Semiconductor Manufacturing Automation

Semiconductors are at the heart of the digital revolution. Found in smartphones, computers, electric vehicles and medical devices, these components are essential to the functioning of various technologies. Faced with ever-increasing demand and increasingly stringent quality requirements, manufacturers must adapt their production tools. The automation of semiconductor manufacturing is therefore becoming a necessity. Here is what you need to know about it.

Meeting Industrial Challenges through Semiconductor Manufacturing Automation

If you are hesitant to embark on semiconductor manufacturing automation, remember that this process is complex, time-consuming and costly. It involves numerous steps, from silicon wafer processing to final assembly, including photolithography, etching and packaging. According to Moore’s Law, the number of transistors integrated into a chip doubles approximately every 18 months, which automatically increases the complexity of manufacturing processes. In order to keep pace, manufacturers must modernise their production lines.

Automation is the perfect response to these new challenges. It makes it possible to streamline the entire process, reducing human intervention in repetitive, delicate or low value-added operations. Automated systems also ensure high precision, thereby limiting errors and raw material losses. They also improve productivity by guaranteeing continuous operation while reducing operational costs. Finally, automated equipment offers significant flexibility. Manufacturing programmes can be quickly adapted to new products or variable volumes.

Customised Robotic Solutions for more Efficient Semiconductor Production

Robotic solutions naturally play a key role in this automation. They are used at various stages of the process, including wafer transport, pod loading/unloading, quality control, packaging, etc. These robots are designed to handle extremely small and fragile components with micrometric precision, while complying with cleanroom requirements. The SideLoader is a concrete example of a high-performance robotic solution. It has been developed to optimise handling in semiconductor production plants.

This collaborative robot automatically loads and unloads pods and fops. It is also compatible with FAB communication standards (GEM/SECS/E84), making it easy to integrate into existing production lines. Compact and flexible, the SideLoader reduces the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) for operators while improving workplace ergonomics. It is worth noting that it adapts equally well to new environments and modernised lines, ensuring reliable and fast handling that can significantly increase production rates.

ATG Technologies, your Expert Partner in Semiconductor Manufacturing Automation

A recognised specialist in industrial automation, ATG Technologies has been supporting various companies since 1997 in the modernisation of their production tools. Founded by Jean-Pierre KUHN, Francis NORSA and Jean-Marc BRUTTI, the company offers innovative, tailor-made robotic solutions designed to meet the requirements of a wide range of sectors, including electronics, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agri-food, energy and logistics.

In the field of semiconductors in particular, we offer our customers our technical and industrial expertise to provide them with reliable, high-performance and easy-to-integrate automated systems. Thanks to our strategy focused on innovation and ergonomics, we develop equipment adapted to the constraints of Industry 4.0, while offering personalised support at every stage of the project. When you choose us, you are choosing a trusted partner for the optimisation and automation of semiconductor manufacturing, while ensuring the sustainability of your industrial investments.

Would you like to find out more about our robotic solutions? Contact us today for a quote.