Samco, a leading manufacturer of etching, deposition and surface treatment processing equipment for the semiconductor and related industries and academic facilities, announces that the Nanofabrication Laboratory at the Pennsylvania State University Materials Research Institute (Penn State MRI Nanofab) has selected a complementary suite of surface treatment solutions from Samco consisting of an Aqua Plasma™ cleaning system and a UV ozone cleaning system as new additions to their specialized equipment toolsets for micro-and nanofabrication.

Penn State MRI Nanofab, one of the leading facilities in North America for nanotechnology research/development and prototyping, has selected Samco’s unique water-based plasma treatment system Aqua Plasma™ model AQ-2000 and tabletop UV ozone cleaning system, model UV-2 for surface modification of substrates that include 2D semiconductor materials such as graphene and polymers used in microfluidic devices. They operate as an open user facility for nanofabrication with academic, industrial, and government users.

Aqua Plasma™ enables efficient and safe reduction of metal oxides, improves bond strength between substrates, enhances hydrophilization, and can be used for ashing or organic removal applications. Not only is this unique surface treatment technique effective, it is also safe to the environment and operators.

Chad Eichfeld, Nanofab director of operations at Penn State’s NF, states "The flexibility of the AQ-2000 will have long-term impact on the materials research community at Penn State by allowing for the processing of wide range of materials with a more robust and efficient process flow. With the expanding research on devices made with 2-dimensional materials there is a need for plasma etching with both low damage as well as reduced oxidation of surfaces. The AQ 2000 is a unique tool that allows for both oxygen and water-based plasma processing that is unique in that it eliminates surface oxidation, a main driver for the system selection. After sending some samples of our 2D materials we found that the water plasma also had the added benefit of reducing the surface damage of the material as well. Another key factor in our decision was the flexibility of having multiple plasma technologies: Down Stream Plasma, Plasma Etching and RIE Etching in the same system. Bundling these capabilities into a single system will allow us to optimize our capabilities while at the same time reducing the equipment footprint in our cleanroom.”

Tsukasa Kawabe, President and COO of Samco, comments: "With our cutting-edge surface treatment technology, Aqua Plasma™ and UV ozone cleaning, we offer a convincing solution even for world-leading research facility. For more than thirty years, Samco has been delivering plasma processing solutions to universities and R&D facilities in the US. We are truly proud that Penn State Nanofab has now selected our equipment for their open laboratory.”

About Nanofabrication Laboratory at the Pennsylvania State University Materials Research Institute
Penn State’s MRI Nanofabrication Laboratory (Nanofab) is a full-service user facility providing faculty, students, and industry researchers the opportunity to perform hands-on research with some of the world’s most sophisticated instruments for micro- and nanofabrication. The Nanofab’s technical support staff has world-class capabilities in the areas of deposition, etch, lithography, material modification and characterization. The sheer number of materials processed - more than sixty five (65) materials can be deposited and over seventy (70) materials can be dry etched - in the suite of tools resident in the facility that is a testament to the flexibility of the toolset and the staff that supports it. From the wide variety of available processes, academic and industrial researchers can develop and fabricate a wide array of novel devices. The general theme of the Nanofabrication Laboratory's core areas of expertise is the ability to handle non-standard materials alongside the more common materials.

At Penn State, nearly one hundred research groups are engaged in high-impact science and engineering at the nanoscale. The Nanofab provides specialized instruments and experienced, highly trained technical staff who support researchers in areas that reflect our faculty strengths, including sputter deposition, atomic layer deposition, thin film piezoelectrics, two-dimensional materials, CMOS and MEMs. Technical capabilities that set the Nanofab apart include e-beam lithography of nanoscale features on curved surfaces and the ability to integrate non-traditional electronic materials, such as complex oxides, chalcogenides, graphene etc., into complex structures.

