Voltaix is in an interesting position as a maker of chemicals and gases that can be used in the production of both solar cells and semiconductor chips. That may explain why it has received $12.5 million from Intel Capital.
The Branchburg, N.J.-based company said today that it will use the investment to accelerate its manufacturing capacity expansion. The company makes materials used to process semiconductor chips and it also makes CVD precursors to make thin-film solar cells. Deutsche Bank estimates that thin-film solar cell production will increase four-fold from 2007 to 2010.
Voltaix makes high-purity gases and chemicals used in manufacturing. The company, the former ChemOvonic Division of Energy Conversion Devices, was spun off as an independent business in 1986. The company competes with a variety of other companies in the chip material and equipment industries.