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Europe

Euro tool group formed

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND--A new European organization of semiconductor equipment and materials vendors wants to show the world the strength of European technology. E. J. R. Kamerbeek, president of the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials Association (SEMEA), said in a press conference held at Semicon Europa that the goal of the group is to represent its members' interests at international organizations, such as SEMI, I300I, SELETE, and KSIA, as well as to European Union initiatives such as Eureka and MEDEA.

Kamerbeek, director of European programs at ASM International, also pointed to the need to continue the cooperative exchange of technology and experience among European companies fostered during the JESSI program, which ended last year. Other goals of the association include participation at international events and the pursuit of government funds and subsidies.

The initial group of SEMEA members comes from the rosters of the French and British JEMI organizations, Germany's VDMA, and a loose alliance of Dutch companies. Kamerbeek said the new association would welcome representatives from other European countries. "We see SEMEA as an umbrella for existing organizations," he explained. In answer to questions about a possible conflict of interest with SEMI, the ASM executive said "what we stand for is absolutely complementary to SEMI," that SEMEA was looking to "fill in some gaps" in areas of specific European concern. No timetable for meetings or agendas has been set, he added, and a budget is being worked out.

(For more info on SEMEA, contact E .J .R. Kamerbeek at +31 30 229 85 00, or E-mail at 100634.1530@compuserve.com)

Photronics continues growing

Photronics continues to expand its presence in Europe. The photomask supplier will install an Alta 3000 laser lithography system from Etec Systems and an Orbot RT-8000 inspection tool in its new 42,000-sq-ft plant in Manchester, England. The Brookfield, CT­based company is making an initial investment of approximately $25 million in the Manchester facility, which is scheduled to begin production this summer. The vendor also completed renovations of its photomask facility in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, including the installation of Class 1 minienvironments. The Swiss site also will receive a second lithography system, a Core 2564, later this summer. In January 1996 Photronics purchased the captive photomask operations of GEC Plessey Semiconductors in Oldham, England, and has been manufacturing photomasks at that plant since the acquisition.

Laporte renovates two plants

Laporte Electronics is upgrading its process chemical facilities in both the United Kingdom and France to meet an expected increase in European demand. The British manufacturer of specialty chemicals says the plants will produce critical cleaning chemicals with cation impurity specifications of less than 100 ppt. The vendor is also renovating the cleanroom analytical laboratories at the sites.

Siemens using Eaton implanter

Siemens is the first chipmaker to use Eaton's recently introduced ultra-low-energy ion implanter in a production setting, the vendor announced. Eaton's semiconductor equipment subsidiary installed the NV-GSD/ULE tool at Siemens' fab in Dresden, Germany, in late 1996, and Siemens is integrating the system into its production line. According to Eaton, the implanter is the first in the industry made specifically for advanced DRAM and logic processes. Siemens will use the system to produce ultrashallow boron ion implants for CMOS-based DRAMs. The chipmaker says the tool will enable it to achieve higher throughputs.

Tefen designs MEMS fab

Tefen UK has completed the layout of a microsystems fab for CSEM in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, that will enable the manufacturer to produce as many as 25,000 wafers per year. Engineers for the industrial consultants had only 3000 sq ft of cleanroom area to work with, Tefen points out, adding that CSEM will use the wafers in 40 different product categories. The layout is designed to accommodate potential capacity expansion with the construction of a twin of the existing building. Construction of the fab began in May.

Nikon shows confidence

Nikon Precision Europe says that it will forge ahead on construction of a multimillion-dollar deep-UV education and application center despite last year's downturn in the semiconductor industry. Completion of the plant, which is located in Livingston, Scotland, is set for August. Groundbreaking took place in September 1996. The 9900-sq-ft center will house 3300 sq ft of cleanroom area for customer training and process integration support. The cleanroom will be equipped with i-line and DUV steppers to complement tools installed in Nikon's plant in Langen, Germany.

DuPont unmasks French site

DuPont Photomasks, Inc. (DPI) has opened a $14-million production line at its facility in Rousset, France. The supplier recently equipped the plant with an Alta 3000 scanned laser photomask tool from Etec Systems. DPI also announced it will open a photomask plant in the Hamilton International Technology Park near Glasgow, Scotland, in the second half of this year. The plant will be DPI's third in Europe and ninth worldwide. The supplier plans to invest more than $31 million over the next 5 years at the Glasgow site. The plant will house three production lines in a Class 1 cleanroom and will have a workforce of 100 at full capacity.

Asia

Rippey opens Singapore site

Rippey, a supplier of PVA consumables based in El Dorado Hills, CA, has opened a sales and distribution facility in Singapore. Rippey Technology Private Ltd. will offer full service, distribution, and warehouse capabilities to customers in Singapore, Malaysia, and other Asian regions. The facility, which contains a cleanroom and QC operations, is located in the Pantech Industrial Park.

Singapore foundry coming

The three partners in a foundry venture say that their new fab will have a monthly output of 30,000 wafers when it begins production of the 8-in. substrates in 1999. Chartered Semiconductor, Hewlett-Packard, and the Singapore Economic Development Board have formed the joint venture to complement Chartered's output, as well as supply wafers to H-P and other customers. Called Chartered Silicon Partners, the foundry will manufacture ASICs using deep-submicron process technologies from H-P and Chartered. Chartered has the majority stake in the venture. The partners would not disclose the costs of the fab, which will be located next to Chartered's existing Singapore foundry in Woodlands Industrial Park.

DI debuts Beijing office

Digital Instruments has opened an office in Beijing to provide direct technical sales and support to its Chinese clients. Based in Santa Barbara, CA, Digital makes scanning probe microscopes. The company recently opened a technical liaison office in Tokyo and says that the latest expansion is part of an effort to expand the vendor's presence in the region's emerging markets.

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