Japanese firm behind ubiquitous MSG is ramping up production of key material in semiconductor packaging

Date:
Sun, 06 Apr 2025 07:04:00 +0000

Description:
Ajinomoto, the Japanese firm behind MSG, is ramping up production of ABF, a key material used in semiconductor packaging.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Ajinomot o is best known for MSG but it also makes semiconductor material It dominates production of the ABF insulating film used in GPUs and CPUs The company plans 50 percent capacity boost with more investment by 2030

Ajinomoto is a Japanese company best known for producing MSG, or monosodium glutamate - the ubiquitous flavor enhancer commonly used in food, especially in Asian cuisine.

As one of the worlds largest MSG manufacturers, the company is often closely associated with the ingredient - the name "Ajinomoto" actually translates to "essence of taste" in Japanese.

Right about now, youre probably wondering why this is on TechRadar Pro , right? Well, its because Ajinomoto is set to massively expand its investment in the semiconductor sector. Increasing ABF production by 50%

A report from Nikkei Asia claims the Japanese food and biotech company plans to boost production of Ajinomoto Build-up Film (ABF), a key insulating material used in the packaging of advanced CPUs and GPUs, where it helps ensure thermal stability and electrical insulation.

First developed using the companys expertise in amino acid chemistry (you can read the whole history here ), ABF is now essential for high-performance semiconductor substrates and Ajinomoto holds over 95% market share in its category.

Nikkei Asia says Ajinomoto has already spent 25 billion yen over the past
two years to expand production at its facilities in Gunma, northwest of
Tokyo, and in Kawasaki, but it is now looking to increase ABF production capacity by 50%.

"We will invest the same amount or more by 2030 as demand increases," President Shigeo Nakamura, who took on the role in February 2025, said in an interview with Nikkei Asia .

"We are also exploring establishing new bases," he added, although this expansion is expected to remain within Japan.

Ajinomoto's ramping up of ABF isnt a surprise, given that Nakamura previously worked in research and played a key role in the development of the companys electronics materials division.

"We expect sales of electronics materials, mainly ABF, to grow at an annual rate of more than 10% through 2030," Nakamura told the news site.

"We will continue to meet needs by evolving ABF to a more highly functional form that supports high-performance semiconductors in the long term." You might also like TSMC and Broadcom could tear apart Intel's legendary business after 57 years MIT researchers say nanoscale 3D transistors promise more efficient electronics EU needs to update Chips Act and provide more support, semiconductor body says



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/japanese-firm-behind-ubiquitous-msg-is-ramping-u p-production-of-key-material-in-semiconductor-packaging


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