News Release
Daifuku Receives Order for First Semiconductor Foundry in China
Jun. 18, 2001
Daifuku Co., Ltd. has received an order for a total Automated Material Handling System (AMHS), consisting of cleanroom interbay transport, storage, and MCS control, for Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC) of China. SMIC is the first semiconductor foundry in China. SMIC's new factory is being constructed in Shanghai and will start full operation in the first quarter of 2002.
The system components include a set of automated storage systems for staging 200mm wafers, a 3,300 feet-long advanced overhead linear monorail system, plus the material control system (MCS) integrating the automated transport and storage system with SMIC's computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) capability. The MCS software and hardware will be provided through Daifuku by Brooks Automation Inc. (Chelmsford, Massachusetts). Brooks Automation is a strategic business partner with Daifuku. The SMIC automated transport system was developed on the basis of 300mm-wafer technology. Although production will commence with 200mm wafers in the first fab, the wafer diameter may shift to 300mm for the newer fab in the near future. The Daifuku system provides for a smooth transition and mixed handling of 200mm and 300mm material production, requiring only minor changes.
The semiconductor market in China is expected to grow from approximately $7 billion in fiscal year 2000 to $11.2 billion by fiscal year 2002. SMIC was established to capture the semiconductor manufacturing for chips used in various state-of-the-art commercial electronic products that are expected to enjoy a dramatic increase in demand.
SMIC is located in the Shanghai Zhang Jiang High-Tech Park in the Pudong New Area, a development area for leading-edge industries, which is adjacent to New Shanghai International Airport. Following construction of this first factory, which has a 42,500-wafers/month-production capacity, SMIC plans to build additional capacity to ultimately achieve 170,000 wafers/month by the end of 2004.
Daifuku Co., Ltd. has already provided another major corporation located in the same area in China with an advanced AMHS. SMIC carefully evaluated Daifuku for its worldwide experience, high-performance space-efficient design, and its strong service support capability in China. Daifuku will continue to aggressively help expanding leadingedge IT-related industries in China with their AMHS needs.
Daifuku is a world leader in material handling systems for all types of industries. Headquartered in Osaka, Japan, Daifuku maintains offices around the world, including Europe, Canada, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, China, and South America. Daifuku operates in the United States as ESKAY Corporation, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Daifuku's leading-edge technology and proven expertise combine to ensure optimal material handling solutions for a broad array of applications. Daifuku designs, sells, installs, and services systems for factory automation (both clean and standard), distribution automation, agricultural automation, medical automation, library automation, and service automation.
ESKAY's web site may be found at www.eskay.com.
- SMIC = Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation
- Address: 18 ZhangJiang Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, PRC
- Representative: Dr. Richard R. Chang, President & CEO
- Business Type: Providing a full turnkey IC solution to the customers.
- Web Site: www.smics.com
- Brooks Automation, Inc.
- Head Office: Chelmsford, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
- Representative: Robert J. Therrien, Chief Executive Officer and President
- Business type: Provides tool automation solutions and FA software to the semiconductor and Flat Panel display industries (hardware & software production and sales).
- Web Site: www.brooks.com
