Monday, September 29, 2025

ASMPT first die bonder for IC market

 


ASMPT  The AD809 and Lessons from the Early Days

During the company’s 50th anniversary, when the screen displayed a certain old photo, it brought back a flood of memories!

 

One of those memories is of the AD809, the first IC (integrated circuit) die bonder I worked with, back in 19871989. We had spent a lot of time focusing on this machine, especially as after we had established the opto-LED business with Sanyo HK support in process and material our first real success in that opto LED area.

 

The next phase was moving into the IC market. Our first major target was a top-tier subcontractor Amkor the number one subcon in the world at the time. But truth be told, I didn’t know much about subcons or IDMs (Integrated Device Manufacturers) back then. My focus remained solely on fine tuned the machine that could beat our competitors. I spent two month in our old ASM Assembly Automation office 12/fl Watson’s centre. 

I knew our competitors were strong even though I had never seen their actual machines myself. l honestly as it was second year in the company. The sales team assured me they were.

 

In 1988, we conducted a one-month evaluation of the Amkor K2 Buchon A809. A team of K2 engineers including JS Park later joined our company to become head of ASM Korea. They ran tests on legacy SOIC products. The results were promising good scores on Bond accuracy +/-3 mils , angle of rotation +/- 3 degrees, Yield is higher than 99.93%, UPH (units per hour), MTBA (mean time between assists), and MTBF (mean time between failures).

 

Then, three months later, Amkor P1 invited us to participate in another equipment evaluation at their factory ATP1 (Amkor Philippine Factory 1). This time, we were up against three other competitors: Kulicke & Soffa (K&S), MAGNUM, and AMI 3100). There were four machines in total, each representing a different manufacturer. Three from USA and one from Hong Kong.

Heres how I remember it:

 

 

🔹 MAGNUM

 Had a wafer handler. 

The Field Service Engineer (FSE) was the MD of the company American ,surprisingly humble and polite to talk with. 

The machine footprint was compact. 

The  linear bond arm was lightweight and fairly fast. 

 

🔹 KULICKE & SOFFA (K&S) model 6150 

The machine was a huge and massive, imposing unit with the wafer placed on top, facing downward. This is a beauty design as the dust particle will not fallen onto the die surfaces. 

The work holder was not very flexible. You have to change the whole work holder from one leaden device to another. 

The bond arm moved somewhat like a ballpoint pen swinging 180 degrees up to pick the die and then press down to place it on the lead frame bond pad. 

According to the FSE (from Hong Kong), this machine was expected to achieve a UPH of around 8,000 for SOIC-L, which was much higher than the ASM 809’s 5500 

However, the flexibility was poor it reportedly took two full days to convert from one device to another. That is the weak point for a Suncon to use as they have frequent device conversion. 

 

🔹 ASMPT (AD809) 

I personally installed this machine, and I had practiced the conversion process many times as that was the main concern from Amkor.  I remember our conversion time was just 16 minutes

 

And here’s what had to be changed each time: 

Wafer, Collet,  Epoxy nozzle / shower head, Magazine, Reset elevator and indexer, we also had to adjust bond force and test epoxy disperse volume and position. 

Honestly, considering the primitiveness of the machine at the time, a 16-minute conversion was almost Guinness World Record-worthy! As our competitors took more than one hours to two days! 

The Magnum machine once had a wafer crash during transfer and needed fine-tuning. I also felt the Managing Director of Magnum wasnt too familiar with the machine or its conversion process. 

🔹 AMI 3300, this was the main machine supplier at Amkor back then, they were using 3100 and 3300 was a new model. 

It was driven by a high-power D.C. motor on the Y-axis, moving at high speed. 

The X-axis indexing was done via a series of rollers and sensor system to accurately stop the lead frame in place.

 

The monitor was in color, whereas the ASM AD809 had a tiny 9-inch black-and-white monitor. 

The PRS (Pattern Recognition System) on the AMI was still in 256 grey levels, while the ASM AD809 used the PD1000 PRS system with 64 grey levels which was actually more advanced for its purpose. 

