Tuesday March 29, 2005
Fortrend Has Been selected by a Major Semiconductor Metrology Tool Manufacturer to Provide its Plus 500-ret SMIF Pod Opener/Reticle Handler
Wednesday March 23, 2005
Fortrend Formed an OEM Partnership with a Major Japanese Semiconductor
Inspection Tool Manufacturer to provide its Lamina-II Reticle Sorter
Tuesday November 30, 2004
Fortrend Engineering Corporation Received A Large Repeat Order for Its
Automated Reticle Sorter from Korea
Friday November 5, 2004
Fortrend Shipped Innovative Reticle Sorting and Storage System to Hynix
in Korea
Tuesday May 18, 2004
Fortrend and Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D) Form a Technical
Partnership Agreement
Thursday May 6, 2004
Fortrend Gets Repeat Order for its SMIF Robot Arm from Korean
Customer
Tuesday May 4, 2004
The Taiwanese Facility of the World Largest Photomask Manufacturer Has
Placed Order for Fortrend’s Reticle Handling Products
Friday March 19, 2004
Fortrend Selected by Major Northern America IC Manufacturer to Automate
and Ergonomically load their existing Vertical Furnace tools with a Newly Designed
Front-End
Thursday February 19, 2004
Fortrend Installed Lamina-II H1R Reticle Handling Sorter in Major
Taiwanese Photomask Shop
Tuesday September 9, 2003
Fortrend Selected by Tegal's Sputtered Films Subsidiary to Provide
Automated Reticle Handling For Thin-Film Deposition Tool
Thursday September 4, 2003
Fortrend Installed PLUS-500T-ret Reticle Handling SMIF-arm orders to Korea
Semiconductor Giant
Friday June 6, 2003
Fortrend Receives Order for Solar Cell Automation
Thursday June 5, 2003
Fortrend Ships New Reticle Automation Equipment
Tuesday March 29, 2005
Company Press Release
Fortrend Has Been selected by a Major Semiconductor Metrology Tool Manufacturer to Provide its Plus 500-ret SMIF Pod Opener/Reticle Handler
Sunnyvale, CA—March 29, 2005—Fortrend Corporation, an automation supplier for the semiconductor industry, after rigorous evaluation period has been selected to provide its Plus 500-ret for integration to its state-of-the-art inspection metrology tool. Plus 500-ret is the first industry’s SMIF loader/unloader, which is capable of flipping and rotating mask in a footprint slightly larger than the SMIF pod.With a total footprint not much larger than a SMIF pod, the Plus 500-ret is fully integrated to the process tool. A programmable robotic arm and end effector that rotates 360°or tilts up to 180°can load reticles horizontally, vertically or flip the reticle. In addition the reticle can be rotated to place the mask in different orientations inside the metrology tool.
The first Metrology tool with the integrated Plus 500-ret will be used in one of the most advanced mask manufacturing facilities in order to safely and cleaning transfer the masks from the SMIF pod to the tool for inspection. According to the OEM metrology tool manufacturer several repeat orders are expected.
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Company Press Release
Fortrend Formed an OEM Partnership with a Major Japanese Semiconductor Inspection Tool Manufacturer to provide its Lamina-II Reticle Sorter
Sunnyvale—March 23, 2005—Fortrend Corp., the semiconductor automation equipment supplier, has been awarded a major contract to provide a unique Lamina-II bare mask sorting/handling system in order to be integrated to bare mask inspection equipment. This is the start of a long-term joint development and partnership between Fortrend and the Japanese inspection tool manufacturer.The final integrated equipment allows mask manufactures to inspect, transfer between SMIF pods and mask boxes, safely store, perform macro-inspection, and manage inspection data and track each individual mask/blank.
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Company Press Release
Fortrend Engineering Corporation Received A Large Order for Its Automated Reticle Sorter from Korea
November 30, 2004. Today Fortrend announces it has received a $1.4 million repeat order from Korea for 11 of its versatile reticle SMIF transfer tool, the PLUS 500-RET's, and three Lamina-II automated reticle transfer systems. This order increases Fortrend's backlog for 1Q, 2005 to over $2 million. Fortrend's fiscal starts in November. The company projects a substantial increase in revenue for 2005.=====================
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Company Press Release
Fortrend Shipped Innovative Reticle Sorting and Storage System to Hynix in Korea
November 5, 2004. Today Fortrend Engineering Corporation shipped an innovative, automated Reticle (photomask) sorter and stocker equipment to Hynix in Korea. The reticle sorter is configured to accommodate 5 stations: 3 PLM stations with RFID read-write reticle identification and reticle mapping capability, 1 box opener and 1 rotary OCR station. The sorter has the capability of handling a variety of cassettes storing reticles. Fortrend's reticle stocker is a rotary design which can handle single reticle and multiple reticles. The multiple-slot cassette can store up to 8 reticles. The stocker automation software was developed by Siemens’ A&D unit as a result of a technical partnership agreement. The agreement was announced on May 18, 2004. The reticles in the stocker are transported with a verticle linear track SCARA robot arm and cassette gripper. A complete system consists of the sorter and a complement of up to 4 stockers which can store several thousand reticles. Fortrend's innovative reticle handling equipment are designed to increase fab process productivity. They minimize human handling, thus avoid particle contamination. They are cost effective and save expensive fab floor space. Hynix intends to put the Fortrend’s reticle sorter and stocker equipment in its production line in Korea as soon as the vertical linear track SCARA robot arm and a second stocker are shipped.Additional information on Fortrend Corporation can be obtained by contacting Fortrend at 610 N. Mary Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94085 or accessing its homepage at http://www.fortrend.com.
