PragmatIC Semiconductor, a world leader in flexible electronics, is proud to announce that Birger Steen has joined its Board of Directors. Birger is Board Chair of multiple technology businesses including Internet of Things pioneer and global Bluetooth LE market leader Nordic Semiconductor ASA, business network innovator Pagero AB, and German care technology leader myneva GmbH.

Birger is also a Thematic Partner at Summa Equity’s Tech-enabled Transformation team, where he invests and works with companies that deploy technology to solve global challenges. Previously he was CEO at Parallels, Inc. and held senior roles at Microsoft Corporation including Vice President of Worldwide SMB and Distribution, and General Manager of Microsoft Russia and Microsoft Norway.

In a recent announcement, PragmatIC unveiled plans for its second FlexLogIC® fabrication line, located in the North East of England, to expand capacity in order to meet the rapidly growing demand for its ultra-low-cost flexible integrated circuits. This expansion is supported by $80 million funding, which will also allow the team to more than double in size over the next 12 months.

“We are delighted to welcome Birger to the board. He brings an in-depth understanding of the global semiconductor market, and his wide experience in leading advanced technology companies will be crucial during our next stage of growth,” said Scott White, CEO of PragmatIC Semiconductor. “Birger also joins a select group of individual investors in PragmatIC who, along with our institutional and corporate shareholders, allow us to continue building the business as a major independent semiconductor foundry, extending electronics into markets previously not possible with traditional silicon chips.”

Erik Langaker, independent Chair of the Board, added: “Having known Birger and followed his career closely for more than 30 years, I am confident that his involvement and investment in PragmatIC will help guide the team through this significant period of development. His extensive operational and international background will enable him to work closely with the management to refine their strategic roadmap and build a strong presence in the semiconductor community.”

“PragmatIC has a truly disruptive vision for their innovative flexible chips,” said Birger Steen. “Their strategy for geographically distributed semiconductor fabrication offers customers the ability to take control of critical supply chains while also quickly responding to market trends and creating new, innovative solutions that solve some of the biggest global problems we are facing today. I am excited to be joining the board at such an important stage in the company’s growth.”

https://www.pragmaticsemi.com/news/pragmatic-semiconductor-announces-ap…

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Technetics PTFE & Polymer Solutions (aka Technetics Group Houston) has been acquired by Edgewater Capital Partners effective September 3, 2021.   The new name is Altamira Material Solutions LP.

This acquisition includes two PTFE and Polymer processing facilities in Houston and one location in Hatfield, PA that provides best in class chemical etching services for the fluoropolymer industry.

The Altamira team wants you to know how much we appreciate your support over the years.   We are all eager to continue to serve you.     These changes in our organizational structure will allow us to focus more on our core business and improvements in our processes to support our customers.     More importantly, the team you have grown to trust and rely on for your products is not changing, it’s growing!   We are all excited about the opportunities ahead under our new ownership.

Andrew Bastian, General Manager for Altamira states; "The team Altamira Material Solutions is excited to build on our 50-year history of supplying industry leading PTFE products with our new partner Edgewater. We have a big vision for the future and expect to achieve great things together. This partnership is a win for our employees and customers. We couldn't be happier with the opportunity to work together toward a bright future."

For any additional information about Altamira , please contact Roxanne Dittrich, Business Director ([email protected]).

www.Altamira-MS.com

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Brooks Instrument, a world leader in advanced flow, pressure, vacuum and vapor delivery solutions, will feature its new GP200 Series pressure-based mass flow controller (P-MFC) at SEMICON Europa, November 16-19, in Munich, Germany. The company will be exhibiting in booth B1572.

The new GP200 Series is the industry’s first fully pressure-insensitive, pressure-based mass flow controller designed specifically for advanced etch and chemical vapor deposition processes in semiconductor manufacturing.

Providing ≤ ±1% process gas accuracy and ≤ ±0.15% S.P. repeatability, the ultrafast GP200 Series meets the critical requirements for high aspect ratio etch processes for TSV, MEMS and high-throughput continuous plasma processes.

Featuring a patented architecture that overcomes the limitations of conventional P-MFCs, the GP200 is designed to maintain accurate flow delivery of low vapor pressure and high-pressure gases into processes operating from high vacuum above atmospheric pressure. In comparison, conventional P-MFCs require high supply pressures and low outlet pressures or their performance quickly degrades. By offering a greater flexibility than conventional P-MFCs, the GP200 Series is the first universal pressure-based solution and upgrade for traditional P-MFCs and thermal MFCs.

The GP200’s extreme pressure insensitivity and zero leak-by valve (ZLV) technology enables design engineers to reduce gas panel complexity, size and cost by eliminating the need for point-of-use pressure regulators and transducers.

In addition to its GP200 Series P-MFC, Brooks will showcase other key products such as vacuum and pressure measurement sensors, gauges and instrumentation used in wafer process equipment and fab gas distribution.

For more information about the complete range of Brooks Instrument products and solutions for semiconductor applications, visit www.brooksinstrument.com.

For more information about the GP200 Series P-MFC, including specifications and videos, visit experience.brooksinstrument.com/pressure-based-mass-flow-controller-gp200.

About Brooks Instrument
Since 1946, Brooks Instrument has been a leader in precision fluid measurement and control technology. Providing instrumentation for flow, pressure and vapor delivery, the company serves customers in semiconductor and high-tech industrial manufacturing and process industries.

With manufacturing, sales and service locations in the Americas, Europe and Asia, Brooks Instrument has the world’s largest installed base of mass flow controllers. Its broad family of products includes brands such as Celerity, UNIT Instruments and Tylan.

For more information, please visit www.BrooksInstrument.com. The company is also on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/Brooks-Instrument) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/user/Brooks407).

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YES (Yield Engineering Systems, Inc.), a leading manufacturer of process equipment for semiconductor advanced packaging, life sciences and “More-than-Moore” applications, today announced that it has signed an exclusive agreement with Osiris (Osiris International GmbH) to license its smartEBR technology for edge bead removal on panels. This proprietary process, based on wet etch chemistry, will enable YES to expand its wet processing capabilities.

“We are very pleased to partner with YES in this effort to extend our smartEBR technology to more complex applications,” said Pirmin Muffler, founder and Managing Director of Osiris. “We selected YES as our partner because of their proven ability to rapidly bring innovation to high-volume manufacturing production environments.”

“YES is committed to developing a variety of solutions for panel-based applications in the PCB and advanced packaging markets” said Zia Karim, CTO of YES. “When combined with our extensive process expertise, the smartEBR technology will allow our customers to remove metal, photoresist and dielectric coatings efficiently from a variety of panel types, ensuring high yield and defect control.”

“Our mission is to be the preferred provider of surface modification and material enhancement solutions in the markets that we serve,” said Rezwan Lateef, President of YES. “The Osiris EBR technology adds an important element to our product portfolio, as we continue to support and enable the ambitious roadmaps of our key semiconductor customers.”

About YES
YES (Yield Engineering Systems, Inc.) is a preferred provider of high-tech, cost-effective equipment for transforming surfaces, materials, and interfaces. The company’s product lines include vacuum cure ovens, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) systems, and plasma etching tools used for precise surface modification and thin-film coating of semiconductor wafers, semiconductor and MEMS devices, and biodevices. With YES, customers ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies can create and volume-produce products in a wide range of markets, including Advanced Packaging, MEMS, Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality and Life Sciences. YES is headquartered in Fremont, California, with a growing global presence. For more information, please visit www.yieldengineering.com.

