CSR(Corporate Social Responsibility)

Research and Development

For the TANAKA Precious Metals, research and development is a source of value creation.
We will pursue the potential of precious metals with a broad perspective to open the door to a more prosperous society as well as a beautiful future of the Earth in a steady and continuous manner.

Development of new alloy“ TK-FS” for probe pins for semiconductor test equipment - Allowing the same material to be used in various types of probe pins -

TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K. has been manufacturing and selling a large volume of palladium (Pd) materials mainly for pogo pin-type probe pins used in test sockets for final testing (post-processing) of semiconductor packages. The recently announced TK-FS is a material that can be used in various types of probe pins in addition to pogo-pin types, such as cantile ver and vertical types for wafer testing (pre-processing) probe cards. This product has three unique attributes: a Vickers hardness of at least 500, specific resistance of at most 7.0μΩ･cm and durability that can withstand 10 or more times of repeated bending. In the existing products of TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K, no material simultaneously achieved these three qualities of high hardness, low specific resistance and high pliability. This product succeeded in addressing all requirements, allowing the same material to be used in various types of probe pins.

TK-FS products TK-FS products

Establishment of a new ruthenium film deposition process that contributes toward miniaturization and improved durability of semiconductors

TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K. is developing high-purity precious metal precursors TRuST, with a focus on ruthenium, for next-generation semiconductors. While single-stage film deposition using oxygen has been the mainstream process for film deposition, the company has succeeded in a two-stage film deposition process using oxygen and hydrogen.
This two-stage film deposition process reduces the risk of surface oxidation of the base caused by hydrogen film deposition and allows high-purity film deposition that maintains ruthenium purity at almost 100% using oxygen film deposition. Furthermore, by forming the base first using hydrogen film deposition, the ruthenium film on top of the base created using oxygen film deposition will be smooth and dense, achieving a lower resistance than before. As semiconductors become even smaller in scale in the future, demand for thinner film deposition with low resistance is also expected for ruthenium films, and a two-stage film deposition allows this issue to be resolved.

Image of two-stage film deposition using TRuST (upper) Cross-sectional SEM image of two-stage film deposition using TRuST (lower)
Image of two-stage film deposition using TRuST (upper)
Cross-sectional SEM image of two-stage film deposition using TRuST (lower)

Launch of the RE Series of recycled precious metal materials, which uses only 100% recycled materials

The RE Series is composed of gold (Au), platinum (Pt) and other precious metals refined from 100% recycled precious metals. While TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K. has been operating a precious metal recycling business since its founding, it has now expanded its RE Series production line to manufacture products that use 100% recycled precious metal materials. The RE series raw material products provided by TANAKA Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K. have already been applied to compounds for plating solutions as the first step. As the second step, we will also introduce the materials into the gold bonding wire products manufactured by TANAKA Denshi Kogyo K.K.

Logo of the RE Series
Logo of the RE Series

Bonding wire products
Bonding wire products

Creation and Protection of Intellectual Property Rights

Being aware that intellectual properties such as patents, dev ices, designs, trademarks and literary works, as well as know-how, are important assets for companies, we actively endea vor to develop them. In the research of new technology and the development, production and sales of product s and goods, we respect the intellectual property rights of third parties and deal with any infringement activiti es of other companies on our rights in a strict manner in accordance with the relevant laws of each country. We also prov ide intellectual property education mainly to staff in technology departments throughout the year to enhance their awareness of intellectual properties.