⚖️ The Evaluation Results

Before the evaluation began, many customers including equipment engineers like Obi Gracia and the QA team believed ASM was not going to win. But after several weeks of rigorous testing involving:  

Different die sizes, various leadframe types,

They took Measurements of all bonded sample units with 100% full check. And later we found that ASM AD809 was the winner in many key parameters.

 

K&S lost credibility when one of their boards failed in the second week, delaying their recovery by nearly two weeks. 

MAGNUM had bonding results that were not as good as ASMs. 

AMI was a strong contender fast and accurate but it couldnt beat the AD809 in conversion time and overall UPH. 

When the final report was published, we were overjoyed. ASM won the benchmark, and we were subsequently awarded orders from Amkor Korea. 

This was a big deal, because most smaller customers tend to follow the decisions of major subcons like Amkor. And yes, we did get additional orders stemming from this evaluation.

 

 

Aftermath & Reflection

The AD809 turned out to be a simple, reliable, manually assisted low cost die bonder, well-suited for the IC industry especially for subcons during the years 1989 to 1993.

 

💡 The Moral of the Story?

Never underestimate yourself.

Success is often the marriage of preparation and opportunity. 

Had we not prepared thoroughly, had we not believed in our machine, and had we not seized the opportunity when it came we might have missed out on something big. The AD809 taught me that even a simple machine, backed by skill, preparation, and confidence, can win the day. 

 The pictures showed the HK former governor Sir Wilson presented the HK Governor’s Awards of Hong Kong Design competition 1988 to ASM former chairman Author de Pardo.

Paul

Friday, March 18, 2016

Faircild Semiconductor

 
 
Fairchild will be acquired by On Semiconductor, so sooner this Poster will not longer be hanged on the reception or Fairchild Cebu.

Fairchild was established in 1954, one of the best power device semiconductor IDMs.

HK Snob

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Semiconductor is sometimes funny!


Who said Engineers aren`t Funny!


JOKE 1: What did the Integrated Circuit say when it was enlightened? IC...

JOKE 2: Why do big Capacitors earn more than small ones? Because they charge more..

HK Snob

Monday, July 13, 2015

QA slogan

I have seen a slogan in a QA Director office of a Major IDM of semi-conductor in the World.
On one side of the Slogan it was written “Never lie to the Customer… (please turn over)"
It shows “Never tell the truth!” on the back side of the slogan.
HK Snob

Sunday, May 11, 2014

On Semi Philippines CEO's Slogan


Products and Services is the key to success.

Products are basically a product that would have super Quality, and services mean that we can deliver to customer on time product delivery, good value for money.

Remember many smaller operations were established well becasue of good service, but once when they get big, some of he executives would think that Services is a cost, and thus go into wrong driection when they cut cost...

Cut cost means cut their customer's service support.
That would have a bad effect, Whenever we can, do support the First Class Services to our customer, they they will come back with Repeated Orders

HK Snob

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Texas Instrumens, Clark Philippines


TI was established in 1948 for the world first commercial Transistor manufacturing in volume.

Front view of TI Clark, they produce almost 6 figures of QFN a day using almost copper interconnect.

Majority equipment is from ASM, rest is K&S, and some Japanese equipment for front of line.

A 14B revenue company with new set-up in Cheng Du China.

A promising, decent, high quality product building capability company.

Top 10 IDM of the world, specialized in Mixed Signal, Analogue, Automotive, communications chips.

Picture was taken by Samsung Note III on 13 March 2014.
HK Snob

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Analog Devices, Philippines





This is new development Phase for office, Huge!


Analog Devices (NASDAQ: ADI) is a world leader in the design, manufacture, and marketing of a broad portfolio of high performance analog, mixed-signal, and digital signal processing (DSP) integrated circuits (ICs) used in virtually all types of electronic equipment.

Used by over 60,000 customers worldwide, ADI signal processing products play a fundamental role in converting, conditioning, and processing real-world phenomena such as temperature...

ADI is 2.4B revenue per annum company with very high 28% operation margin. Data conversion device is market leader takes up 50% world market.

They have a Nice office, nice system, nice people, and more important a very nice customer!

