What Pure Wafer does

Pure Wafer is the largest U.S.-based supplier of virgin silicon wafers, wafer reclaim services, and specialty thin film deposition products. Founded in 1998 in Prescott, Arizona and now headquartered at 2240 Ringwood Avenue in San Jose, California, the company operates manufacturing facilities in San Jose and Prescott (AZ), a process development and fabrication services facility in Campbell, California (via Noel Technologies, acquired in 2021), and a film sales and materials office in Vancouver, Washington. Pure Wafer was most recently acquired by New York-based private equity firm ZMC in November 2024, following a prior ownership tenure under Edgewater Capital Partners. The company serves a customer base of over 1,400 semiconductor Integrated Device Manufacturers (IDMs), Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), fabless companies, government agencies (DOE, NIH, EPA, DHS), and technology research organizations.

The company's technology portfolio spans wafer production across diameters from 50.8mm to 450mm, advanced reclaim processes with 34nm capability and 100,000 wafers-per-month capacity, thin film deposition services (PECVD, CVD, PVD, ECD, thermal oxidation, and spin coating), and supporting wafer finishing services including lapping, polishing, cleaning, grinding, etching, and laser marking. Key technical differentiators include double side polishing with surface roughness under 5 angstroms, thermal oxidation furnaces certified to ±5% uniformity, and spin coating throughput exceeding 40 wafers per hour. Pure Wafer is the official exclusive worldwide reseller of films for Lam Research (the industry's #1 thin film deposition equipment vendor), and has operated a proprietary wafer management software platform at 99.99% uptime for over 12 years. The company reports 225 employees and is led by CEO Dr. S. Mark Borowicz, CFO Scott Murcray, and CTO Dr. Ardeshir (Ardy) Sidhwa.

Pure Wafer generates revenue through multiple streams: hardware sales of virgin prime grade and test grade silicon wafers, professional services for wafer reclamation and parts cleaning, hardware sales of thin film deposition products (via the Lam Research channel), subscription-based wafer management systems, and logistics services. The company employs a hybrid go-to-market model combining direct enterprise field sales targeting major semiconductor accounts, a dedicated e-commerce storefront (wafersontheweb.com, launched August 2020) for R&D engineers and smaller buyers, and channel partnerships including an exclusive European distribution agreement with Active Business Company GmbH since 2014 and regional channel partners for China and Southeast Asia. Pricing is quote-based for bulk wafer orders and custom service requirements, with e-commerce available for smaller purchases behind account registration.

Name

Pure Wafer

Legal name

Pure Wafer, Inc.

Website

https://purewafer.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pure Wafer is the largest U.S.-based supplier of virgin silicon wafers, wafer reclaim services, and specialty thin film deposition products, serving semiconductor IDMs, OEMs, fabless companies, and government research institutions with vertically integrated silicon solutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Semiconductor Materials

NAICS

Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413)

SIC

Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674), Electronic Components, Nec (3679)

akta.pro primary industry

Silicon Wafers (Prime/Test/SOI) (HDAHAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wafer Services & Reclaim (Epitaxy, Thinning, Reclaim) (HDAHACAH), R&D / Prototyping & MPW Shuttle Foundries (HDAHACAI)

Keywords

• Silicon wafer supply
• Wafer reclaim services
• Thin film deposition
• Semiconductor materials
• Wafer management systems

Headquarters

HQ city

San Jose

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Silicon Wafer Sales: Sale of virgin prime grade and test grade silicon wafers in diameters from 50.8mm to 450mm. Wafers are sourced from OEMs and maintained in inventory for immediate delivery.
2. Wafer Reclaim Services: Cost-effective wafer reclaim programs that help semiconductor manufacturers reduce materials costs by maximizing the full life potential of their wafers through advanced restoration processes.
3. Thin Film Deposition: Comprehensive thin film products including PECVD, CVD, PVD, ECD films. Pure Wafer is the official exclusive worldwide seller of films for Lam Research Corporation.
4. Wafer Management Systems: Supply chain management software and consignment system enabling customers to track inventory, automate restocking, and manage wafer delivery with barcode scanning and electronic reporting.
5. Logistics and Parts Cleaning: Logistics services including local delivery in Silicon Valley, offsite storage, custom packaging, and onsite support. Parts cleaning services for critical semiconductor manufacturing components.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pure Wafer manufactures and supplies prime and test grade silicon wafers ranging from 50.8mm to 450mm in diameter, provides wafer reclaim services that restore used wafers to usable grade with 34nm process capability at 100,000 wafers/month capacity, and serves as the exclusive worldwide reseller of thin film deposition products for Lam Research. The company complements these offerings with wafer finishing services (lapping, polishing, cleaning, etching, laser marking), proprietary wafer management software, logistics support, and process development services through its Noel Technologies subsidiary.

Product overview

Pure Wafer is the largest U.S. based supplier of silicon wafer solutions offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services to the semiconductor industry. The core product line includes Prime Wafers (highest grade for device manufacturing) and Test Wafers (for equipment testing) spanning 50.8mm to 450mm diameters. Reclaim Services restore used silicon wafers to usable grade, reducing manufacturing costs. The Thin Films portfolio encompasses thermal oxidation, spin coating, dielectric films, and metals films, with Pure Wafer serving as the exclusive worldwide seller of films for Lam Research. Supporting services include Wafer Services (lapping, polishing, cleaning, grinding, etching, laser marking), Wafer Management Systems (inventory tracking and supply chain software), and Logistics. Noel Technologies (acquired in 2021) provides process development and fabrication services for advanced semiconductor, MEMS, and bioengineering applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Noel Technologies: Process development and fabrication services provider for semiconductor companies, acquired by Pure Wafer in 2021.

