Automation in the semiconductor industry

Precision and performance for optimum production throughput

Perfect your semiconductor production with ideal automation solutions – for stable processes, maximum precision, and minimized space requirements. As a partner to the chip and semiconductor industry, we know the challenges you face. We support you with innovative standard components as well as customized solutions that fit perfectly into your process and system. Our solutions take into account industry standards, such as particle generation or outgassing.

In the production process of expensive and sensitive workpieces such as wafers, gentle and secure transport as well as reliable coating of the individual wafers are a must. Any incorrect handling within the process quickly leads to high costs. Festo offers suitable automation solutions for precision wafer handling. For example, the extremely compact 4-axis electric handling system for transporting wafers from the FOUPs all the way into the process chamber.

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Customized solutions

We understand that no two projects are the same. That's why we offer customizable solutions to meet your specific requirements. Our experienced team collaborates with you to design and engineer semiconductor solutions tailored to your needs. To learn more about our customer solutions visit Automation Systems and Solutions.

With our high-quality and easily customizable automation solutions, you can use innovative, competitive technologies from the front end to the back end and further on to advanced packaging – such as hybrid bonding. They are optimized to minimize contamination, work reliably, and thus maintain your yield in the long term. Thanks to their design, you can often reduce energy costs and your ecological footprint.

Solutions that keep your processes permanently stable and reproducible

Our automation solutions ensure a stable and therefore economical yield in semiconductor production. The smart design of our components also makes them particularly adaptable and scalable. This allows you to react quickly and easily to changing production requirements at any time.

You benefit from these advantages with our automation solutions:

  • Highly precise control of movement, pressure, and flow of media
  • Clean design for necessary cleanliness and particle emission
  • Space-saving design for compact installation environments
  • Minimized energy consumption and reduced heat development
  • AI/IoT-ready
  • Reliable worldwide availability thanks to local production and delivery
  • Compliance with the requirements of CopyExactly!
  • Personal expert support for process-specific challenges
  • Semicon-specific greases and seals to prevent unwanted outgassing

Produce with repeat accuracy and control in real time using AI

Rely on our holistic solutions to keep your processes stable and reproducible in the long term. Thanks to our semicon-specific seals and greases, you also benefit from minimized outgassing for ideal process sequences. Whether individual temperature control, micro-positioning or precise cyclical control of the gas phases in atomic layer deposition (ALD) – we develop customized solutions for you.

We support you, for example, with:

  • Temperature control for wafer chuck, process chamber or plasma generator
  • Pin lift and micropositioning with force detection
  • Valve control for atomic layer deposition (ALD)
  • Safe purging and regeneration of vacuum chambers
  • Pilot control of UHP valves for reliable control of process gases

Your benefits at a glance

We are familiar with the complex challenges faced by semiconductor manufacturers and offer tailor-made solutions. However, we also support you with in-depth practical knowledge and our global support network. Our experts help you to improve the functions of your systems and minimize downtimes at all times.

You can rely on us as your ideal automation partner:

  • High reliability for safe and consistent operation in all process steps
  • Fast response in critical situations with root cause analysis using state-of-the-art technology and risk minimization
  • Solutions that are open with regard to technology with pneumatic and electrical components
  • Consideration of the CopyExactly! standards with their own global guideline
  • Global supply chain support for a smooth production process

FAQs

What solutions do we support our partners with in the semiconductor industry?

Our automation solutions for the semiconductor industry are designed for precision, energy efficiency, reduced installation space, and flexibility – from catalog products to specific solutions that fit into your system exactly according to your specifications. In addition to industry standards, the cost-effectiveness of the system is a key prerequisite. Our core areas include the precise control of cooling circuits using valve manifolds and sensors, the reduction of nitrogen consumption through innovative piezo technology, and the efficient handling of wafers and chips with compact, modular handling systems. In addition, our Festo Automation Experience (Festo AX) uses artificial intelligence to enable data-based optimization of production processes in order to increase quality and efficiency. For specific applications, we offer customized solutions such as the control of pin lifters and the gas supply for chemical polishing processes. In this way, we support semiconductor manufacturers in reducing production costs, increasing system availability, and improving product quality.

Whom is our offer aimed at?

Our automation solutions are aimed in particular at the entire semiconductor industry, operators of fabs as well as OEMs of production systems, and process engineers in the front end and back end through to advanced packaging. Developers and planners of complex systems in the electronics and microsystems technology sector also benefit from our solutions.

Where can you use our solutions in your systems/WFE or tools and machines?

Our automation solutions are designed for use in systems, wafer fabrication equipment (WFE), and tools for semiconductor production as well as in the sub-fab. This includes components and systems for gas supply, cooling circuits, vacuum technology, and movement solutions in cleanrooms. With compact valve manifolds, piezo technology, and intelligent sensors, our components support process stability and energy efficiency. In the sub-fab, our automated systems contribute to the safe, space-saving, and low-maintenance support of critical supply processes. A distinction can be made between catalog products, including commodity products, with very good worldwide availability and a customer-specific solution built to your specification.

What expertise does Festo have in the front-end, back-end, and advanced packaging areas?

We have many years of extensive experience in the areas of semicon front end, back end and advanced packaging. A large part of our product portfolio has been developed in close cooperation with the industry according to your requirements. Festo's customer base includes almost all renowned international fabs and OEMs. Our proven and innovative products include customized solutions for each of these production stages – from wafer processing to assembly and packaging. Thanks to our in-depth knowledge of our customers' needs and challenges, we can offer tailor-made solutions that reliably meet the high requirements for precision, cleanliness, and reliability in all phases of semiconductor production.

What additional benefits and services does Festo offer the semiconductor industry?

As a reliable partner to the semiconductor industry, we offer engineering support, application consulting, and customized system solutions for specific production requirements in addition to our automation solutions. We also support you with digital services such as condition monitoring, predictive maintenance, and the use of AI for process optimization. Training, worldwide technical support, and fast delivery of spare parts round off our range of services.

Which of our services and standards are of particular importance to semiconductor manufacturers?

For our customers in the semiconductor industry, our cleanroom-compatible products, maximum process reliability, and a long service life are particularly important. If something does not go as planned, you benefit from a rapid analysis of the reason for the failure, which is investigated at Festo using modern analysis methods. We have also implemented a comprehensive change and discontinuation management system that enables us to meet your standard industry requirements – such as "CopyExact!". We also offer products for cleanroom applications, which can be double-packaged on request.