Aquest Systems receives multimillion-dollar purchase order from Powerchip Semiconductor
(Business News, 13 Jul 2007 )
Aquest Systems, which is developing automation solutions, has announced it has received an order valued at more than two million dollars from Powerchip Semiconductor Corporation. Based in Taiwan, PSC is a world leader in the manufacture of semiconductor memory products. The milestone order is for Aquest's new FabEX automated material handling system (AMHS), which is designed to improve IC fab manufacturing productivity by delivering both high speed and high capacity advances over conventional vehicle-based AMHS. Company officials report that FabEX is slated for installation this month at two of PSC's 300-mm fabs-12A and 12B.
According to Dr. Mihir Parikh, president & CEO of Aquest, "During a six-month period of collaborative work with the PSC team, we optimized FabEX to provide PSC with high capacity and the short delivery times needed to meet their manufacturing requirements. We are optimistic that this first step will demonstrate FabEX's capability to provide a fully integrated fab-wide AMHS solution to fulfill Aquest's vision of No-Wait-Manufacturing."
FabEX was designed to be readily assimilated into operating fabs with software and hardware interfaces all based on industry standards. As such, the integration of FabEX is very straightforward -- essentially requiring no changes to customers' existing AMHS solutions. Moreover, the Aquest team has had extensive experience implementing automation technology into existing fabs to improve productivity. This expertise has been paramount in developing the FabEX solution, which is now poised to revolutionize material handling in both new and existing IC fabs around the world.
About FabEX AMHS FabEX is an optimized, No-Wait-AMHS that brings Aquest's No-Wait-Manufacturing vision to fruition. With its patent-pending technology, which transports wafer-containers, called FOUPs, at high speeds (>3 meters/second), FabEX is significantly faster than conventional AMHS built from conveyors or overhead hoist vehicles. It also has the ability to move around curves, while minimizing vibrations with minimal particle generation. Finally, since FabEX does not need any vehicles, it provides the high capacity afforded by conventional conveyor systems. All of this, coupled with sophisticated internet-protocol (IP) technology-based controls and software, enable seamless integration into semiconductor fabs.
