What MicroChem does

MicroChem, legally Kayaku Advanced Materials Inc., is a U.S.-based specialty chemical manufacturer founded in 1992 and headquartered in Westborough, Massachusetts. The company develops and manufactures photoresists and polymer coatings used as process materials in semiconductor fabrication, MEMS/NEMS manufacturing, advanced packaging, and select medical device and academic research applications. Its product portfolio is centered on the StructSure brand and spans permanent photo-patternable epoxies (SU-8 series, KMPR), lift-off resists (LOR, PMGI, PMMA, UniLOR), temporary plating resists (TempKoat P/N), photo-patternable low-k dielectrics (KMSF 1000/2000) for 5G and RF packaging, and wafer bonding adhesives (PermiNex). The company also operates a Paratronix division providing parylene and Signalseal conformal coating services and a Design Fabrication Services unit offering prototyping and short-run fabrication. MicroChem is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nippon Kayaku Group, a Japanese diversified conglomerate, which provides global distribution reach across the U.S., Japan, and Europe.

The company pursues a sales-led, engineer-to-engineer go-to-market model: customers engage directly with MicroChem's technical staff from concept through commercialization, with custom formulations developed against specific application requirements and production scalable from lab to high-volume manufacturing. Revenue is generated principally through one-time sales of specialty photoresist and polymer coating products into semiconductor front-end fabrication (the primary vertical), advanced packaging, MEMS/NEMS, medical devices, and academia. Distribution is executed through direct sales supplemented by brand-level partnerships with Micro Resist Technology and Qnity Electronics, and through the broader Nippon Kayaku Group international network. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is handled through direct technical consultation.

MicroChem's customer base is enterprise-oriented and globally distributed, with disclosed use cases spanning compound semiconductor manufacturing, medical device prototyping, and sensor production. The company maintains an active technical publication program and multi-language digital presence (English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Korean), reflecting its reliance on deeply qualified, specification-driven customer relationships rather than high-velocity transactional sales.

Name

MicroChem

Legal name

Kayaku Advanced Materials Inc.

Website

https://microchem.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

MicroChem (Kayaku Advanced Materials) manufactures specialty photoresists and polymer coatings used in semiconductor fabrication, MEMS/NEMS manufacturing, advanced packaging, and select medical device production, serving enterprise customers globally through direct engineer-led sales and Nippon Kayaku Group distribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty photoresists and polymer coatings for semiconductor fabrication

NAICS

Paint and Coating Manufacturing (325510)

SIC

Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851), Plastic Material, Synth Resin/Rubber, Cellulos (No Glass) (2820)

akta.pro primary industry

Photoresists & Lithography Materials (Resists, Developers, Strippers) (IMAEAKAB)

Keywords

• Photoresist materials
• Polymer coatings
• Semiconductor fabrication
• MEMS microfabrication
• Wafer level packaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Westborough

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Photoresist and Polymer Coating Products: Sale of specialty photoresists, polymer coatings, and related chemicals for semiconductor fabrication, MEMS/NEMS manufacturing, and advanced packaging applications. Products include lift-off resists, temporary resists, photo-patternable epoxies, and low-k dielectrics.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MicroChem (operating as Kayaku Advanced Materials / KayakuAM) develops and manufactures specialty photoresists and polymer coatings for semiconductor fabrication, MEMS/NEMS manufacturing, and advanced packaging. Its product portfolio centers on the StructSure brand of photo-patternable epoxies (SU-8 family, KMPR), lift-off resists (LOR, PMGI, PMMA, UniLOR), temporary resists (TempKoat), low-k dielectrics (KMSF), and wafer bonding adhesives (PermiNex), complemented by Paratronix conformal coating services and prototyping Fabrication Services.

Product overview

Kayaku Advanced Materials (KayakuAM) offers a comprehensive portfolio of advanced photoresists and polymer coatings for semiconductor, MEMS, medical device, and microelectronics fabrication. The product portfolio centers on the StructSure brand, which includes permanent photo-patternable epoxies (SU-8 series, KMPR), lift-off resists (LOR, PMGI, PMMA, UniLOR), temporary resists (TempKoat P/N), photo-dielectrics (KMSF 1000/2000), and ancillaries. The company also provides wafer bonding adhesives (PermiNex), fabrication services, and Paratronix conformal coating services. Products are distributed globally through partnerships with Micro Resist Technology and Qnity Electronics. Key applications span 5G/RF packaging, MEMS sensors, microfluidics, optical components, and medical devices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• StructSure: Product line featuring permanent photo-patternable epoxies, temporary lift-off resists, temporary plating resists, and permanent photo-patternable low-k dielectrics including SU-8, KMPR, PermiNex product families.
• Paratronix
• EdenTech
• Qnity