Contact:
Fortrend Corporation
Ali Darvish 408-734-9311 ext. 210
(a) Sorter
(b
)Stocker Carousel
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Company Press Release
Fortrend and Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D) Form a Technical Partnership Agreement
Fortrend and Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D) have set up a joint technical partnership agreement to deliver and automate the next generation of Fortrend’s SMIF reticle stocker/sorter tool to meet the increasing storage needs of the semiconductor manufacturing industry. Storage of several thousand reticles takes significant amount of space, which is at a huge premium in fabs, and manual reticle stockers/storage require at least 3 personnel per shift to manage. This fully automated stocker/sorter will be the first of its kind on the market.Fortrend has designed a SMIF pod that can contain up to 8 reticles into the space normally occupied by 2 SMIF pods for only 2 reticles. Space savings, improved reticles QC, inventory management, and reduction of fab staff errors are the result. The current Fortrend customer base is driving demand for an automated reticle stocker/sorter solution. Fortrend has an aggressive development schedule for this new tool with completion scheduled for early Q3 2004.
Siemens A&D’s Simatic Equipment Control System (ECS) is a uniform automation solution for machines used in the semiconductor industry. Simatic ECS (www.siemens.com/semiconductor) is suitable for the configuring, start-up, operation and monitoring of semiconductor fabrication. Suitable for complex machines, ECS includes hardware and software for planning, automation, start-up and reliable operation. To automate Fortrend’s new reticle stocker/sorter, ECS is implemented, i.e. including the Simatic S7-300 controller as well as remote intelligent I/O on Profibus & device interfaces via the Actuator Sensor Interface (ASI) open bus. The tool will be operated with a Siemens Industrial PC loaded with our WinCC GUI and WinCC toolink for fab host IT MES interface via SECS/GEM.
Over the next few months the technical partnership will extend into supplying Fortrend with customized automation solutions for atmospheric wafer & mask transport systems, sorters and many other new advanced transport and storage solutions. “A partnership with Siemens will greatly enhance our existing PLUS-500 and Lamina-II series reticle/mask transfer systems that are already the preferred automation solutions to many Fortrend’s customers, both in the US and Asia Pacific. This technical partnership allows us to automate our next generation reticle & wafer storage and handling solutions with the most advanced and innovative control hardware & software in the semiconductor industry. We are confident that Siemens global presence will allow us to support our growing customer base and maintain our high standards for control innovation,” says Dr. Chris Wu, president & CEO of Fortrend.
About Fortrend:
Founded in 1979 as an engineering consulting company, Fortrend specialized automation system
design for the semiconductor industry. Since 1989 Fortrend has supplied automation equipment
for semiconductor device manufacturers, photo mask suppliers and original equipment
manufacturers (OEM). Fortrend provides the crucial connections between process equipment and
the factory delivery system and between different process equipment. Based upon modular
designs Fortrend provides stand-alone equipment, modular components, as well as equipment
that can be integrated into processing tools reliably and cost effectively.
About Siemens A&D:
The Siemens Automation and Drives Group (A&D), Nuremberg, Germany, is the leading
manufacturer in this field worldwide. Products supplied by A&D include standard products for
the manufacturing and process industries and for the electrical installation industry as
well as system solutions, for example for machine tools, and solutions for whole industries
such as the automation of entire automobile factories or chemical plants. Supplementing this
range of products and services, A&D also offers software for linking production and
management (horizontal and vertical IT integration) and for optimizing production processes.
A&D employs 50,400 people worldwide and in fiscal year 2003 (to September 30) earned an
group profit of €806 million on sales of €8.4 billion and orders of €8.5 billion.
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Thursday May 6, 2004
Company Press Release
Fortrend Gets Repeat Order for its SMIF Robot Arm from Korean Customer
Sunnyvale, CA—May 6, 2004—Fortrend Corporation, an automation supplier for the semiconductor industry, announced today that it has received a repeat order from a major Korean customer for multiple PLUS-500T SMIF robot arms. The field proven, tool-of- record, the standard model PLUS-500T SMIF Robot Arm has been the industry pioneer and leader in addressing the automation needs for the SMIF fabs worldwide. This repeat order is further proof of the superiority of Fortrend’s SMIF automation solutions, which provides reliable wafer cassette handling.
