Vantaa, Finland Murata Electronics Oy
Murata bought out VTI Technologies Oy in January 2012 to enhance and expand its business in the rapidly growing MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) market. As a new member of the Murata Group, the Finnish MEMS manufacturer was subsequently renamed Murata Electronics Oy.
Leading-Edge MEMS for Automotive, Healthcare and Industrial Applications
Murata Electronics Oy (former VTI Technologies Oy) is located in Vantaa, Finland and currently employs approximately 700 people for R&D, production and administrative functions.
The modern glass and metal building assembles under one roof leading-edge clean room facilities for MEMS element manufacturing, component assembly and shipping inspection.
Murata Electronics Oy's history began in 1991 when Vaisala Technologies Inc. (VTI) was established in Finland as a joint venture company to focus on the development for MEMS. At that time, MEMS was already seen as an emerging new technology with interesting growth opportunities, and the vision of the new company was to become a major supplier for automotive industries. Today, it is easy to state that this objective has been met and even exceeded.
MEMS Market Is Growing
In their applications such as automotive safety systems or healthcare devices Murata's MEMS sensors help improve road safety and quality of life.
In the coming years, "electrification" of vehicles and demand for ever more sophisticated healthcare monitoring systems keep growing.
According to the French research consultancy Yole Developpement, the MEMS market is expected to become a $21 billion market by 2017. The growth will be particularly strong in high-performance gyros and combo sensors - in other words in those products that form the core of Murata's MEMS expertise.
During its 21 years of history, this Finnish MEMS company has successfully built a solid reputation as a MEMS pioneer not only for automotive but also for healthcare and many other industries. Today, Murata's objective is to continue to grow in these areas and to expand emerging applications in areas such as environmental conservation and energy.
Innovative 3D MEMS Technology
MEMS accelerometers, inclinometers, gyros and combo sensors manufactured in the Vantaa plant are all based on the company's proprietary 3D MEMS technology offering numerous advantages. Capacitive sensors are made of single crystal silicon and glass, combining semiconductor industry's processes and in-house developed MEMS technologies. This technology can achieve optimum solutions for customers' needs by downsizing designs, while realizing stable performance, low power consumption and extremely robust packages.
Murata's MEMS sensors also deliver their full performance in very demanding applications such as agriculture, mining, forestry, off-shore and off-road applications. One good example of meeting customers' requirements thanks to this unique technology is the combo sensor solution, developed in collaboration with a customer and bringing remarkable added value by being smaller, more reliable, and more cost effective than competitors.
Committed to MEMS
"We have ambitious growth objectives, and we will serve Murata's worldwide customer base with in-depth MEMS expertise, especially in gyros and combo sensors, " says Mr. Shinji Ushiro, President and CEO of Murata Electronics Oy.
"We are developing proprietary MEMS technology and transforming the former VTI into Murata's global MEMS R&D and Production Center. This center will operate as a fully integrated part of Murata's Sensor Business, and the MEMS know-how nurtured here will be utilized in the form of products and services for the benefit of all Murata customers worldwide.
We have recently completed the integration process. All MEMS products from this plant are now distributed through Murata's sales network globally. By combining Murata's and the former VTI's know-how in raw materials, technologies and applications, we will ensure further growth in Murata's MEMS business."
Facts About Murata Electronics Oy
- Established in 1991, acquired by the Murata Group in 2012
- Approximately 700 employees
- Manufacturing MEMS elements, accelerometers, inclinometers, gyro sensors, combo sensors
- All sensing elements manufactured in clean room class ISO 4-ISO 8
- Gaining the ISO 9001, ISO TS16949 and ISO 14001 standards certification
Vantaa - the City of History, Nature and Famous Drivers
Vantaa is the fourth biggest city in Finland with a population of almost 200,000 residents on an area of 2,240.4km2. Vantaa is part of Helsinki's metropolis composed of several independent cities and totaling approximately 1.5 million residents. Vantaa is famous for the old medieval route called King's Road that was built and used by the Crown couriers already during the Vikings' time, between Stockholm and St. Petersburg. Some parts of the original road with old wooden bridges are still in use today. As in all urban areas in Finland, nature is always abundant in Vantaa. In addition to the ever popular sauna, there are excellent outdoor activities that Finnish people cherish.
The River Vantaa that runs through the city is famous for salmon fishing, boat trips, and fast-flowing rapids. During the summer time, swimming in the lakes and enjoying wildlife are common activities, whereas cross-country skiing becomes the favorite activity during the snowy winter months. Murata Electronics Oy is well known among automotive industries, but there are other automotive-related famous names coming from Vantaa.
Mr. Mika Hakkinen and Mr. Mika Salo, both famous Formula 1 drivers come from Vantaa. The Mika Hakkinen Square is located just a few kilometers from Murata's MEMS plant.
2012-13 Murata World Firsts Announced in News Releases
| June 2012 |
22 Picofarads in a Space of 0.4 x 0.2mm: This Is the World's Smallest Capacitor with the Largest Capacity for Its Size!
Commencement of Production of Hi-Q Type Monolithic Ceramic Capacitors
A World's First for Mobile Devices Such as Smartphones.
Commencement of Production of Monolithic Ceramic Capacitors on Interposer Substrates
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| August 2012 |
World's Highest Inductance Values!
Commencing Mass-Production of Ultra-Compact 0603 (mm) Size High-Frequency Chip Inductors for Smartphones: the LQP03TN_02 Series
Commencing Mass-Production of the World's First SATA Gen 2/Gen 3 Compatible Ultra-Compact Thin Film-Type Chip Common Mode Choke Coils
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| September 2012 |
Murata's World's Smallest Monolithic Ceramic Capacitors - 0201 (mm) Size
World's Highest Capacity!
Enables Mounting by Conductive Adhesive! Commencing Mass-Production of GCG Series Monolithic Ceramic Capacitors for Automobiles That Can Withstand 150°C
World's Smallest!
Low Current Consumption! Mass-Production of Transmission Modules for Smartphones Now Underway
Commencement of Mass-Production of the DMF Series: World's Thinnest Electric Double-Layer Capacitors with Industry-Leading Power Density
World's First and Smallest Chip Inductors - 0201 (mm) Size
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| October 2012 |
World's Highest Capacitance!
Murata Launches Mass-Production of GCJ Series Monolithic Ceramic Capacitors with Resin External Electrodes for Automotive Applications Up to 150°C
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| March 2013 |
Ultra-Compact 0402 (mm) Size with World's Highest Q!
0402 (mm) -Size LQP02TQ Series High-Frequency Chip Inductors Now in Mass-Production |