
CEO: Kazuma Sekiya (27 Jun 2017)
President: Kazuma Sekiya

According to the report, Japanese chip-making equipment supplier, Disco, has expressed its interest in establishing a centre in India to support clients and serve as a marketing base for the semiconductor industry. The company plans to open an applications laboratory in India, which will perform test cuts and experimental processing, subject to the expansion progress of client companies in the country.

Disco is a leading provider of cutting and grinding tools for silicon wafers, with a dominant global market share of 70-80% in equipment for chipmaking back-end processes. The company’s decision to explore India comes amidst a wave of investments in the country from global firms.

Recently, US chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) announced plans to invest approximately $400 million over the next five years in building its largest design center in Bengaluru, with expectations to create 3,000 engineering roles by the end of the year. Additionally, US-based memory chip manufacturer Micron Technology unveiled plans to construct a state-of-the-art semiconductor assembly and test facility in Gujarat, set to generate nearly 5,000 direct jobs and 15,000 community jobs.

Disco’s Executive Vice President, Noboru Yoshinaga, pointed out that these investments indicate a significant shift in the industry landscape. He expects both Indian and foreign companies to progress together as they invest in the Indian semiconductor sector.

The Semicon India 2023 event, attended by industry leaders like Foxconn, Micron, AMD, IBM, and others, showcased India’s chipmaking ambitions and investment opportunities in the country’s semiconductor sector. Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized India’s commitment to becoming a global leader in chip supply and urged companies to invest in the country. He highlighted that semiconductors are not only crucial for India but also essential for the world.

The event aimed to boost the progress of the chipmaking industry through networking, technology demonstrations, and lucrative business prospects. Micron Technology’s CEO, Sanjay Mehrotra, expressed gratitude to PM Modi for his vision of making India a global semiconductor hub and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to establishing a semiconductor assembly and test facility in Gujarat, expecting significant job creation.

With increasing interest from international players and the Indian government’s emphasis on semiconductor manufacturing, the future looks promising for India’s chipmaking sector. The establishment of Disco’s centre in India will likely further bolster the country’s position in the global semiconductor landscape.