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NGK Insulators prioritizes film deposition and etching for AI semiconductor supply chain
Saturday, January 3, 2026 at 09:06 PM
NGK Insulators is shifting its strategic focus toward the AI semiconductor market by prioritizing the development of film deposition and etching equipment technologies. The company’s long-term plan aims to leverage its ceramic expertise to support advanced chip manufacturing processes.
Context
NGK Insulators is pivoting its strategic focus toward the AI semiconductor supply chain, specifically prioritizing ceramic components for film deposition and etching. President Shigeru Kobayashi recently unveiled a long-term plan centered on high-precision ceramic heaters and electrostatic chucks, which are essential for manufacturing advanced AI chips. This shift leverages the company’s expertise in ceramics to capture demand within its "Digital Society" domain as it phases out legacy energy storage production.
The company is investing ¥8.96 billion in its U.S. subsidiary, FM Industries, to boost component capacity by 20% starting in January 2027. NGK Insulators also plans to triple its translucent alumina wafer capacity by fiscal 2027 to support AI chiplet integration. These initiatives align with the "New Value 1000" goal, targeting ¥100 billion in annual new business sales by 2030, including ¥20 billion specifically from the high-performance semiconductor segment.
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