Ion Implantation Equipment

To precisely control the electrical conductivity of silicon, dopant ions are introduced into the wafer through a process called ion implantation. Major manufacturers of ion implantation equipment include Applied Materials and Axcelis Technologies, both based in the USA, and Nissin Ion Equipment, with headquarters in Japan and operations in the USA. Other suppliers include Sumitomo Heavy Industries (Japan, USA), Varian Semiconductor (USA, now part of Applied Materials), and Ulvac Technologies (Japan, USA). The ion implantation equipment market is primarily led by US and Japanese manufacturers, indicating a concentration of expertise in these two countries for this crucial doping process.