TEMPE, AZ – Leading semiconductor test equipment supplier Advantest Corporation (TSE: 6857) and Arizona State University (ASU) today announced their collaboration with global semiconductor company NXP® Semiconductors to create a new, “first-of-its-kind” test engineering course at ASU. Officially titled “EEE 522 Radio Frequency Test,” the course content was originally developed by faculty in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU and, through this collaboration, was enhanced with laboratory experiments designed by Advantest and administered jointly by Advantest and NXP during the 2023 spring semester. The course will be offered each year going forward.

The need for the course was first recognized in mid-2022 by colleagues at Advantest and NXP, spurred by two key facts. First, the flurry of wafer-fab construction in Arizona (already home to numerous advanced chipmaking plants) would soon heighten demand for test engineers. Second, local university engineering programs did not offer classes specifically aimed at training and preparing engineers to enter the semiconductor test industry. Advantest and NXP, both of which have multiple locations in Arizona, subsequently approached ASU about implementing such a class and were met with an enthusiastic response.

“This course is a great example of what can happen when there’s true collaboration between industry and academia,” said Raghu Maddali, senior director - test engineering, with NXP and one of the course’s original developers, who worked together with Paul Hirsch, senior global account manager with Advantest. “It came to fruition in a relatively short time, thanks to the dedication and commitment of all involved.” In addition to conceiving and developing the necessary labs, the two companies contributed resources to ensure its success. Advantest provided a state-of-the-art V93000 SoC test system, installing it at ASU Research Park in Tempe, with experts from both NXP’s and Advantest’s engineering teams donating time to serve as lab supervisors, helping students conduct lab experiments designed to reinforce classroom concepts and, in the process, gain familiarity with an industry-leading ATE platform.

Course professor Sule Ozev, Ph.D., who has taught at ASU for 15 years, noted, “I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of building the curriculum for this new course from scratch, with the assistance of Advantest’s application engineering team. It’s exciting to be part of a program that will provide the semiconductor industry with a new generation of much-needed test engineers.”

Offered through the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering (ECEE), part of the Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU, the RF test course covers current production test schemes for mixed-signal and RF circuits, the economics of production testing and recent research techniques in reducing production test costs. Students learn to define test conditions and test flows, write and optimize test programs, interpret measurement data, identify potential manufacturing problems and automate the test process.

Added Advantest’s Hirsch, “What started with an idea shared between two colleagues quickly blossomed into a tangible means of providing real-world training that will help prepare students for high-demand positions while further supporting our industry and Arizona’s economy.”

With multiple locations in Arizona, both Advantest and NXP are highly invested in the region and will continue providing support for the course, as well as for new courses that may be added to the program in the future.

AUBURN HILLS, MI – The Murray Percival Company, the award-winning leading supplier to the Midwest’s electronics industry, today announced Josh Funk’s introduction of a Yxlon Cougar Evo X-Ray machine into White Horse Labs, a leading provider of electronic component testing and quality assurance services. The advanced X-Ray machine will allow White Horse Labs to provide even greater accuracy and efficiency in detecting defects and ensuring quality of electronic components.

The Yxlon Cougar Evo X-Ray machine is equipped with the latest technology, providing high-resolution imaging and fast detection of defects in electronic components during the production process. The machine’s advanced features enable White Horse Labs to perform thorough inspections while ensuring that clients receive high-quality components.

“We chose Yxlon because of their reputation for delivering the highest quality X-Ray machines in the industry,” said Aaron Page, General Manager at White Horse Labs. “The Cougar Evo X-Ray machine is a game-changer for our quality assurance services, allowing us to identify defects quickly and accurately in electronic components. This has helped us to improve our processes and provide our clients with even greater confidence in the products they receive.”

This partnership between White Horse Labs and Yxlon represents a commitment to quality and innovation in the electronics industry. White Horse Labs has been providing quality assurance services to customers for more than a decade, while Yxlon has a long-standing reputation for producing high-quality X-Ray machines.

DAYTON, OH – Libra Industries, a valued portfolio company of CW Industrial Partners (CWI), is thrilled to announce the promotion of Andrew Williams to the role of President and CEO.

Mr. Williams, previously serving as Senior Vice President of Business Development at Libra, played a pivotal role in driving double-digit growth within the company's core markets, including Semiconductor, Medical, Aerospace, and Defense. With over three decades of experience in contract manufacturing and holding senior positions at renowned companies such as Jabil, Sanmina, and Kimball Electronics, Mr. Williams brings a wealth of expertise to his new position. His leadership style emphasizes collaboration and a proven track record of process enhancement for technologically advanced product businesses.

Expressing his gratitude for the appointment, Mr. Williams stated, “I am deeply honored to lead such an exceptionally talented and hardworking team dedicated to delivering innovative manufacturing solutions to our clients. We will continue to focus on delivery of truly customized manufacturing and supply chain solutions to some of the world’s most prominent OEMs.”

Todd Martin, Managing Partner of CW Industrial Partners, commented “We are absolutely thrilled that our extensive search process yielded the best possible candidate right here on our existing team. Andrew is an extremely talented and competitive leader who is relentlessly dedicated to our customers’ success.”

REDDITCH, UK – Altus Group, a leading supplier and service provider of capital equipment for the electronics industry, has revealed that since partnering with Heller Industries, they have seen unprecedented installations throughout the UK particularly following the launch of the new MK7 convection reflow system thanks to its ground-breaking design and features.

The new MK7 line of reflow ovens have been hailed as the most economical systems ever released. Building upon the remarkable success of the MK5 oven, the MK7 brings significant advancements in various aspects of reflow technology.

Joe Booth, CEO of Altus Group, said: "The response to the Heller MK7 reflow ovens in the UK have been extremely positive. The innovative improvements in energy efficiency have been especially important but there are also advances in thermal management, ease of operation and maintenance which have caught the attention of electronics manufacturers and resulted in record numbers of installations.

"Our commitment to delivering industry-leading solutions that maximise productivity, minimise costs, and increase performance are integral to Altus. Heller Industries' innovative solutions perfectly align with these objectives."

One of the key highlights of the high-throughput MK7 is the redesigned thermal heating zone, which effectively reduces thermal mass and brings the fans closer to the product. This update includes an enhanced low height heater module providing the lowest Delta Ts for superior thermal uniformity and improved air flow. MK7’s clever design and Industry 4.0 compatibility ensures its seamless integration into existing production setups for those already using Heller’s systems.

Energy consumption of the MK7 has been reduced by at least 25% compared to the MK5 which was a market leading system when launched, with the Uniform Gas Management system eliminating ‘net flow’ which results in nitrogen consumption reductions of up to 40%. The energy required for start-up has also been significantly reduced, improving the speed of initialisation. Additionally, the reduced thermal mass in the heating zone, coupled with new software-based energy reduction capabilities, further enhance the efficiency of the oven when idle.

Heller’s state-of-the-art reflow oven offers unparalleled advantages and continues to be one of Altus’ most sought-after options in the UK and Ireland. To find out more visit www.altusgroup.co.uk