Differentiation for 5G through high-quality synthetic quartz and photolithography processing
First written in FY2019. 2 of 4 entries say "Advanced", first in FY2022. Latest entry: FY2024.
4 other companies' latest entry also says "Advanced".
- FY2024AdvancedAnnual report
「Ro. Expanding sales of products using photolithography processing technology: leveraging the superiority of the company's technology for 5G smartphones, where demand for higher frequencies and smaller form factors is growing」
Regarding the policy of presenting high-quality synthetic quartz and photolithography processing as means of differentiation for 5G, the company explicitly identified expanding sales of products using photolithography processing technology as a key issue under Vision2030. - FY2022AdvancedAnnual report
「Mobile communications: strengthening small, high-frequency products for 5G smartphones using photolithography technology」
The new medium-term management plan explicitly identified strengthening small, high-frequency products for 5G smartphones using photolithography technology as a growth initiative. - FY2020-Q2ReframedAnnual report
「Against this operating backdrop, the company clarified its policy of focusing resources on upstream processes, from growing high-quality raw quartz, where its strengths can be applied, through wafer processing using fine-processing technology, while increasing productivity and cost competitiveness in downstream processes such as assembly.」
The explanation of differentiation for 5G through high-quality synthetic quartz and photolithography processing was expanded into a resource-allocation policy of prioritizing upstream processes from raw-quartz growth through wafer processing, while improving productivity and strengthening cost competitiveness in downstream processes. - FY2019First statedAnnual report
「Quartz devices for 5G systems require high-precision products capable of operating at higher frequencies with lower phase noise than before. To meet this need, the company will expand photolithography processing of quartz blanks. Because advanced materials technology is essential to meeting these demanding technical requirements, the company has invested in autoclaves over several years and begun growing high-quality synthetic quartz that differs significantly from its previous products. The company carries out integrated in-house production from this high-quality synthetic quartz through to quartz crystal resonators, and believes that this will provide an advantage in differentiating itself from competitors as the 5G era arrives.」
To address the low-phase-noise, high-frequency, high-precision products required for 5G, the company first presented in a systematic manner the expansion of photolithography processing, multi-year capital investment in autoclaves, the start of high-quality synthetic quartz production, and integrated in-house production as means of differentiation.