13 th November 2006

Sofradir MBE Fab for MCT


Grenoble-based Sofradir has received permission to construct a new €9m ($11.5m) factory that will allow it to almost double its production area (from 5500 - 9000 sq m, one third cleanroom) and to mass produce 'third-generation' IR detectors made from mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) starting in late 2007.

Sofradir will upgrade from 2-inch to 4-inch MCT wafers, at the same time becoming the first European manufacturer to produce IR detectors using MBE and the only company, worldwide, to do so on an industrial scale.

Founded in 1986, Sofradir says it is number two for deliveries of second- and third-generation MCT IR detectors worldwide with 20-25% of the MCT second-generation detector market. Its scanning and staring array products cover the spectrum 1-16µm using MCT, QWIP or microbolometer technology platforms. Products are used by defence and security equipment manufacturers in thermal imagers, missile seekers, satellites, and other surveillance, targeting and homing infrared equipment. Customers include the US Army, Thales, Sagem, Selex, Alcatel Alenia Space and the European Space Agency. More than 60% of its products are exported. Sofradir's long- and mid-wave IR detectors have been deployed in battlefield equipment, such as the Storm
Shadow/SCALP EG IR missile seeker, Damocles targetting and NAVFLIR navigation pods, Sophie hand-held goggles, IRIS cameras and SADA II.

Along with its subsidiary Ulis, which specializes in uncooled IR detectors, Sofradir generated revenues of $90m in 2005. Sofradir and Ulis currently employ 350 staff and aims to maintain its current annual hiring rate of 20-30 staff for the next three years.

Web: www.sofradir.com