BT resin in full production in May, says maker
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company Inc., thought to be a near monopoly maker of a key material for the packaging of ICs used in tablet computers, has said it now expects to achieve pre-quake production levels for bismaleimide triazine (BT) resin for semiconductor package substrates from the beginning of May.
The company had previously advised that it hoped to get back to 25 percent of former production capacity at its Electrotechno Co. Ltd., electronic materials production subsidiary during April.
The plant at Nishishirakawa-gun, Fukushima prefecture, was closed down by a devastating earthquake that hit Japan on March 11. The suspension in the manufacture of BT resin has raised concerns that some tablet computer and smartphone production could be delayed.
If Mitsubishi and Electrotechno can achieve full resumption at the beginning of May this would represent a seven-week hiatus. This is likely to have a minor effect on the production of some ICs for tablet and smartphone computers but is also likely to be in keeping with logistical impacts from the earthquake on other components and subsystems in the supply chain.
Since the 9.0 earthquake hit Japan the country has struggled to contain radioactive leaks from a nuclear power station in Fukushima and has imposed rolling electricity black outs on portions of the country.
Mistubishi Gas Chemical said that the plan for full resumption at the beginning of May was based on "available information" and that its ability to procure raw materials and limitations in the electric power supply may cause changes in its schedule.
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