Company profile
Octric Semiconductors
County Durham compound semiconductor foundry fabricating gallium arsenide, gallium nitride on silicon carbide and indium phosphide wafers for radio frequency, defence, telecoms and space customers.
Company overview
Octric Semiconductors operates the compound semiconductor fab at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, which the Ministry of Defence bought from Coherent in September 2024. Described by the Government as the only secure UK facility able to manufacture gallium arsenide semiconductors, it provides wafer, die and test outsourcing on its own III-V process platforms, on which customers design their own devices. The site has a 4,800 square metre class 100 cleanroom and a history dating from Fujitsu, then Filtronic and later owners. Its work supports defence radar and communications, telecoms infrastructure, satellite communications and space.
Semiconductor activity
Primary capability: Compound Semiconductor Fabrication. Supply-chain role: Foundry, Wafer fabrication, Test.
Technologies and capabilities
- Gallium Arsenide / GaAs
- Gallium Nitride / GaN
- Indium Phosphide / InP
- RF
GaAs foundry processes; Wafer and die supply; Test outsourcing
Markets served
- Defence
- Telecommunications
- Satellite communications
- Space
UK presence
Newton Aycliffe, North East. Part of the North East cluster.
Funding and transactions
Acquired by the Ministry of Defence from Coherent Corporation in September 2024 and renamed Octric Semiconductors UK.