Single crystal, JSC

OJSC "Monocrystal" is the largest world manufacturer of synthetic sapphire and pastes for the metallization of solar cells. Sapphire, the second hardest stone after diamond, has excellent mechanical, optical and chemical properties. That is why sapphire is used in watches and mobile devices. In addition, the crystal structure allowed the sapphire to become the main component of LEDs used in LED TV backlights and general lighting.

Owners

"Monocrystal" is the main forming enterprise of OJSC "Concern Energomer" - a company producing electronic devices and metering systems for electric energy, service and metrological equipment, equipment for protection against electrochemical corrosion of underground pipelines.

Areas of activity

Monocrystal products are used for the needs of electronics, optoelectronics, optics, precision mechanics, instrumentation and laser technology, as well as in the production of solar cells.

OJSC "Monocrystal" specializes in:

• in the cultivation and processing of single crystal sapphire, which, due to its mechanical, optical, dielectric and structural properties, is an indispensable material for use in electronics, optoelectronics, optics, precision mechanics, instrumentation and laser technology;

• in the development and production of pastes for the metallization of solar cells, which are one of the most promising segments of the renewable energy market.

Performance indicators

According to the results of 2014, Monocrystal holds 27% of the global market for sapphires for optoelectronic use and 11% of the global market for aluminum pastes for solar power^[1].

Four out of ten world leaders in LED manufacturing use sapphire plates produced by "Single Crystal." Eight of the world's ten largest sapphire processing companies consume sapphire ingots produced at the facility.

In 2015, the company exports 98% of its products to almost 25 countries, deliveries in 2014 exceeded $100 million.

According to Yole Development (YD), Monocrystal is one of the few companies that managed to show operating profit in 2014.

The company has improved the cost structure, significantly increased production capacity and, overtaking Japanese competitors, took a leading place in two main market segments - the production of sapphires for LEDs and mobile electronics, said Evgeny Zalovny, chief product manager of Sapphire Monocrystal, in an interview with TASS.

History

2023: Shelling by Ukraine

At the end of May 2023, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) fired at several industrial enterprises in the city of Shebekino, Belgorod Region. Among other things, the Monocrystal plant suffered, which is one of the world's largest manufacturers of artificial sapphires used in the production of expensive glass for smartphones and Apple smartwatches.

The Mash Telegram channel reported on the artillery shelling of the factory. According to him, the Ukrainian military fired about 30 152-mm caliber shells at the facility.

Plant "Monocrystal" in Shebekino

The production building was damaged and four workers were injured. Doctors diagnosed them with a burn of the upper respiratory tract and poisoning with combustion products. The electrical substation also burned down and the gas pipeline was interrupted.

Large-caliber shells fired by the Ukrainian military caused damage not only to the Monocrystal. The territories of the Click and Allnex companies also came under fire. According to the Telegram channel Mash, the shells that hit the Allnex territory damaged the production building, and the employees of this particular company received burns to the respiratory tract. The Monocrystal plant in the Belgorod region, which is part of the company's ecosystem, lost its electrical substation as a result of shelling - it burned down. The gas pipeline was also damaged, writes Mash.

The plant owned by Monocrystal in Shebekino is LLC Belgorod Sapphire Plant Monocrystal. According to the "Automated Employment System for Graduates of BSTU named after V.G. Shukhov," this is one of the world's largest vendors of artificial (synthetic sapphire) - material used, among other things, in the electronic and fiber-optic industry, for example, in the LED industry.

By May 2023, 2023, more than 98% of the company's products, which include metallization pastes for solar power, were exported - the plant sent it to 25 countries on three continents to its 200 customers.^[2]

2015: World's first 300 kilogram crystal

In July 2015, the Stavropol plant "Monocrystal" for the first time in the world grew a 300-kilogram sapphire crystal using the Kyropoulos method using its own technology. The company has 30 years of experience in the production of sapphires, previously sapphires weighing 100 kg and 140 kg were already grown here.

By the end of 2015, the plant intends to increase production capacity by more than 20% and occupy 30% of the global market for artificial industrial sapphires.

1969: Construction of the Analogue Plant

The company traces its history back to 1969, when the Analogue plant was built by the USSR Ministry of Electronic Industry, which produced single-crystal silicon substrates.

Notes