From keypads to chips: How Polymatech advances semiconductors with sustainability at the core | e27

Polymatech is India’s first semiconductor manufacturing company. From humble beginnings as a producer of mobile keypads and automotive polymer products in 2007, the company pivoted to focus on opto-semiconductors in 2016, becoming the sole commercial producer of these advanced components in the country.

Polymatech’s commitment to innovation extends to its use of sapphire materials in high-power applications, energy-efficient manufacturing processes, and ambitious plans for global expansion.

In this interview, Polymatech MD & CEO Eswara Rao Nandam sheds light on its transformative journey, overcoming industry challenges, and leveraging Japanese technology to deliver world-class products.

Excerpts:

Polymatech has been at the forefront of semiconductor innovation in India since 2007. Could you share your journey and the challenges faced in establishing the country’s first semiconductor manufacturing company?

Polymatech started as a manufacturer and supplier of mobile keypads for brands like Nokia and Sony Ericsson, alongside polymer products for the automotive industry. However, as mobile keypads transitioned to softkeys, we pivoted to focus on new product lines.

This shift coincided with a change in management, which brought a fresh vision to enter the semiconductor industry, specifically in opto-semiconductors. Since 2016, we’ve been manufacturing a range of opto-semiconductor products, overcoming significant challenges to become the only company in India producing opto-semiconductors commercially.

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Both the Tamil Nadu State government and the central government have been instrumental in supporting our journey, enabling us to build a robust foundation for our operations.

Polymatech specialises in ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) spectrum technologies. How do these solutions directly improve human lives, and what are some real-world applications of your products?

The UV spectrum (10–400 nanometers) has diverse applications across industries:

Healthcare & medicine: Disinfecting and sterilising medical equipment and surfaces.
Electronics: Photolithography for electronics manufacturing and curing resins in industrial processes.
Environmental monitoring: Enhancing sustainability initiatives.
Security & forensics: Advanced detection technologies.
Arts & entertainment: Specialised lighting effects.

Similarly, the IR spectrum plays a vital role, particularly in fibre optics. Infrared light, with wavelengths of 800–1600 nanometers, ensures efficient long-distance data transmission through glass optical fibres, thanks to its low absorption rates. This technology forms the backbone of telecommunication systems, enabling seamless global communication.

Polymatech’s products integrate Japanese technology into manufacturing. What unique advantages does this bring to your production process, and how does it set your products apart?

Our collaboration with a renowned Japanese scientist in opto-semiconductors has been a cornerstone of our success. From the outset, we adopted Japanese work culture and quality standards, ensuring precision and excellence in every product.

We’ve invested significantly in automation, with robots playing a key role in reducing human intervention. Our goal is to achieve zero manpower in certain verticals, setting us apart as a leader in efficiency and innovation.

Sapphire materials are an essential part of your offerings. Can you explain their role in high-power applications and the advancements Polymatech is driving in this area?

Sapphire wafers are a critical component in high-power applications due to their exceptional thermal stability and conductivity. At Polymatech, we focus on using C-plane sapphire wafers in biomedical devices for their biocompatibility and resistance to biological degradation. These materials are also integral to power amplifiers, transistors, and other high-power electronics.

How does Polymatech prioritise sustainability and energy efficiency within your manufacturing processes and product lifecycle?

Sustainability is at the core of Polymatech’s mission. Our products are designed to be over 50 per cent more energy-efficient, and we ensure that our raw materials are environmentally friendly, posing no harm to the ecosystem. This commitment has made our products highly sought after in environmentally conscious markets like the EU and the USA, driving consistent export growth.

With the rising global demand for semiconductors, how does Polymatech approach scaling production while maintaining quality and innovation?

We’ve structured our operations into four key verticals: design, wafer fabrication, semiconductor building, and packaging and assembly. Our in-house design team collaborates with top universities and agencies to innovate and develop new products.

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To meet global demand, we are strategically expanding our operations to regions like the US, France, the UK, Bahrain, and Scandinavia. Each location is chosen based on the availability of critical resources like uninterrupted power, raw materials, and market demand. Over the next five years, we aim to significantly scale our portfolio through targeted investments in these regions.

What are Polymatech’s primary goals in terms of research and development, and are there specific areas of innovation you are particularly excited about?

Our R&D is heavily focused on healthcare and agriculture products, areas where we’ve already seen market success. Looking ahead, we’re venturing into data receipt, analysis, and transmission technologies for telecommunications, satellite communications, computing, and mobile applications.

We’ve also partnered with leading institutions to develop several innovative products, which we will announce as they progress. Our commitment to innovation ensures that Polymatech remains a leader in shaping the future of semiconductor technology.

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