Edwards Group Becomes a Founding Member of Facility 450 Consortium (F450C)
Edwards Group Becomes a Founding Member of Facility 450 Consortium (F450C)
Consortium set up to spearhead construction and infrastructure efforts for 450mm wafer fabs
NIAGARA, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Edwards Group Limited (NAS: EVAC) , a leading manufacturer of sophisticated vacuum products and abatement systems and a global provider of related value-added services, joins a working group of ten semiconductor facility companies from around the globe to establish the Facility 450 Consortium (F450C). This is a subgroup of the Global 450 Consortium (G450C) created to address the complex development and infrastructure requirements for next-generation 450mm semiconductor wafer fabrication facilities (fabs).
Housed at the SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) in Albany, the F450C has been formed to develop critical facility expertise needed to define pre-competitive facility solutions that will enable the 450mm evolution. Edwards is the only vacuum and abatement company represented in this consortium, reflecting its longstanding experience and technology leadership both within the semiconductor industry and also in larger-scale applications.
"Edwards is excited about the partnership opportunities within F450C, applying our expertise and innovation in vacuum and abatement technologies to what is set to be the next big game-changer in the industry," commented Jim Gentilcore, Edward's CEO. "Collaboration amongst consortium members will be key to understanding the practical aspects of the transition, and ultimately, achieving the productivity improvements promised by 450mm wafer processing."
Where the G450C provides leadership in the area of 450mm equipment and process technologies, the goal of the F450C is to develop facility and infrastructure solutions essential to the transition to 450mm wafer fabrication. These go beyond the manufacturing hurdles that 450mm wafer processing brings, as next-generation fabs present new challenges with respect to the design of the facilities, substrate handling, tool connection, chemical distribution, water and electrical systems and many other areas.
On June 28, 2013, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced more than $5 million in new private investment and the creation of up to 150 high-tech jobs through the formation of the Facility 450 Consortium (F450C) at SUNY's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE). For more information please see the press release at: http://bit.ly/11Sj69S.
A 450mm Manufacturing EHS Forum will be held during SEMICON® West 2013, which will address environment, health and safety (EHS) considerations, and impacts and challenges as manufacturers move to 450mm wafer processes. Edwards will be presenting "Green Mode: Integrating for Utility Savings," at the Forum. For more information visit: www.semiconwest.org.
About Edwards
Edwards is a leading developer and manufacturer of sophisticated vacuum products, abatement systems and related value-added services. These are integral to manufacturing processes for semiconductors, flat panel displays, LEDs and solar cells; are used within an increasingly diverse range of industrial processes including power, glass and other coating applications, steel and other metallurgy, pharmaceutical and chemical; and for both scientific instruments and a wide range of R&D applications.
Edwards has over 3,200 full-time employees and 500 temporary workers operating in approximately 30 countries worldwide engaged in the design, manufacture and support of high technology vacuum and exhaust management equipment.
Edwards' American Depositary Shares trade on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol EVAC. Further information about Edwards can be found at www.edwardsvacuum.com.
About the F450C
The Facilities 450mm Consortium (F450C) is a first-of-its-kind partnership at SUNY's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) that is leading the global effort to design and build next-generation 450mm computer chip fabrication facilities. The collaboration includes 10 of the world's leading nanoelectronics facility companies, including Air Liquide, CH2M HILL, CS Clean Systems, Ceres Technologies, Edwards, Haws Corporation, Mega Fluid Systems, M+W Group, Ovivo, and Swagelok. Members of F450C are working closely with the Global 450mm Consortium (G450C), as announced by New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, to identify viable solutions required for 450mm high-volume facility construction, with initial focus areas to include reducing tool installation cost and duration, and improving facility sustainability. For more information, visit www.g450c.org.
For Edwards
Company:
Rebecca Walder, +44 (0) 1293 603103
Rebecca.Walder@edwardsvacuum.com
or
Agency:
Sandy Fewkes, 408-224-4024
sandy@mind-write.com
KEYWORDS: United States North America New York
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