The re-certified system will be used for merchant WLP services in a U.S.-based facility. The cluster tool suits advanced bumping processes, said Thomas Mika, president and CEO, Tegal, adding that the purchase denoted a partnership with a global “heavyweight” in packaging.

The low-hanging fruit of packaging news tends to focus on Asia. This installment is no different, so let’s start there. Last week, ASAT opened its manufacturing and test facility in Dongguan, China, to complete the process of establishing all of its production operations in China. A key benefit to locating in China is the proximity of facilities to end-users in the huge and developing Chinese market, the announcement cited. It will be interesting to see if ASAT’s bet on China pays off for the company’s bottom line.