Taiwan cleanroom firms see orders surge as chipmakers expand overseas

Taipei, June 21 (CNA) Taiwanese companies that build cleanroom systems are seeing a surge in orders as global semiconductor makers, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), ramp up production abroad.

Longtime TSMC supplier United Integrated Services Co. (UIS) is one of the biggest beneficiaries of this trend. According to data obtained by CNA, UIS secured NT$83.68 billion (US$2.57 billion) in cleanroom-related contracts from January to May.

This marked a record for the company, with the increase largely driven by TSMC's US$65 billion investment in three advanced chip fabrication plants, or "fabs," in Arizona.

TSMC's first fab in Arizona began mass production this year, and the second is nearly complete.

UIS, which now holds a backlog of NT$132.27 billion in orders, is expected to receive further large orders in the second half of 2025, leading analysts to forecast record-high sales for the company in 2025.

L&K Engineering Co., another major cleanroom system provider, has also seen strong growth, reporting NT$95.76 billion in new orders in the first five months of 2025, many of which have come from Taiwanese clients expanding into Southeast Asia.

L&K's total backlog has reached NT$208.49 billion, bolstered by projects for United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC), which recently opened the first phase of a new fab in Singapore. Mass production there is expected to start in 2026, with a second phase in development.

L&K has also taken on work for Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp., which is partnering with Dutch firm NXP Semiconductors to build a 12-inch fab in Singapore, set to begin production in 2027.

Meanwhile, Acter Group Corp. and Yankey Engineering Co. are seeing steady demand from local clients.

Acter now holds more than NT$46 billion in orders, up from NT$38 billion at the end of 2024, thanks in part to business from Siliconware Precision Industries Co., a major chip packaging and testing firm.

Yankey Engineering has NT$40.67 billion in orders, partly supported by Dutch equipment supplier ASML's expansion in Taiwan.

An essential part of chip production, cleanrooms are designed to eliminate dust, airborne particles, and other contaminants that could damage sensitive components.