About Samco Inc.
Samco Inc. (TSE: 6387) stands for Semiconductor And Materials Company, is a leading manufacturer of processing equipment for the semiconductor and related industries founded by Mr. Osamu Tsuji in Kyoto, Japan in 1979. Over the past forty years, more than 4,000 Samco systems have been installed and used in 30 different countries. Its equipment and thin film technology are widely adopted in the fabrication of semiconductor devices, including MicroLEDs, Laser Diodes, VCSELs, SiC Power Devices, GaN RF Devices, BAW/SAW Filters, MEMS, TSVs, and so on. Learn more at www.samcointl.com

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West Chester, OH, June 23, 2021 -- OEM Group, a global manufacturer of new and remanufactured semiconductor capital equipment, announces its acquisition of Rite Track - a pioneer in innovative products and services for legacy markets for over 28 years. The combined team further announces the establishment of Shellback Semiconductor Technology. The new global entity is headed up by President & CEO Wayne Jeveli and the senior management teams from both OEM Group and Rite Track.

Regarding the news, Mr. Jeveli commented, “Rite Track has flourished for nearly thirty years in a demanding global market. They’ve created a brand that’s respected and loved across the industry and have become integral to our customers’ operations. Their expertise in Coat & Develop technologies is legendary, and their expansion into Wafer Carrier Inspection with the EAGLEi system is a game changer for fab productivity. Similarly, OEM has a 22-year track record of supplying iconic technologies from SEMITOOL, VARIAN and Applied P5000. We serve the same customers, and this union is symbiotic. We’ve respected Rite Track from afar for a long time for their complete focus on customer satisfaction. Now, we’ve got a chance to work together every day on the same team. Our industry is at an incredible inflection point where the need for chips is greater than it’s ever been. SHELLBACK will enable our customers to meet this challenge.”

Rite Track President and CEO Tim Hayden added, “I’m so proud of the team we’ve built over the past 28 years and excited about the opportunities this union will create for our employees, our partners, and most importantly our customers. We have seen the strategic relationships that Wayne and the OEM Group have built over the years and very much look forward to working with his team to grow Shellback into a market leading position within the semiconductor industry.”

With headquarters in Coopersburg, PA, Shellback Semiconductor Technology consists of approximately 150 employees around the globe. The company notably distinguishes itself by providing solutions for both front-end (FEOL) and back-end (BEOL) processing with a wide range of proprietary technologies, including SEMITOOL Spray Batch, STORM Wafer Carrier Cleaner, EAGLEi Wafer Carrier Inspection, and many more.

Shellback Semiconductor Technology will be making further announcements very soon. In the meantime, visit Shellback at www.shellbacksemi.com

ABOUT SHELLBACK SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY:For over 400 years, intrepid mariners have embarked on long journeys into uncharted waters. Through a rite of passage, only the most experienced and storied adventurers would earn the honor of being called a “Shellback.” Taking on challenging endeavors, honing critical skills, and earning the trust of comrades, a Shellback enables the success of the voyage. In this tradition, Shellback Semiconductor Technology represents the union of two industry-leading proven semiconductor brands—OEM Group and RITE Track—with a combined 50-years of experience. Sharing a commitment to pioneering intellectual property and unparalleled customer service, Shellback provides new and remanufactured semiconductor capital equipment and services to enable emerging and legacy markets, such as LEDs, MEMS, Wireless, Power, Energy Harvesting, WLP, Data Storage, Analog, and Logic. With one of the industry’s largest installed bases of equipment at over 600+ customers world-wide, Shellback offers proprietary products from SEMITOOL, VARIAN, Applied P5000, SVG Track, and more, as well as a combination of best-in-class technologies for Wafer Carrier Inspection and Cleaning- the EAGLEi and STORM. Headquartered in Coopersburg, PA with facilities across the globe, Shellback was launched in 2021 and is led by President and CEO Wayne Jeveli. www.shellbacksemi.com

• Read more about OEM GROUP & RITE TRACK UNITE AS SHELLBACK SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY

Contact:
ViTrox Technologies Sdn. Bhd.
746, Persiaran Cassia Selatan 3,
Batu Kawan Industrial Park,
14110 Bandar Cassia,
Penang Malaysia.
Tel: (+604) 545- 9988
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.vitrox.com

ViTrox Launches Promotional Package “Vaccinate Your Machine Vision System”

PENANG MALAYSIA - JULY 2021 - ViTrox Technologies, the world’s most trusted Machine Vision Inspection Solutions provider of innovative, advanced and cost-effective automated 3D Machine Vision inspection solutions for the semiconductor and electronic packaging industries, announces our back-end semiconductor inspection solutions promotional package “Vaccinate Your Machine Vision System” is opened for registration now.

