EV Group (EVG), a leading supplier of wafer bonding and lithography equipment for the MEMS, nanotechnology and semiconductor markets, today announced that it has launched a suite of groundbreaking temporary bonding and debonding (TB/DB) equipment modules that support ZoneBOND(TM) technology.
In parallel, EVG has opened its TB/DB equipment platform to enable the use of a wide range of adhesives from various suppliers to give customers the most flexible choice of bonding materials. Today's announcement comes on the heels of last week's agreement between EV Group and Brewer Science, which allows both companies to commercialize ZoneBOND(TM) technology.
ZoneBOND temporary bonding and debonding system from EV Group.
EVG's new EZR and EZD modules can be easily integrated in EVG's high-volume manufacturing equipment platforms such as the EVG850 Series automated temporary bonding and debonding systems. The new EVG EZR (Edge Zone Release) and EZD (Edge Zone Debond) modules will begin shipping to industrial customers before the end of 2011. Fraunhofer IZM ASSID (All Silicon System Integration Dresden), a world leader in advanced semiconductor R&D, already received EZR and EZD modules earlier this year for ZoneBOND(TM) processes and materials qualification as part of a joint development agreement with EVG.
In an equally important move, EVG will, through an open materials platform approach, establish a stronger supply chain for its market leading TB/DB technologies. EVG plans to qualify a wide range of adhesives from various materials suppliers for the ZoneBOND(TM) process. In support of this effort, EVG has defined standard test procedures that allow for fast and reliable qualification of additional adhesives. EVG will disclose the initial, new materials suppliers supporting the ZoneBOND(TM) process shortly.
"Integrating ZoneBOND(TM) technology into our field-proven, high-volume temporary bonding/debonding platform is an important part of EVG's efforts to not only ensure our customers have access to the most advanced technology available, but also to continue driving the commercialization of 3D ICs," stated Markus Wimplinger, corporate technology development and IP director for EVG. "A key advantage of our EZR and EZD modules is their ability to support a variety of adhesive materials, which in turn, provides our customers with increased flexibility during thin wafer processing."
About ZoneBOND(TM) Technology
ZoneBOND(TM) technology provides a breakthrough approach for temporary wafer bonding, thin wafer processing, and debonding applications--overcoming the last remaining limitations associated with thin wafer processing. Benefits of ZoneBOND(TM) technology include: the use of silicon, glass and other carriers; compatibility with existing, field-proven adhesive platforms; and the ability to debond at room temperature with virtually no vertical force being applied to the device wafer. To support grinding and backside processing at high temperatures and to allow for low-force carrier separation, ZoneBOND(TM) defines two distinctive zones on the carrier wafer surface with strong adhesion in the perimeter (edge zone) and minimal adhesion in the center zone. As a result, low separation force is only required for carrier separation once the polymeric edge adhesive has been removed by solvent dissolution or other means.
Thorsten Matthias, director of business development for EV Group, will provide further insight into the ZoneBOND(TM) approach during the upcoming webcast, "3D is a Reality in High-volume Manufacturing," to be held Thursday, October 27, at 10:00 a.m. Central European Time (CET).