HexaTech Inc of Morrisville, NC, USA, which manufactures aluminium nitride (AlN) substrates and is developing long-life UV-C LEDs and high-voltage power devices, has signed a broad, strategic agreement with Okaya & Co Ltd of Nagoya, Japan, and its US subsidiary Okaya USA Inc that establishes Okaya as the sole representative for HexaTech's AlN substrate products in Japan, as well as including a direct equity investment by Okaya in HexaTech. The agreement further sets the stage for Okaya to assume a leadership position to market and sell HexaTech's line of UV-C light-emitting diodes (targeted for launch later this year).
HexaTech says that its AlN materials have been shown to be an essential foundation for record-setting UV-C LEDs, which have the potential to revolutionize the sterilization and purification markets, by providing compact, highly efficient, long-life sources of light.
"Their strong belief in HexaTech and our current and future products, as supported by the Japanese market, highlight that our business strategy is ideally positioned and customer-focused," says HexaTech's CEO John Goehrke regarding Okaya. "Further, as we look to our upcoming UV-C LED launch, we anticipate a further integration of our business activities, relying on Okaya's strengths in this important market," he adds.
"HexaTech's current substrate products, as we know from our customers, are not only world-leading but we foresee their future LED products to be in great demand, creating significant opportunities for both companies," remarks Okaya's senior management.