PENANG, MALAYSIA - FEBRUARY 2023 Wafer inspection is always a critical stage for quality assurance for wafer foundry, integrated device manufacturing (IDM), fabless, and outsourced semiconductor assembly & test (OSAT). Since semiconductor devices are continuously getting smaller and more complex, the requirement for wafer inspection has become more stringent to accommodate these changes. However, defects on the wafer may be overlooked and may pass through the final stages of fabrication and assembly if they are not eliminated or filtered out, which could be a costly mistake for the manufacturers. Consequently, this will lead to increasing demand for quality wafer production.

At ViTrox, we aim to be the World’s Most Trusted Technology Company in providing innovative, advanced, and cost-effective automated Machine Vision Inspection Solutions. Therefore, we would like to introduce our all-new Wi8i G2 PRO Wafer Vision Inspection Handler, which is designed to offer high flexibility in wafer handling, cover different semiconductor processes and high-accuracy inspection results to the users of the semiconductor market, and is also an expansion to the inspection capabilities of our existing Wafer Vision Inspection Hander - Wi8i G2.

One Solution For Two Semiconductor Processes
The all-new Wi8i G2 PRO solution is enhanced with hardware and programming features to accommodate both bare wafers (pre-dicing process) and mounted wafers (post-dicing process) inspection requirements. This innovative configuration eliminates the need for hardware conversion on the wafer robot arm when inspecting these two wafer types of the same size, which is suitable for production involving both pre-and-post-dicing processes and/or having a high-mix-low-volume of bare and mounted wafers. Hence, our Wi8i G2 PRO is the ideal solution to deliver high overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) which guarantees excellent wafer quality without any machine stop time.

Ability To Handle Up To 12” Wafers & FOUP
Based on the current market trend, there is a demand for wafer inspection equipment to cater to larger wafers due to the increasing number of chip-related productions. To address this, our Wi8i G2 PRO offers a significant enhancement in catering to a new type of wafer carrier box, Front Opening Unified Pod (FOUP) which is particularly important to users with such production practice to accommodate 12 inches of bare wafer transferring. Nowadays, FOUPs are the preferred carrier boxes to handle raw water because FOUPs offer a sealed wafer environment that provides static protection, white-light shielding, and control of moisture and oxygen. Today’s FOUPs not only address particles, but also minimize and control volatile organic compounds (VOCs), oxygen, and relative humidity. Any of these potential contamination sources can negatively impact device yield. Alternatively, should the user need to handle framed wafers, they can opt for a metal cassette instead.

Users are also able to configure their load ports based on their production needs, which can be either:
FOUP + Metal cassette
FOUP + FOUP
Metal cassette + Metal cassette

This load port design accommodates both 8 inches and 12 inches of metal cassettes on the load ports, which translates to cost-effectiveness on different-sized wafer inspections!

Robust Wafer Inspection With Our Advanced Vision Optics
Wi8i G2 PRO is not only equipped with robust vision optics that provides high-quality image under different magnification lenses but also integrates an advanced deep-learning algorithm in defect detection and determining the defect types. When a user’s wafer has a complex circuit design and/or is required to inspect different defect types at different regions, this algorithm is the perfect solution for enhancing the accuracy of defect detection.

With the combination of cutting-edge wafer handling mechanisms and robust wafer vision inspection, our latest Wafer Inspection Solution is guaranteed to solve your production pain points! Additionally, we also seek to better understand our customers’ needs in their production line and boost their production yield and also significantly reduce their long-term costs.

Interested to know more about our Wi8i G2 PRO? Do get in touch with our Sales Expert Ms Kong Poh Mei ([email protected]). To top it off, we also invite you to visit us here at ViTrox Campus 2.0 in Penang, Malaysia for a demonstration of the solution. We look forward to serving you!

About ViTrox Technologies
ViTrox is committed to being the World’s Most Trusted Technology Company to provide the most innovative, advanced, and cost-effective machine vision solutions of excellent quality to its customers by integrating ViTrox’s technologies, people, and strategic alliances.

ViTrox offers a full spectrum of solutions, ranging from Middle & Back-end Semiconductor Inspection Solutions, SMT PCB Assembly Vision Inspection Solutions, Electronics Communication Systems, and Industry 4.0 Manufacturing Intelligence Solutions. ViTrox is headquartered in Penang, Malaysia, with offices in Asia, Germany, and the United States, as well as sales and support sites worldwide.

For more information about ViTrox’s products and services, please visit www.vitrox.com.

