EV Group (EVG), a leading supplier of wafer bonding and lithography equipment for the MEMS, nanotechnology and semiconductor markets, today announced it has received an order from AmberWave Systems for its EVG520IS wafer bonding system and its EVG810LT low-temperature plasma activation system. The systems will be used to manufacture AmberWave's innovative engineered substrate products set to increase the efficiency of high-brightness light-emitting diodes (LEDs), while reducing overall cost. This order is a significant win for EVG as it brings AmberWave on board as a strategic new customer, and further solidifies EVG's presence within the burgeoning LED market. The tools were shipped and installed at AmberWave's Salem, New Hampshire manufacturing facility earlier this year.
AmberWave replaced competitive tools with EVG systems due to their superior performance and technical advantages. This included a custom-designed solution comprising a custom-engineered bond head that provides high-temperature (650 degrees Celsius) and high-force (60 kN) bonding capabilities. Other decision criteria for this order included EVG's willingness to explore novel tool configurations to meet the unique challenges associated with the target class of materials. Specifically, the EVG systems will be instrumental to AmberWave's layer transfer of GaN materials into poly AIN. This will allow AmberWave to manufacture more cost-effective LED-, blue laser- and GaN-based power amplifier products.
According to AmberWave Vice President, Business Development, Wade Sheen, "The decision to purchase this bonding equipment was an easy one, as it became clear early on that EVG's systems were the superior technology choice for this application. In meeting both our current and future technology requirements, these systems will allow us to quickly ramp up our manufacturing capacity and make our products more cost-effective for our customers."
Commenting on today's announcement, Steven Dwyer, vice president and general manager, EV Group North America, noted, "AmberWave is a tremendous strategic win for us on multiple levels. Not only are they on the cutting-edge of innovation, but AmberWave's technology is focused on some key growth segments of the semiconductor industry. Emerging markets such as GaN-based LEDs require new, unique solutions to bring down rising manufacturing costs. This is a great opportunity for EV Group to further expand our presence in the LED market and access new growth opportunities.