Manufacturing Bits: March 27


Nanostructure printers Using electron-beam lithography and reactive-ion etching techniques, Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) has developed a new high-resolution color nanostructure printing system. The printer enables nanostructures made from silicon. It prints tiny structures with a wide range of colors. In the future, researchers hope that nanostructure ... » read more

The Week In Review: Manufacturing


Packaging and test A*STAR’s Institute of Microelectronics (IME) has formed a fan-out wafer-level packaging consortium comprising of OSATs, materials vendors, equipment suppliers and others. The group is called the FOWLP Development Line Consortium. As part of the announcement, Singapore’s IME has established a development line to accelerate the development of fan-out. Located in IME’s... » read more

Manufacturing Bits: July 3


MacEtch and chips Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) has advanced a technology called metal-assisted chemical etching or MacEtch for use in the fabrication of silicon nanowires and related structures. Silicon nanowires are used in several applications, such as electronics, solar, storage, optical, catalysis, drug delivery and sensors. In semiconductors, the ... » read more

The Week In Review: Manufacturing


Fab tools and T&M Applied Materials and the Institute of Microelectronics (IME), a research institute under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), have announced a five-year extension of their R&D collaboration at the Centre of Excellence in Advanced Packaging in Singapore. The organizations will expand the scope of their R&D collaboration to focus on advancing fan-out wafer... » read more

Manufacturing Bits: Aug. 2


CMP replacement? For years, chipmakers have used chemical-mechanical-polishing (CMP) tools to smooth or polish the surface of a wafer. CMP works, but the technology is time-consuming and expensive. CMP can also leave unwanted residual patterns and defects near the surface. In response, Russia’s National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute) has help... » read more

The Week In Review: Manufacturing


Fab tools Applied Materials has officially rolled out the Producer Selectra system, a selective etch tool. The system falls under the loosely defined category called atomic layer etch (ALE). Applied’s technology addresses a number of challenges. Today’s advanced chips have complex structures. They may also have deep and narrow trenches. One of the challenges is the inability of wet ... » read more

Manufacturing Bits: Oct. 20


Singapore opens R&D center The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) has officially opened its new R&D center in Singapore. The center, dubbed Fusionopolis Two, is a $450 million facility, according to Singapore’s A*STAR. It will provide the industry with co-location opportunities for R&D. Anchored at Fusionopolis Two are the following A*STAR research institutes: th... » read more

Manufacturing Bits: April 21


Fan-out packaging consortium A*STAR’s Institute of Microelectronics (IME) and others have formed a high-density fan-out wafer level packaging (FOWLP) consortium in Singapore. Others in the group include Amkor, Nanium, STATS ChipPAC, NXP, GlobalFoundries, Kulicke & Soffa, Applied Materials, Dipsol Chemicals, JSR, KLA-Tencor, Kingyoup Optronics, Orbotech and Tokyo Ohka Kogyo (TOK). T... » read more

The Week In Review: Manufacturing


Here’s a sad commentary on the state of Japan’s electronics industry: Some Japanese electronics giants are converting unused factories and fabs into agricultural growing facilities, according to The Wall Street Journal. Last month, for example, Fujitsu began selling lettuce from the Aizu-Wakamatsu plant. It's officially over. IBM's talks to sell its chip unit to GlobalFoundries have offi... » read more