A major foundry based in Asia has become a new customer of Ultratech after placing an order for its LSA100A Laser Spike Anneal (LSA) system. Ultratech now claims that 15 of the top 17 logic manufacturers are using the company's proprietary laser anneal technology. The foundry will use the LSA100A system for 45nm production, according to Ultratech.

Hynix Semiconductor is to provide ProMOS Technologies with its 50nm DRAM stack process technology in exchange for capacity at its 300mm fabs. The company will also make an investment in ProMOS shares of between 8-10 percent, worth approximately $180 million. 

Applied Materials has made its 200th Applied Producer APF CVD system shipment, a tool that uses a self-aligned double patterning (SADP) process to extend optical lithography to 45nm and beyond. According to Applied Materials, the Producer APF has become the CVD patterning tool of record at advanced logic, DRAM and flash manufacturers worldwide. 

Mass metrology equipment manufacturer Metryx has signed a sales, service and support contract with Taiwan-based Hermes-Epitek to promote Metryx’s equipment in Taiwan, China and Singapore. Metryx has already been selling systems into the Asia market. 

Nova Measuring Instruments has said it has reached a new company milestone with the the installation of its 100th NovaScan Optical Metrology system in South Korea. The company said it had now installed more than 650 NovaScan 300mm Optical CD and thin-film metrology systems worldwide.