June 19, 2006 – Entrepix Inc., Tempe, AZ, a provider of chemical mechanical polishing services for foundries and equipment providers, has launched a new suite of services and technologies targeting the “fab-light” manufacturing model.

Entrepix’s “CMP FastForward” lineup aims to help manufacturers of all levels address engineering and production requirements for CMP, including development projects up to qualification and ramp-up of new CMP lines. The targeted customer base includes companies just starting with CMP, and those already using it who can benefit from added capacity for manufacturing.

Advancing technologies and higher product volumes translate into an increasing number of polishes during the wafer fabrication process, as well as a complex array of materials to be considered, the company noted. “These factors drive demand for expert CMP services that help reduce implementation time and accelerate time-to-ramp,” said Tim Tobin, president and CEO of Entrepix, which is tripling its manufacturing capacity by year’s end, and increasing staff by 15%-20%.

The FastForward suite of services supports a “fab-light” or “IDM+” business model, whereby IDMs can outsource specific process steps and address unique needs, such as additional capacity or developing new process steps, without disrupting ongoing production. Entrepix also sells refurbished CMP and metrology equipment, and provides maintenance services.

The company was originally launched in 1998 as Total Fab Solutions, a refurbisher and service provider for IC manufacturing equipment. It launched a dedicated CMP outsourcing service in 2002. CEO Tobin and COO Steven Horowitz both hail from prior positions at Metron Technology (now a unit of Applied Materials), and many top execs also have backgrounds with Motorola/Freescale Semiconductor and Speedfam-IPEC.