Deventer, June 21, 2022 – RoodMicrotec N.V., a leading independent company for semiconductors supply and quality services, and EnSilica plc, a leading chip maker of mixed signal ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), today announce that they have successfully brought a mixed signal automotive ASIC to commercial production following the official launch of a new flagship vehicle by a premium automotive company. The ASIC provides key differentiating features in the chassis control of the vehicle.

As announced in 2018, RoodMicrotec was selected by EnSilica to support it in the qualification and testing of this mixed signal automotive ASIC. RoodMicrotec will undertake final testing and shipment of the ASICs for EnSilica.

EnSilica is pleased to confirm that the main production run has now commenced with the official launch of the vehicle. The production schedule for more than 2.5 million ASICs over the next 12 months has been received. The ASIC has an anticipated seven-year production life and depending on the model, there are up to 24 ASICs per vehicle.

“It has been exciting to support EnSilica in bringing this project to production over the last few years. We are now looking forward to supporting production of this device in our Nördlingen facility”, says Martin Sallenhag, CEO of RoodMicrotec. “It again shows the demand for our unique combined capabilities, in depth experience and excellent track record in bringing automotive products to the market for our valued customers.”

“We are delighted to be entering the full production volume of this exciting project, having successfully collaborated with RoodMicrotec over a number of years. Our joint effort across this highly technical automotive project has now resulted in successful launch of the vehicle”, says Ian Lankshear, CEO of EnSilica.

About EnSilica
EnSilica is a leading fabless design house focused on custom ASIC design and supply for OEMs and system houses, as well as IC design services for companies with their own design teams. The company has world-class expertise in supplying custom RF, mmWave, mixed signal and digital ICs to its international customers in the automotive, industrial, healthcare and communications markets. The company also offers a broad portfolio of core IP covering cryptography, radar and communications systems. EnSilica has a track record in delivering high quality solutions to demanding industry standards. The company is headquartered near Oxford, UK and has a design centres across the UK and in Bangalore, India and Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Further information on EnSilica at www.ensilica.com

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.
Further information on RoodMicrotec at www.roodmicrotec.com

Further information
Martin Sallenhag - CEO, Arvid Ladega - CFO
Telephone: +31 570 745623 Email: [email protected] Web: 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 Premium Automotive Vehicle Launched with EnSilica’s Key Mixed Signal ASIC

Breker Verification Systems, the leading provider of advanced test content synthesis solutions for SoC, UVM and Post-Silicon verification environments, appointed FirstEDA as its exclusive European distributor.

Twenty-year-old FirstEDA, a value-added distributor of design automation tools and training in Europe, now sells and supports Breker's TrekSoC™ and TrekUVM™ tools that automatically generate self-verifying test cases for multi-threaded, multiprocessor SoC devices and UVM block-based verification. Breker selected FirstEDA for its experienced and highly skilled engineering staff and understanding of the needs of the verification community.

“Breker stands out in the field of verification tools and solutions,” says Julian Lonsdale, Sales Director of FirstEDA, based in the U.K. “It consistently delivers high-quality, innovative and versatile tools to solve the challenges facing verification engineers.”

“FirstEDA is recognized as a trusted and well-connected European partner,” remarks Dave Kelf, Breker’s CEO. “Choosing to partner was an easy decision because we value the skillset and expertise it provides and know our relationship will flourish.”

About Breker Verification Systems
Breker Verification Systems is a leading provider of verification synthesis solutions that leverage SystemUVM, C++ and Portable Stimulus, a standard means to specify reusable verification intent. It is the first company to introduce graph-based verification and the synthesis of high-coverage test sets based on AI planning algorithms. 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 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/

TrekSoC, TrekSoC-Si, TrekBox and SoC Scenario Modeling are registered trademark of Breker Verification Systems. Breker Verification Systems acknowledges trademarks or registered trademarks of other organizations for their respective products.

• Read more about Breker Verification Systems Appoints FirstEDA as Exclusive European Distributor

Zurich, Switzerland / Heidelberg, Germany – Heidelberg Instruments Nano AG in Zurich, a subsidiary office of Heidelberg Instruments Mikrotechnik GmbH celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the commercialization of the NanoFrazor system series. The NanoFrazor is based on the Thermal Scanning Probe (t-SPL) technology and can be used for nanopatterning of quantum devices on 1D/2D materials, grayscale photonics devices, nanofluidic structures or biomimetic substrates for cell growth.