• Read more about Discover ViTrox’s Latest and Advanced Wafer Inspection Solution – the Wi8i G2 PRO!

CUPERTINO, Calif., Feb. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Xpeedic today released Notus, an electronic design automation (EDA) platform for package/board SI/PI/thermal analysis, at DesignCon 2023 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, Calif.

Notus, powered by Xpeedic’s electromagnetic and multiphysics solver engine, helps designers to meet the SI, PI, and thermal requirements in an efficient and automated way. It provides a comprehensive simulation flow, including DC IR-drop and AC impedance analysis, decoupling capacitor optimization, signal topology extraction, signal interconnect modeling, and thermal analysis.

In addition to Notus, Xpeedic also announced today upgrades to its Advanced Packaging and High-Speed Digital Solutions.

Metis, the EM simulation tool for 2.5D/3DIC advanced packaging designs, now delivers further improvement on performance. The unique speed-balanced-accuracy multi-mode capability is enhanced to achieve optimal accuracy-speed tradeoff.

Hermes, Xpeedic’s 3D EM simulation tool, further improves its adaptive mesh technology to achieve desired accuracy with faster convergence. It enhances the editing function associated with via, trace, and shape operation for package and PCB. It supports board-level antenna analysis and near-field and far-field view with integrated powerful data post-processing capability.

ChannelExpert, the diagram GUI-based circuit simulation platform, provides a fast, accurate and simple approach to analyze high-speed channels. It supports IBIS/AMI simulations and integrates compliance specs for various SerDes and DDR standards. ChannelExpert provides a comprehensive analysis for high-speed channels including frequency-domain S-parameter, time-domain eye diagram, statistic eye, and channel operating margin (COM) with parameter sweep and optimization. In this release, ChannelExpert integrates Hermes and Notus EM modeling tools for EM-circuit co-simulation and supports the AMI modeling and the latest DDR5 standard.

Other tools within the Xpeedic expert suite including SnpExpert, ViaEpxert, CableExpert and TmlExpert are improved with the usability and additional built-in templates to enable easy and quick evaluations of S-parameter, via, cable, and transmission line, respectively.

Availability and Pricing
Notus and the entire Xpeedic portfolio is shipping now. Pricing is available upon request.

Visit the Xpeedic website for additional information or requests for a demonstration. Email requests should be sent to [email protected].

Xpeedic at DesignCon
Xpeedic will be in DesignCon Booth #633 today and tomorrow, February 1 and February 2, at the Santa Clara Convention Center.

About Xpeedic
Xpeedic is a leading EDA provider to accelerate designs and simulations of next generation high-frequency, high-speed intelligent electronic products. Powered by its proprietary electromagnetic, circuit, and multi-physics solver technologies, Xpeedic is addressing challenges in designing IC in advanced nodes, 3D-IC with advanced packaging, high-speed digital, and RF systems for the markets including data center, automotive, communication, mobile, and IoT. Founded in 2010, Xpeedic has offices in both U.S. and China. For more information, please www.xpeedic.com.

Engage with Xpeedic
www.xpeedic.com
Twitter: @xpeedic
LinkedIn

• Read more about Xpeedic Releases Notus at DesignCon2023, Announces Upgrades to Advanced Packaging and High-Speed Digital Solutions

American IC manufacturers have 56% of their wafer capacity installed at fabs located in other regions of the world, according to the new Global Wafer Capacity 2023 report from Knometa Research. As of year-end 2022, American companies have installed capacity of 4.6 million 200mm-equivalent wafers per month, with 2.0 million in domestic fabs and 2.6 million in fabs at foreign sites.

Of the major IC producing countries and regions (Americas, China, Europe, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan), the Americas region is unique in that foreign capacity exceeds that of domestic capacity.

The biggest volumes of offshore capacity for American companies are in Singapore (22% share of total), Taiwan (12%), Japan (10%), Germany (4%), Ireland (3%), and Israel (2%).

• Singapore: Micron Technology - 4 fabs, GlobalFoundries - 4 fabs
• Taiwan: Micron Technology - 4 fabs, Diodes - 1 fab
• Japan: Micron Technology - 4 fabs, TI - 2 fabs, Onsemi - 1 fab
• Germany: GlobalFoundries - 2 fabs, TI - 1 fab
• Ireland: Intel - 1 fab, Analog Devices - 1 fab
• Israel: Intel - 2 fabs

With its many large fabs in Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan, Micron owns by far the most offshore capacity, accounting for 65% of the 2.6 million wafers in monthly capacity. GlobalFoundries is next with a 14% share followed by Intel with 9% and Texas Instruments with 5%.

