Taipei: Taiwanese companies that specialize in building cleanroom systems are witnessing a significant increase in orders as global semiconductor manufacturers, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), expand their production facilities overseas.
According to Focus Taiwan, United Integrated Services Co. (UIS), a long-term supplier for TSMC, has been a major beneficiary of this trend. From January to May, UIS secured NT$83.68 billion (US$2.57 billion) in cleanroom-related contracts, marking a record for the company. This surge in orders is largely attributed to TSMC's US$65 billion investment in three advanced chip fabrication plants, or "fabs," in Arizona. The first of these fabs began mass production this year, while the second is nearing completion.
UIS currently holds a backlog of NT$132.27 billion in orders and is expected to receive further large orders in the latter half of 2025. Analysts are forecasting record-high sales for the company in 2025 due to this trend.
L and K Engineering Co., another major provider of cleanroom systems, has also experienced robust growth. The company reported NT$95.76 billion in new orders in the first five months of 2025, with a significant portion coming from Taiwanese clients expanding into Southeast Asia. L and K's total backlog has reached NT$208.49 billion, supported by projects for United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC), which recently completed the first phase of a new fab in Singapore. Mass production at this site is expected to commence in 2026, with a second phase currently in development.
L and K Engineering is also working with Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp., which is collaborating with Dutch firm NXP Semiconductors to construct a 12-inch fab in Singapore, scheduled to begin production in 2027.
In the meantime, Acter Group Corp. and Yankey Engineering Co. are maintaining steady demand from local clients. Acter's order book has grown to more than NT$46 billion, up from NT$38 billion at the end of 2024, partly due to business from Siliconware Precision Industries Co., a key player in chip packaging and testing. Yankey Engineering's orders stand at NT$40.67 billion, bolstered by the expansion of Dutch equipment supplier ASML in Taiwan.
Cleanrooms play an essential role in chip production by eliminating dust, airborne particles, and other contaminants that could potentially damage sensitive components.