Products and services

• SU-8 Permanent Photo-patternable Epoxy Permanent photo-patternable epoxy-based negative photoresist widely used in MEMS, microfluidics, and microfabrication applications. Targeted at semiconductor and MEMS manufacturers and academic researchers.
• SU-8 3000 Series High-viscosity, thick-film, dry film, and ultra-thick film formulations of SU-8 with superior chemical resistance, for thick-film and high-aspect-ratio patterning in wafer-level packaging, MEMS, and advanced semiconductor applications.
• KMPR 1000 Photoresist Negative tone photo-patternable epoxy for thick-film MEMS and microelectronics applications. Targeted at MEMS and microelectronics fabricators.
• PermiNex 1000 and 2000 Wafer Bonding Adhesives Wafer bonding adhesive solutions for permanent bonding applications in semiconductor and MEMS fabrication. For semiconductor packaging and MEMS manufacturers.
• LOR & PMGI Lift-off Resists Lift-off resist product line including LOR and PMGI polymers for metal patterning, single and bi-layer lift-off processes in MEMS sensors, optical components, and semiconductor manufacturing.
• PMMA Positive Resists Positive tone PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) resists for electron beam and UV lithography applications. For research and microfabrication users requiring high-resolution patterning.
• UniLOR N Lift-off Resist Specialty lift-off resist technology for advanced semiconductor and compound semiconductor applications, including planarization of complex topography.
• TempKoat P Temporary Positive Resist Temporary positive resist for electroplating, copper pillars, RDL, and wafer-level packaging applications.
• TempKoat N Temporary Negative Resist Temporary negative resist for electroplating, copper pillars, RDL, and wafer-level packaging applications.
• KMSF 1000 Low Stress Photo-dielectric Photo-dielectric material with low stress characteristics for redistribution layer (RDL) and wafer-level packaging applications, used in 5G & RF packaging, AiP, and radar systems.
• KMSF 2000 Low Dk/Df Photo-dielectric Advanced photo-dielectric with low dielectric constant (Dk) and low loss tangent (Df) for high-frequency RF and 5G applications, including antenna-in-package (AiP) and radar systems.
• Paratronix Conformal Coating Services Conformal coating services including Parylene coating and Signalseal coating provided by the Paratronix subsidiary to protect and enhance electronic devices. Targeted at electronics and medical device manufacturers.
• Design Fabrication Services Prototyping and short-run fabrication services leveraging photoresist expertise for rapid device development. Targeted at enterprises and researchers needing custom microfabrication process development.
• Micro Resist Technology Distributed Products Distributed photoresist and polymer coating products from Micro Resist Technology GmbH, offered through KayakuAM's distribution partnership for specialized product lines and geographic coverage.
• Qnity Electronics Distributed Products Distributed brand of specialty electronic materials for semiconductor and display applications, offered through Qnity Electronics under KayakuAM's distribution network.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully planarized severe mesa topography for compound semiconductor devices, enabling reliable metal deposition and patterning
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature12 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Micro Resist TechnologycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partnership through Micro Resist Technology brand for specialized product lines and geographic coverage in the distribution network.
• Qnity ElectronicscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partnership through Qnity Electronics brand for product distribution and market access in the electronics and semiconductor materials space.
• Nippon Kayaku GroupflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerParent company providing global footprint and corporate infrastructure. KayakuAM is part of the Nippon Kayaku Group, a Japanese conglomerate, enabling international market access and resources for global operations.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. Global leader in semiconductor materials including photoresists, silicon wafers, and rare earth magnets. Broad incumbent whose photoresist line competes with KayakuAM in specialty and packaging grades.
• JSR Corporation: Major Japanese photoresist and electronic materials supplier serving semiconductor lithography and display applications. Overlaps with KayakuAM in advanced packaging and low-k dielectric chemistries.
• Merck KGaA (Electronics / Performance Materials): Electronics business of Merck KGaA supplying specialty photoresists, dielectric materials, and patterning chemistries for semiconductor and display industries. Comparable advanced packaging materials portfolio.
• Fujifilm Electronic Materials: Subsidiary of Fujifilm producing photoresists, CVD/ALD precursors, and polishing slurries for semiconductor manufacturing. Comparable product breadth in advanced packaging resists.
• Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co., Ltd. (TOK): Japan's largest dedicated photoresist manufacturer serving semiconductor, flat panel display, and PCB markets. Competes with KayakuAM across advanced packaging and MEMS-grade resists but at vastly greater scale.
• DuPont Electronics & Industrial: Major electronic materials business including photoresists, advanced packaging dielectrics, and display materials. Large incumbent competing with KayakuAM in wafer-level packaging and RDL dielectrics; also owns the Qnity distributed brand.

Direct peers

• Allresist GmbH: Berlin-based specialty resist manufacturer offering e-beam, UV, and photoresists for microelectronics, MEMS, and nanolithography. Competes head-to-head with KayakuAM in custom-formulated resists for microfabrication.
• Micro Resist Technology GmbH: German specialty photoresist and polymer manufacturer focused on micro- and nanolithography for MEMS, photonics, and semiconductor packaging. Directly comparable to KayakuAM's StructSure product portfolio and is also a distributed brand partner.

Emerging players

• Engineered Materials Systems, Inc. US-based developer of specialty conductive inks, encapsulants, and polymer coatings for electronic devices. Comparable niche electronic materials manufacturer with overlapping customer base in flexible electronics and sensors.

Others

• Avantor, Inc. Global specialty chemicals and materials distributor serving semiconductor and electronics customers. Adjacent ecosystem participant that competes with KayakuAM's distribution reach rather than its formulations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kayaku-advanced-materials

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about MicroChem