A Journey Of Success
The last few years has seen many changes for the semiconductor industry with company and market developments. The financial news often appears gloomy. However, much of this focus is really on the stock market and does not reflect the opportunities available. Lotus Systems of Germany is an excellent example of a smaller company whose success is based on focussed positive business practices.
Wet processes in semiconductor wafer manufacturing requires highly efficient cleaning and etch for wafer dispensation. It is to these requirements that German based supplier, Lotus Systems builds fully automated units capable of handling the most exacting processes on wafer substrates. Wet benches can be used for a wide variety of purposes, ie cleaning and etching. The automated units maintain all the standard features used in manual benches. The batch wet processing bench is a standard process tool required for wafer processing.
As a company Lotus Systems provides wet process equipment and chemical management systems for clean room environments. Rather than provide a range of generic tools Lotus specialises in bespoke orders for clients based upon a template that can be specialised for individual customers and has made a success of this strategy.
The importance of the wet process stage is that wafer wet cleaning equipment offers assurance and control required for clean room facilities. It removes microcontaminants such as particles, metallic impurities and trace organic contaminants. It cleans the substrates after contaminant processes, it prepares the wafers structures for measurements and layer depositions, photolithography and etch and most importantly clean wafers produce higher yields.
Lotus Systems Project Manager, Volker Birk is an experienced engineer based at the company and works with more than 60 other highly qualified experts. The company is headquarter in Gutmadingen located between the Black Forest and Lake Constance in Southern Germany. The local area has a long history of engineering and manufacturing capabilities. It is these local resources that provide the raw materials required for rapid growth and market integration. As a supplier of wafer fabrication equipment and services to the European and Worldwide semiconductor industry Lotus Systems develops wet process and cleaning technologies as well as chemical management systems which assist customers to manufacture integrated circuits, MEMS, optical devices and solar cells.
The company works to order and has recently received a request for a fully automatic wet process bench with wet loading station and dry output including an advanced “Marangoni principle” dryer from a leading substrate supplier of 300mm wafer semiconductor fabrication. The defect and watermark free wafer surface in combination with the customers individual optimised cleaning sequence is extremely important for today’s sensitive device structures. The system ensures improved device yield and reliability which is crucial to device manufactures.
Specialised requirements made to order are a customary prerequisite for Lotus Systems. The Lotus expert team is well equipped to deliver complex production and product quality services.
The strategy behind Lotus Systems is to establish partnerships with customers across the European semiconductor market. A growing number of already established relationships is testament to the companies ethos. Lotus takes pride in the task of maintaining the satisfaction of its existing customers with renewed enthusiasm whilst welcoming aboard new clients.
Lotus Systems is growing rapidly in Europe at a faster rate than competitors, related financial markets indicate. An impressive progression some may say as Lotus Systems is a comparatively small player amongst an aggressive sway of influential industry drivers.
However – Lotus Systems is fast, flexible efficient and resourceful enough to beat competition and presents solutions to every manager’s concern in a volatile highly competitive market: How to find a product that best suits the needs of the customer?
Personalised leadership
Joachim Mink is no stranger to the microelectronics world and his enthusiasm for any project he takes on is obvious from the moment you enter the offices in Gutmadingen. Joachim, or Jimmy as he is known to one and all, is a serious but joyful man who conveys a friendliness to all his staff that is returned in kind. The Lotus systems CEO started at STEAG his career in the semiconductor business. The collapse of STEAG lead him and a partner to found their own company. After the successful sale of this company, clients who felt they no longer received the specialised knowledge and service that Mink brought to their clean room needs lured him back into business. Inspired by their confidence Jimmy set up Lotus Systems in 2001.
Jimmy Mink learned from the failures at STEAG. He directs Lotus Systems to build on strong knowledge management in three major product lines and pays special attention to the technology market trends of his customers. Lotus Systems focuses its efforts on wet cleaning and processing equipment of substrates and parts as well as chemical management systems for clean room environments.
Focused research
Lotus Systems follows its own innovation speed. World leading multi product companies often distribute their new products according to the principle of “equal shares for all”. Lotus Systems focuses its attention on a specific quantity of special products. “Compared to the major stock noted companies Lotus Systems ties its work and innovation resources on a few production steps of the semiconductor manufacturing cycle and products”, stated Project Manager, Volker Birk. “These products then reach an extraordinary technology and distribution level within the market.”
Lotus Systems has successfully wagered on wet process systems for the semiconductor industries and chemical distribution systems for solar cell fabrications.
“We offer advanced wet cleaning and processing solutions to solve the individual production problems of our customer needs.” commented Birk. “In this way Lotus Systems takes care of the future trends of the semiconductor industry. With today’s complex and sensitive device structures the importance of efficient and reliable cleaning systems is growing to ensure high device performance and yield.
As a certified company Lotus Systems offers the expertise to design equipment to the European CE standard. As a German equipment manufacturer with customers not only in Europe, but also in the USA and Asia, Lotus Systems considers all current European and international standards (SEMI, ATEX, WHG). The company’s excellence as a trusted long term service partner of leading European semiconductor manufactures and the continuous inventiveness of the products allows a distinguished base for future business for the company and customers.
A high grade of freedom and knowledge management
Lotus Systems CEO Jimmy Mink trusts his employees. Most of them are already long term companions of his business methods as well as experienced specialist engineers of the semiconductor industry. Mink sees himself more as an impulse generator and creative director of his staff than a strict ruling boss. His leading management team enjoys a high grade of freedom. The company’s philosophy expects that they develop their own ideas and have the energy to implement them if possible within their division. There are no endless meetings preventing real work and executives with a comprehensive insurance mentality are not welcome. Managers at Lotus Systems are responsible acting contributors to the overall performance of the success.
Clever strategy
The initial set up of the company was proving a success. Lotus Systems has demonstrated stable profitable growth since its foundation. The diversified customer base of semiconductor, photovoltaic, chemical and pharmaceutical industries combined with an innovative product range ensures Lotus Systems will enjoy sustained economic growth. Currently the Wafer Fab Equipment (WFE) revenue is on pace to grow 5 percent in 2007, which represents a significant slowdown from 2006 revenue growth of 26 percent.
Despite the potential global market slow down this year Lotus Systems is again, as in 2005 able to increase revenue as they have over the last three years. An exponential growth from 22% in 2005, 51% in 2006 to a brilliant estimated 76% in 2007.
Lotus Systems initially focused mainly on the German and European market. Early on the management team detected the trend and enormous potential growing of the photovoltaic branch. As a reliable partner of turnkey solar cell fabrications Lotus Systems enjoys a high grade of confidence on international projects.
The chemical management systems specialists from Swabia delivered and installed chemical cabinets, mixing stations and distribution systems at world leading Megawatt solar cell fabrications in Europe, India and Asia.
The company expanded its efforts to serve the fast growing markets in Asia and the rest of the world. Lotus Systems already maintains a network of sales and service offices at the most important semiconductor spots in Europe, North America and Asia. Lotus Systems is proof that focus and excellence leads to profitability and success regardless of the size of the company. Fuelled by a work force who really cares about the customer.