By joining this promotional programme, you will enjoy our high performance machine vision inspection solutions at a lower price; bringing a significant upgrade in machine’s capability, flexibility and accuracy.

Apart from that, coupled with ViTrox’s Industry 4.0 Smart Solution V-ONE, it caters to provide insightful analytics to users on a real-time basis and minimize issues that cause disruption to the production, including auto alert triggering, immediate problem analysis, pro-act production planning, immediate control and production standardization. You will be able to monitor your production status anytime, anywhere.

*Terms & conditions:

1. With a minimum vision upgrade amount of USD 30,000 after promotion of 30% OFF in a single purchase order (PO), you will be entitled for a complimentary set of V-ONE basic features server system. (*V-ONE basic features: Dashboard, vision status monitoring, data analysis, recipe management, user management, remote control, and alert triggering.)
2. This promotion is applicable for vision system upgrade only.
3. V-ONE server system with basic features is only applicable for the use of ViTrox's Machine Vision System (MVS-S).
4. Additional V-ONE features upgrade is chargeable.
5. Spare part purchase is excluded from this promotion.
6. Promotion period is valid from 1 July 2021 - 31 July 2021.

Please do not miss the golden opportunity to upgrade your current machine vision system to ViTrox vision system and you will be entitled for a complimentary set of V-ONE server system now with terms and conditions applied. This cost-effective solution provides you higher production performance, higher accuracy, fast and high-quality inspection results. If you are interested in our promotional package “Vaccinate Your Machine Vision System”, feel free to register with Low Hong Sam, ViTrox Senior Engineer and Machine Vision System Business Development expert (Email: [email protected], Contact: +60164186863)

For more information about ViTrox’s Machine Vision System for Semiconductor Back-end component inspection, visit www.vitrox.com.

For more information about ViTrox’s V-ONE Industry 4.0 software platform, visit www.v-one.my.

About ViTrox Technologies
Since 2000, ViTrox is committed to providing the most innovative, advanced and cost-effective machine vision solution of excellent quality to its customers through integrating ViTrox’s technologies, their people and their strategic alliances. ViTrox is the exclusive company that offers a full spectrum of automated 3D vision inspection solutions including Intelligent Advanced Robotic Vision System, PCB Assembly SMT Vision Inspection Solutions and Industry 4.0 smart Solution. ViTrox is headquartered in Penang, Malaysia, and with offices in Asia, Germany, and the United States, along with sales and support sites globally. More information can be found at www.vitrox.com.

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ESPOO, Finland, 24th June 2021 – Picosun Group extends its global sales and service partner network further by signing a partner agreement with Hermes-Epitek Corporation Pte. Ltd. Hermes-Epitek Corporation, headquartered in Taiwan, is one of the world’s largest high-tech equipment distributors. The company provides equipment for semiconductor and optoelectronic manufacturing, as well as tech services and parts sales.

“We look forward to cooperate as Picosun’s sales representative and external field service provider targeting both 8-inch and 12-inch ALD markets in all Southeast Asia countries”, states Teo Kim Leong, Director, Hermes-Epitek Corporation.

“Southeast Asia is one of Picosun’s important market areas, where the demand for industrial ALD solutions is constantly increasing. For almost ten years now, Picosun has successfully provided world leading ALD solutions to numerous customers and partners in both academies and industries in Southeast Asia. I’m happy that with the partnership with Hermes-Epitek Corporation we are able to serve our customers in the region even better”, says Edwin Wu, CEO, Picosun Asia Pte. Ltd.

