Belgian Semiconductor Chip Manufacturer BelGaN Files for Bankruptcy in 2024
TapTechNews August 27th news, Belgian semiconductor chip manufacturer BelGaNfiled for bankruptcy at the end of July 2024, and about 440 employees at the company's headquarters in Oudenaarde, East Flanders, Belgium, are facing unemployment.
The company had taken over the production and R & D facilities of silicon and gallium nitride (GaN) chip technology located in Oudenaarde from Onsemi. However, technology investment for the future did not bring success to the company, and most importantly, there was not enough cash flow, so BelGaN had to file for bankruptcy.
The predecessor of the BelGaN gallium nitride plant was established in 1983, when it was named MIETEC, and was later acquired by Alcatel and AMI, and sold to ON Semiconductor in 2008, and GaN development started in 2009. ON Semiconductor hoped to sell the silicon wafer plant as part of the restructuring, but split it into BelGan's GaN foundry in 2022.
The news of bankruptcy has led to about 440 employees of the company facing the risk of unemployment,as the factory has stopped production while looking for a buyer to take over the business.
According to TapTechNews' query, BelGaN's official website can still be accessed. The homepage of the website shows that BelGaN used to be a manufacturing plant of a well-known IDM, and its products focus on automotive, industrial and medical applications. Now the company's vision is to become a world-leading automotive-grade gallium nitride foundry.
