XIVER emerges as Europe’s sole independent MEMS foundry after this Dutch consortium acquires it from Philips

Dutch electronics firm Philips has sold its chip development division to a Dutch investor consortium, including former VDL Nedcar CEO John van Soerland and Orange Mills Ventures founder Cees Meeuwis. The division will operate independently under the name XIVER.

The former Philips unit will continue to play a significant role in the semiconductor and medtech sectors, both of which are vital to the Netherlands’ economy.

A new management team

XIVER appointed John van Soerland as CEO and Kees Wesdorp (President and CEO of DeepHealth) as Chairman of the Board. The new management sees significant growth potential for the only independent MEMS foundry in Europe that is not Chinese-owned.

A MEMS foundry manufactures micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) for companies that design but don’t fabricate their own chips, offering services like prototyping, manufacturing, and process development.

Van Soerland, says, “XIVER is heading for a very bright future with a lot of growth. That is driven by the unique products we make here in Eindhoven combined with the high-quality employees working here.”

Wesdorp, adds, “This was a unique opportunity for us, one that doesn’t come around often. XIVER is a promising company enabling ground-breaking innovations for the healthcare, automotive and high-tech industries, among others.”

“I look forward to putting our experience in semiconductors and health technology into practice, building on Philips’ unique R&D heritage. In addition, I am proud to work with such an experienced and talented team.”

Patrick Meerts of FNV, mentions, “We have been through an intensive process and are positive about the agreement reached. The new management has addressed the employees with positive impetus. This has clearly enhanced people’s confidence in management.”

Brief about XIVER

XIVER claims to be Europe’s only independent, Dutch-owned MEMS foundry, with a legacy of precision and innovation rooted in Philips’ heritage. 

Specialising in advanced MEMS manufacturing, XIVER serves industries such as MedTech, automotive, industrial, and photonics. The company focuses on transitions from R&D to manufacturing, emphasising high standards in precision, reliability, and quality control.

For instance, XIVER provides ultrathin membranes for ASML’s advanced chip machines using extreme ultraviolet lithography and innovation filters for infrared detectors in the automotive industry. 

The company holds expertise and intellectual property in Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducers (CMUT) technology, which has the potential to become a breakthrough in the field of out-of-hospital, handheld medical ultrasound applications.