Read the full article by Alan Patterson (EE Times)
“3M has suspended production in Belgium of the polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) used in the chipmaking process, which is considered hazardous to human health.
The materials supplier halted production of PFAS at a plant near the Belgian village of Zwijndrecht on Mar. 8. The company notified clients including Samsung, SK Hynix, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., and Intel, according to Business Korea.
3M aims to restart PFAS–related manufacturing and continues to make non–PFAS related products at Zwijndrecht, a company spokesman said in an email to EE Times.
The plant accounts for 80 percent of the world’s semiconductor coolant output, according to Business Korea. 3M didn’t provide details on the size or scope of the Zwijndrecht facility.
The timeline to resolve the situation is uncertain and, in several aspects, not under 3M’s control, the spokesman said. 3M has communicated with its customers about the potential for disruption, he said.
3M said it is working to resolve challenges and minimize impacts to customers as quickly as possible. This includes cooperating with authorities to implement measures to resume operations in compliance with new permit requirements and leveraging alternative sites where possible.
‘We continue to advance and operate non–PFAS related manufacturing there, while working to get more PFAS-enabled manufacturing processes up and running in compliance with local safety measures,’ 3M CEO Mike Roman said in a press release published on Mar. 30.
‘We have also put in place new controls in Zwijndrecht, including technology to control air emissions, and capture, dispose, and treat PFAS in water. These investments, along with appropriate collaboration with the relevant authorities, help us bring idled processes back online enabling European production of essential products for our customers around the world.'”…