News

13 July 2010

 

SPTS triples first-half revenue, focusing on emerging micro device sector

SPP Process Technology Systems Ltd (SPTS) has celebrated its first 9 months of positive growth after being formed last October by Japan’s Sumitomo Precision Products Co Ltd (SPP) through the merger of plasma etch & deposition equipment subsidiary Surface Technology Systems plc (STS) of Newport, Wales UK with assets acquired from Aviza Technology Inc, including Newport-based Single-Wafer process equipment subsidiary Aviza Technology Ltd (ATL) and Aviza’s Scotts Valley-based Thermal Products business.

SPTS says that it has since experienced soaring orders and application wins, with 200% growth in revenue in first-half 2010 compared with the combined results of the separate companies in first-half 2009. More than 80% of orders were from customers in the high-speed electronics, LED, MEMS, power semiconductor and advanced packaging markets.

“Last October, we set what seemed an ambitious target to double revenue in our first full year of operation,” says SPTS’ president & CEO William Johnson. Susumu Kaminaga, SPTS chairman & president of SPP, has had long ties to the MEMS industry as well as to the history and origin of STS and ATL. “We are well ahead of our target after a strong first half, thereby revalidating his and SPP’s vision and commitment to the micro device industry,” Johnson adds.

“SPTS was formed by the merger of two long-time members of the semiconductor community,” says Dan Hutcheson, CEO of market analyst firm VLSI Research. “SPTS is led by a new management that has a clear vision of combining production readiness with leading-edge processes,” he comments.

“While a part of the upturn we are seeing relates to the overall rebound in the semiconductor market, we also conclude from market data that SPTS is growing at a rate that outpaces our peers in the capital equipment sector,” notes Kevin Crofton, managing director of the UK Division and executive VP of SPTS.

At this week’s SEMICON West event, SPTS is showcasing its range of PVD, CVD and etch single-wafer products, and its thermal products support and systems, including vertical furnaces and APCVD systems.

See related item:

SPTS’ Q4/2009 orders up nearly 150% quarter-on-quarter

Search: Surface Technology Systems Aviza PVD ALD Etch

Visit: www.spp-pts.com