PRI Automation Introduces TransFab the First Unified Automated Material Handling System
300mm Unified AMHS Provides Flexible Migration Path to Full-Fab Automation
BILLERICA, Mass., Jan. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- PRI Automation, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRIA - news), a global leader in semiconductor factory automation systems and software, today announced TransFab(TM), the first unified material handling system (UMHS) capable of providing fab-wide tool-to-tool wafer delivery in 300mm fabs. The TransFab unified material handling system makes direct tool-to-tool wafer transport faster and more efficient by combining interbay and intrabay transport into one seamless solution. The TransFab unified material handling system offers extremely flexible configurations allowing semiconductor manufacturers the opportunity to configure a TransFab solution that meets their requirements.
``The transition to 300mm manufacturing means semiconductor manufacturers will be facing new integration challenges as they ramp up to full production over the next few years,'' said Mitch Tyson, president and CEO of PRI Automation. ``300mm production fabs will be highly automated manufacturing environments where work-in-process wafers will be transported directly from tool to tool. TransFab is an ideal solution that gives manufacturers the migration path they need to implement a fab-wide unified material handling system as they gain familiarity and confidence in automating more of their manufacturing logistics.''
``Once again PRI is taking automated material handling to a new level as the industry moves into the 300mm era,'' said Dan Hutcheson president of VLSI Research. ``TransFab represents the synergy of the company's vast experience in flexible AMHS solutions, their investment in material control software, and the vision to put unified automated material handling in the hands of manufacturers well ahead of the SIA roadmap.''
``TransFab provides you with a migration path to the fully automated fab,'' said Michael Chase, vice presidents, Factory Systems Division for PRI Automation. ``Its modular, flexible design allows customers to step up immediately to a fully unified AMHS or take an incremental approach. Either way, TransFab's flexibility ensures the most advanced AMHS system can be achieved while minimizing risks associated with the transition to 300mm manufacturing.''
With its advanced AeroLoader® transport system and robust TransNet(TM) software suite, TransFab responds instantly to fab priorities for fast hot lot delivery, accommodates 300mm fab flexibility demands and implementation preferences, and ensures dependable performance for fully automated environments.
Three TransFab implementation options are available to accommodate each customer's preferences:
-- Fully Unified - Interbay and intrabay transport systems are combined
into one unified fab-wide system. The interbay system can be
implemented first, with phased implementation of intrabay loops. Fully
unified implementations optimize resource sharing, system flexibility,
and hot lot delivery.
-- Partially Unified - A partial unified configuration assigns
AeroTrak(TM) for fab-wide interbay transport and the AeroLoader
intrabay transport with selected adjacent bays linked. It enables an
incremental approach to unified AMHS with some direct tool-tool
delivery and resource sharing.
-- Combination Unified - This configuration combines an AeroTrak system
for interbay transport plus a complete unified wafer transport system
using the AeroLoader III for tool-to-tool delivery. Offers all the
benefits of TransFab plus additional system bandwidth from the parallel
AeroTrak system.
TransFab is a highly dependable system with a variety of configuration options allowing customers to implement the next generation AMHS solution with confidence and achieve the productivity gains necessary to compete and profit in the 300mm era.
About PRI Automation
PRI Automation, Inc., headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts, is the leading global supplier of advanced factory automation systems and software that optimize the productivity of semiconductor and precision electronics manufacturers as well as OEM process tool manufacturers. PRI is the only company to provide a tightly integrated and flexible hardware and software solution that optimizes the flow of products, data, materials and resources throughout the production chain. The company has thousands of systems installed at approximately one hundred locations throughout the world. For more information visit PRI online at www.pria.com. |
