20 December 2013

Plasma-Therm’s CEO named an ‘All-Stars of the Chip-Making Industry’ for 2013 by VLSIresearch

Abdul Lateef, CEO of plasma process equipment maker Plasma-Therm LLC of St Petersburg, FL, USA, has been named one of nine ‘All-Stars of the Chip-Making Industry’ for 2013 by ‘The Chip Insider’, a weekly report published by semiconductor industry market research and data services company VLSIresearch.

“For some, it’s taken several years of methodical execution to an overarching strategy to bring this year together,” the report says. “For others it was about being fleet of feet.”

The Chip Insider cites Plasma-Therm’s introduction this year of the first plasma-based die-singulation system as one factor in Lateef’s selection. The MDS-100 MicroDieSingulator uses plasma technology to separate individual integrated-circuit chips (on wafers of either silicon or other materials). Other Plasma-Therm products, including VERSALINE and Mask Etcher systems, are used for R&D and in manufacturing of ICs, micro-mechanical devices, LEDs, and other types of electronic components.

Lateef “successfully developed the company into an incredibly innovative etch and deposition tool supplier,” comments The Chip Insider report.

The report also cites Lateef’s leadership role in the 2009 management buyout of Plasma-Therm from parent company Oerlikon, as well as the firm’s success “against far bigger companies” in the mask-etching market. “Plasma-Therm has had continuous growth since the spin-off into an independent equipment supplier,” it notes.

Others named as 2013 All-Stars include William M. Holt, executive VP & general manager, Technology and Manufacturing Group, Intel Corp; Dennis P. McGuirk, president & CEO of the SEMI industry association; and executives of Applied Materials and Tokyo Electron Ltd, who recently engineered a merger to form a $12bn combined company.

Tags: Plasma-Therm

Visit: www.plasmatherm.com