About Osiris International GmbH
Osiris International GmbH is a manufacturer of machines specializing in photolithographic process equipment used in semiconductor, microOLED, Mask and microsystems (MEMS) technology. The company provides a wide range of optimized front- and back-end solutions used in the processing of a variety of substrates. For more information, please visit www.osiris-nano.com.

• Read more about YES Announces Strategic Partnership with Osiris for Edge Film Removal Technology

The Board of Directors of Breker Verification Systems today appointed David Kelf as CEO and Adnan Hamid as Executive President and CTO.

These changes in the management team allows Breker, the leading provider of advanced test content synthesis solutions for System-on-Chip (SoC), Universal Verification Methodology (UVM) and Post-Silicon verification environments, to meet the growing demand for its test content synthesis solutions. It also enables the team to manage rapidly expanding operations, while maintaining Breker’s technical leadership. Previously, Kelf served as Breker's chief marketing officer (CMO) and also managed the company's sales channel.

“As Breker’s solutions are leveraged across the semiconductor industry in many verification phases demanding technical thought leadership and pioneering solutions, our growing business activities call for a re-focused executive team,” remarks Hamid. “We are excited to have a proven industry leader and verification enthusiast such as Dave at the helm of the company as we rapidly evolve into a leading EDA player. In our years of working together, our equal commitment to customer success bodes well for our new direction.”

“Semiconductor verification is nearing an inflexion point due to the convergence of SoC validation challenges, design integrity, multi-tool methodologies and other issues,” adds Kelf. “Breker is a company poised to transform verification with a combination of leading technology and deep customer relationships, and I am excited to be part of the team that will realize this evolution.”

In a related announcement, Breker’s COO and CTO Maheen Hamid was named to the Governing Council of the Electronic System Design (ESD) Alliance, a SEMI Technology Community.

About Dave Kelf
An experienced executive within the chip design verification tool community, Kelf previously was vice president of worldwide marketing at OneSpin Solutions (now Siemens EDA). Formerly, he was president and CEO of Sigmatix, Inc. and worked in sales and marketing at Cadence Design Systems where he was responsible for the Verilog and VHDL verification product lines. As vice president of marketing at Co-Design Automation (now Synopsys), Kelf oversaw the introduction and growth of the SystemVerilog language before joining Novas Software (renamed Springsoft and now part of Synopys), noted for its industry leading Verdi debug environment. Kelf has also held industry positions such as the treasurer of Accellera.

Kelf holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronic Computer Systems from the University of Salford and a Master of Science degree in Microelectronics from Brunel University, both in the U.K., and an MBA from Boston University.

About Breker Verification Systems
Breker Verification Systems is a leading provider of Portable Stimulus solutions, a standard means to specify verification intent and behaviors reusable across target platforms. It is the first company to introduce graph-based verification and the synthesis of powerful test sets from intent-based, abstract scenario models. Breker’s Test Suite Synthesis and TrekApp library allows the automated generation of high-coverage, powerful test cases for deployment into a variety of UVM, SoC and Post-Silicon verification environments. Case studies that feature Altera (now part of Intel), Analog Devices, Broadcom, IBM, Huawei and other companies leveraging Breker’s solutions are available on the Breker website. Breker is privately held and works with leading semiconductor companies worldwide.

Engage with Breker at:
Website: www.brekersystems.com
Twitter: @BrekerSystems
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/breker-verification-systems/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrekerSystems/

• Read more about Breker Verification Systems Names David Kelf CEO and Adnan Hamid Executive President and CTO

YES (Yield Engineering Systems, Inc.), a leading manufacturer of process equipment for semiconductor advanced packaging, life sciences and “More-than-Moore” applications, today announced that Guy Shechter has joined the company as its new Vice President of Global Product Management and Global Service.

“Guy’s proven ability to manage change for rapidly growing innovative companies, ranging from start-ups to market leaders, will be a valuable resource as we implement our plans to fulfill YES’s potential,” said Rezwan Lateef, President of YES. “He has an impressive track record for building winning teams and optimizing both organizational performance and customer satisfaction. We are pleased to welcome him to our executive team.”

