Kingston Technology Invests $16 Million for Advanced Testing Systems; New Testing Equipment Readies Kingston for Next Generation Memory Technologies
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Feb. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Kingston® Technology Company today announced that it has invested more than $16 million in the most advanced testing equipment available for next generation memory technologies such as SDRAM, DDR and Rambus RIMM memory modules.
By obtaining some of the most sophisticated testing systems available for memory module production, Kingston's $16 million investment pushes memory technology toward the 21st century. The equipment investment will address the need for global testing capacity and each of Kingston's manufacturing facilities in the United States, Ireland and Taiwan will be equipped with the new testing systems to ensure quality to customers on a worldwide level.
Kingston has chosen the following new testing equipment:
* Three Advantest T5581H testers
* Three HP83000 330 MHz testers
* Two HP83000 1.3 GHz testers
* Future testers to be purchased include HP95000 HSM Series and Advantest
next generation testers for Rambus RIMM memory module production
testing.
''Kingston has traditionally invested in high-end testing equipment. To further our capability in supporting new memory technologies into the 21st century on a global platform, we are enhancing our testing ability with this $16 million investment,'' said Lisa Dreher, memory product manager, Kingston. ''We are committed to reliable products that keep Kingston in step with memory technologies--as they emerge,'' furthered Dreher.
''Advantest is proud that Kingston, an independent memory manufacturer at the forefront of next-generation memory technology, will be implementing Advantest's latest high throughput testing equipment,'' said Mr. Toshio Maruyama, managing director, general manager of international ATE sales division, Advantest. ''Advantest's partnership with Kingston has resulted in new tester designs that will revolutionize the testing of board level technology,'' furthered Maruyama.
''As a leading RIMM module supplier, Kingston has had to address the same ''at-speed'' test quality issues that the RDRAM manufacturers have faced,'' said John Scruggs, Hewlett-Packard vice president and general manager of the Automated Test Group. ''We are pleased that Kingston is continuing its commitment to HP's high-speed, multi-site, memory module production test solutions.''
In addition to designing memory modules for existing memory technologies, Kingston is ready to implement manufacturing of next generation memory technologies. Kingston's testing process begins during the design and engineering stages.
I. Design and Engineering Validation Tests
Every Kingston product is subjected to a rigorous testing process to insure the reliability, integrity and compatibility of its design. Each new design is subjected to a series of reviews and tests that include:
* Specification Test - Qualifies a new module design against the
engineering specifications.
* Compatibility Test - Modules are tested on the system motherboard and
with the application software and operating systems most commonly used
in the system. Kingston not only tests with current operating systems,
but with older versions as well as the latest beta versions of new
operating systems, such as the Windows 2000 series.
* Signal Quality and Integrity Test - This test examines the signal
quality and integrity of the module to determine if there are problems
with electrical signals reaching their final destination.
* Reliability Tests - A series of calibrated hot and cold cycles for up
to 1,000 cycles, and a temperature and humidity stress test for up to
1,000 hours.
* Guardband Test - Cycles modules through a series of voltage and
temperature cycles.
* Software Benchtop Test - Tests modules on system boards with real world
applications and benchmark tests.
* ATE (Automatic Test Equipment) Specification Test -- Performed on
Kingston's high-end testers that feature proprietary test software that
can run numerous diagnostic tests on the module at speed.
II. AVL Component Qualification
Kingston strictly qualifies its DRAM and PCB suppliers. Kingston renews and qualifies all of its component suppliers. In addition, Kingston performs regular factory audits.
III. Production Testing
Kingston has an unwavering practice of 100% production testing of all finished goods since its inception in 1987. This means testing every cell on every chip on every module. On a 128MB module that is 1,024 million cells.
IV. Quality Assurance and Reliability Monitoring
On a regular basis, Kingston sample tests select modules in order to further qualify its production testing procedures. This allows Kingston to closely calibrate its proprietary production test hardware and software to ensure product quality.
About Kingston Technology Company
Kingston Technology is the world's largest independent manufacturer of memory products for servers, workstations, desktops, portables, and electronic devices. Over the last ten years, Kingston has diversified its product lines to include processor upgrades, flash memory, networking hardware, and storage products. With strictly regulated ISO-registered-facilities in the United States (ISO 9001), Ireland (ISO 9002), and Taiwan (ISO 9002), Kingston markets its products through an extensive worldwide network of distributors, major reseller chains and independent dealers.
In August of 1996, Kingston became part of SOFTBANK Corp. SOFTBANK Holdings Inc. is the holding company for all of SOFTBANK Corporation's U.S.-based activities. Its major operating companies include Ziff-Davis, Kingston Technology Company, SOFTBANK Content Services, and UTStarcom. SOFTBANK is the largest shareholder of Yahoo! and E*Trade, as well as a minority investor in The Rights Exchange, GeoCities, CyberCash, First Virtual Holdings, and E-LOAN. Visit the Kingston home page on the Internet at kingston.com For additional information on Kingston products, please contact Kingston Technology at (800) 337-8410.
Kingston, Computing Without Limits and the Kingston logo are registered trademarks of Kingston Technology Company. All rights reserved. All other marks may be property of their respective title holders.
SOURCE: Kingston Technology Company
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