Products and services

• Prime Wafers Highest grade silicon wafers meeting or exceeding SEMI standards, used for semiconductor device manufacturing. Produced in all diameters from 50.8mm to 450mm with extremely smooth surface and low Total Thickness Variation (TTV).
• Test Wafers High quality but less stringent wafers than prime grade, used for equipment and fabrication testing applications requiring large quantities. Produced in all diameters from 50.8mm to 450mm.
• Reclaim Services Silicon wafer reclaim services that remove unwanted material from previously used wafers through dry and wet processes, then polish and clean to restore usable grade. Pure Wafer is the largest reclaim service company in the United States with 34nm process capability and 100,000 wafers/month capacity.
• Thin Films Comprehensive thin film deposition products including PECVD, CVD, PVD, ECD films, thermal oxidation, spin coating, dielectric, and metals. Pure Wafer is the official exclusive worldwide seller of films for Lam Research.
• Wafer Services Comprehensive wafer finishing solutions including lapping, polishing, cleaning, grinding, etching, and laser marking services for diameters from 100mm to 300mm.
• Wafer Management Systems Custom software solutions including wafer delivery systems, electronic data collection, and supply chain management to track inventory, automate restocking, and provide customized reporting.
• Logistics Services Logistics support including local pickup and delivery in Silicon Valley, offsite storage with 22,000+ square feet of climate controlled space, custom packaging and labeling, and onsite wafer logistics support.
• Noel Technologies Process Development and Fabrication Services Process development and fabrication services provider supporting semiconductor IDMs, OEMs and fabless semiconductor companies. Specializes in lithography engineering, MEMS, bioengineering, and advanced packaging applications with expanded cleanroom supporting 50mm to 300mm wafer diameters.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% improvement in production cycle times at Arizona and California wafer fabs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and supporting.

• Lam Research CorporationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPure Wafer is the official Exclusive Worldwide Reseller of films for Lam Research, the semiconductor industry's number one supplier of thin film deposition equipment. This exclusive agreement enables Pure Wafer to offer Lam Research's entire line of 300mm thin films and access to process owners.
• ABC (Active Business Company GmbH)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive Europe distribution partnership with ABC for sales of Pure Wafer products in European markets. ABC has been distributing Pure Wafer products since 2014, helping expand the company's global reach.
• Noel TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPure Wafer acquired Noel Technologies, a Silicon Valley-based process development and fabrication services provider. Noel Technologies supports top semiconductor IDMs, OEMs, and fabless companies with lithography engineering, process development, and multi-layer processing capabilities for MEMS, bioengineering, and photonics applications.
• Arizona Public Service (APS)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerArizona Public Service Electric is Pure Wafer's utility partner for clean energy initiatives at the Prescott, AZ facility. APS provides electric vehicle charging stations and supports the company's commitment to 100% clean energy by 2050.
• Oracle NetSuitesupportingTechnology or IntegrationOracle NetSuite hosts Pure Wafer's online store (wafersontheweb.com) providing e-commerce platform for semiconductor wafer and film sales with account management and purchasing functionality.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Siltronic: Leading global supplier of hyperpure silicon wafers. Comparable in offering prime silicon wafers for semiconductor manufacturing, competing for similar IDM and foundry contracts with overlapping diameter ranges (200mm, 300mm).
• Entegris: U.S.-based supplier of specialty materials and fluid handling solutions for semiconductor manufacturing. Comparable as a semiconductor materials supplier serving overlapping IDM/foundry customers, though Entegris focuses on filtration, gas delivery, and chemicals rather than wafers.
• GlobalWafers: One of the world's largest silicon wafer manufacturers with operations across Asia, Europe, and North America. Comparable as a direct competitor in prime and test-grade silicon wafer supply serving the same semiconductor customer set.
• Shin-Etsu Chemical: Global leader in silicon wafer manufacturing with dominant share of the prime wafer market. Comparable as the largest upstream silicon wafer producer whose products flow through the same semiconductor supply chain Pure Wafer serves, though Shin-Etsu operates at vastly greater scale.
• Merck Electronics (Versum Materials legacy): Major supplier of electronic materials including thin film deposition precursors, sputtering targets, and advanced materials for semiconductor manufacturing. Comparable as a supplier of thin film deposition materials competing with Pure Wafer's films portfolio.
• SUMCO: Major global supplier of silicon wafers for semiconductor devices. Comparable as a prime wafer producer competing in the same end markets (semiconductor IDMs, foundries) and with overlapping customer base, though SUMCO is upstream to Pure Wafer's reclaimed and downstream service offerings.

Direct peers

• RS Technologies: Japan-based specialist in silicon wafer reclaim and recycled wafer production. Closest direct competitor to Pure Wafer's reclaim business, serving the same semiconductor manufacturers with similar wafer restoration services.
• Scientech: Taiwan-based wafer reclaim services company serving semiconductor manufacturers. Direct competitor in the wafer reclaim market, particularly for Asian fab customers; comparable in reclaim process capabilities and customer profile.
• Kinik Company: Taiwan-based company with wafer reclaim operations serving semiconductor manufacturers. Direct peer in wafer reclaim services with comparable restoration processes and customer segments across the semiconductor industry.

Emerging players

• ACM Research: U.S.-headquartered supplier of wafer cleaning equipment and semiconductor capital equipment. Adjacent competitor serving the same semiconductor manufacturers with overlapping focus on wafer processing technologies and U.S. customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pure Wafer