Firebird Technologies: World leader in high-tech pure materials


In ancient Egyptian legend, the phoenix was a bird that destroyed itself by fire, then arose, rejuvenated, from its own ashes. Firebird Technologies similarly arose from the sale of Cominco Electronic Materials to Johnson Matthey and its subsequent closure in 1991. Bill Micklethwaite, ex-program manager with Cominco and Johnson Matthey, with 24 years of experience in the industry, saw the closure as an opportunity to start his own business: the manufacture of indium antimonide at Trail. Skilled people were available, he was expert in the sciences of electronic materials, the product was high value, and he had customers willing to support him.

 

Financing was found, technologists were hired, Community Futures provided space in their incubator building, and Firebird -  www.firebird.bc.ca - was in business. Almost 15 years and several million dollars later, Firebird is recognized as a world leader in indium antimonide wafer technology; indeed the first in the world to manufacture three and four inch crystal wafers. The wafer discs are sliced from nearly perfect, ultra high purity crystals to provide the semi-conductor basis for infrared detection devices - instruments that see in the dark, image heat patterns or pick out cancer tumours by their temperature differential.

 

Firebird is now eyeing expansion into other high purity materials, sourcing the raw material from Teck Cominco's by-products. The high-tech electronics industry is constantly pushing the research envelope, and Firebird too is continually driving into new territory. "It's cool," says Micklethwaite. "It's a challenge. It's tough to do but when you succeed it feels good. This business is all about innovative people and their mindset, and we have a great bunch of people."

 

Firebird Technologies contact information, -Bill Micklethwaite, CSO

 

Innovation flows from ideas so keep them coming; even an off-the-wall idea can trigger one that works.

 
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