productronica: Semiconductors cluster gives key aspects of electronics manufacturing better visibility

Functioning electronics without semiconductor manufacturing and technology? Unthinkable! Both fields are key elements of electronics manufacturing that are summarized in the Semiconductors cluster at productronica 2015 for even better visibility and the significance that they deserve. The cluster's exhibitors will present their latest innovations in areas such as cleanroom technology, electronic chips and cyber-physical and intelligent systems as well as their integration into concrete applications. The Semiconductors cluster is located in Hall B3. productronica takes place from November 10 to 13, 2015.

The European semiconductor industry is experiencing moderate growth despite tough international competition. Above all, the forces driving that growth are Industry 4.0, medical technology and the use of microelectronics in the automotive industry. When it comes to investing in semiconductor facilities and modernizing chip factories, the industry in Europe expects an increase of three percent, and an increase of five percent for 2016, Laith Altimime, President of the trade association Semi Europe, said in early October. She went on to explain that increased networking of people, things and systems means good market opportunities for semiconductor companies in Europe.

The packaging sector in particular continues to grow: Driven by lower costs, miniaturization and improved performance, the trend is toward increasingly smaller and thinner packages—made possible by increasingly smaller chips and contact “bumps” as well as new connections. Companies such as Kulicke & Soffa are presenting their latest developments in this area at productronica: “We have seen this trend for several years now and have been investing in developing new products for this market for quite some time,” says Alex Nies, Director, Advanced Packaging Mass Reflow at Kulicke & Soffa. “productronica is the most important trade fair in Europe, and we can present our innovations to a broad-based audience from around the world there.” Among other things, Kulicke & Soffa is presenting the Asterion i-ONE, a new compact single-magazine handler solution designed and integrated for our latest enhanced capability hybrid wedge bonder. This integrated solution can be customized to handle master card DBC, singulated DBC, modules, Flat boat and J-boat carriers.

Cleanroom Event Stage

Cleanroom technology continues to increase in significance in microtechnology. A growing number of manufacturers are now producing in cleanroom environments. The automotive industry is calling on more and more suppliers to meet their cleanliness requirements. productronica is taking increased demand into account by presenting extensive information on the topic of cleanroom technology in a special show known as the Cleanroom Event Stage (Hall B3, Stand 151). The Event Stage is being organized by four companies, i.e. cleanroom.de, Gerflor, Kemmlit and profi-con. It features a forum where exhibitor and visitors can dialog and discuss question such as “What should be taken into account when it comes to local clean environments?”, “What clothing and what kind of gloves should be used?”, “What furnishings and floor coverings are appropriate for my process?” and “What is the right way to train employees?”

In addition to semiconductor manufacturing, the Semiconductors cluster covers the manufacture of displays, LEDs and discrete components as well as the sectors for photovoltaics manufacturing, micro/nano-production, materials processing and cleanroom technology.