Online information source for semiconductor professionals

Tosoh SMD has supplied the China market for over 20-years, but the firm has only now established a thin film sputtering target manufacturing subsidiary in Shanghai, China. Citing the need to better serve its semiconductor, flat-panel display, solar, and large area coating customers in China, Tosoh expects the facility will enable its to grow its business in the region. Read more >>

3M has completed a major expansion of production capacity at its CMP pad conditioner plant in Woodlands, Singapore, which began earlier this year. To meet demand, 3M has also opened of a new pad conditioner manufacturing plant in YangMei, Taiwan, making the company the only pad conditioner manufacturer with operations in three global locations, which also include the US. Read more >>

To support business growth and customers in Korea and key parts of Asia, vacuum pump specialist, Edwards has opened a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Korea. Edwards said it had invested approximately US$100 million in the facility, which will also be a key technical centre, allowing more local technical applications support as well as development of product derivatives and the rapid introduction of new products. This is Edwards, seventh manufacturing facility, its first in Korea. Read more >>

Preliminary financial results for Pfeiffer Vacuum show the company has increased its sales revenues by 21.1% to €220.5 million, compared to the prior year’s €182 million. A strong fourth quarter in sales led to higher than expected overall business, the company noted. Read more >>

Sub-systems supplier, Crossing Automation has moved into the carbon nano-tube (CNT) market with a design win for its ‘ExpressConnect’ vacuum wafer handling system by an unidentified CNT OEM. Crossing Automation said that its ExpressConnect system was selected because it offered a compact, low-cost solution that met the customer's requirements for its R&D and pilot production environment. Read more >>

Alcatel-Lucent's vacuum technology unit, ‘Adixen,' headquartered in Annecy, France, is to be acquired by Pfeiffer Vacuum Technology. Negotiations on the purchase of the companies, patents and licenses belonging to the unit have been almost finalized with Pfeiffer Vacuum's supervisory board consenting to the acquisition on November 3. Read more >>

Integrated Materials, Inc (IMI) known for its ‘SiFusion’ processes for manufacturing polysilicon-based furnaceware has been acquired for an undisclosed sum by Ferrotec. The SiFusion materials range is expected to complement Ferrotec's existing line of advanced materials for semiconductor manufacturing that include fabricated quartzware and advanced ceramics. Read more >>

Netherlands-based manufacturer of high-quality pressure regulator products, RHPS has been acquired by Swagelok for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition expands Swagelok’s product portfolio in pressure regulators and across markets that include semiconductor and oil and gas.
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Perfluoroelastomer sealing components specialist, Applied Seals North America has signed-up Korean distributor Zeus to provide local sales and applications support. The move means Applied Seals now has distributors in Europe, Israel and South Korea. Read more >>

According to the Financial Times, and quoting CEO, Nigel Hunton, vacuum pump specialist Edwards is to shift its hi-technology manufacturing to a plant in South Korea and its chemical and pharmaceutical technologies to the Czech Republic. However, R&D will continue at its plant in Shoreham, UK. According to the report, 220 jobs will be lost in the UK due to the transfer of production. Read more >>