In the past couple years, American companies have announced several major fab construction projects in the U.S. Some of these came about as a result of the CHIPS Act passed by the U.S. government in July 2022 to boost American semiconductor research, development, and manufacturing.

American-owned fabs under construction in the U.S. and scheduled to open during 2024-2025 include:

• Intel - Fabs 52 and 62 in Chandler, Arizona
• Texas Instruments - Fabs SM1 and SM2 in Sherman, Texas
• Intel - Fab 27 in New Albany, Ohio
• Micron - Fab in Boise, Idaho

Micron will also build a large fab site in Clay, New York, but this project is part of the company's long-term capacity expansion plans and construction will not begin until 2024 at the earliest. In January 2023, Analog Devices announced plans to double the capacity of its fab in Beaverton, Oregon.

While the share of domestic IC wafer capacity will increase some in the next several years with the opening of these large new fabs in the U.S., American companies are building or have plans to build additional fabs at overseas sites as well. Moreover, Intel's pending acquisition of Tower Semiconductor, with its fabs in Israel and Japan (as well as the U.S.), will shift the balance in the direction of more foreign capacity. Had Tower been part of Intel at the end of 2022 with the headquarters of the combined operations being in the U.S., the foreign share of American-owned capacity would be one percentage point higher at 57%.

About Global Wafer Capacity 2023
Global Wafer Capacity provides a detailed examination of existing fab capacity along with a five-year forecast to 2027. The report has been published on an annual basis since 2007, initially by IC Insights. In December 2021, IC Insights transferred business associated with Global Wafer Capacity to co-founder Trevor Yancey. Mr. Yancey became an independent contractor in 2014 but continued as the principal analyst and project manager for Global Wafer Capacity. Published in January 2023, Global Wafer Capacity 2023 is sold by Mr. Yancey’s company Knometa Research. For more information, visit https://knometa.com/gwc.

About Knometa Research
Knometa Research is a semiconductor technology and market analysis firm led by former IC Insights executive, Trevor Yancey. Mr. Yancey co-founded IC Insights in 1997 with Bill McClean and Brian Matas. In 2014, Mr. Yancey established Knometa Research to serve as an independent contractor for TechSearch International and for IC Insights until that business closed in December 2022. For more information, visit https://knometa.com.

• Read more about More than half of American-owned IC fab capacity exists overseas

RoodMicrotec N.V. reports preliminary total income of EUR 16.5 million for 2022
• The preliminary total income for 2022 of EUR 16.5 million exceeded the outlook by EUR 0.9 million
• Order book value increased by 19% compared to end of 2021
• Cash position very healthy to support further growth

Deventer, January 26, 2023 – RoodMicrotec N.V., a leading independent company for semiconductors supply and quality services, today publishes the unaudited preliminary total income for the financial year 2022. The unaudited preliminary total income for 2022 amounted to EUR 16.5 million, which is 14% higher than in 2021 (EUR 14.5 million) resulting in a second consecutive year with double-digit growth. Notably, this is the highest total income since 2000, and it shows that RoodMicrotec is focusing on the right fast-growing future-oriented markets.

In the second half of 2022, the unaudited preliminary total income was EUR 9.2 million - an increase of 28% compared to the second half of 2021 (EUR 7.2 million). In 2022, the order book increased by 19% compared to the orders booked at the end of 2021, which is a good predictor for a steady quality of the services provided and a high satisfaction level of our customers.

“Again, we managed to outperform our expectations by focusing on our core business and services. In 2022, we saw significant increases in demand from our customers both for new products as well as for existing products”, says Martin Sallenhag, CEO of RoodMicrotec. “We are very pleased with the overall development of the Company in 2022 and expect a further increase in total income for 2023. The excellent cash situation enables us to invest for future growth where necessary.”

Throughout 2022, the Test Operations unit showed a strong increase, which was related to the excellent services provided by RoodMicrotec to its new and existing customers. The Supply Chain Management unit showed a limited increase in 2022 compared to last year. The sharp increase in the second half of 2022 compared to the first half of 2022 was due to a higher demand for existing products as well as the production ramp-up in the context of new long-term contracts. In 2022, the Qualification & Failure Analysis unit saw a decrease compared to 2021. However, the total income for the second half of 2022 was 9% higher than for the first half of 2022, which shows that new customer projects are now starting.