About Picosun
Picosun provides the most advanced AGILE ALD® (Atomic Layer Deposition) thin film coating solutions for global industries. Picosun’s ALD solutions enable technological leap into the future, with turn-key production processes and unmatched, pioneering expertise in the field – dating back to the invention of the technology itself. Today, PICOSUN® ALD equipment are in daily manufacturing use in numerous leading industries around the world. Picosun is based in Finland, with subsidiaries in Germany, USA, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, China mainland and Taiwan, offices in India and France, and a world-wide sales and support network. Visit www.picosun.com.

More information:
Edwin Wu
CEO
Picosun Asia Pte. Ltd.
Tel. +358 40 480 3449
Email: [email protected]
www.picosun.com

• Read more about Picosun strengthens its presence in Southeast Asia

Jim Hogan, executive, angel investor and board member, and Stanford University Professor Edward J. McCluskey today became the first posthumous honorees of a new honor acknowledging their significant and noteworthy contributions to the electronic system design industry.

The Kaufman Hall of Fame, co-sponsored by the Electronic System Design (ESD) Alliance and the IEEE Council on Electronic Design Automation (CEDA), posthumously recognizes Jim Hogan and Professor McCluskey, neither of whom can be honored with the Phil Kaufman Award. Deceased members of the community are not eligible to receive the award, a policy set by the IEEE.

“Ed died in 2016 and, more recently, Jim, leaving giant and immutable legacies to the electronic system design industry,” comments Bob Smith, executive director of the ESD Alliance. “Both had outsized personalities and accomplishments to match.”

“While Ed will be remembered for his collection of unusual hats, he was a Computer Engineering pioneer who shaped the design and testing of digital systems for more than 50 years,” states Professor Yao-Weng Chang, president of CEDA. Dr. Chang is also the dean of the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at National Taiwan University.

“Jim was responsible for launching and/or guiding countless EDA and semiconductor startups and well understood the importance of fueling the semiconductor ecosystem with new and disruptive ideas,” adds Smith.

Jim Hogan
Jim Hogan, who died in February, was managing partner of Vista Ventures, LLC., and an experienced senior executive who worked in the semiconductor design and manufacturing industry for more than 40 years. He served on numerous boards of directors for private electronic design automation, intellectual property, semiconductor equipment, material science and IT companies and acted as a strategic advisor for private and public companies.

Several nominations on his behalf attest to his commitment to the electronic system design ecosystem. “As an angel investor and board member, Jim was generous with his time and wisdom, and good at connecting with people,” says Moshe Zalcberg, Veriest Solutions’ CEO. “Right before he died, he told me how important it is to fuel the semiconductor ecosystem with new and disruptive ideas.”

“Jim remained enthusiastic about helping entrepreneurs and new technologies,” remarks Bernard Murphy, content marketing advisor and author. “He was an active promoter of innovation in our industry and an inspiration to many nascent entrepreneurs. I am hard-pressed to imagine anyone more deserving of this award.”

According to Jan Goodsell, Quadric.io’s senior director of business development: “Jim generously provided insightful, kind and warm advice across our industry. No one can surpass the combined technical, business and personal contributions that Jim made to our industry, and to so many of us in it.”

“Jim was one of the pillars of the EDA industry,” asserts Joe Costello, former CEO of Cadence Design Systems and the 2004 Phil Kaufman Award recipient. “He worked with me and Jim Solomon for over a decade building Cadence to be the leader in the EDA market and creating the mixed-signal analog division that dominates the market to this day. After I left Cadence, Jim carried on for me taking over my role in M&A continuing to build the company’s product strengths.

“After leaving Cadence, Jim may have had an even greater impact on EDA,” he continues. “Those were difficult years for small EDA companies and startups. Jim was a board member, advisor and investor in more EDA companies than any other person in the last 15 years. It is no exaggeration to say that EDA and EDA technology would not be where it is today without Jim’s guiding hand. And despite all of his prodigious accomplishments, Jim remained the most humble, easy going, likable person in the industry to the very last day.”

