News Article
Aquest Systems got orders from Asia
The company expands presence in Taiwan and Korea with multiple system orders
Aquest Systems, developer of Automated Material Handling Systems (AMHS) for the semiconductor industry, announced the receipt of multiple orders from new customers for its FabEX AMHS solutions. The new customers include a semiconductor foundry and a DRAM memory producer, which expands Aquest's customer base in Taiwan and marking its first system orders in Korea.
These new orders follow Aquest's introduction of its No Wait Productivity Improvement (NPI) solution, now in volume production and used at Taiwan's Powerchip Semiconductor Corporation's (PSC) twin memory fabs, P1 and P2. Demonstrated at PSC, a key element of NPI is that it does not require a fab to slow down or stop production for installation. In fact, Aquest's patented FabEX Transporter helps unburden the automation solutions previously installed in today's IC fabs without software or mechanical modifications. Interfacing directly with the existing stockers and overhead transport (OHT) vehicles, the FabEX Transporter allows chipmakers to immediately speed cycle time, improve equipment utilisation and increase production capacity.
The new orders from Taiwan and Korea will integrate Aquest's FabEX Transporter with an already installed AMHS system from Japan's Asyst-Shinko, a subsidiary of Asyst Technologies, and from Daifuku. Both projects mark the start of a phased, multi million dollar plan by each of the customers to significantly improve the productivity of their existing fabs, utilising the unique capability of Aquest's FabEX Transporter to upgrade their current AMHS solutions.
Commenting on the new orders, Michael Brain, Aquest's vice president of technology and marketing, stated, "With new customers in both Taiwan and Korea, it is apparent that there is growing interest in our technology from a number of the industry's leading manufacturers. As Taiwan and Korea are major hubs for production, these strategic additions to our growing customer roster solidify Aquest's position at the forefront of the automation revolution that will significantly improve productivity at a fraction of the cost of already installed automated material handling systems."