Total income per operational unit for the financial year 2022 compared to the financial year 2021:
(x € 1,000) FY 2022 FY 2021 Change
Test Operations 10,034 7,938 +26%
Supply Chain Management 3,533 3,364 +5%
Qualification & Failure Analysis 2,980 3,230 -8%

TOTAL 16,547 14,532 +14%

Outlook
RoodMicrotec expects the total income for 2023 to be in the range of EUR 17.0 million to EUR 17.5 million, with a profit before tax of 5-10%, and thus in line with the financial targets. The geopolitical situation in the world and the current energy crisis throughout Europe could have an impact on the Company’s business. The Management is keeping a close eye on the situation and is doing everything possible to mitigate any potentially negative impact.

Audit
The financial data in this press release have not been audited.

Forward-looking statements
This press release contains a number of forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and prognoses of the Board of Management and on the information currently available to the Company. The statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which are hard to evaluate, such as the general economic conditions, conditions of the worldwide semiconductor industry, interest rates, exchange rates and amendments to statutory laws and regulations. The Board of Management of RoodMicrotec cannot guarantee that its expectations will materialize. Furthermore, RoodMicrotec does not accept any obligation to update the statements made in this press release.

Financial calendar
April 13, 2023 Trading update quarter 1-2023
April 20, 2023 Publication annual report 2022
April 20, 2023 Conference call for media, analysts and shareholders
June 6, 2023 Annual general meeting of shareholders
July 20, 2023 Publication interim report 2023
July 20, 2023 Conference call for media, analysts and shareholders
October 19, 2023 Trading update quarter 3-2023

About RoodMicrotec
RoodMicrotec is a leading independent company for semiconductor supply and quality services. With more than 50 years of experience in the semiconductor and electronics industry, RoodMicrotec is well-established as a highly valued partner for many companies worldwide. The Company provides full-turnkey ASIC services for complex microchips that are customized to handle specific applications for individual customers. In cooperation with strong partners, RoodMicrotec manages the entire development and production flow of ASICs in the target volume, ranging from low quantities up to multiple millions per year. The turnkey solution includes project management, wafer test, assembly, final test, qualification, failure analysis and logistics. All services comply with the industrial and quality requirements of the high reliability, aerospace, automotive, healthcare and industrial sectors.
RoodMicrotec’s headquarter is located in Deventer, Netherlands, with operational units in Nördlingen and Stuttgart, Germany. For more information visit https://www.roodmicrotec.com

This press release is published in English and German. In case of conflict between these versions the English version shall prevail.

• Read more about RoodMicrotec N.V. reports preliminary total income of EUR 16.5 million for 2022

Yield Engineering Systems, Inc. (YES), a leading manufacturer of process equipment for semiconductor advanced packaging, life sciences, and “More-than-Moore” applications, today announced that it has sold a VertaCure XP G2 system to Korea’s LB Semicon. The VertaCure XP G2 is the latest generation of YES’s flagship VertaCure vacuum curing system, and LB Semicon’s will be the first such system to be installed in Korea. Delivery is expected at the end of March.

Key factors in the purchase decision were the VertaCure XP G2’s superior throughput, exceptional particle performance, and thorough PI/PBO curing capability – all benefits derived from its proven vacuum-based process. The system will support a bump/RDL application for wafer-level chip scale packaging (WLCSP). It accommodates both 200mm and 300mm wafers, providing valuable flexibility for this and future applications.

“As semiconductor chip manufacturers seek to produce ever-smaller products with higher performance and lower power consumption, wafer bumping technology is expanding its application scope and creating greater value. In order to keep up with this trend, LB Semicon is deeply committed to continuous research and development,” said LB Semicon’s CEO, Dr. Nick (Namseog) Kim. “We believe that YES’s VertaCure XP G2 curing system will enable our company to deliver the cutting-edge technology needed as Korea continues its growth as a world-class semiconductor powerhouse.”

“We are pleased and proud that our VertaCure XP G2 was selected for this leading-edge application,” said Bioh Kim, President of YES Korea. “This order showcases YES’s growing role as a trusted global partner in the production of innovative technologies. We look forward to supporting LB Semicon’s efforts, now and into the future.”

About YES
Yield Engineering Systems, Inc. (YES) is a preferred provider of high-tech, cost-effective equipment for enhancing surfaces and materials. The company’s product lines include thermal processing systems, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) systems, and wet process equipment used for the precise surface modification of semiconductor substrates, semiconductor and MEMS devices, LED displays, and biodevices. Customers ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies rely on YES systems to create and volume-produce innovative products in a wide range of markets. YES is headquartered in Fremont, California, with a growing global presence. For more information, please visit yieldengineering.com.

