Particles

11/01/2001

Trials for E.coli vaccine
Researchers in Alberta, Canada, are conducting trials on a vaccine that could attack the E.coli bacteria that killed seven people in Walkerton, Ont. Experiments at the University of Saskatchewan have shown that the vaccine kills the bug in cattle. The trials are expected to begin with 72,000 cows. Scientists are hopeful that not only will waterborne illness be cut but also incidents of the so-called hamburger disease. Glen Gifford, national director of veterinary biologics with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, said the federal regulator is waiting for the vaccine's backers to prove that it is feasible to produce and use outside the laboratory.—LJB

Shipley awarded Low-K dielectric patent
Shipley Company LLC has been awarded U.S. Patent No. 6,271,273 (Porous Materials) directed to compositions of nano-pore forming materials useful in methylsilsesquioxane (MeSQ) films for Low-K dielectric materials. The patent includes the incorporation of Nanogen pore-forming dielectric polymers in an organo-polysilica dielectric matrix and methods of preparing integrated circuits containing such materials. Shipley Microelectronics is part of the Electronic Materials Business Group of Rohm and Haas Company.—LJB

Owens opens cleanroom
Owens Design Inc.'s design and manufacturing facilities now include an industry-standard cleanroom. Based on a modular design, the cleanroom can accommodate manufacturing operations for semiconductor, biomedical, and photonics related products. Currently, the facility is building products for a leading semiconductor equipment manufacturer providing 300-mm factory automation solutions.—LJB

Perdue plans $100 million research park
Purdue University has announced plans to create a 40-acre Discovery Park with a mix of public and private funding. When it is completed on the campus' west side several years from now, the research park will feature four state-of-the-art research facilities: a $51-million center dedicated to the study of nanotechnology, a bioscience and engineering center, an "E-enterprises" center and a center for entrepreneurship to study issues arising from the licensing and marketing of new technologies. Construction is set to begin in 2002, with completion expected in 2004.—LJB

Ashland's new semiconductor process equipment cleaning facility up and running
Ashland Chemical Company's Electronic Chemicals Division (Dublin, OH) has finished work on a new 40,000 square foot semiconductor tool servicing facility in Carrollton, TX.

The cost of the facility was not disclosed.

Officials say the plant will have the capability to support much of the region's microelectronics industry and will offer selective wet, solvent and dry cleaning processes, as well as component rebuilding and preventive maintenance services.

"We will utilize a number of mini-environments here, enabling us to isolate certain operations and emphasize contamination controls. All implant source rebuilding operations, final CO2 cleaning and packing operations will be conducted within strictly controlled, certified cleanroom environments," said Mike Pregent, fab services director for Ashland.

Ashland has similar facilities in Tempe, Arizona and Austin.—JVP