Leader in non-contact contamination monitoring extends Semilab’s reach into key markets

Billerica, Mass. and BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Semilab, one of the world’s largest metrology companies, today announced it has acquired Semiconductor Diagnostics, Inc. (SDI). The Tampa, Florida based company is a leader in non-contact measurement solutions for wafer, IC and Solar manufacturers. SDI will operate as part of the newly announced Semilab USA (see separate release today). Semilab offers a family of scalable, flexible solutions to help semiconductor and solar researchers and manufacturers characterize materials to reduce costs and increase yields. Founded in 1990, Semilab has over 3000 metrology systems installed worldwide.

“The acquisition of SDI provides Semilab with another key offering for non-contact metrology and give us critical mass as a source single vendor,” said Dr. Tibor Pavelka, President and Chief Executive Officer of Semilab. “SDI is the premier provider of surface photo voltage technology for the non-contact, non-destructive measurement of wafers and ICs. With strength around iron and copper contamination, the products meet the needs for manufacturing products such as the image sensors used in cell phones and solar cells.”

SDI was founded in 1988 and has 380 systems installed in top tier fabs in the US, Europe and Asia. SDI offers a scalable set of products from  fully automated systems designed for product wafer measurements in large 300mm facilities to smaller manual loading systems. SDI’s products excel in measuring the contamination generated in producing ICs and wafers, specifically copper and iron. Both are highly sensitive and without accurate measurement manufacturers could see high cost, catastrophic yield failures. SDI’s products also support the solar market extending Semilab’s portfolio in that growing market.

“We could not pick a better company to join than Semilab. It is an ideal fit for our market area,” said Andrew Findlay, VP of Sales and Marketing at SDI. “We will be able to take advantage of Semilab’s sales channels and extensive reach into the semiconductor and solar markets.”

SDI will operate as an independent company, Semilab SDI an LLC of Semilab-USA. Findlay will assume the role of General Manager of the unit.

SDI is the latest acquisition by Semilab. In May the company announced the acquisition of QC Solutions and AMS of Massachusetts. In 2008 the company purchased the assets of French metrology equipment specialist SOPRA SA. In 2008 Semilab acquired a majority in SSM of Pittsburgh, Pa., a provider of precision contact metrology and the Boxer Cross metrology technology from Applied Materials.

About Semilab
One of the world’s largest metrology companies, Semilab offers a full family of scalable, flexible solutions to help semiconductor and solar researchers and manufacturers characterize materials to reduce costs and increase yields. Unlike other metrology companies, Semilab partners with customers to build solutions for their specific application needs. Semilab’s products support a variety of contact and non-contact measurement from R&D to fully automated inline production. A profitable, worldwide company Semilab is well-positioned for future growth due to the material characterization challenges presented by the drive to smaller nodes and more complex chip structures requiring new materials.  Semilab is a leader supplier of electrical test equipment in the largest segment of the solar cell market enabling it to take advantage of that market’s growth.

Contacts:  
 
Michael Parker
Lois Paul & Partners, LLC
(781) 782-5714
mparker@lpp.com