About Fortrend
Fortrend Corp. is a leading global supplier of material handling and storage automation
equipment. In addition to the Plus-500-ret and Lamina II series reticle transfer systems,
Fortrend legend products include mass wafer transfer systems, SMIF load/unload equipment and
automated front ends for 200mm and 300mm wafers. Fortrend as a solution provider for
emerging demands of reticle handling and storage has attracted great attention from first
tier photomask manufacturers and device makers. Fortrend’s existing customer base includes
device manufacturers, semiconductor equipment suppliers, and Photomask manufacturers
throughout North America, Europe, Japan and the Asia-Pacific region.
Additional information on Fortrend Corporation can be obtained by contacting Fortrend at 610 N. Mary Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94085 or accessing its homepage at http://www.fortrend.com.
Contact:
Fortrend Corporation
Ali Darvish 408-734-9311 ext. 210
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Company Press Release
The Taiwanese Facility of the World Largest Photomask Manufacturer Has Placed Order for Fortrend’s Reticle Handling Products
Sunnyvale—May 4, 2004—Fortrend Corp., the semiconductor automation equipment supplier for the semiconductor industry, has received multiple orders for its Reticle Transfer Front-End and several PLUS-500T-ret reticle-handling SMIF-arms from a major Photomask manufacturer in Taiwan. This is one of many orders Fortrend has received for reticle automation to Asia and extends their automation solutions for Photomask Manufacturers.The equipment allows Photomask manufactures to adopt SMIF technology to already existing fabs and also new fabs for maximum flexibility. As the cost of Photomask sets skyrockets with the 0.13 microns and narrower line-widths, manufacturers must increase their yields to be profitable. One way to do this is to isolate the reticles from contamination and other environmental effects by placing them in SMIF pods or RSPs. The best solution to quickly and reliably move reticles in and out of equipment and pods is to use flexible robotics such as the Plus-500-ret and the Lamina II reticle sorter from Fortrend.
About Fortrend
Fortrend Corp. is a leading global supplier of material handling and storage automation
equipment. In addition to the Plus-500-ret and Lamina II series reticle transfer systems,
Fortrend legend products include mass wafer transfer systems, SMIF load/unload equipment and
automated front ends for 200mm and 300mm wafers. Fortrend as a solution provider for
emerging demands of reticle handling and storage has attracted great attention from first
tier photomask manufacturers and device makers. Fortrend’s existing customer base includes
device manufacturers, semiconductor equipment suppliers, and Photomask manufacturers
throughout North America, Europe, Japan and the Asia-Pacific region.
Additional information on Fortrend Corporation can be obtained by contacting Fortrend at 610 N. Mary Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94085 or accessing its homepage at http://www.fortrend.com.
Contact:
Fortrend Corporation
Ali Darvish 408-734-9311 ext. 210
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Company Press Release
Fortrend Selected by Major Northern America IC Manufacturer to Automate and Ergonomically load their existing Vertical Furnace tools with a Newly Designed Front-End
Sunnyvale, CA--March 19, 2004--Fortrend Corporation, an automation supplier for the semiconductor industry, announced today that it has been awarded a half million-dollar contract by a major North American IC manufacturer. Fortrend will provide an automated and ergonomically SEMI S8 compliant wafer cassette handling equipment for several existing vertical furnace tools.This design win signifies Fortrend's superior engineering capability and leadership in providing automation solutions to our customers. The automated Front-End loader not only eliminates potential injuries to operators, but also protects wafers from any damage, and therefore improves the bottom line. The Front End incorporates the Fortrend's standard SCARA robot with patented cassette gripper, and the ergonomic cassette tilt/rotate module.
About Fortrend
Fortrend Corp. is a leading global supplier of material handling and storage automation
equipment. In addition to the Plus-500-ret and Lamina II series reticle transfer systems,
Fortrend legend products include mass wafer transfer systems, SMIF load/unload equipment and
automated front ends for 200mm and 300mm wafers. Fortrend as a solution provider for
emerging demands of reticle handling and storage has attracted great attention from first
tier photomask manufacturers and device makers. Fortrend's existing customer base includes
device manufacturers, semiconductor equipment suppliers, and Photomask manufacturers
throughout North America, Europe, Japan and the Asia-Pacific region.
Additional information on Fortrend Corporation can be obtained by contacting Fortrend at 610 N. Mary Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94085 or accessing its homepage at http://www.fortrend.com.
Contact:
Fortrend Corporation
Ali Darvish 408-734-9311 ext. 210
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