30 July 2015

SPTS receives a $16m multi-system etch and deposition order for GaAs foundry WIN's third fab

SPTS Technologies Ltd of Newport, Wales, UK (an Orbotech company that manufactures etch, PVD and CVD wafer processing solutions for the MEMS, advanced packaging, LED, high-speed RF on GaAs, and power management device markets) has received an order worth about $16m for multiple etch and deposition systems from Taiwan's WIN Semiconductors Corp (the world's largest pure-play gallium arsenide foundry services for the wireless infrastructure and networking markets), for shipment in second-half 2015. The systems will be used to make heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) and pseudomorphic high-electron-mobility transistor (pHEMT) devices in WIN's Fab C (its third and newest fab).

SPTS Technologies been a supplier to WIN since the foundry's inception in 1999. "They recently announced their 1 millionth GaAs wafer shipment, and our systems have added value to every one of those wafers," notes Kevin Crofton, president of SPTS and corporate VP at Orbotech. "Over those 16 years, our technology roadmaps have been shaped by leaders such as WIN, and this repeat order confirms that our etch and deposition solutions continue to deliver production advantages," he adds.  

"The GaAs device market is entering a phase of growth, driven by the increasing complexity of RF designs inside smartphones and the accompanying infrastructure," comments WIN senior VP Steve Chen. The leading smartphones contain up to five power amplifiers (PAs), and the increasing complexity in dealing with multiple RF bands from 2G up to 4G, and the uptake of more capable smartphones, are expected to support the market's continued growth. "We have the flexibility and technology bandwidth to react to the fast-changing demands of a consumer-driven market, and SPTS has the same mindset," he adds. "Sixteen years ago, we selected SPTS to join us in the new world of GaAs foundry services, and today we own approximately 60% of the foundry market share and are opening our third fab.  The support and commitment of SPTS has contributed to that success."

Tags: SPTS WIN Semiconductors GaAs

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