Company News
-- Semiconductor International, 2/1/2000
Robotic Vision Systems Inc. (RVSI, Canton, Mass.) received a $2M-plus order from a large Taiwan-based contract semiconductor manufacturer and assembler for multiple chip inspection systems. The order includes multiple systems consisting of the LS-7700 laser-based in-tray, 3-D inspection system and optional 2-D package visual inspection. In addition Pratt & Whiney (Hartford, Conn.) has adopted RVSI's Data Matrix 2-D symbology for marking on part of engines. They also will use MXi hand-held imager to read those parts.MRL Industries (Sonora, Calif.) expanded its manufacturing capacity by adding 30,000 ft2 at its headquarters, bringing the manufacturing capacity to 80,000 ft2 and total facility size to 100,000 ft2.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. (TSMC, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan) signed a merger agreement with TSMC-Acer Manufacturing Corp. (TASMC). The consolidation date is June 30 and shall be implemented by way of absorption. TSMC also has broken ground in Hsinchu Science-Based Industrial Park for its first 300 mm wafer fab; production is scheduled to begin in early 2002.
Cree Research Inc. (Durham, N.C.) has received new orders totaling $14M from customers in several Asian countries for LED devices to be used for applications in displays, cellular phones and other consumer products.
International Flex Technologies Inc. (IFT, Endicott, N.Y.) was selected by ASAT Inc. (Fremont, Calif.) to supply fine-line flexible circuits. IFT will supply its two-metal fine-line circuits for integration into ASAT's Tape Ball Grid Array product family.
Four Messer companies have joined under Messer Advanced Gas Systems (AGS, Malvern, Pa.). Products from the four companies - Mahler AGS (Germany), Generon (U.S.), Italfilo Engineering (Italy) and SMC Asia Gas Systems Co. (China) - will continue to be offered under the individual brand names.
Express Manufacturing Inc. (EMI, Santa Ana, Calif.) installed CR Technology's (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) CRX-2000 automated x-ray inspection system. The x-ray system will be used to inspect BGA and µBGA components on printed circuit boards.
Micrel Inc. (San Jose, Calif.) acquired Altos Semiconductor Inc., a temperature sensing and thermal management product developer. Micrel Paid $1.8M in cash for the outstanding shares of capital stock of Altos Semiconductor.
Applied Materials Inc. (Santa Clara, Calif.) received a multiple-unit order from Infineon Technologies (Dresden, Germany), including the VeraSEM and SEMVision systems. The VeraSEM will be used to perform CD measurements for process inspection, and SEMVision will be used for automatic review and classification of wafer defects.
NanoAmp Solutions Inc. (San Jose, Calif.) and WiNEDGE Electronics Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) have entered a technology partnership to develop an extremely low-power SOC pager. The pager is expected to be available on the market in 2000.
Silicon Valley Group (SVG, San Jose, Calif.) received a multiple-unit order valued at $100M for its Micrascan 193 high numerical aperture step-and-scan lithography system. The order, from a leading microprocessor manufacturer, will be shipped within 12 to 15 months.
Colorado MicroDisplay Inc. (CMD, Boulder, Colo.) received funding from 3I and Intel of a $5M total. The investment will help CMD with resources for manufacturing and marketing its digital chipset, for continued R&D of new products and for working-capital requirements.
3M has completed its acquisition of Hoechst AG's interest in Dyneon LLC (Oakdale, Minn.), a previous joint venture. Dyneon will operate as a 3M subsidiary.
