Samsung Promotes Robot Business

-- Semiconductor International, 10/1/1999

Samsung Electronics has expanded production of wafer- and LCD board-transfer robots and track equipment handling devices for in-house use.

The company has formed a strategic sales alliance with U.S.-based ADEPT Technology and began exporting semiconductor robots to ADEPT this year. As many as 400 robots are to be supplied to the U.S. firm this year, with a yearly export volume of $3M, increasing to $10 million per year after 2000.

Meanwhile, Samsung's heavy attention to semiconductor equipment has resulted in an agreement to set up a joint venture company with U.S.-based Brooks Automation. Temporarily named Brooks Manufacturing Asia, the new company will combine Samsung's semiconductor processing technologies and Brooks' equipment-manufacturing technologies.

Production is to take place in Korea, with management rights held by Brooks. Samsung holds 30% of the paid-in capitals, amounting to $3.5M. The first products, cluster tools, are slated for the first half of next year.

As Brooks Automation holds some 50 patents for cluster tools manufacturing, the joint venture may speed up standardization of 300 mm wafers. The joint venture will specialize in production of 300 mm wafer attachment and transfer equipment, according to a spokesperson.