en.Wedoany.com Reported - MetaOptics Ltd (Catalist: 9MT) announced that it has reached an agreement to deploy its metalens direct-write laser (DLW) system at the Semiconductor Manufacturing Center of the University of Arizona in the United States. This deployment is a key step in MetaOptics' advancement of its U.S. expansion strategy and collaboration with Arizona's semiconductor supply chain. Installation of the DLW is expected to begin in 2027.
The DLW system is designed for 4-inch wafers, enabling rapid prototyping and manufacturing of metalens samples within weeks. The system also supports small-volume production, which can be used for pilot builds and customer demand assessment, helping partners iterate faster and transition more efficiently from concept to product. Through this deployment, potential U.S. customers can observe the system in operation on-site and evaluate its prototyping capabilities. Additionally, the system will support collaborative research and evaluation under the guidance of Dr. Krishna Muralidharan in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Arizona. MetaOptics expects that this deployment will generate user feedback and demonstration opportunities, providing further technical validation for metalens devices and products, and serving as a springboard to expand commercial production and cooperation in the U.S. market.
The DLW deployment is a key milestone in MetaOptics' U.S. expansion strategy, potential customer engagement, and commercialization roadmap. This deployment enables the Group to support emerging initiatives in the U.S. related to silicon photonics, co-packaged optics, and integrated photonics, areas where its metalens technology can be directly applied. The DLW will establish a "mini-fab" at the university for small-volume, rapid-turnaround prototyping. On the commercial front, this installation will serve as a U.S. demonstration site where potential distributors, universities, and research institutions can observe the DLW in operation on-site and produce metalens samples for evaluation by potential customers. Leveraging Arizona's rapidly growing semiconductor ecosystem, the company aims to deepen engagement with potential industry partners and end customers through this deployment.
Thng Chong Kim, Executive Chairman of MetaOptics, commented: "By deploying the direct-write laser in Arizona's world-class semiconductor research environment, we will strengthen technical validation and gather valuable user feedback. This supports our ongoing engagement with potential industry partners and end customers, while showcasing metalens manufacturing equipment to potential distributors and institutions across the United States. We believe this deployment will solidify our broader U.S. expansion efforts and deepen our participation in the region's semiconductor ecosystem."
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A variety of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including the company's growth strategy, future business development, operating results and financial condition, research and development efforts, ability to attract and retain customers, ability to establish and maintain relationships with suppliers and business partners, and related assumptions. All information is as of the date of this release, and the company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law.