HK Snob

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Samsung unveiled thw Galaxy Gear Smartwatch


After Pebble, Sony Smartwatch, this Samsung Smartwatch races ahead of Apple to launched on 25 Sept.
The best established company at present is the Californian firm Pebble, which has sold more than 85,000 of its eponymous $150 smartwatches. Those connect to Android phones and iPhones, and show messages, calendar details and run some apps. The Pebble is the result of a $10.2m crowd funding scheme from individual bankers in 2012.
Sony also showed off an updated version of its SmartWatch, which costs $235 and is described by the company as "a second screen for your smartphone". It can control the smartphone's camera, accept or reject calls, run presentations, and run similar apps to those on the Galaxy Gear.
Samsung unveiled its much-anticipated Gear, an Android-powered $299 device which works as an extension to a limited number of its phones – only two at present – able to show incoming calls and messages on its 1.63” screen. Users can also use it to make calls, just like Dick. It also has voice control, a basic camera and can run a Twitter app, plus another 70 compatible apps, the company President JK Shin said on 4 Sep.
Scheduled to ship on 25 September, Gear connects via the Bluetooth wireless system to the two other products unveiled by Samsung in Berlin: the Galaxy Note 3 "phablet" – which has a 5.7in screen – and the Galaxy Tab 10.1, a tablet with a screen comparable to Apple's iPad. It also needs charging each day if subject to "moderate" use.
Qualcomm, well known for making chips that power smartphones, introduced the Toq device – able to play music, handle phone calls, and run apps. Promised for October, it has a touch-enabled colour screen that will be readable in sunlight, but no price – though the tech blog CNet suggested it would cost about $300. Note thet Qualcomn share price will rise again.
How about Apple?
While Apple has given no direct indication that it is working on a product – beyond a comment by chief executive Tim Cook earlier this year that "the wrist is interesting" – tech companies have decided not to be left behind in case Apple defines a new sector, as happened with the iPad tablet in 2010 and multi-touch iPhone in 2007.
They are also confident that Apple is working on something, following its application for a trademark on "iWatch" in Japan, and the hiring of a former Nike executive last month.
Analysts have suggested that wearable technology, and smartwatches in particular, could be big news in 2014. Google is also believed to be looking at the smartwatch field.
"Finding the right price for smartwatches will be hard. The sweet spot will be similar to designer watches versus Rolex or Swatch," commented Carolina Milanesi, a smartphones analyst at research group Gartner.

Future
Samsung seems to be optimistic about its prospects. The Gear "bridges the gap between the mobile device and fashion worlds to create truly wearable technology," said JK Shin, the chief executive of Samsung Mobile.
But for now it only connects to two of the company's scores of smartphone models. And some early testers showed limited enthusiasm.
"The 1.9 megapixel camera is of poorer quality than a typical smartphone camera," noted You kyung Lee, of the Associated Press, who tested it before the formal launch. "In addition, moderate use of the device will require a daily battery top-up with yet another charger to keep track of."
She said that while some of the features, such as email notifications, were enjoyable, "after my brief hands-on experience, I decided the first generation of the Gear was cool but not compelling enough to convince me to ditch my iPhone."
Semiconductor Revenue
Research firm Gartner projects that wearable smart electronics will be a $10 billion industry by 2016
HK Snob

Monday, April 29, 2013

Office of the President, OMB and IP Protection in Philippines


Office of the President, Philippines OMB (Optical Media Board) Chairman and CEO Ronnie Ricketts takes all effort in protecting DVD, stop film camcording, raid fake software usage and to ensure Intelligence property is well being treated with respect in Philippines...Without proper protection of the IP, there will be an obstacle for foreign coming into Philippines for investment.
Now some of the companies are coming back to build their products in Philippines, such as Knowles has started their manufacturing in Cebu rather than expansion in China.
HK Snob

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

How is 2013 Semiconductor business?

There have been people saying that the Q1 13 is doom to be low in Semicon equipment demand and the norm will be going to Q2 and Q3 to be ramping up for much spot demand, and start to fall in Q4 2013.

China Economy Watch
China is now the most influential economic system that has overpasses USA in the recent 5 years, as US economy is now someone named as Paper Tiger as if they could not raise the limit of the debt to 14 Trillion, before March, the whole US market will going a dark period. That is what Obama main Do-list on his desk.