Originally the Thermal Scanning Probe technology was developed at IBM, where a group of researchers showed that the sharp tips of atomic force microscopes can be heated and used as a tool to “drill” nanoscale holes and later to write arbitrary nanostructures by using special, evaporating materials.

After exploring the technology at IBM, Felix Holzner and Philip Paul incorporated SwissLitho AG as a spin-off from ETH Zurich (Heidelberg Instruments Nano AG since 2021) as CEO and CTO with the idea of selling nanolithography equipment for t-SPL. The technical term “Thermal Scanning Probe Lithography” was then replaced by the product name “NanoFrazor”.

After starting operations of then SwissLitho in early 2013, the first commercial NanoFrazor machine named “Titlis”, a NanoFrazor Explore, was installed in 2014 at McGill University in Canada. “Titlis” is still running and just recently received an upgrade with the integration of the laser writer module jointly developed in Heidelberg and Zurich. Today, more than 50 NanoFrazor systems have been installed at renowned facilities all over the world, with new customers lined up for future systems.

“The NanoFrazor team in Zurich works on various promising developments on the instrument as well as on the materials to continuously expand the applications range of the technology. There are still manifold open opportunities for the NanoFrazor, as it can still be considered novel, even 10 years after the start of its commercialization. Everyone at Heidelberg Instruments is excited to see how the NanoFrazor will have developed in another 10 years from now”, Konrad Roessler, CEO of Heidelberg Instruments Mikrotechnik says.

The anniversary was celebrated in the newly opened office of Heidelberg Instruments Nano in Zurich together with family, friends, and numerous partners, who supported the successful journey of the NanoFrazor.

About Heidelberg Instruments Mikrotechnik GmbH
With over 35 years of experience and more than 1,200 installed systems, Heidelberg Instruments is one of the leading international players in developing and producing high-precision photolithography systems and nanofabrication tools. Heidelberg Instruments systems are installed in industrial and scientific facilities around the world. They are used for efficient direct writing and photomask fabrication for various industries, including semiconductors, quantum computing, photonics, 2D materials, IoT, and many related fields.

• Read more about Heidelberg Instruments celebrates 10 years of NanoFrazor

Cape Town, Western Cape: May 24th, 2022 — DataProphet Operations Pty Ltd announced today that The Globee® Awards has named DataProphet a winner of both the Grand Trophy and a Gold Globee®.

The bestowal of the Gold Globee® and the Grand Trophy on DataProphet—by the organizers of the world’s premier business awards programs and business ranking lists—recognizes DataProphet’s global preeminence as a Disruptor Company in the manufacturing space. In their consideration, Globee® noted that in one advanced industrial context, DataProphet’s AI-as-a-Service achieved 2022% ROI within a year for a manufacturer client, simultaneously offsetting its own lifetime Co2.

DataProphet has created a novel and fully scalable IIoT system architecture (CONNECT) for its multi-award-winning flagship AI product (PRESCRIBE). Its product suite empowers manufacturers to achieve Digital Maturity (i.e., a fully connected factory) while putting the automating intelligence of prescriptive analytics, powered by deep learning discovery—at the fingertips of factory operators.

DataProphet delivers its AI-driven guidance via an intuitive HMI (human-machine interface) through which factory operators enact preemptive adjustments to control plans and machine setpoints. These course corrections allow them to meet and exceed production KPIs, drive sustainable production, and increase the useful lifecycle of a plant’s high-value production assets.

Because they run on industrial data already owned by the manufacturer, DataProphet’s process optimization and prescriptive maintenance solutions are non-capital intensive and apply across multiple manufacturing verticals. They are also deployed with collaborative value tracking and measurement for guaranteed RoI. For example, one deployment reduced the robotic stud welding defects of an automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for an annualized RoI of up to 75x the OEM’s investment.

CEO Frans Cronje co-founded DataProphet in 2014, inspired by the significant, measurable value that prescriptive AI could bring to local manufacturers as an industry consultant. Since then, his purpose has been to establish this innovative, results-driven company as the leading global provider of AI-as-a-Service for manufacturing. In response to receiving this award, Frans Cronje had the following to say:

“The DataProphet team is delighted to be recognized by The Globee® Awards as a Gold Globee® Grand Trophy winner. Through our AI-as-a-Service and AI-driven product suite, we’re committed to helping manufacturers achieve their Industry 4.0 goals and build a solid foundation for data-driven solutions towards autonomous manufacturing. We believe this recognition from Globee® is further validation that DataProphet is moving in the right direction.”

