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Murata invests 16.9B JPY to expand thermistor capacity

Read original on 36氪
#supply-chain#hardware#thermal-management

Critical infrastructure news: Murata's expansion signals long-term supply growth for AI server thermal components.

30-Second TL;DR

What Changed

Investment of 16.9 billion JPY in new production facilities

Why It Matters

Increased thermistor production is critical for thermal management in high-performance AI hardware and data center power systems.

What To Do Next

Monitor supply chain lead times for thermal management components if designing high-density AI server hardware.

Who should care:Developers & AI Engineers

Key Points

  • •Investment of 16.9 billion JPY in new production facilities
  • •Expansion of thermistor manufacturing capacity in Yokaichi, Japan
  • •Project timeline: construction starts May 2026, completion August 2028

Deep Insight

Background and context from public sources — not the original article. 25 sources cited.

Enhanced Key Takeaways

  • •The 16.9 billion JPY investment by Murata Manufacturing is aimed at expanding the production of both NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient) and PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) thermistors at its Yokaichi plant in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, which already produces both types.
  • •This capacity expansion is primarily driven by the surging global demand for thermistors in high-growth sectors, particularly electric vehicles (EVs) for battery thermal management, advanced consumer electronics like smartphones and wearables, and industrial IoT applications.
  • •Murata's thermistors are utilized for various functions including temperature sensing, current suppression, and temperature compensation in electronic circuits, with a focus on miniaturization and high-precision temperature measurement in compact, high-density environments.

Technical Deep Dive

  • Thermistors are ceramic semiconductors whose resistance changes significantly with temperature. They are broadly categorized into NTC (resistance decreases with increasing temperature) and PTC (resistance increases sharply above a certain temperature).
  • NTC thermistors are typically composed of metal oxides such as manganese, nickel, cobalt, iron, copper, and titanium.
  • PTC thermistors, particularly switching types, are often made from polycrystalline ceramic materials like barium titanate, with additives to tailor their electrical and thermal characteristics.
  • The manufacturing process generally involves precise blending of powdered metal oxides with organic binders (ball milling), forming the material into desired shapes (e.g., disks, chips via tape-casting or pressing), a binder burnout cycle, and high-temperature sintering (between 1000°C and 1400°C) to form a spinel ceramic matrix.
  • After sintering, electrodes are applied to the ceramic body, often by screen printing or spraying, followed by firing to create an electrical and mechanical bond.
  • Murata leverages its proprietary process technology, often derived from its expertise in multilayer ceramic capacitors, to achieve miniaturization and high precision in its thermistor products.

Future ImplicationsAI analysis grounded in cited sources

Murata's market share in the global thermistor market is likely to increase.
The significant investment in capacity expansion directly addresses the growing demand in key sectors like EVs and consumer electronics, where Murata is already a leading player, positioning them for greater market penetration.
The expansion will enhance supply chain stability for critical electronic components.
Increased domestic production capacity in Japan can mitigate risks associated with global supply chain disruptions, especially for high-demand automotive and consumer electronics applications.
Murata will further solidify its position in the automotive and consumer electronics sectors.
The demand for thermistors in EV battery management and miniaturized consumer devices is a primary driver for this expansion, indicating a strategic focus on these high-growth areas.

Timeline

1944-10
Akira Murata established Murata Manufacturing.
1947
Murata developed the world's first practical barium titanate piezoelectric transducer.
1950-12
Murata Manufacturing reorganized into Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
1961
Murata began mass production of PTC thermistors (POSISTOR) for the first time globally.
1984
Murata began mass production of NTC thermistors (approximate date).
2020-01
Murata began mass production of the world's smallest PTC thermistor (0201 inch size) for mobile devices.
2024-04
Murata expanded its NTC thermistor lineup for high-precision temperature measurement at high temperatures.
2025-03
Murata expanded its SMD-type NTC thermistors (NCP Series) with 0402M and 0603M sizes for mobile, consumer, and medical devices.
2025-11
Murata introduced new 0603M size NTC thermistors for high-reliability applications, including automotive electronics.
Read original article on 36氪

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