Monthly Archives: March 2017

Upgrading Used Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment and Wet Benches

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Upgrading Used Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment and Wet BenchesSometimes it makes more sense to upgrade existing equipment than to buy complete new systems. Equipment may not be near the end of its useful life and new technology can often increase yield and output quality. Customers can address ongoing safety issues and reduce frequent unscheduled downtime. Upgrades can provide higher levels of automation and improved robotics can be installed.

When equipment breaks down, it may be an opportunity to replace key components while whole subsystems can be upgraded during scheduled maintenance to avoid additional downtime. By addressing known weaknesses in a production line, the overall reliability of operations can be increased. Upgrading wet bench stations and other semiconductor manufacturing equipment in this way can be a cost-effective means of improving productivity.

Specific Reasons for Upgrading Equipment

Retrofitting new components, upgrading existing equipment and repairing defective parts can often extend the life of your semiconductor manufacturing systems. Reasons for upgrading include the following:

  • Install improved technology to increase throughput
  • Upgrade components to obtain higher yield
  • Refurbish or replace equipment that is no longer supported
  • Save money by extending equipment life span
  • Accommodate larger wafers
  • Update the automatic and robotic systems and controls
  • Improve ventilation and safety
  • Upgrade electrical systems to the latest standards
  • Improve ergonomics and ease of operation
  • Improve chemical delivery system performance

Such upgrades depend on a supplier’s ability to evaluate a system’s specific requirements and implement a customized approach to install and repair components. Extensive experience with development and assembly of semiconductor fabrication equipment is a prerequisite for carrying out upgrades effectively.

Types of Upgrades Carried Out by Modutek

Modutek relies on their experience with in house development and manufacturing of wet bench and related equipment to carry out all types of upgrades, both on their own equipment and that of other manufacturers. Such upgrades can include:

  • Identifying and replacing failing parts
  • Replacing defective parts with new or retro-fitted components
  • Replacing obsolete components
  • Updating robotics, baths and wet etching components
  • Upgrading motion controls and software
  • Re-designing and improving systems within an existing footprint
  • Reconditioning existing systems to improve performance

Modutek can visit a customer’s site and perform system evaluations to develop possible upgrade, repair and retrofit scenarios. Customers can then decide how they want to proceed and Modutek can carry out the selected work.

Specific Benefits of Upgrading

Many upgrades have specific benefits associated with them and customers can rely on Modutek to carry out the work so that the expected advantages are realized. For example, upgrading controls is an effective way of improving performance. Customers can upgrade from manual or semi-automatic operation to semi-automatic or fully automatic systems to improve consistency and reduce operator errors. Upgraded controls can also reduce waste and ensure that chemical formulas are followed accurately.

Safety upgrades are often required and always reduce operator risk. Adding robotics can result in more accurate control and improved safety. When electrical systems are brought up to code, reliability often improves as well as making the systems safer. Adding ventilation, fire suppression, tank lids and fume control can improve operator comfort as well as increase safety.

Adding heaters, chillers and temperature controls can reduce process times and result in better performance. Level sensors give more accurate system feedback and adding pumps, valves and switches can result in better overall process control.

Modutek can determine whether such upgrades and retrofits make sense and then carry out the appropriate work. The company can evaluate the performance of its own older systems as well as semiconductor fabrication equipment from other manufacturers on a case by case basis that includes MEI, Amerimade, Micro Tech Process, JST Manufacturing and others. With its in house expertise, Modutek can reliably upgrade semiconductor manufacturing equipment to provide optimal performance and guarantee the results.

How to Select a Supplier from Your List of Semiconductor Equipment Manufacturers

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How to Select a Supplier from Your List of Semiconductor Equipment ManufacturersWhen choosing a supplier from a list of semiconductor equipment manufacturers you have to look at a wide variety of factors. Key points to evaluate include the following:

  • Customization capabilities to meet customer requirements
  • Equipment reliability
  • Company experience and expertise
  • Warranties
  • Service and customer support

Only after you have determined which manufacturers can actually supply the equipment you want can you look at cost of ownership and pricing to make your final decision.

Specifying What You Need

Semiconductor fabrication lines and research labs are different and have specific requirements when they want to upgrade lines, replace components or buy new equipment. Sometimes the purchased equipment has to interface with existing systems, sometimes space is a factor and sometimes the physical set-up of the production facilities limit what can be installed. A supplier has to be able to evaluate these constraints and suggest solutions. The equipment proposed often has to be customized to some extent and the supplier has to have the experience and the capability to adapt his standard solutions to particular situations.

Equipment Reliability

Once you have purchased your equipment, it has to keep working with a minimum of downtime. The best way to evaluate the reliability of a supplier’s equipment is to ask for references and reliability statistics. Suppliers should submit normal hours of scheduled downtime, estimates of unexpected downtime and the records of actual installations. Once you have narrowed down the list of suppliers, it’s a good idea to check with some of the references who are not direct competitors of your company and verify what the supplier has submitted.

Warranties, Service and Support

Before you sign a contract with a selected supplier, check on his equipment warranties and his service and support capabilities. Warranties should be simple, comprehensive and of sufficient length. Check on whether the supplier has enough service personnel. Also important is whether he can rely on his own personnel to carry out service or whether he has to call in third parties. If a supplier subcontracts a lot of his equipment manufacturing, he is less likely to have competent service personnel on staff to deal with that equipment. Call support to see how they respond to support requests. Often calling a supplier’s customer support line with an equipment question rather than going through your contacts in sales will give you an idea how well a supplier responds to support requests.

Conclusion

The selection of the right semiconductor manufacturing equipment supplier for additions to a fabrication line or a research lab affects future productivity and output quality. You have to make sure you buy the equipment you need and select a supplier who will keep it working optimally.

Modutek has the experience required and the expertise to advise customers and to support their installations. The company has been in operation for over 35 years and carries out assembly of its equipment and creation of associated software in house. As a result, Modutek can offer expert service and support for all of a customer’s needs. With its commitment to total customer satisfaction and its record of in house development and manufacturing, the company is an excellent choice and a leading supplier among semiconductor equipment manufacturers. If you have any questions about Modutek’s products and support services, take a minute to call and discuss your concerns with one of their customer service representatives.