About the Globee® Awards
Globee Awards are conferred in nine programs and competitions: the American Best in Business Awards, Business Excellence Awards, CEO World Awards®, Cyber Security Global Excellence Awards®, Disruptor Company Awards, Golden Bridge Awards®, Information Technology World Awards®, Sales, Marketing, Service, & Operations Excellence Awards, and Women World Awards®. A judging panel of industry peers and experts recognizes the outstanding accomplishments and contributions of companies, business executives, and professionals worldwide.

In DataProphet’s case, the Gold Globee® and the Grand Trophy are testaments to disruptive technology applied as an innovative solution for transforming the consumer experience of manufacturing process and machine health optimization.

About DataProphet
DataProphet is a venture-backed AI-as-a-Service company pioneering the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to optimize advanced manufacturing. Its team of 50+ data scientists and solution engineers do this across key industry verticals throughout Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Asia. DataProphet customers include manufacturers of automotive, cast iron, aluminum, minerals, semiconductors, and EV batteries. Part of the company’s expansion strategy is to extend partnerships with its technology integrators (including Machine Builders) as it continues to expand globally. A WEF Global Innovator, DataProphet’s mission is to safely guide the machines making the world to next-generation production and measurably contribute to a more sustainable and connected future.

• Read more about DATAPROPHET WINS GLOBEE® GRAND TROPHY IN THE 2ND ANNUAL 2022 DISRUPTOR COMPANY AWARDS

Boston / London June 2022 – Leading surplus asset management company, EquipNet Inc., announced enhancements to its Equipment Sustainability Programs. Since 1999, EquipNet has been helping global manufacturers to track, redeploy, buy, and sell surplus manufacturing assets, contributing to clients’ overall sustainability goals even before those goals were created.

EquipNet has improved its proprietary Asset Management System (ARMS), a web-based tracking software, to not only track idle equipment throughout the enterprise but measure landfill avoidance on a global scale. This comprehensive software ensures cost savings through the redeployment of equipment from facilities that no longer have a use for the assets to locations that can use the machines. Now with the landfill avoidance tracking, the system also contributes to sustainable management. Just in the last few years, EquipNet’s clients have diverted 200,000 tonnes of waste from landfills.

“Creating a more sustainable environment for global manufacturers has been at the heart of what we do for almost a quarter of a century,” says Ben Potenza, VP of Sales & Marketing. “Redeploying and selling well-maintained equipment is only part of the story. Now we can help our clients illustrate real impact on the circular economy by tracking landfill avoidance.”

Equipment Sustainability Programs unlock idle machinery potential and contribute to positive corporate citizenship by extending machinery’s useful life, as well as delivering substantial cost avoidance to the enterprise. It’s the essence of a circular economy.

About EquipNet
EquipNet is a leading provider of proactive asset management solutions and services to leading corporations in the pharmaceutical, chemical, electronics, industrial, and consumer packaged goods industries. EquipNet’s vision is to revolutionize the way companies manage their surplus assets by maximizing financial returns and minimizing the risks associated with idle capital assets. If you have surplus you are looking to sell, or are looking for pre-owned equipment at an affordable price, visit us at www.EquipNet.com.

Press Contact
Sarah Kilburne
Director of Marketing, EquipNet
[email protected]

• Read more about SEMI Member, EquipNet, Enhances Its Equipment Sustainability Program

CHANDLER, AZ — Yield Engineering Systems (YES) has leased 123,000 square feet within the Price Corridor in Chandler, Arizona. The facility will support YES in serving the region’s thriving semiconductor industry.

YES develops and manufactures thermal, deposition, and wet process equipment that is used in semiconductor, life sciences, and display manufacturing. The Chandler facility will house a “Technology Center” with R&D functions, cleanroom operations, advanced manufacturing, customer support, and office space.

“Our new Technology Center will provide us with valuable proximity to key customers and vendors, as well as access to the highly skilled workforce that defines Chandler’s business ecosystem,” said Rezwan Lateef, President of YES. “We are grateful to Chandler’s Economic Development team, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, and Arizona Commerce Authority for their assistance with this major milestone in our mission to serve the semiconductor market as a preferred provider.” Mark Donahue is the local YES manager overseeing the project.

The company plans to have approximately 100 highly educated employees based at the Chandler facility, mostly in technology and engineering positions. The multi-million-dollar capital investment to build out the space will enable the development of advanced technology that supports the US semiconductor manufacturing sector.

“YES marks another California-based company drawn to Arizona, highlighting the state’s unmatched business climate,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “We are grateful to YES for their commitment to Arizona, creating new jobs while strengthening the state’s robust semiconductor supply chain.”