About LB Semicon
Based in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, LB Semicon provides bumping, probe test, back-end, and WLCSP services for display driver integrated circuits (DDI), CMOS image sensors (CIS), and power management integrated circuits (PMIC) used in electronic devices such as TVs, monitors, and mobile phones.
LBS has continuously developed and evolved its technology since the company’s founding in 2000, starting with gold bumping for TFT LCD and OLED DDIs, and expanding over the years into solder bumping, Cu pillar bumping, and WLCSP. The company maintains solid partnerships with top semiconductor chip manufacturers in Korea and elsewhere, and has more than a thousand employees. For more information, please visit www.lbsemicon.com.

• Read more about Leading Korean OSAT Purchases YES VertaCure™ XP for Higher Yield and Performance

PRESS RELEASE | Nijmegen, the Netherlands, January 19, 2023

Chip Integration Technology Center (CITC) will intensify its cooperation with acoustic microscopy expert PVA TePla Analytical Systems GmbH. The cooperation offers exciting opportunities for both organizations to benefit from the synergies that exist between them.

Successfully determining which materials and processes are reliable for packaging is crucial to the mass commercialization of power and WBG semiconductors. Flawless basic materials are the key to flawless products. Cracks, cavities, detachment, or inclusions result in failures during the subsequent production process, which can be avoided with the help of reliable material analysis.

To realize this in its Thermal High-Performance packaging program, CITC is going to use the PVA TePla Scanning Acoustic Microscopy (SAM) 302 HD2 system. The microscope system provides non-destructive quality control capabilities and will therefore allow CITC to assess the reliability of the sinter die attachment to the leadframe.

The collaboration will also see both parties sharing information with their respective businesses to showcase the technical capability and infrastructure on offer at both organizations. Finally, PVA TePla and CITC will be exploring opportunities to jointly develop research opportunities.

Peter Czurratis, Managing Director of PVA TePla is excited about the partnership: “CITC is an upcoming and leading research center focused on new semiconductor wafer technologies and new trends in packaging and systems integration. Their cooperation with semiconductor companies and universities provides us with an excellent research platform for defining our future roadmap for the next generation of acoustic microscopes.”

CITC Business Development Manager, Marco Koelink, is also looking forward to this collaboration: “PVA TePla is one of the leading suppliers of Scanning Acoustic Microscopes. Through this collaboration, CITC will gain access to advanced analytical capabilities that will help us not only to analyze and identify bond layer failures, but also better understand material performance and predict failures at an early stage. That is a crucial capability in the development of robust and reliable bonding technologies.”

About CITC
Chip Integration Technology Center (CITC) is a non-profit joint innovation center specializing in heterogeneous integration and advanced chip packaging technology. CITC has created an effective ecosystem in which companies, research and educational institutes work on bridging the gap between academics and industry. CITC’s contribution to the ecosystem is to provide access to innovation, infrastructure and education.
www.citc.org

About PVA TePla
With experience and know-how, PVA TePla AG has for many years supported important manufacturing processes and technological developments, primarily in the semiconductor, hard metal, electrical/electronics, and optical industries, but also in the forward-looking fields of energy, photovoltaics, and environmental technology.
https://www.pvatepla.com/en

• Read more about CITC intensifies cooperation with PVA TePla

PRESS RELEASE | Nijmegen, the Netherlands | January 16, 2023

Chip Integration Technology Center (CITC) today announced the appointment of Mark Luke Farrugia as its new general manager. As of March 1, Farrugia will take over the responsibilities from general manager Jeroen van den Brand, who fulfilled the role ad interim.

Farrugia has an extensive background in the semiconductor backend industry. Prior to this appointment, he worked for almost sixteen years at NXP Semiconductors and most recently as technical director at Nexperia Semiconductors.

He explains why he is now switching to CITC: “Innovation work within semiconductor packaging has been my greatest professional passion for the past 27 years. Breakthrough innovation requires a dedicated organization having the right focus, knowledge and passion and determination, and I see this in CITC.”

In his position as general manager, Farrugia will be responsible for the further development of CITC as an internationally distinctive and well-recognized center of semiconductor and photonic chip packaging technology. “CITC is a young organization, and therefore needs to put itself on the semiconductor packaging map. This should be done by understanding the needs and expectations of the industry, building and enhancing the right competences, and by collaborating with other organizations. I look forward to working with the CITC team, as well as scouting and mentoring the next generation, dealing with the highly complex puzzle of understanding what the various industry stakeholders would like to achieve, and ultimately, to delivering results that have a meaningful impact on the industry.”