China was not doing not too good in his GPD in Q3 A4 20132.
Fore the past 3 decades, China has a amazing average GPD growth of average 10-30%, till the recent 8 year , it was slow down to 6-10% an average The tremendous grown no long be seen anymore.
However Steven green * has spotted that the commodity price, food price is increasing n Beijing and major city of China started in Sept 2012. More people have surplus money to dump into the real estate market again. And the new Xi China administration has been doing a lot of administration and propaganda to suppress corruption which is very important to build a Cleaner China.
And had been using economy executions to boost the state and private enterprises and investment,
China set to release new GDP!
That is a driver for the World Economy, need to watch out.

SIGMA; Samsung, Intel, Google, Microsoft and Apple.
Who has tied up with these Will gain business opportunity and making higher profit, away from this will deems to be in low economic growth.

The world has been conformed into a few less players before, more to become monopoly states as 10 years ago, as the Equipment market where there were 20 major equipment suppliers before now it has been either by means of M & A, or dissolved to less than 5 major players.

The state is not as healthy as before as more to be the winning side will get all 80% of pie and a bit less competitive side will get 20% or the order, so the WINNER takes it all

Apple
There is disappointment on Iphone5, which is just 1 cm longer and that is iPhone4., so the Fans of Steve Jobs, they do not feel great to use Apple anymore as there is no more gadget stuff anymore to talk with electronic freaks.

Apple OS ties up wit iTunes will block a lot of people coming to the world of iPhone, Android is now dominant for the SW and Samsung is being a winner in terms of popularity and market share.
Someone like me said Apple will falls after Steve Job, a bit too early to say so, but lest watch out for a couple more years.

The fall so a great company is there is no new technology… Apple has announced to have low cost version of iPhone, I can say cheap iPhone for the third world, with lower entry level. Plastic case and bigger display to conquer Samsung Galaxy SIII or Note II!?

Well, to the Semiconductor houses or Semiconductor equipment supplier that is a great news the this is a bigger volume for more IC Chip demand, OSAT, IDM and Fabless would be benefit by Apple for a couple of years more.

We believe the demand will rise shortly when Apple start the Low cost iPhone program.

Power QFN
More and more demand for QFN as there is a huge demand for this no matter that is for Smart phone, note Book, LED drivers…etc the demand will rise, package will turn to me more on FC for package shrinkage. Better technology for improving the heat dissipation, Clip will be the trend. 

Asian Investment Threat
Who will be the be the investment centre in coming 5-10 years
Japan
The Earthquake 11 March 2011  stops all future plan for most overseas firm to select Tokyo as the business HQ, one the other hand, cost is just too high.

Thailand
The King is 87 years old and uncertainty who will be the one taking care the Monarch, the Yingluk Government claimed to be lack of long term investment attraction to the foreign investor..
The 2011 Q4 Flood does have some black shadow to the new Investors.

Indonesia
The Beginning of the week had serious Flood, 140KM of Road and the Commercial Center of Jakarta was submerged in Water.
This is another question to the new investment

Vietnam
There is infrastructure and language barrier o new investment, some big foreign factory is a large factory with some of the oldest MC running, believe they can not make money too!

China Wages rise everyday! And there is difficulties to hire the right people now in China

Philippine may be one of the vest choices for foreign investment

Automotive is growing
There is demand for car replacement for better mileage, less emission, and time for changing new car. The Demand is high
There are hundred of sensors in a car and 3 hundred LED plus LED drivers, the demand for IC is high, but as Automotive is merely 5% of total semicon and will rise to 8% in the year 2013/4.

Forecast 2014
Windows 8 does not create much demand to PC makers, and Surface is not anything but just a firecracker in air!

We think that there is be spot demand for equipment in Q2 and then End Q3 depending on the Apple New Phone.

As a Summary, the IC demand of 2013 will be started in Q2 and ended by Mid Q3, there is no more Major Demand on Q4. Forecast that there will be 5-8 growth in terms of Revenue as comparing with 2012.

HK Snob