Sunday 19 January 2014

MEMS Etching Tools - Importance To The Industry, Market Opportunities

By Roy van Rivero


If you are into semiconductor (or have been working in a semiconductor industry) you are probably aware of what MEMS is all about. In simpler terms, it pertains to miniaturized mechanical and electro-mechanical elements made using the microfabrication technology. MEMS is becoming more and more popular today and its growth is expected to continue in the coming years, fueled by the increasing demand of electronic products such as cellphone and other mobile devices.

MEMS products play a crucial role in today's various industries, including the electronics', wherein electronic components are used in various devices most especially the handy ones.

MEMS etching tools - vital to MEMS systems/production

Etching is an industry process that is used for the production of micro-electronic components - for MEMS production. However, this process cannot be done without the help of MEMS etching tools. Here are some specific examples of equipment used in MEMS production:

Wet bench - a tool for wet etching process that comes, typically, as fully-automated; used for wet cleaning and etching operations particularly in semiconductor manufacturing and other high tech products. It usually has several modules or baths, containing either cleaning or etching solutions.

Intelligent process station - a tool that is utilized for process control monitoring particularly in monitoring wet chemistries used in the wet etching process. Specific functions of this tool include concentration monitoring, identifying undesirable material formations in the liquid tanks known as turbidity, as well as film thickness monitoring.

Chemical distribution system - designed for the systematic management of chemicals used in the wet etching process. Some of the works it handles include chemical distribution, chemical waste collections, chemical dispense - among other procedures.

Market opportunities of MEMS etching tools

As I have mentioned, the continued expansion of the electronic industry brought about by the rapid increase of the demand for mobile devices also means growth for the MEMS industry. The MEMS sector is forecast to continue to grow in more years to come; in fact, in 2012, the industry's estimated market growth (MEMS equipment market) was at USD 500 million - a huge jump from USD 100 million in 2008. Needless to say, bright days ahead are waiting for those who are in quest for good opportunities in this industry, should the growth trend continue.




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