This dependence is reflected in market figures. In 2024, the semiconductor industry recorded approximately $627 billion in sales. As 2025 draws to a close, Deloitte estimates that total sales will reach around $697 billion, driven by continued demand from cloud infrastructure, automotive electronics, artificial intelligence, and mobile devices.

Manufacturing capacity has increased in response. According to SEMI (Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International), global semiconductor manufacturing capacity is expected to grow by about 7 percent annually through 2028. Asia is expected to remain the center of global semiconductor manufacturing, with established fab clusters across Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and China. North America, particularly the United States, is investing heavily in capacity expansion in response to evolving trade and tariff conditions.

As production expands, fabs operate longer hours, equipment is used more intensively, and processes are repeated more often, with less room for errors.

Thermal processes such as diffusion, oxidation, annealing, and chemical vapor deposition all depend on controlled heating, and electric systems play a major role in this.

Where Kanthal fits into semiconductor manufacturing

We work directly with semiconductor manufacturers through Fibrothal® diffusion cassettes, used in both atmospheric and low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) processes. These cassettes are part of thermal steps such as dopant diffusion, annealing, and oxidation, where temperature management directly affects process outcomes.

The Fibrothal® diffusion cassette range includes light and heavy gauge designs, tailored to different process needs. Light-gauge cassettes are used where faster temperature response and closer control are necessary at lower processing temperatures. Heavy-gauge cassettes fit higher-temperature applications or heavier loads, where maintaining steady heat over longer durations is critical.

The program supports both horizontal and vertical furnace designs, covering operating temperatures from 300 to 1,350 °C (572 to 2,462 °F). These solutions are used in manufacturing crystalline silicon wafers for semiconductor and solar applications.

The materials behind the systems

Our role in semiconductor manufacturing extends beyond complete heating systems. Through our range of high-temperature resistance heating materials, we supply alloys used by manufacturers of diffusion cassettes, furnace components, and other parts exposed to sustained heat and mechanical stress.

These materials are available in wire, strip, tube, bar, and plate forms. Alloy families such as FeCrAl, NiCr, NiFe, and CuNi are selected for their stable electrical properties and mechanical strength over repeated heating cycles.

Although these materials may not always be visible inside the fab, they form an essential part of the equipment supporting thermal processing across various stages of production.

Partnership matters more than components

Heating systems in semiconductor manufacturing must behave predictably over time, making the choice of partner critical.

Kanthal brings decades of experience in high-temperature electric heating, backed by strict manufacturing discipline and uniform quality standards across all production sites.

With a global presence and multi-site manufacturing capabilities, we consistently meet the demands of a geographically clustered industry.

Tyke Johnson, Product Line Manager, Kanthal.This consistency allows equipment manufacturers and fabs to expect the same results, regardless of where systems are produced. “With a global presence and multi-site manufacturing capabilities, we consistently meet the demands of a geographically clustered industry,” explains Tyke Johnson, Product Line Manager at Kanthal.

Equally important is collaboration. Thermal requirements vary across tools, processes, and production scales, and solutions must reflect those differences. “Embracing a customer-centric approach, Kanthal understands that every challenge in semiconductor manufacturing is unique. It’s all about collaboration. Our clients’ challenges become ours, and together, we craft solutions that go beyond the transactional,” Johnson affirms.

That mindset defines how we work. “In choosing Kanthal, you’re embracing a legacy of excellence, ingenuity, and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible,” Johnson adds. “We’re not just providing products; we’re offering a partnership.”

A steady role in a fast-moving industry

As semiconductor manufacturing scales, the demands on thermal processes only increase. Higher utilization, longer operating hours, and tighter process limits leave little room for variation, whether inside the fab or within the equipment that supports it.

Kanthal works across these realities. For semiconductor fabs, we support critical thermal steps with diffusion cassettes designed for stable, repeatable heating. For diffusion cassette and furnace manufacturers, we supply high-temperature materials used to build equipment that must perform consistently over time.

Wherever you operate in the semiconductor industry, Kanthal offers solutions developed specifically for conditions where heat is expected to be the same way tomorrow as it is today.