"The Greater Phoenix semiconductor ecosystem has quickly become a top global destination for leading manufacturers like YES," said Chris Camacho, President and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. "This multimillion-dollar investment provides high-quality job opportunities for residents, and we look forward to supporting YES in its future growth and successful integration into the market."

“The long-term vision for Price Corridor continues to be realized as we welcome another dynamic and market-leading company to Chandler,“ said Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke. “We would like to thank YES for their investment and trust in Chandler, as we know there are many options throughout the world for cutting-edge facilities like this.”

Yield Engineering Systems’ Chandler facility adds to the state’s booming semiconductor industry. In the past six months, EMD Electronics announced an expansion of its chemical delivery systems business at a new factory in Chandler, creating over 100 jobs and Edwards announced a new manufacturing facility also in Chandler, creating 200 jobs.

Media Contacts
Victoria Barnes, Yield Engineering Systems, [email protected]
Alyssa Tufts, Arizona Commerce Authority, [email protected]
Stephanie Romero, City of Chandler, [email protected]

About Yield Engineering Systems (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 the Arizona Commerce Authority
The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state's leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona's economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: attract, expand, create - attract out-of-state companies to establish operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to expand their business in Arizona and beyond; and help entrepreneurs create new Arizona businesses in targeted industries. For more information, please visit azcommerce.com and follow the ACA on Twitter @azcommerce.

About City of Chandler, Arizona
Chandler, Arizona has built a reputation as a Community of Innovation. Life in Chandler goes beyond a thriving and dynamic business community with progressive entrepreneurship. Known for its rich diversity, the City offers an outstanding quality of life for all generations with great schools and recreational opportunities. Chandler has grown to become the state's fourth largest City with a population of more than 281,000. Chandler has been named one of the nation's Best Places to Find a Job and Best Cities for Women in Tech. The City also is one of the safest communities in the nation and boasts AAA bond ratings from all three national rating agencies, one of only 40 communities to achieve this distinction. For more information, visit the City website, or connect with the City on social media.

• Read more about Yield Engineering Systems (YES) Signs Lease for Technology Center in Chandler, AZ

Würzburg, Germany / Brisbane, Australia – The Australian National Fabrication Facility – Queensland Node (ANFF-Q) based at the University of Queensland, Australia has placed a purchase order for the recently launched Two-Photon Polymerization tool MPO 100. The system, developed by Multiphoton Optics GmbH and manufactured by its parent company Heidelberg Instruments Mikrotechnik GmbH, will provide cutting-edge fabrication capability in nano- and microfabrication to ANFF-Q.

“ANFF-Q is an open-door R&D facility assisting clients from industry and academia to progress their products. To expand our fabrication capabilities, ANFF-Q was looking for a nano 3D printer with highest printing resolution as well as advanced fabrication techniques and the MPO 100 met all our criteria”, says Anthony Christian, ANFF-Q Manager. “The technical details of the MPO 100 stand out from other potential candidates - especially the achievable resolution of 100 nanometers as a pivotal parameter and the very attractive stitching-free fabrication capability”, adds Juan Li, Senior Professional Officer Micro- and Nanofabrication at ANFF-Q.

ANFF-Q serves a wider scope of applications than normal R&D facilities and provides a safe, IP neutral environment where the clients’ designs and developments remain their property. The MPO 100 will be used for target applications in micro-optics, microfluidics, micro needles, and diffractive optical elements. The system will be the third Heidelberg Instruments machine after the MLA 150 and a µPG101, which are already in place at ANFF-Q.

“The MPO 100 was officially introduced into the market end at the end of January in 2022. The purchase of the tool by ANFF-Q was one of the first orders and confirms the customer-oriented development of the system. We are looking forward to a close collaboration with ANFF-Q”, says Dr. Benedikt Stender, CEO of Multiphoton Optics.

During the tender, Multiphoton Optics was supported by Heidelberg Instruments’ local distributor Nano Vacuum, which have already worked closely on several successful projects with ANFF-Q. “We are thrilled to be able to bring the first MPO 100 system to Australia. With over 25 years of experience in the nanofabrication industry, Nano Vacuum is always eager to see the conception of innovative tools and cutting-edge technologies in the research space!”, says Dr. Ava Faridi, Product Manager at Nano Vacuum.

• Read more about MPO 100 GOES AUSTRALIA: ANFF-Q PURCHASES 3D NANOPRINTER