PRI Automation Unveils AeroLoader(R) III -- Newest Version of its Overhead Hoist Transport System
Key Component of PRI's New TransFab(TM) Unified Material Handling System to be Used in 300mm Fabs
BILLERICA, Mass., Feb. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- PRI Automation, Inc., (Nasdaq: PRIA - news), a global leader in semiconductor factory automation systems and software, today announced the availability of the AeroLoader III, PRI's system for fab-wide interbay and intrabay overhead wafer transport. The AeroLoader III provides direct tool-to-tool wafer transport and is a critical component of the company's recently announced TransFab unified material handling system.
The AeroLoader III incorporates new functionality that can improve hot lot delivery times, increase overall system reliability and provide the most flexible routing algorithms when compared to conventional AMHS systems. The AeroLoader III is designed to carry 300mm front opening unified pods (FOUPs) and reticle carriers.
``Over the next two years the industry will move beyond 300mm manufacturing pilot lines to full scale 300mm production,'' said Carl Johnson, director of AeroLoader product marketing for PRI Automation's factory systems division. ``Direct tool to tool wafer delivery is a critical component in the highly automated 300mm fab. AeroLoader III provides the functionality and reliability manufacturers need to ensure that their wafers arrive at the right tool at the right time. PRI has spent over ten years developing the expertise and understanding of the complex issues relating to controlling and managing the movement of wafers throughout the fab. AeroLoader III was designed to provide manufacturers with the same flexibility and reliability they have come to expect from our industry-proven AeroTrak(TM) system.''
AeroLoader III is based on PRI's field-proven AeroTrak platform known for its high reliability and superior payload safety. The new AeroLoader III system is faster, lighter and easier to manufacture than previous versions of the product. Vehicle speeds have been increased from 110 fpm to 400 fpm and hoist cycle times have been reduced to less than 15 seconds. The AeroLoader III system software provides advanced vehicle management for shortest-path routing and prioritized hot lot delivery.
Flexible automation systems are extremely important to manufacturers as they finalize the layout of their process tools in the process bay. Heavy, hard-to-configure automation systems make it difficult for manufacturers to create the most efficient layout of their expensive process equipment. The AeroLoader III system continues PRI's tradition of giving manufacturers the most flexibility when determining the final equipment placement in the process bay.
``During a recent installation of an AeroLoader system, the customer notified our install team that one of their process tools had a service module that needed to be removed which would have conflicted with the proposed track layout,'' continued Mr. Johnson. ``Because the AeroLoader track system is so flexible, our install team was able to re-route the track away from the service module by simply installing several new sections of track and thus avoid the service module.''
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.
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