Plant of Asahi Kasei Microsystems on fire.

[foverick]

The semiconductor plant of Asahi Kasei Microsystems, which everyone knows about ADC DAC, has caught fire and the fire has finally subsided....

This is news(japanese only):
https://www.the-miyanichi.co.jp/kennai/_48297.html

Since this plant was previously interviewed as a manufacturing plant when the AK4499 was released, it seems certain that it is manufacturing semiconductors for high-end DACs.( It's unclear if they manufacture high-end ADCs, but the possibilities are high. )
https://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/topic/1179512.html

I am very concerned about the supply and trends of audio products in the future.

 

[McFly]

AKM DACs fire sale.

Seriously though hope noone was hurt and they aren't Seriously financially crippled.

 

[amirm]

Wow, that would be big impact on a lot of audio products.

 

[gvl]

Ouch. Time to grab that Topping D90.

 

[foverick]

Yes, The inventory of high-end DACs such as Digi-key is already disappearing..
I pray for the safety of the people involved, hope there are other backup manufacturing bases.

 

[restorer-john]

Everyone knows DACs run on magic smoke. You let it out and they don't work anymore.

But you may be lucky and find a bottle of vintage Lucas replacement smoke on eBay.

Seriously, I hope nobody was hurt and their business can recover quickly.

 

[pavuol]

Everyone knows DACs run on magic smoke. You let it out and they don't work anymore.

But you may be lucky and find a bottle of vintage Lucas replacement smoke on eBay.
View attachment 89140

Seriously, I hope nobody was hurt and their business can recover quickly.

So basically smoke is on the analogue side and its colour and smell has direct impact on colour and warmth of sound?

 

[restorer-john]

So basically smoke is on the analogue side and its colour and smell has direct impact on colour and warmth of sound?

Smoke circulates inside every electronic component and it's what makes everything work. It's baked-in at the factory and once let out, it's virtually impossible to get the same smoke back into the component.

There are many types of analog and digital smoke. Pungent, acrid, sweet smelling, corrosive etc. All trade secrets and not easily available to buy off the shelf. Some people think any smoke will do, but those temporary kludge repairs rarely last long before more smoke gets let out.

Asahi Kasei may have lost their entire stores of magic smoke in one event. It could take them years to re-stock and rebuild. Sad.

 

[RayDunzl]

 

[Vasr]

Pungent, acrid, sweet smelling, corrosive etc. All trade secrets and not easily available to buy off the shelf.

Ah, so that is what you guys use to convince the customer that brings in a unit for repair that it requires rather expensive repair since it is beginning to smoke inside. "See this? Smell this? It is a goner unless ..."

 

[pavuol]

Smoke circulates inside every electronic component and it's what makes everything work. It's baked-in at the factory and once let out, it's virtually impossible to get the same smoke back into the component.

There are many types of analog and digital smoke. Pungent, acrid, sweet smelling, corrosive etc. All trade secrets and not easily available to buy off the shelf. Some people think any smoke will do, but those temporary kludge repairs rarely last long before more smoke gets let out.

Asahi Kasei may have lost their entire stores of magic smoke in one event. It could take them years to re-stock and rebuild. Sad.

Thank you for clarification, so you need more alchemists chemists than engineers to develop and manufacture real quality audio gear?
This whole audio science gets more and more complicated the more I dig into it!!

 

[Blumlein 88]

What about mirrors? I see all this talk about the circuitry smoke, but no mirrors? Smoke and mirrors anyone?

 

[raif71]

What about mirrors? I see all this talk about the circuitry smoke, but no mirrors? Smoke and mirrors anyone?

Well the chips before cut is on a wafer and that wafer is like a mirror

 

[gvl]

Smoke circulates inside every electronic component and it's what makes everything work. It's baked-in at the factory and once let out, it's virtually impossible to get the same smoke back into the component

Burning snake oil makes a reasonable universal substitute.

 

[raif71]

AKM DACs fire sale.

Seriously though hope noone was hurt and they aren't Seriously financially crippled.

I suppose sabre stocks will go up now

 

[pavuol]

I googled for "digital smoke" John mentioned and found this:

6 switchable AKM DAC filters?

