All of the gadgets needed to support living in a society that is becoming more and more tech-focused, are produced by the electronics sector, from mobile phones and televisions to industrial electronics and telecommunications parts. The semiconductor industry, which is responsible for generating the chips required for the production of devices, throughout other electronics industry sectors, is at the centre of the electronics industry.
Sales of semiconductors are, in fact, at an all-time high, and this is despite issues faced by the semiconductor industry as well as the larger electronics sector, such as recent supply chain interruptions and escalating environmental concerns.
Here, we'll examine a few business developments that are having an effect on the electronics sector, paying particular attention to how these trends may affect future water use by producers of electronics and semiconductors, and how to achieve sustainability in the electronics sector.
How to achieve sustainability in the electronics sector?
There are three key trends in the electronics sector.
1- Market development
The majority of industry observers anticipate that the electronics sector will continue to expand over the coming years, driven by strong consumer demand for electronics items and the rapid digitalization of a sizable and expanding client base. There is some instability in some situations, such as in the retail and distributed services sectors, as a result of increased competition and the quick evolution of how businesses interact and transact with customers, via online marketplaces.
As demand for electronics products rises, it is anticipated that the semiconductor business, which serves as a kind of barometer for the entire electronics sector, would experience rapid expansion.Producers of semiconductors will need to take action to get ready for escalating competition, in the upcoming years due to these and other worldwide changes.
2- Supply chain interruptions
Although, the electronics industry is expected to increase overall, the situation in some subsectors has been a little more nuanced. The electronics and other industries have all been impacted by semiconductor shortages, in a cascading manner. This is especially true for the automobile sector, which has had trouble meeting demand because of a widely reported semiconductor shortage. The disruptions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic are still being felt in other ways, as well. For example, makers of consumer products like computers and appliances, have had to adjust to changing consumer demand.
Consequently, supply chain problems have increased the difficulties of this period of recovery and adjustment, even as economies have reopened and businesses have increased production.
3- Sustainability
Given that the electronics industry frequently employs highly water-and energy-intensive processes, sustainability is a trend that is expanding across many industrial sectors. Electronics manufacturers need to be aware of the risks and pressures related with environmental concerns, as is true across all industries, and have a plan in place for reducing such risks.
Industries are putting more of an emphasis than ever on environmental stewardship initiatives, such as putting in place systems or programme to reduce their consumption of water or energy, or to clean up their waste streams. Facilities are driven by a variety of variables, including adherence to stricter environmental rules, in order to avoid penalties like costly fines or even closures.
Other advantages of sustainability initiatives include meeting rising consumer demand, and assisting in cost containment, should water and energy prices rise, as anticipated in the coming years.
The usage of water in the electronics sector
The water and energy consumption of businesses in the electronics sector is moderately high. Facilities use feedwater for common functions like maintenance and landscaping, as well as things like cooling and HVAC systems. Because, they frequently need a lot of electricity and water, semiconductor fabrication plants, or "fabs," as they are commonly known, are highly resource-intensive. This is due to the manufacturing process' employment, of a polishing step that leaves a residue on semiconductor chips.
This residue must be eliminated in order for the chips to operate as intended, and this is done by giving them a thorough rinse with ultrapure water. By adopting water treatment techniques such as filtration, activated carbon, reverse osmosis, degasification, and electrodeionization, to eliminate impurities and achieve an extremely high level of purity, fabs are able to create ultrapure water with a significant reduction in energy and water use.
Additionally, wastewater streams from electronics factories must often undergo some sort of treatment, before being released into the environment or sent to a receiving facility. This is because they can be exceedingly acidic and contain potentially dangerous pollutants, including heavy metals and poisonous solvents.
Trends in water treatment for the electronics sector
Some techniques are rapidly using water recycling programmes to decrease overall water use, mostly due to an increased focus on environmental concerns and an interest in containing costs, involved with procuring water and disposing of wastewater and brine streams.
The electronics sector is increasingly using water recycling and reclamation activities, to meet these kinds of lofty objectives. These methods involve collecting wastewater streams for reusing inside the facility. Treatment requirements might range from low to somewhat extensive, depending on the type of wastewater and the intended reuse application. Facilities can adopt reuse strategies in a variety of ways, such as by treating and reusing numerous wastewater streams.
Similar to that, cooling towers might be a great target for water conservation initiatives!
By switching to dry or wet/dry towers, for instance, by purifying feedwater, or by installing equipment to capture water vapour for reuse, facilities that employ evaporative towers may be able to minimise their water usage. In addition to employing low-flow sinks and toilets, industrial facilities and manufacturers of electronics, are also making intriguing investments in water use reduction initiatives.
Conclusion
Although, these techniques to water reduction come with costs, some of which are large, they may potentially pay off in the long run, since they may enable businesses to more effectively address issues, like market instability and growing competition by protecting themselves against rising water costs.
Providers of wastewater treatment plants for the electronic industries
Please feel free to contact Netsol Water with any inquiries because we have over 10 years of experience, custom-designing and producing water treatment systems intended to conserve water resources. We can help you through the process of coming up with the best solution and a reasonable price, for maximising water consumption in the semiconductor or electronics industry.
We work with each of our clients to give high-quality filtration systems at affordable pricing, since we are aware that you need the best systems available, at fair and competitive prices.
Netsol Water is Greater Noida-based leading water & wastewater treatment plant manufacturer. We are industry's most demanding company based on client review and work quality. We are known as best commercial RO plant manufacturers, industrial RO plant manufacturer, sewage treatment plant manufacturer, Water Softener Plant Manufacturers and effluent treatment plant manufacturers. Apart from this 24x7 customer support is our USP. Call on +91-9650608473, or write us at enquiry@netsolwater.com for any support, inquiry or product-purchase related query.