RIBER Order Bolsters Europe's Push in AI and Autonomous Tech

BEZONS, France – December 29, 2025 – In a significant move that reinforces Europe's ambitions in the global semiconductor race, French equipment manufacturer RIBER has secured a major order for two of its most advanced production systems from a key European technology firm. The deal, which includes two MBE 6000 molecular beam epitaxy systems and associated services, is poised to dramatically expand the customer's manufacturing capacity for next-generation photonic devices.

Scheduled for delivery in 2026, this investment will directly support the production of critical components fueling some of the world's fastest-growing markets, including optical interconnects for AI data centers and high-power light sources for LiDAR systems used in autonomous vehicles. The move signals a new phase of industrial expansion for the undisclosed European customer, a vertically integrated company specializing in a broad portfolio of photonic technologies.

The Precision Engine of Modern Photonics

At the heart of this deal is Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE), a sophisticated manufacturing process that builds semiconductor materials one atomic layer at a time. This technique is renowned for its unparalleled precision, enabling the creation of complex, multi-layered structures with exceptional purity and uniformity—qualities that are non-negotiable for the performance and reliability of advanced optoelectronic devices.

RIBER, a global leader in MBE technology since its founding in 1964, has designed its MBE 6000 platform specifically for the demands of industrial-scale production. Capable of processing up to four 6-inch wafers in a single run, the system offers the high throughput, stability, and automation required for cost-efficient manufacturing. This capability is crucial for producing the advanced III-V compound semiconductor structures that form the foundation of high-performance lasers, sensors, and optical components.

The inclusion of a comprehensive services and productivity solutions package in the order underscores the strategic nature of the partnership. It aims to ensure seamless process integration and maximize manufacturing efficiency, allowing the customer to quickly scale up production to meet surging market demand.

Fueling the AI and LiDAR Revolutions

The timing of this investment is critical, as it aligns with explosive growth in sectors that are fundamentally dependent on photonic innovation. The insatiable data appetite of artificial intelligence and the safety-critical requirements of autonomous driving are pushing the boundaries of what traditional electronics can achieve.

In the realm of AI, data centers are facing an unprecedented data transfer bottleneck. As AI models become more complex, the need for faster, more efficient communication between servers is paramount. Silicon photonics, which uses light to transmit data, has emerged as the leading solution. The market for silicon photonics-based optical transceivers is projected to skyrocket from approximately $7 billion in 2024 to over $24 billion by 2030. This expansion is driven by the industry's rapid transition to 800Gb/s and 1.6Tb/s data rates, where optical interconnects offer significant advantages in speed and energy efficiency over copper wiring. Manufacturing the highly specialized lasers integrated into these silicon photonics chips requires the atomic-level precision that only advanced epitaxy systems like the MBE 6000 can provide.

Simultaneously, the automotive industry's push toward autonomy relies heavily on LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) systems. These sensors create detailed 3D maps of a vehicle's surroundings by firing pulses of laser light. The performance of these systems—their range, resolution, and reliability—is directly tied to the quality of the underlying laser source, often a Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) or an edge-emitting laser. As LiDAR technology becomes standard not just in high-end autonomous vehicles but also in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and industrial robotics, the demand for high-volume, high-quality laser components is escalating.

A Strategic Win for European Tech Sovereignty

Beyond its commercial significance, this order represents a strategic victory for Europe's broader industrial policy. The European Chips Act, which came into force in 2023, has set an ambitious goal of doubling the continent's share of global semiconductor production to 20% by 2030. A key pillar of this strategy is fostering domestic manufacturing capabilities to reduce reliance on volatile international supply chains.

This deal—involving a French technology leader supplying critical equipment to another European firm for manufacturing essential components—is a textbook example of the European Chips Act in action. It strengthens the regional supply chain from the ground up, ensuring that foundational technologies for strategic sectors like AI, automotive, and telecommunications are developed and produced within Europe.

The European photonics industry is already a formidable force, generating over €124 billion in 2022 and employing hundreds of thousands. Initiatives like the PhotonDelta ecosystem in the Netherlands and the EU-funded PIXEurope project are working to create a more integrated and resilient European photonics supply chain. By investing in state-of-the-art production equipment from a regional partner, the customer is not only scaling its own capacity but also contributing to the continent's collective push for technological sovereignty. This move helps insulate Europe's most innovative industries from geopolitical disruptions and ensures access to the components that will define the next decade of technological progress.

Market Impact and Future Outlook

While the financial terms were not disclosed, a "major order" for two high-end production systems of this caliber likely represents a contract value in the tens of millions of euros. For RIBER, this order significantly bolsters its order book and reaffirms its market leadership in the face of global competitors. It serves as a powerful validation of its MBE 6000 platform as the go-to solution for companies looking to transition from research to high-volume manufacturing of advanced III-V semiconductor devices.

Although the identity of the customer remains confidential, their profile as a vertically integrated European photonics specialist places them among an elite group of companies driving innovation in the region. Major players such as STMicroelectronics, Infineon Technologies, and AMS OSRAM are all heavily invested in the very markets—AI data centers, LiDAR, and advanced sensing—that this new production capacity will serve.

With the two systems scheduled for delivery and installation in 2026, the customer is positioning itself to capitalize on the next wave of demand. This investment is more than just an equipment purchase; it is a strategic enabler that will allow a leading European company to scale its output of high-performance optical sources, ensuring that the critical building blocks for the future of AI and autonomous systems are increasingly 'Made in Europe'.