Mr. Shechter was formerly the Vice President and General Manager of Global Services Solutions at Veeco, where he spent 13 years in Marketing and Service leadership roles of increasing responsibility. Earlier in his career, he was Director of Marketing at Oramir (now part of Applied Materials) and Vice President of Marketing at Sagitta. Mr. Shechter holds both a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (magna cum laude) and an MBA in Technology Development from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. He is a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt.

About YES
YES (Yield Engineering Systems, Inc.) is a preferred provider of high-tech, cost-effective equipment for transforming surfaces, materials, and interfaces. The company’s product lines include vacuum cure ovens, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) systems, and plasma etching tools used for precise surface modification and thin-film coating of semiconductor wafers, semiconductor and MEMS devices, and biodevices. With YES, customers ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies can create and volume-produce products in a wide range of markets, including Advanced Packaging, MEMS, Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality and Life Sciences. YES is headquartered in Fremont, California, with a growing global presence. For more information, please visit http://www.yieldengineering.com.

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The Electronic System Design Alliance, a SEMI Technology Community, today announced the appointment of Maheen Hamid, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Breker Verification Systems, to its Governing Council.

Hamid assumes the seat formerly held by Babak Taheri who was CEO/CTO of Silvaco. She will serve a two-year term that runs through 2023, joining:
• Dr. Aart de Geus, chairman and co-CEO of Synopsys, Inc.
• Dean Drako, president and CEO at IC Manage
• Aki Fujimura, D2S’ CEO
• Dr. John Kibarian, president and CEO of PDF Solutions, Inc.
• Prakash Narain, president and CEO from Real Intent
• Joe Sawicki, executive vice president of Siemens EDA
• Simon Segars, CEO of Arm, who serves as the Governing Council chair
• Bob Smith, executive director of the ESD Alliance

“The entire Governing Council welcomes Maheen,” says Smith. “She is a seasoned, accomplished executive who will offer great industry insights.”

"I am delighted to be joining the governing council of this important organization at a key moment in its history,” notes Hamid. “As Breker has grown to become an established EDA company working with semiconductor companies in the area of test suite synthesis, we have gained a wealth of experience and I hope to bring this perspective to the council.”

Maheen Hamid is Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Breker Verification Systems. She brings more than 15 years of financial experience in deal structuring and operations management in diverse industries including wireless telecommunications, clean energy, health, and infrastructure projects in emerging markets. Prior to Breker, she served in various roles in investment banking and management consulting.

Hamid is an occasional contributor to different business journals and forums, covering a broad range of topics related to management. She holds a BBA from North South University in Bangladesh and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.

About Breker Verification Systems
Breker Verification Systems is a leading provider of Portable Stimulus solutions, a standard means to specify verification intent and behaviors reusable across target platforms. It is the first company to introduce graph-based verification and the synthesis of powerful test sets from intent-based, abstract scenario models. Breker’s Test Suite Synthesis and TrekApp library allows the automated generation of high-coverage, powerful test cases for deployment into a variety of UVM, SoC and Post-Silicon verification environments. Case studies that feature Altera (now part of Intel), Analog Devices, Broadcom, IBM, Huawei and other companies leveraging Breker’s solutions are available on the Breker website. Breker is privately held and works with leading semiconductor companies worldwide.

Engage with Breker at:
Website: www.brekersystems.com
Twitter: @BrekerSystems
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/breker-verification-systems/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrekerSystems/

About the SEMI Electronic System Design Alliance
The Electronic System Design (ESD) Alliance, a SEMI Technology Community representing members in the electronic system and semiconductor design ecosystem, is a community that addresses technical, marketing, economic and legislative issues affecting the entire industry. It acts as the central voice to communicate and promote the value of the semiconductor design ecosystem as a vital component of the global electronics industry.