 

[Blumlein 88]

I googled for "digital smoke" John mentioned and found this:


View attachment 89143

6 switchable AKM DAC filters?

Amir needs to use this method to illustrate filter response in his DAC reviews.

 

[RayDunzl]

Asahi Kasei Corporation manufactures, processes, and sells chemical products in Japan and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Material, Homes, and Health Care.

It offers elastic polyurethane filament, cupro fiber, nonwoven fabric, and nylon 66 filament products. The company also provides petrochemical products, such as styrene, acrylonitrile, polyethylene, and polystyrene; performance polymer products, including synthetic rubber and engineering plastics; and performance material and consumable products, such as coating materials, microcrystalline cellulose, explosives, explosion-bonded metal clad, hollow-fiber filtration membranes, ion-exchange membranes, electronic materials, food wrapping film, and plastic films, sheets, and foams, as well as lithium-ion battery and lead-acid battery separators, and electronic devices.

In addition, the company constructs unit homes and apartment buildings; operates real estate and remodeling businesses; and offers financial and other services.

Further, it provides autoclaved aerated concrete panels, insulation panels, foundation systems, and structural components; pharmaceuticals and diagnostic reagents; artificial kidneys, therapeutic apheresis devices, and virus removal filters; and defibrillators and temperature management systems.

Additionally, it offers plant and environmental engineering, research and analysis, and employment agency/staffing services.

Asahi Kasei Corporation was founded in 1922 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

---

They make all kinds of smoke!

 

[Blumlein 88]

Asahi Kasei Corporation manufactures, processes, and sells chemical products in Japan and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Material, Homes, and Health Care.

It offers elastic polyurethane filament, cupro fiber, nonwoven fabric, and nylon 66 filament products. The company also provides petrochemical products, such as styrene, acrylonitrile, polyethylene, and polystyrene; performance polymer products, including synthetic rubber and engineering plastics; and performance material and consumable products, such as coating materials, microcrystalline cellulose, explosives, explosion-bonded metal clad, hollow-fiber filtration membranes, ion-exchange membranes, electronic materials, food wrapping film, and plastic films, sheets, and foams, as well as lithium-ion battery and lead-acid battery separators, and electronic devices.

In addition, the company constructs unit homes and apartment buildings; operates real estate and remodeling businesses; and offers financial and other services.

Further, it provides autoclaved aerated concrete panels, insulation panels, foundation systems, and structural components; pharmaceuticals and diagnostic reagents; artificial kidneys, therapeutic apheresis devices, and virus removal filters; and defibrillators and temperature management systems.

Additionally, it offers plant and environmental engineering, research and analysis, and employment agency/staffing services.

Asahi Kasei Corporation was founded in 1922 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

---

They make all kinds of smoke!

So did they make the nylon in the Remington Nylon 66 .22 rifle I used to own?

 

[raif71]

Asahi Kasei Corporation manufactures, processes, and sells chemical products in Japan and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Material, Homes, and Health Care.

It offers elastic polyurethane filament, cupro fiber, nonwoven fabric, and nylon 66 filament products. The company also provides petrochemical products, such as styrene, acrylonitrile, polyethylene, and polystyrene; performance polymer products, including synthetic rubber and engineering plastics; and performance material and consumable products, such as coating materials, microcrystalline cellulose, explosives, explosion-bonded metal clad, hollow-fiber filtration membranes, ion-exchange membranes, electronic materials, food wrapping film, and plastic films, sheets, and foams, as well as lithium-ion battery and lead-acid battery separators, and electronic devices.

In addition, the company constructs unit homes and apartment buildings; operates real estate and remodeling businesses; and offers financial and other services.

Further, it provides autoclaved aerated concrete panels, insulation panels, foundation systems, and structural components; pharmaceuticals and diagnostic reagents; artificial kidneys, therapeutic apheresis devices, and virus removal filters; and defibrillators and temperature management systems.

Additionally, it offers plant and environmental engineering, research and analysis, and employment agency/staffing services.

Asahi Kasei Corporation was founded in 1922 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

---

They make all kinds of smoke!

Some of their plants that were on fire...
https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Fire+at+Asahi+Kasei+plant+in+Kyushu+extinguished.-a084393927