International Trade

Bandgap announces new micropipe reduction technology
Bandgap Technologies, a U.S. based defense contractor and SiC wafer producer, has developed a unique process known as Micropipe Blocking for improving bulk SiC growth. This process has been applied to both semi-insulating and low resistivity 6H-SiC resulting in a consistent micropipe density of less than 50 cm^-2. With the ability to achieve micropipe densities as low as 5 cm^-2, application of this process to 4H-SiC is currently underway. Bandgap expects to begin initial production of 4H-SiC for high power and high frequency applications early in the first quarter of 2004 while transitioning to the production of larger diameter wafers.

This development will significantly improve the quality of commercial SiC wafers while reducing the cost to produce affordable substrate material for the compound semiconductor industry. Bandgap currently produces 2-inch epi-ready SiC wafers for the compound semiconductor market. “We are very exited that we were able to take this process from the R&D stage to commercial application. We believe that this will open the door to unparalleled consistency in the production of low micropipe density silicon carbide.” said Dr. Yuri Khlebnikov, Bandgap’s President. Founded in 2000, Bandgap Technologies began research and development of SiC with funding from the Missile Defense Agency under contract with the Office of Naval Research. Today, the company has moved into commercial production and targets its product line at niche SiC applications with competitive pricing for standard SiC products.

Global Consulting & Affiliates
Russ Froneberger, president of Global Consulting & Affiliates, has often been asked, “Just what is it that Global Consulting does?” His “elevator” answer usually is, “We find out what people need and if we can provide for their needs by solving their problems or creating opportunities and have some measure of fun doing it, we try to turn such prospects into clients.” 

More specifically, Global Consulting is an international marketing, trade and economic development consulting firm, headquartered in Columbia, with affiliates throughout Europe, the U.S. and other carefully selected locations. Global’s affiliates share his belief about the importance of building trusting relationships.  

The marketing niche includes providing marketing training, planning and the implementation of marketing plans (which Russ calls “road maps”, a term he has been using long before the road map for the Middle East, introduced earlier this year). While many marketing consulting firms focus on the what’s, where’s, when’s and whys of marketing plans, Global Consulting goes further. It adds to these important plan components the critical how will the plan’s goals be attained. Clients largely come from the legal profession, economic development agencies, governments and private-sector companies interested in marketing and not just selling themselves and their services or products.

Global Consulting offers market entry advice to small-to-medium-size companies (SMEs), located mostly in the U.S. and Europe, who are interested in trade. This includes connecting the client to reputable partners in other countries. Partners include agents and distributors and joint venture candidates. 

Economic development services, primarily provided to regions in the U.S. and Europe, include: in-country representation; identifying, qualifying, tracking and arranging appointments with prospect companies; organizing investment missions, workshops, seminars, trade shows and other special events; marketing training and planning; and, conference speaking.

Global Consulting can be contacted at 1110 Gregg St. Columbia, SC 29201-3825; phone: (803) 799-1763; fax: (803) 799-1680; email: rjfroneberger@mindspring.com

MC2 Finishing Solutions Breaks Ground in Fairfield County                                              
MC2 finishing solutions, a joint venture company formed by Lang-Mekra North America Holdings, LLC (LMKA) and Kraemer Engineering, recently broke ground on a $5 million electro-coating and powder coating facility in Fairfield County. MC2 will open the second phase of the Walter B. Brown Industrial Park in Winnsboro and will create 25 new jobs.

Kraemer Engineering is a German based company. LMKA, a manufacturer of mirror systems for heavy transportation and agricultural vehicles, has been in the Brown Industrial Park since it opened in 1994. Kraemer Engineering designs and operates systems for the application of electro coat, powder coatings and liquid coatings in Germany. They design and operate applications for automotive metals, plastics, architectural metals, transportation and construction materials as well as the home and office furniture industries. 

New Director of Operations for the South Carolina Export Consortium                                    
Dorette Coetsee has been named Director of Operations for the South Carolina Export Consortium. She will continue to focus on working with client companies of the Consortium and coordinating projects with graduate assistants at the University of South Carolina and Clemson University. Dorette will also manage the day-to-day activities of the Consortium, supervision of grants and contracts awarded to the consortium.

A native of South Africa, Dorette joined the Export Consortium as director of trade development in September 2000. She came to the Consortium with a background of working with small to medium-size companies in South Africa as well as a global perspective.