INDUSTRY NEWS

WORLD BEAT

Europe

Berkeley opens Euro HQ

A California-based manufacturer of automated motion and machine control systems has established its first international headquarters. Berkeley Process Control located the new European operations base in York, England. The company promoted Felix Hirzel to managing director of European operations. A native of Switzerland, Hirzel most recently served as manager of the company's semiconductor business group. Berkeley says it opened the headquarters because it has several important clients in the United Kingdom, Germany, and other European countries.

R&D center buys PVD tool

The Industrial Microelectronics Center in Linköping, Sweden, has bought a sputtering system from KDF Electronic and Vacuum Services to use for research into multichip modules and high-density interconnect prototypes. The 844GT sputtering tool was purchased "for the low-end MCM market," says Kurt Flechsig, president of the supplier, which is located in Orangeburg, NY. The modules will be used in telecommunications devices.

Siemens installs RTP system

Siemens has installed a rapid thermal annealing system from Steag Electronic Systems at its GaAs fab in Perlach, Germany. The chipmaker will use the AST 2800cs tool to process 6-in. wafers. Siemens had already been using the AST system at its 4-in. GaAs facility. Steag introduced the tool in 1998.

Fluoroware's shipper comes in

Fluoroware of Chaska, MN, says "a leading European wafer grower" has ordered the vendor's Voyager wafer shipping system. The order follows extensive testing of the shipping system by the wafer supplier and its chipmaking customer. The semiconductor manufacturer specified use of the Voyager system for transporting bare wafers to its fab, Fluoroware says. The vendor manufactures the shipper at its plant in Bad Rappenau, Germany. The local manufacturing site is one of the key selling points, according to Fluoroware. Other reasons for the sale include the ability to reuse the shipper and to return components to Fluoroware for recycling. The shipper's design incorporates flexible covers made of high-purity PBT, which eliminate the need to protect the wafers from contamination during shipment, Fluoroware says.

Asia

New unit rescues reputation

SubMicron Systems of Allentown, PA, has opened an Asian subsidiary in an effort to improve customer service in the region. The manufacturer of wet stations and surface preparation equipment says it wants to repair its poor service reputation by opening an Asian technology and manufacturing center. Called Akrion, the unit is based in Singapore. In the short term, SubMicron plans to build a process applications lab as well as a manufacturing and assembly area at the site. The president of the 34-member company is Ben Kimura, formerly senior manager of strategic sales at TEL. David Ferran, president and CEO of SubMicron, blames former management for the company's service performance in the region. "Previously, there was nowhere near enough understanding of the specialized needs of our Asian. The previous management just didn't pay enough attention to customer satisfaction in the region, and it hurt our reputation."

TEL adds thermal control

TEL will integrate a thermal controller in its furnaces under the terms of an agreement with Voyan Technology of Santa Clara, CA. Voyan will develop a proprietary version of its Clairvoyant Controller for installation in TEL's furnaces. The controller will improve the performance, increase the throughput, and lower the cost of ownership of the systems, according to TEL.

SELA installs first tool

SELA of Santa Clara, CA, has announced the installation of its first MC500 sample-preparation tool at the site of a major Japanese chipmaker in Ohfuna. The semiconductor manufacturer will use the system to examine die cross-sections and wafer-level samples. The order totals approximately $200,000. The MC500 performs automatic SEM preparation of both die- and wafer-level samples within 15 minutes per sample, according to SELA. The tool has an integrated nitrogen function to ensure the quality of cross-sections in copper processes and other application-specific layer-type manufacturing. Earlier this year SELA began working with a new Japanese distributor, Selastar.

Asymtek opts for excellence

Asymtek, a manufacturer of fluid-dispensing systems based in Carlsbad, CA, has opened a center of excellence in Taiwan. The center will provide educational services for customers interested in the company's products. Additional centers are located in Singapore, South Korea, and Japan. Gary Chang is the center's director. He is the regional business manager for Nordson Electronic Systems Group Taiwan, which is Asymtek's parent company.

Firm heads for Ultratech

A Japanese manufacturer of thin-film heads has signed a multimillion dollar order with Ultratech Stepper for the company's 1700 machine vision systems. The San Jose—based supplier says the unnamed customer holds approximately 15% of the market and plans to expand its business into giant magnetoresistive head production with a new facility in Asia. Shipments of the GMR heads are expected to begin before September 1999. The Ultratech tool eliminates the need for special targets, because it recognizes and automatically aligns itself to preexisting features, Ultratech says.

TSMC manages risk award

The Cigna Group presented TSMC's Fab V with a certificate recognizing the facility's safety-conscious design, according to the design-build firm that worked on the project. M+W Zander says the fab was the world's first to pass Cigna's tests and receive the Triple A certificate from the insurance firm. M+W Zander designed the HVAC, chilled water, hot water, fire protection, and electrical systems. The German firm also worked on the air-sampling and smoke-detection systems, and it designed raised floor pedestals and cleanroom ceiling supports to meet seismic requirements.

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