Valqua Ltd. Expects Record Sales with Giant Ultra-clean Storage Tanks for Semiconductor Chemical Solutions.

According to a report by Bloomberg, Japanese company Valqua Ltd. has produced giant ultra-clean tanks for storing chemicals used in chip manufacturing. The company expects to achieve record sales this fiscal year.

Analysts at the Industrial Technology Research Institute in Taiwan stated that Valqua is currently the largest supplier of such tanks worldwide and provides almost all the tanks used by TSMC. It is typical for each chip factory to consume hundreds of customized tanks, with diameters reaching 4 meters and heights up to 9 meters. Valqua lines the tanks with fluororesin plates and requires skilled workers to attach non-stick sheets to curved surfaces. The pipes connecting the tank body and machinery must also have liners, and the entire production process takes place in a clean environment.

According to Valqua President Yoshihiro Hombo, impurities at the molecular level can render the entire chemical solution in the tank useless, significantly reducing the production yield of advanced chips. Valqua supports the complete supply chain by manufacturing, transporting, and storing these chemicals under ultra-clean conditions with the help of chemical manufacturers. Hombo believes that Valqua's revenue will increase by at least 30% over the next four years, with more than half of its sales coming from semiconductor manufacturers.

Despite the significant drop in demand from the pandemic's peak, chip manufacturers have not shown signs of slowing their spending, according to Hombo. "Market sentiment has not been affected, as semiconductor giants often accelerate their investments to stay ahead of their competitors."

Samsung Electronics also produces such giant ultra-clean tanks. Hombo explained that the various chemicals used in the semiconductor manufacturing process must be free of pollutants, and the purity required to clean a wafer is equivalent to traveling around the earth without finding a dust particle wider than one-tenth of a human hair. These extreme conditions make it difficult for small companies to enter, while they are not attractive to large companies.

Valqua is part of Japan's manufacturing network, with these Japanese semiconductor chain manufacturers playing a niche but indispensable role in the global chip supply chain. For example, Disco Corp. is the preferred supplier of silicon wafer cutting machines, while JSR Corp. provides high-purity chemicals stored by Valqua.

"Manufacturing tanks in Japan is costly, but some top chip manufacturers still prefer Japan as the best place for procurement," Hombo said. Valqua's new factory is expected to begin operations in January 2025, with some funding provided by the Japanese government.