Top 10 Companies in the Global Cleaning Solution After Etching Industry (2026): Innovation Leaders Ensuring Semiconductor Manufacturing Precision

In Business Insights
January 24, 2026


The Global Cleaning Solution After Etching Market was valued at USD 3.1 Billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 5.5 Billion by 2032, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.5% during the forecast period (2025–2032). This substantial growth is fueled by the relentless demand for smaller, more powerful semiconductor devices, the expansion of high-volume fabrication facilities, and the critical need for ultra-pure surfaces to ensure high manufacturing yields at advanced technology nodes.

As semiconductor manufacturing processes become increasingly complex, moving to 5nm, 3nm, and beyond, the post-etch cleaning step has emerged as a linchpin for success. Effective removal of residues is paramount to prevent device failure. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Cleaning Solution After Etching Industry—a group of chemical giants and specialized material science leaders who are defining the standards for purity, selectivity, and sustainability in modern chip fabrication.


🔟 1. Entegris, Inc.

Headquarters: Billerica, Massachusetts, USA
Key Offering: EKC™ Technology Post-Etch Residue Removers, Microchemistry solutions

Entegris is a global leader in specialty chemicals and advanced materials handling solutions for the semiconductor industry. Its EKC™ Technology portfolio is renowned for providing highly effective, selective cleaning chemistries that remove complex post-etch residues, including polymers and metallic contaminants, without damaging sensitive device structures. The company’s deep expertise in contamination control makes it a critical partner for leading-edge fabs.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Continuous R&D for sub-5nm node compatibility

  • Development of low-global-warming-potential (GWP) formulations

  • Integrated solutions combining chemicals, filters, and fluid handling systems

Download FREE Sample Report:
Global Cleaning Solution After Etching Market – View in Detailed Research Report


9️⃣ 2. DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

Headquarters: Wilmington, Delaware, USA
Key Offering: DuPont™ Evolving Solutions, Specialty Interconnect Cleaners

DuPont’s Electronics & Industrial segment offers a comprehensive suite of cleaning solutions tailored for advanced semiconductor manufacturing. Their products are designed to address the challenges of etching processes for copper interconnects, low-k dielectrics, and new channel materials, providing high selectivity and excellent particle removal performance.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Focus on environmentally sustainable chemistries with reduced environmental impact

  • Collaborations with semiconductor manufacturers for co-development of next-gen solutions


8️⃣ 3. Merck KGaA (Performance Materials)

Headquarters: Darmstadt, Germany
Key Offering: AZ® Electronic Chemicals portfolio, AZ® 300 MIF Developer

Merck is a dominant force in electronic materials, supplying high-purity chemistries to nearly every major chipmaker worldwide. Their solutions for post-etch cleaning are critical for achieving the defect-free surfaces required for high-performance logic and memory devices, with a strong emphasis on compatibility with EUV lithography processes.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Significant investment in R&D for beyond-silicon materials (e.g., SiC, GaN)

  • Pioneering water-based and safer solvent alternatives


7️⃣ 4. BASF SE

Headquarters: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Key Offering: Customized formulations for wet-chemical processing, precision cleaners

BASF’s surface treatments business provides advanced cleaning solutions that are essential for post-etch residue removal. The company leverages its vast chemical expertise to create formulations that offer superior cleaning efficacy while meeting stringent environmental, health, and safety standards, making them a preferred supplier for sustainable manufacturing.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Development of “green chemistry” solutions with lower VOC emissions

  • Strong focus on recycling and reclaiming spent process chemicals

Download FREE Sample Report:
Global Cleaning Solution After Etching Market – View in Detailed Research Report


6️⃣ 5. JSR Micro, Inc.

Headquarters: Sunnyvale, California, USA
Key Offering: Advanced cleaning solvents, defect-reduction formulations

JSR Micro, a subsidiary of Japan’s JSR Corporation, is a key innovator in materials for semiconductor patterning. Their cleaning solutions are engineered to address the unique residue challenges of ArF immersion and EUV lithography, playing a vital role in the fabrication of the world’s most advanced chips.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Leadership in materials for directed self-assembly (DSA) and other next-gen patterning techniques

  • Investment in high-purity manufacturing facilities to ensure product consistency


5️⃣ 6. Kao Corporation

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Semi-clean™ Series, surfactant-based cleaning technologies

Kao Corporation leverages its deep knowledge of surface science from its consumer products division to develop highly effective cleaning solutions for semiconductors. Their Semi-clean™ products are known for their ability to remove fine particles and organic residues efficiently, contributing to higher yields in semiconductor production.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Expertise in surfactant technology for gentle yet effective cleaning

  • Commitment to developing biodegradable and eco-friendly formulations


4️⃣ 7. Fujifilm Corporation

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Specialty chemicals for semiconductor fabrication processes

Fujifilm has successfully diversified into the electronic materials space, offering robust cleaning solutions that support the entire chip manufacturing workflow. Their chemicals are designed to meet the high-purity demands of leading-edge fabs, particularly in the competitive Asian market.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • R&D focused on compatibility with 3D NAND and DRAM architectures

  • Expansion of production capacity to support growing global demand


3️⃣ 8. Technic Inc.

Headquarters: Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Key Offering: Automated wet process equipment and配套 chemistries, etching and cleaning solutions

Technic provides a unique, integrated approach by offering both the cleaning chemistries and the automated equipment for wafer processing. This synergy allows for optimized process control and consistency, which is crucial for advanced node manufacturing where precision is non-negotiable.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Development of single-wafer processing tools with integrated chemical delivery

  • Focus on reducing chemical consumption and waste through process optimization


2️⃣ 9. Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: High-purity chemicals, including solvents and cleaners for electronics

Mitsubishi Gas Chemical is a major supplier of ultra-high-purity chemicals essential for semiconductor manufacturing. Their products are critical for post-etch cleaning steps, ensuring that wafers are free of contaminants that could jeopardize device performance and reliability.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Investment in purification technologies to achieve parts-per-trillion impurity levels

  • Development of solutions for compound semiconductor materials like GaN and SiC


1️⃣ 10. AGC Inc. (Formerly Asahi Glass Co.)

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Fluon+® EA-2000 ETCHANT, specialty fluorochemicals for cleaning

AGC utilizes its expertise in fluorine chemistry to produce highly effective cleaning agents that can remove stubborn residues from etching processes. Their materials are particularly valued for their selectivity and ability to clean intricate structures without causing damage, which is essential for 3D semiconductor devices.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Leveraging core fluoropolymer technology for novel cleaning applications

  • Active pursuit of sustainable chemical manufacturing practices

Get Full Report Here:
Global Cleaning Solution After Etching Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🔬 Outlook: The Future of Post-Etch Cleaning is Smarter and More Sustainable

The cleaning solution after etching market is undergoing a significant transformation. While established chemical formulations continue to serve legacy nodes, the industry is racing to develop next-generation solutions that can meet the demands of angstrom-scale manufacturing while addressing environmental concerns.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Accelerated R&D for sub-3nm and GAA (Gate-All-Around) transistor compatibility

  • Regulatory and corporate pressure driving the shift to greener, safer chemistries

  • Integration of AI and machine learning for predictive maintenance and process optimization

  • Close collaboration between chemical suppliers and equipment manufacturers for holistic process solutions

Get Full Report Here:
Global Cleaning Solution After Etching Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies listed above are not only enabling the production of cutting-edge semiconductors—they are actively pioneering the sustainable and efficient future of microelectronics manufacturing.