HAYWARD, Calif., Dec. 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: UCTT), a leading developer and supplier of critical systems and subsystems for the semiconductor capital equipment, flat panel, medical, energy and research industries, today announced a partnership for the use of commercial scale 3D printing product with Kulicke & Soffa (K&S), a global leader in the design and manufacture of semiconductor, LED and electronic assembly equipment.
Kulicke & Soffa is the first company in the semiconductor equipment market to adopt the mass customization capabilities of 3D printing, opening new frontiers for the advanced manufacturing industry.
Through the collaboration between the companies, Kulicke & Soffa designed and 3D printed the contamination removal kit that is built on to [its] Asterion™ i-MULTI wedge bonder. The kit is designed for assisting in cleaning the surface of the bonding materials in rigorous high volume manufacturing environments. Through the adaptability of 3D printing technology, this contamination kit can optimize the use of space near the bonding device, which makes it compact and easily customizable.
"We are pleased that our 3D expertise and capabilities enabled K&S with a customizable product," said Lavi Lev, Senior Vice President, Asia Division at UCT. "K&S is at the leading edge of manufacturing as the first known company to integrate 3D printing into the production of semiconductor assembly equipment on a commercial scale."
UCT opened its Additive Manufacturing Center in October 2015, adding 3D printing capability to its traditional manufacturing experience as a leading developer and supplier of critical systems and subsystems for the semiconductor capital equipment, flat panel, medical, energy and research industries. In the facility UCT offers broad additive manufacturing capability, providing access to eight leading edge 3D printing technologies, including access to seven metal, nineteen plastic, and two wax and scanning technologies, which are capable of supporting the advanced requirements of the semiconductor manufacturing market.
"With this 3D printing concept, the time required for transforming and fully customizing an idea to a prototype and a product is greatly reduced. We are very impressed with the 3D printed product and appreciate the efforts put in by UCT," said Chan Pin Chong, Vice President of the K&S Wedge Bonders, Capillaries and Blades business lines. "The success of this technology adoption injected more confidence for us to explore the possibilities to do the same for the other parts built into our equipment."
UCT design consultants will be on hand at the SEMICON Japan show, Hall 2, Booth #2337 from December 16-18, 2015, to discuss additive manufacturing and its applications for the semiconductor industry.
About Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc.
Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc. is a leading developer and supplier of critical systems and subsystems for the semiconductor capital equipment, flat panel, medical, energy and research industries. Ultra Clean offers its customers an integrated outsourced solution for gas delivery systems and other subassemblies, improved design-to-delivery cycle times, component neutral design and manufacturing and component testing capabilities. Ultra Clean's customers are primarily original equipment manufacturers for the semiconductor capital equipment, flat panel, medical, energy and research industries. Ultra Clean is headquartered in Hayward, California. (www.uct.com)
About Kulicke & Soffa
Kulicke & Soffa (NASDAQ: KLIC) is a global leader in the design and manufacture of semiconductor, LED and electronic assembly equipment. As a pioneer in this industry, K&S has provided customers with market leading packaging solutions for decades. In recent years, K&S has expanded its product offerings through strategic acquisitions and organic development, adding advanced packaging, advanced SMT, wedge bonding and a broader range of expendable tools to its core ball bonding products. Combined with its extensive expertise in process technology, K&S is well positioned to help customers meet the challenges of assembling the next-generation semiconductor and LED devices. (www.kns.com)
SOURCE Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc.