Manufacturing

Yesterday Intel CEO Bob Swan (pictured) committed the company to having advanced manufacturing in the USA. That would have gone without saying three years ago but, with TSMC’s rise to pre-eminence in process technology, there has been speculation that it might put leading edge product out to foundry. “We have a wonderful business model called the IDM,” said Swan, “we’re ...

UK lighting manufacturer Cambridge Led has bought two multi-function LED testers from Seaward of County Durham. A subsidiary of lighting distributor Net Led, Cambridge operates from a 36,000 sq ft factory in Cambridge, and has been designing, manufacturing and supplying LED luminaires and systems for installation in commercial and industrial areas across the UK for over a decade. Its products include ...

It is being reported that SMIC, the China foundry, is about to be banned from buying US equipment because it supplies the Chinese military. SMIC denies it makes chips for the military. SMIC is already under a restricted import order from the US with all orders requiring US government clearance. SMIC has a capex budget of $4.2 billion for 2020 as ...

EcoCortec’s EcoSonic VpCI-125 HP anti-static bags and film contain corrosion inhibiting materials suitable for protecting multi-metal items such as electronics. The materials used, according to the company, form a molecular corrosion inhibiting layer on metal substrates and does not interfere with the physical or chemical properties of electronic components. “The film and bags replace conventional rust preventatives such as oils ...

Phoenix, Arizona is to provide $205 million in grants towards TSMC’s $12 billion 5nm fab. “We appreciate the continuous bipartisan support from the U.S. federal, state and city governments,” said a TSMC a spokeswoman, “it gives TSMC and its supply chain partners the confidence this and other future investments will be successful.” Phoenix city council  will build three miles of ...

STMicroelectronics is setting up a 200mm piezoelectric MEMS research facility inside its existing semiconductor fab in Singapore, in conjunction with the Singapore research institute A*STAR’s IME and Japanese manufacturing-tool vendor ULVAC. The three companies have a history of working together. “This collaboration will accelerate the adoption of piezo MEMS actuators in new fields of application including MEMS mirrors for smart ...

Portsmouth-based Harwin has started manufacturing on its new 1,200m2 of factory floor, scaling-up production of its high-reliability connectors. The total investment in the facility is £3.8m, of which £1m is for equipment. “The additional factory space and equipment enables us to ramp up production to meet volume demands very quickly,” said Harwin operations director Paul McGuinness. “The extra space also ...

UK-based connector and cable maker Intelliconnect (Europe) has been accredited to ISO 14001 and ISO 45001. ISO 14001 provides assurance to company management and employees as well as external stakeholders that environmental impact is being measured and improved, according to the company. ISO 45001 specifies the requirements for an occupational health and safety management system, and gives guidance for its use. ...

London start-up Satori has launched a resin-style 3D printer for professional users, and a partnership programme to go with it. The printer, called ST1600, offers a 120 x 192mm build area 120mm tall, was designed in London and is made in China. This style of printer, often called ‘MLSA’ for mask stereolithography, uses an LCD as a shutter to control which ...

Supported by the European Space Agency, Polish 3D printer company Zortrax has developed a way to co-print two forms of the super-tough polymer PEEK – one insulating and one conductive. “After nearly a year of research and development efforts, we have reached a major milestone,” according to Zortrax. “The first prototype composite parts made out of standard PEEK and experimental ...