Roel Fonville, chair of the CITC Supervisory Board, expresses that this is what qualified Farrugia for the position at CITC: “The Supervisory Board is enthusiastic about the appointment of Mark Luke Farrugia as general manager of CITC. Mark Luke has substantive expertise, an up-to-date business network, entrepreneurial thinking and a strong drive to further internationalize CITC as an innovation center in the field of packaging.”

The position of general manager became vacant following the sad passing of CITC founder and first general manager Barry Peet in July 2022.

About CITC
Chip Integration Technology Center (CITC) is a non-profit joint innovation center specializing in heterogeneous integration and advanced chip packaging technology. CITC has created an effective ecosystem in which companies, research and educational institutes work on bridging the gap between academics and industry. CITC’s contribution to the ecosystem is to provide access to innovation, infrastructure and education. CITC was founded in 2019 with strategic partners TNO and Delft University of Technology and powered by Holland Semiconductors. It is also supported by local and regional governments.
www.citc.org

• Read more about Mark Luke Farrugia new general manager of CITC

Roger Wood to retire as CEO effective July 7, 2023; Robert Blanding named as successor and has been appointed President of Tosoh Quartz, Inc. (TQI) effective January 1, 2023.

Tosoh Corporation announced today that Mr. Roger E. Wood, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Tosoh Quartz Inc. will retire as CEO effective July 7, 2023. Mr. Wood will step down from his duties as President as of January 1, 2023, and remain CEO until July 7, 2023, at which time he will retire from the company. Robert Blanding, currently Chief Financial Officer, will take on the role of President and successor as of January 1, 2023.

Mr. Wood possesses more than 45 years of management experience in the semiconductorrelated quartz industry with Tosoh Quartz, Inc., and has been CEO & President since 2006. Mr. Wood joined the organization in 1978 as the sixth employee when it was known by its former name, Weiss Scientific Glassblowing Company, and has held many roles across the company as it has grown. Weiss was acquired by Japan-based Tosoh Corporation in 1994, and was renamed Tosoh Quartz, Inc. in 2000. Tosoh Quartz Inc., headquartered in Portland, OR also has operations in Durham, England.

“I am grateful to have spent 45 years with this great company, and very honored to have had the opportunity to lead it for the last sixteen years. I consider myself fortunate to have witnessed the innovation and creativity that enabled us to support the Semiconductor industries growth from its infancy to its current status. I believe the future holds even greater opportunities and I
am confident that Robert Blanding, as our new President, is the right choice to lead us on this path.”

Mr. Blanding joined TQI in 2019 as Chief Financial Officer and has a wealth of manufacturing and technology industries experience, along with a proven record of leadership in global businesses. Prior to TQI, Mr. Blanding spent three years at HP Inc. as a Senior Director within the ink and toner businesses; three years at ESCO Corporation (now part of the Weir Group) as the Vice President of Finance for the Products and Mining Divisions; and eighteen years at Intel Corporation in a variety of operational finance roles including eight years directly supporting manufacturing organizations as well as a role in Intel Capital, supporting mergers and acquisitions and an international role supporting the Europe, Middle East, and Africa sales region. Mr. Blanding holds a BA in Business Administration from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington, and an MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.

About Tosoh Quartz Inc.
Tosoh Quartz Inc. and Tosoh Quartz Japan, lead the industry in the production of quartz glass products for use by the semiconductor industry in the manufacture of integrated circuits. Tosoh Quartz Inc. has been operating in the Portland area since 1970 and in Durham, England since 1993, and is a member of Tosoh Corporation’s Advanced Materials Division along with sister
companies Tosoh Quartz Corporation (Japan), Tosoh Quartz Co., Ltd. (Taiwan), Tosoh SGM Corp. (Japan), Tosoh TSC (China), Tosoh SMD and Tosoh SMC.

Tosoh Corporation is the parent company of a Japanese chemical and specialty products and materials group that comprises over 100 companies worldwide and a multiethnic workforce of more than 12,000 people. 

Tosoh’s principal markets include the chemical and petrochemical, construction, automotive, consumer electronics, information technology, bioscience, and environmental markets. 

Tosoh is a global chemical company that supplies manufacturers with the materials they need to produce the things that make modern life all that it is and everything it can be.

• Read more about Personnel Changes at Tosoh Quartz, Inc.