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BERKELEY ACHIEVES MAJOR DESIGN WIN AT
TIER ONE SEMICONDUCTOR OEM
Innovative Controls Technology Embraced To Enhance Reliability
And Performance Of Existing Wafer-Handling System
RICHMOND, Calif., April 29, 2003 - Berkeley Process Control, Inc. (Berkeley) announced today that it received a major order from a tier one OEM for design services and automation products to upgrade the existing front-end wafer handling system of an established semiconductor tool. The upgrade enhances tool reliability and performance through the incorporation of superior machine controls and Berkeley's patented Autocalibration® technology.
"Key OEMs are beginning to demand the marriage of best-of-class controls and robot technologies to deliver critically needed improvements in wafer-handling reliability," said Berkeley President Paul Sagues. "They are gaining new choices for reliability improvement by successfully challenging the historic and performance-limiting paradigm wherein robots and their controllers are bundled by the manufacturer."
In this particular tool upgrade, a flexible Berkeley BX-series motion-and-machine controller replaces the original robot-bundled controller. A Berkeley BXpa™ wafer pre-aligner replaces the original robot-bundled aligner. Five-axes of the OEM's existing robotics hardware, and the wafer pre-aligner are integrated under a BX-series controller to provide significantly improved tool operational reliability.
Berkeley's powerful Autocalibration technology improves semiconductor fab equipment productivity by automating critical robot calibration processes that are conventionally performed by technicians using time-consuming and subjective manual methods. Calibration that previously required many hours is reduced to just minutes-substantially reducing costly production downtime. Subjectivity is eliminated, resulting in highly repeatable calibration, improved tool reliability, and reduced risk of damage to valuable semiconductor wafers. A flurry of recent trade press has described the applicability and value of this technology-Machine Design (Dec. '02), European Semiconductor (Mar. '03), and Design News (Apr. '03).
About Berkeley Process Control: Berkeley Process Control, Inc., Richmond California, a privately held company founded in 1981, is a leading provider of innovative automation solutions and flexible automation products. Berkeley solutions have enhanced productivity in applications that include semiconductor fabrication, optical fiber manufacturing, automated welding, aircraft manufacturing, packaging and converting, and general automation. Berkeley capabilities include multi-disciplinary engineering expertise to deliver motion, process and turnkey machine solutions, as well as the design of flexible machine-and-motion control products.
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