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Taiwanese electronic specialty gas producer Ion Electronic Materials Co (IEMC) is targeting 2028 production at a new semiconductor materials manufacturing facility in Kaohsiung.
The planned facility at Qiaotou Science Park will expand IEMC’s domestic manufacturing footprint as its existing production operations at Tongluo Science Park in Miaoli County approach capacity.
According to the Taipei Times, the new plant is expected to produce two to three new specialty gas and semiconductor precursors, with initial production targeted for 2028.
The expansion follows IEMC’s 7 October announcement that it had secured a lease covering 28,215.6 sq m of land from Taiwan’s Southern Taiwan Science Park Bureau.
IEMC is also expanding production at its existing Tongluo facilities. In an 11 November announcement, Fubon Securities confirmed that the company’s Phase I and II facilities and associated equipment had been completed, with production equipment progressively entering operation.
According to Taiwan’s Central News Agency, IEMC plans to complete a new high-end precursor production line at Tongluo in 2027, before submitting products for customer qualification. A separate etching gas production line has already been completed, with commercial production expected to begin progressively from 2028.
The developments form part of IEMC’s strategy to increase its share of proprietary gas production and reduce dependence on third-party gas distribution.
Self-manufactured products accounted for about 30% of revenue in the third quarter of 2026, and the company targets more than 60% within three years.
IEMC reported gas revenue of NT$534m ($16.3m) in the first nine months of 2026, representing year-on-year growth of more than 30%.
The company supplies specialty gases for ion implantation, laser applications, cleaning, etching and deposition, targeting Taiwan’s semiconductor and display manufacturing industries.
IEMC expects its expansion to support growing demand for locally manufactured semiconductor materials, as chipmakers seek to diversify their supply chains and reduce dependence on imported products.
Industrial gas majors have been talking up electronics opportunities in semiconductor hot spots like Asia and the US.
In July, Linde announced that its Taiwanese joint venture Linde LienHwa would invest around $800m to build, own, and operate “several” air separation units and hydrogen production units to supply new semiconductor manufacturing.
US-based Air Products also revealed in April that it would develop industrial gas production facilities and a bulk specialty gas system in South Korea to with nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and hydrogen.
