BISMALEIMIDE-Triazine (BT) resin is widely used on PCBs and chip packaging, but the industry has been watching supplies with trepidation since the Japanese earthquake took manufacturers of the material offline.
Now, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical has announced its electronic materials production subsidiary Electrotechno Co. hopes to resume production of BT resin to pre-earthquake levels from the beginning of May.
The facility, which is located at Nishishirakawa-gun, Fukushima, was damaged by the 11 March earthquake.
Initial reports from the company indicated a gradual ramp-up of production, with a quarter of production starting in April, although the latest report seems to suggest efforts are being made to accelerate production, so as to cover demands for the BT material vital for semiconductor package substrates.
Various reports note Mitsubishi Gas Chemical produces around 50 percent of global supplies of BT. This has turned out to be an unexpected weak point in the supply chain for the semiconductor and electronics industry.
The company cautions that risks still exist in raw material procurement and electric power supply, which could affect the projected recovery times.