DuPont Photomasks, Inc. announced 12 May 2004 the commencement of commercial production at what it describes as “the world“s most advanced photomask production facility” in Dresden, Germany. The comp…
DuPont Photomasks, Inc. announced 12 May 2004 the commencement of commercial production at what it describes as “the world“s most advanced photomask production facility” in Dresden, Germany. The company says the new facility is “the keystone” for production of advanced photomask technologies to support semiconductor devices with design rules of 65-nanometers and below. “DuPont Photomasks“ new campus in Dresden expands our ability to supply leading edge customers with the advanced photomask technologies they have come to rely on from us,” said Marshall Turner, chairman and chief executive officer. “The unique design of our operations in Dresden will provide our global customer base with next generation photomask technologies in support of their roadmaps. Our Dresden campus will quickly make its mark on our industry as the world“s most advanced photomask research and production center.” DuPont Photomasks“ Dresden facility is co-located with the Advanced Mask Technology Center (AMTC), a joint venture photomask research and development-center owned by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Infineon Technologies and DuPont Photomasks. According to the company, by combining research and commercial production in the same cleanroom, DuPont Photomasks will “rapidly and seamlessly transfer highly innovative and optimized photomask technologies from development to volume production. Through this unique design DuPont Photomasks will deliver to its global customer base leading-edge photomasks with the technology depth and breadth to meet the needs of semiconductor manufacturers around the world”. In addition to leveraging operational efficiencies, over time, DuPont Photomasks“ Dresden facility plans to acquire the equipment which is currently used for research and development at the AMTC and turn it to commercial production use for “tomorrow“s most advanced photomasks”. DuPont Photomasks“ Dresden facility includes a 1,400 square meter cleanroom with advanced e-beam and laser photomask pattern generators, along with other processing, inspection, metrology, cleaning and repair tools. Employing more than 90 people, the new Dresden facility is fully operational.