Semiconductor equipment manufacturer ClassOne Technology announced today that it has signed a joint electrochemical deposition (ECD) applications lab agreement with Shanghai Sinyang Semiconductor Materials Co., Ltd. Sinyang, China’s premier supplier of ECD chemicals, is purchasing ClassOne electroplating equipment and will be providing a site for demonstrating ClassOne’s tools in the Chinese marketplace. SPM International Ltd., ClassOne’s representative in China will also be providing product support and process assistance.
“This collaborative lab will be the first of its kind in the region,” said Byron Exarcos, President of ClassOne Technology. “Now, in a single location, users will be able to see the advanced performance of ClassOne’s electroplating tools and Sinyang’s electroplating chemicals and also be able to evaluate processes. It allows us to provide a complete solution — and a significant convenience — to users throughout the region.”
“We are looking forward to working with customers on the Solstice LT plating system because it is a high-performance tool and will provide an excellent real-world laboratory for ongoing enhancement of our chemicals,” said Dr. Wang Su, Vice President of Sinyang. “The new working arrangement will also enable us to provide direct input to ClassOne as they develop future generations of wet processing equipment.”
Shanghai Sinyang is purchasing ClassOne’s Solstice LT Electroplating System and Trident Spin Rinse Dryer (SRD). The Solstice LT is a two-chamber plating development tool designed for <200mm wafers. In Sinyang’s applications, one chamber will be dedicated to copper plating and the second to nickel plating, with the Trident SRD servicing both process streams. This will provide significant flexibility while substantially reducing cycle time and streamlining process development. The new equipment will be installed at the Sinyang lab facility in Shanghai, which is scheduled to begin live demonstrations in late May. The lab will be able to plate virtually all metals except gold, and it can also cross-reference with all chemicals for comparison benchmarks.
In addition to the LT development tool, ClassOne also offers the Solstice S8, an 8-chamber, fully-automated electroplating system for high-volume production needs. These tools are particularly well suited to wafer level packaging (WLP), through silicon via (TSV) and other applications that are important for MEMS, Sensors, LEDs, RF, Power and many other devices.
ClassOne Technology products have been described as “Advanced Wet Processing Tools for the Rest of Us” because they address the needs of many cost-conscious users. The company’s stated aim is to provide advanced yet affordable alternatives to the large systems from the large manufacturers. ClassOne supplies a range of innovative new wet processing tools, including its Solstice Electroplating Systems, Trident Spin Rinse Dryers and Trident Spray Solvent Tools (SSTs).