Issue



Entegris awarded Semiconductor 300 bid


10/01/1999







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Entegris (Chaska, MN) will supply several hundred of its 25-capacity front-opening unified pods (FOUPs) to Semiconductor 300 (Dresden, Germany), a joint venture between Infineon and Motorola.

Entegris, which was awarded the contract in July, will also assist Semiconductor 300 with integrating the new pods into the 300 millimeter fab. The FOUPs are certified by Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (Mountain View, CA) and will provide process and shipper support for 300 mm lots. -MAD

Skinvisible signs distribution agreement

British Columbia-based Essentially Yours Industries Corp. and EYI International are now marketing and distributing protection products from Skinvisible Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Las Vegas, NV).

Skinvisible agreed to give Essentially Yours exclusive distribution rights to its skin protection products in the United States and Canada. Also, Skinvisible signed an agreement with EYI to distribute its products in 14 countries. Skinvisible's formulation is a polymer membrane that, when combined with antimicrobal agents, produces a protective layer that blocks the passage of harmful chemicals from the skin.-MAD

SenSym, Foxboro/ICT merge

The merger of two Silicon Valley pressure sensor manufacturers, SenSym and Foxboro/ICT has created an expanded product line as well as a new company.

SenSym Foxboro ICT now offers basic pressure sensor chips to high-precision process-control-grade transmitters to high purity transducers. It also offers such technologies as piezoresistive bridges in shear and conventional formats; surface and micromachined structures; and silicon-to-silicon and silicon-to-pyrex bonding.-MAD

Adhesives Research builds facility in Ireland

Adhesives Research Inc.'s 24,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Limerick, Ireland is designed to produce high performance, specialty pressure-sensitive adhesives for the Glen Rock, PA-based company's industrial, medical, pharmaceutical and splicing customer bases.

The plant offers GMP and cleanroom capabilities with separate manufacturing areas for processes such as mixing, coating and finishing. It also features coating capabilities including web cleaners, on-line coating and substrate measurement, slot die and reverse gravure.

The facility is designed to be upgraded, and the next building phase calls for administration and research and development facilities. That measure will bring employment to 120 within three years. The University of Limerick presently houses the European research and development unit. Adhesives Research has collaborated with the university to develop research programs for the development of unique adhesives.-MAD

Lucent places order with GaSonics

Lucent Technologies (Murray Hill, NJ) has placed an order with GaSonics International Corp. (San Jose, CA) for several PEP Iridia DL systems for its Cirent Semiconductor manufacturing division and advanced development and research facility, both located in Orlando, FL.

The Iridia performs photoresist and residue removal in a single chamber. Lucent will use the systems in copper and aluminum-based metallization schemes to manufacture logic and wireless communication devices with 0.25 micron and below design specifications.-MAD

Cardinal acquires Pharmaceutical Packaging Specialties

Seeking control over contract packaging operations in Puerto Rico, Cardinal Health Inc. says it has acquired Pharmaceutical Packaging Specialties Inc. The specifics of the deal have not been made public. Cardinal will combine the Hamacao, PR-based company with its existing packaging subsidiary, PCI Services Inc. PCI products include folding cartons, printed inserts, and labels, while PPS offers blister, strip, and pouch packaging. The deal positions Cardinal as the only packager in Puerto Rico, a country where many pharmaceutical companies manufacture their products. - LN

USF Filtration & Separations adds filters

Expanding its Filterite products division, USF Filtration & Separations has unveiled the Claris melt blown depth filter cartridges. The Timonium, MD-based company says the product is a 100 percent polypropylene depth filter that uses the company's patented ECore (extruded fibrous core) technology. According to the company, ECore yields lower initial pressure drops and longer on-stream life than conventional melt blown filter cartridges. - LN

Envirco Corp. relocates headquarters

Envirco Corp. has moved its headquarters and manufacturing operations to a 63,000-sq.-ft. facility. Based in Albuquerque, NM, the new building contains a class 10,000 cleanroom, which the company will used to assemble MAC 10 fan filter unit products and to manufacture its HEPA and ULPA filters. Envirco is also relocating its research and development operations to this facility. - LN

Merck KGaA and Praxair join R&D forces

The Darmstadt, Germany-based Merck KGaA Electronic Chemicals and Praxair will share research and development costs for a group of new semiconductor materials. The team will develop high-purity gases, chemicals, and equipment and services. The new products will support the next generation of integrated circuit production, say company representatives.

The agreement stipulates that the Danbury, CT-based Praxair will provide on-site gas handling, maintenance operations, and quality control services within the gas process chain. Merck will handle on-site chemical handling, maintenance operations, and quality control services within the chemicals process chain. - LN

American Cleanroom Garments now ISO 9002 certified

American Cleanroom Garments received ISO 9002 certification for its Chicago, IL, facility. The certification was a key part of the company's plan to upgrade this facility and it shows that the company has a quality program in place, according to Tony Rutt, director for sales and marketing. This latest ISO classification completes the company-wide certification of all facilities. - LN