Simon Butler, general manager of Perforce Software, concludes: “Jim was an EDA legend.”

Professor Edward J. McCluskey
According to his nomination form, supported by six Phil Kaufman Award winners, Ed McCluskey sustained a relentless pace of fundamental contributions for efficient and robust design, high-quality testing and reliable operation of digital systems.

His work has withstood the test of time across technology generations. “Ed's technical contribution to the fundamentals of synthesis, test, fault tolerance and digital design automation have been a cornerstone in the foundation of today’s world of ubiquitous computing and internet connectivity,” observes Dr. Thomas W. Williams, retired Synopsys fellow. Dr. Williams received the Phil Kaufman Award in 2018.
Ed was also a leading educator and a pioneer in establishing and fostering computer engineering as a profession. His textbooks on logic design defined the discipline. At Princeton, he established the Computer Engineering curriculum, and founded the university computer center in the early 1960s. At Stanford, he founded the Digital Systems Lab (renamed Computer Systems Lab) that cultivated collaboration between Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and the Center for Reliable Computing that played a major role advancing the fields of computer reliability and testing. He produced 75 Ph.D. graduates, many of whom are leaders in academia and industry.

Andrzej J. Strojwas, Keithley professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University and chief technologist at PDF Solutions, explains: “Ed's seminal contributions in the fault-tolerant computing and digital testing fields are extremely relevant today in all aspects of digital system design. The army of his former students and followers will make sure that his ideas will live forever.” Dr. Strojwas was the 2016 recipient of the Phil Kaufman Award.

Ed received numerous awards and honors, including: the IEEE John von Neumann Medal; IEEE Emanuel R. Piore Award; IEEE Computer Society’s Computer Pioneer Award; and Taylor L. Booth Education Award; ACM SIGDA’s Pioneering Achievement Award; and IEEE Test Technology Technical Council’s Lifetime Contribution Medal. He was elected a Fellow of the AAAS, ACM and the IEEE, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering. The IEEE Computer Society renamed its Technical Achievement Award as the Edward J. McCluskey Technical Achievement Award.

In closing, Dr. Aart de Geus, Synopsys’ chairman and co-CEO and Phil Kaufman Award recipient in 2008, notes: "We see a great oak tree suddenly fall and immediately feel the void left behind. We have all learned from Ed's work, and today appreciate his significant contributions in making the ‘digital revolution’ not a slogan but a world-changing reality. We appreciate the impact of Ed’s technical contributions collectively and personally. Thank you, Ed!"

About the IEEE Council on Electronic Design Automation (CEDA)
The IEEE Council on Electronic Design Automation (CEDA) provides a focal point for EDA activities spread across seven IEEE societies (Antennas and Propagation, Circuits and Systems, Computer, Electron Devices, Electronics Packaging, Microwave Theory and Techniques, and Solid-State Circuits). The Council sponsors or co-sponsors over a dozen key EDA conferences including: Design Automation Conference (DAC), Asia and South Pacific Design Automation Conference (ASP-DAC), International Conference on Computer-Aided Design (ICCAD), Design Automation and Test in Europe (DATE), and events at Embedded Systems Week (ESWEEK). The Council also publishes IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits & Systems (TCAD), IEEE Design & Test (D&T), and IEEE Embedded Systems Letters (ESL). The Council boasts a prestigious awards program in order to promote the recognition of leading EDA professionals, which includes the A. Richard Newton, Phil Kaufman, and Ernest S. Kuh Early Career Awards. The Council welcomes new volunteers and local chapters.

Stay in touch with IEEE CEDA:
Website: www.ieee-ceda.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8343531
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ieeeceda/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/IEEECEDA

About the 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 the ESD Alliance:
https://www.semi.org/en/communities/esda/about-esda
ESD Alliance Bridging the Frontier blog
Twitter: @ESDAlliance
LinkedIn
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