PhiChem Open House a Success!
March 28, 2016 | Pete Starkey, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Delighted to be invited to an exclusive preview of the new PhiChem global headquarters and R&D centre in Shanghai’s Baoshan suburb, I joined the VIP group assembled at the PhiChem booth at the CPCA show, made welcome by PhiChem President Dr. Jin Zhang.
An hour’s private bus ride brought us to an immaculately presented site—four brand-new buildings with a total of 500,000 square feet of floor area: administration, pilot plant manufacturing and packaging, warehousing, fronted by a spectacularly impressive six-story laboratory complex, which had taken five years from green-field site to completion.
Gleaming! Through reception and into a display area with glass showcases holding examples of PhiChem’s products and applications, and an appropriate place for Dr. Zhang to begin his explanation of PhiChem’s evolution since he founded the company in 2002.
A graduate chemist, with an MS degree in optics, and many years’ experience in microelectronics packaging and the development of optical and laser materials and components, Jin Zhang gained his doctorate in polymer chemistry at the University of Michigan in the U.S. Recognising the rapid growth in the demand for optical fibres for data and telecoms transmission, and a fundamental requirement for glass fibres to be coated for mechanical protection and enhancement of their optical properties, Dr. Zhang returned to China and began production of UV-curable coating resins in Shanghai. Since 2002, PhiChem has grown to become China’s largest supplier of UV-curable materials to the optical fibre industry and second largest in the world, producing all of its own raw materials and resin precursors.
Dr. Zhang reached into a display cabinet and took a short length of fibre from a large spool, explaining that the widespread use of high bandwidth optical fibre would not have been feasible without the protection afforded by UV-curable coatings. The sample he demonstrated had a coated diameter of 250 microns, the glass itself being half that diameter, and the combination of glass and coating had a tensile strength of five kilograms. Talking of high speed, he remarked that the fibre was coated and cured on-the-fly at 3000 metres per minute!
Page 1 of 3
Testimonial
"Advertising in PCB007 Magazine has been a great way to showcase our bare board testers to the right audience. The I-Connect007 team makes the process smooth and professional. We’re proud to be featured in such a trusted publication."
Klaus Koziol - atgSuggested Items
Koh Young, Fuji, and Kurtz ERSA Drive Smart Manufacturing Solutions for EV and Automotive Electronics at Kunshan, China Technical Seminar
09/11/2025 | Koh YoungKoh Young Technology, the global leader in True 3D measurement-based inspection solutions, partnered with Fuji Corporation and Kurtz ERSA to host an exclusive technical seminar for leading automotive manufacturers in East China. Held on September 4 at Fuji’s factory in Kunshan, the event gathered participants representing over 35 companies.
MacDermid Alpha Presents at SMTA New Delhi, Bangalore Chapter, on Flux–OSP Interaction
09/09/2025 | MacDermid Alpha Electronics SolutionsMacDermid Alpha contributes technical insights on OSP solderability at the Bangalore Chapter, SMTA reinforcing commitment to knowledge-sharing and industry collaboration.
Electra’s ElectraJet EMJ110 Inkjet Soldermask Now in Black & Blue at Sunrise Electronics
09/08/2025 | Electra Polymers LtdFollowing the successful deployment of Electra’s Green EMJ110 Inkjet Soldermask on KLA’s Orbotech Neos™ platform at Sunrise Electronics in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, production has now moved beyond green.
Absolute EMS: The Science of the Perfect Solder Joint
09/05/2025 | Absolute EMS, Inc.Absolute EMS, Inc., a six-time award-winning provider of fast turnaround, turnkey contract electronic manufacturing services (EMS), is drawing attention to the critical role of 3D Solder Paste Inspection (SPI) in ensuring the reliability of both FLEX and rigid printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs).
Indium Corporation to Highlight High-Reliability Solder Solutions at SMTA Guadalajara Expo
09/04/2025 | Indium CorporationIndium Corporation, a leading materials refiner, smelter, manufacturer, and supplier to the global electronics, semiconductor, thin-film, and thermal management markets, will feature a range of innovative, high-reliability solder products for printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) at the SMTA Guadalajara Expo and Tech Forum, to be held September 17-18 in Guadalajara, Mexico.