OTHER ELECTRONICS & NANOTECHNOLOGY
INDUSTRY UPDATE
February 2019
McIlvaine Company
Clean Room Construction Builds Nanofab in UK
Clean Room Construction (CRC) has announced the completion of a
multimillion-pound project for a client in the UK. The contract saw the British
company designed and built a new world-class nanofabrication facility for the
Royal Holloway, University of London.
Housed in a £2 million ISO Class 5 cleanroom, the so-called SuperFab at Royal
Holloway will open in April and will be the home of the UK Centre for
Superconducting and Hybrid Quantum Systems.
Commenting on the build, Richard Rowe, CRC’s Project Director, said: “The 3,389
sq. ft. (315 sqm) cleanroom has been engineered to incorporate a
photolithography area, close control e-beam area to +/- 0.1 degrees Celsius
control band and an anti-vibration foundation pad for process equipment. The
leading-edge facility is set to play a pivotal role in the development and
small-scale industrial production of the next generation of superconducting
quantum devices.”
The 12-month project also included an anti-vibration foundation pad for process
equipment and energy-efficient fume hoods and HVAC.
CRC was responsible for liaising directly with the university’s key process
equipment suppliers throughout the design and construction project, and
providing assistance to the client with process equipment migration. CRC also
handled the commissioning and validation of the facility.
Professor David Delpy, Chair of the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme
Strategic Advisory Board, will formally open the new facility on 2 April 2019.
Park Systems Opens Park Nanoscience Lab at Indian
Institute of Science in India
Park Systems announced the opening of the Park Nanoscience Lab at the
prestigious Indian Institute of Science (IISC) Bangalore India, which has been
upgraded to the status of Institute of Eminence.
The Nanoscience Lab will be equipped with Park NX20 AFM at the Centre for Nano
Science and Engineering (CeNSE) and will hold workshops and symposiums on the
latest advancements in nanometrology and offer researchers a chance to
experience the latest in AFM technology.
The official inauguration ceremony of the Park Nanoscience Lab in India was held
on July 25, 2018 featuring a talk by Dr. San Joon Cho of Park Systems
Corporation, who made an official presentation, declaring the Park NanoScience
Lab, a national facility where researchers will have access to Park Systems
cutting-edge Atomic Force Microscopes with high resolution nanoscale imaging.
“We are honored to have the Park Nanoscience Lab here at Indian Institute of
Science,” The Director, CeNSE- Indian Institute of Science further added, “The
partnership with Park Systems and their Atomic Force Microscope technology
strengthens our academic and scientific community by bringing an exciting new
research tool to a shared access location, supporting the growing demand for
nanotechnology here in India.”
The Park Nanoscience Lab will showcase advanced atomic force microscopy systems,
demonstrate a wide variety of applications ranging from materials, to chemical
and biological to semiconductor and devices, and provide hands on experience,
training and service, year-round.
“Increasingly, AFM is being selected for Nanotechnology research over other
metrology techniques due to its non-destructive measurement and sub-nanometer
accuracy,” states Dr. Sang-il Park, Park Systems Chairman and CEO. “The new Park
Nanoscience Lab at Indian Institute is a tremendous step forward for researchers
in India who work in the advancing fields of nano science and technology.”
Park Systems advanced AFM platform includes SmartScan, an innovative and
pioneering AFM intelligence that produces high quality imaging with very few
clicks. Park SmartScan’s unique design opens up the power of AFM to everyone and
drastically boosts the productivity of all users.
Since going public and listing on KOSDAQ in 2016, Park Systems’ stock has
quadrupled as they continue to lead the world in growing AFM market share. Park
Systems, a global AFM manufacturer, has Nanoscience Centers in key cities
world-wide including Santa Clara, CA, Albany NY, Tokyo, Japan, Singapore,
Heidelberg, Germany, Suwon and Seoul.
Murata Invests in MEMS Sensor Manufacturing in
Finland
Murata, a manufacturer of electronic components, is significantly increasing
global production capacity, including most recently its factory located in
Finland. After having recently purchased the previously leased buildings, the
company will construct a new building of approximately 172,160 sq. ft. (16,000
square meters). The new facility is scheduled to be completed by the end of
2019.
The total value of the investment is five billion yen and is underpinned by the
growing worldwide demand for MEMS sensors used in the automotive industry and
various health and industrial applications.
“The market for advanced driver-assistance systems, self-directed cars,
healthcare, and other emerging technologies are expected to be significant
growth drivers. MEMS sensors are critical solutions for these applications and
deliver proven measurement accuracy and stability in a variety of conditions,”
said Yuichiro Hayata, Managing Director for Murata Electronics Oy.
“With the construction of this new production building, we will significantly
increase our MEMS sensors production capacity. Moreover, by responding to the
strong demand of gyro sensors, accelerometers, and combo sensors in the
automotive, industry and healthcare fields, this will strengthen our business
base in the automotive market, industrial equipment and medical devices market,
while contributing to the economy and employment of Finland,” stated Makoto
Kawashima, Director of Sensor Product Division in Murata Manufacturing.
With the factory expansion in Finland, Murata will strengthen both R&D and
manufacturing operations with a long-term perspective for increasing utilization
of this facility. The company currently employs 1,000 people in Finland and
estimates to create 150–200 new jobs in 2018–2019.
Murata acquired the Finnish company VTI Technologies – today known as Murata
Electronics Oy – in 2012. It is the only factory of Murata which manufactures
MEMS sensors outside of Japan, and has experienced tremendous growth over the
last 10 years. This site in Finland also hosts R&D space and one of the biggest
clean room facilities in the country.
Murata Electronics Oy:
Murata Electronics Oy is part of the Japanese Murata Group. The company is
located in Vantaa and specializes in the development and manufacture of 3D MEMS
(micro electro mechanical systems) sensors mainly for safety critical
applications in automotive, as well as in healthcare and industrial
applications. The company employs 1000 people in Finland.
McIlvaine Company
Northfield, IL 60093-2743
Tel: 847-784-0012; Fax:
847-784-0061
E-mail:
editor@mcilvainecompany.com
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www.mcilvainecompany.com