Follow SEMI ESD Alliance
www.esd-alliance.org
ESD Alliance Bridging the Frontier blog
Twitter: @ESDAlliance
LinkedIn
Facebook

• Read more about Maheen Hamid of Breker Verification Systems Appointed to SEMI ESD Alliance Governing Council

Valin Corporation, a privately held, employee-owned company providing technical solutions for the technology, energy, life sciences, natural resources, and transportation industries, has engineered drop-in pneumatic manifold replacements for its customers. The upgrade kits are an effective solution for aging semiconductor tools.

As wafer yield continues to be of the utmost importance in the semiconductor industry, these manifold upgrade kits are becoming more and more popular. Unaddressed compressed dry air leaks (CDA) can lead to wafer damage. When wafers are damaged, they must be discarded. Each wafer goes through several steps carried out by various tools over the course of several weeks, depending on the complexity of the process, to reach its final stage during manufacturing (Reference: ASML). If a wafer gets discarded after all these processes, the cost is substantial and cannot be recovered. Additionally, maintenance associated with replacing failed valves to ensure that CDA leaks don’t occur can be very tedious. Before installing Valin’s Endura Slit Valve Door (SVD) retrofit kit, operators needed to shut off the complete manifold to replace a failed valve. With this new solution, each valve station can be isolated simply and effectively to perform quick maintenance. By allowing for this flexibility, the retrofit kit prevents adjacent process chamber conditions from changing, preventing wafer damage during the process. In addition to the CDA problems, various semi fabs are facing obsolescence. As these semi fab tools were deployed 20+ years ago, neither the manufacturer nor the OEMs support these old pneumatic manifolds and spares. Semi fabs are at the mercy of manufacturers and untrusted sources.

The drop-in pneumatic manifold replacements come as complete kits for ease of installation. Currently, Valin offers the upgrade kits in three different models. The AC-150-2321 is used to replace the Endura SVD Pneumatic manifolds 0010-20052 & 0010-702097. The AC-150-2444 kit model replaces Centura pneumatic manifold part 0190-09487 & 0190-02046 for both the lower gas box and upper gas box. The AC-150-2463 Centura Chamber and the AC-150-2459 Centura Ultima pneumatic manifolds replace the 0190-20124 & 0190-20148 models. The Endura and Centura manifolds are a complete drop-in solution and are pneumatically and electrically exactly compatible to the existing legacy manifolds. In addition, Valin had the manifolds fab tested and approved. Installation instructions are written by Equipment Engineers for ease of installation.

“We’ve had customers raving over our pneumatic manifold replacement kits from the time we introduced them,” said Sri Gavini, Business Development Manager at Valin Corporation. “The upgrades not only gave peace of mind to our customers in terms obsolescence and defective wafer risk, but also cut down valve maintenance time. Each kit comes complete with plug-and-play instructions, making installation a breeze. This has been one of the elements that we’ve received the most positive feedback from. Even though we have engineers on call to help guide customers through the process, the instructions are so clear, we haven’t had that many customers call for assistance.”

To learn more about Valin’s Pnuematic Manifold Retrofit Kits visit: https://www.valin.com/engineered-solutions/pneumatic-manifold-retrofit-…

About Valin Corporation
Valin Corporation is the leading technical solutions provider for the technology, energy, life sciences, natural resources, and transportation industries. For over 40 years, Valin has offered personalized order management, on-site field support, comprehensive training, and applied expert engineering services utilizing automation, fluid management, precision measurement, process heating, and filtration products.

Valin was recently recognized as the 34th Largest Private Company in Silicon Valley by the Silicon Valley Business Journal and came in at #49 on Industrial Distribution's Big 50 List.

To learn more about Valin’s solutions and capabilities, please visit www.valin.com, or to browse our product portfolio please visit www.valinonline.com.

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• Read more about Valin Corporation Customers See Success with Pneumatic Manifold Retrofit Kits