WASHINGTON – The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today released the following statement from SIA President and CEO John Neuffer commending finalization of CHIPS and Science Act manufacturing investments announced by the U.S. Department of Commerce for Absolics—an affiliate of the Korea-based SKC—and Entegris.

“These CHIPS incentives will strengthen the domestic semiconductor supply chain, create jobs, and reinforce America’s economic and national security. The incentives for Absolics will support the company’s construction of a 120,000 square-foot facility in Georgia and the development of substrates technology for use in semiconductor advanced packaging. The incentives for Entegris will support the company’s construction of a state-of-the-art facility in Colorado for products critical to the future of semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S. We applaud both companies and the Commerce Department for advancing these critical CHIPS investments.”

The CHIPS Act is on track to strengthen American manufacturing, create jobs, boost economic growth, and promote national security. The CHIPS Act’s manufacturing incentives have sparked substantial announced investments in the U.S. In fact, companies in the semiconductor ecosystem have announced 90 new projects across 28 U.S. states—totaling hundreds of billions of dollars in private investments—since the CHIPS Act was introduced. These announced projects will create more than 58,000 jobs in the semiconductor ecosystem and support hundreds of thousands of additional U.S. jobs throughout the U.S. economy.

An SIA-Boston Consulting Group report released in May projected the United States will triple its domestic semiconductor manufacturing capacity from 2022—when CHIPS was enacted—to 2032. The projected 203% growth is the largest projected percent increase in the world over that time. The report also projected America will capture over one-quarter (28%) of total global capital expenditures (capex) from 2024-2032.

The U.S. Department of Commerce previously announced incentives for a range of companies and projects that will help strengthen the U.S. semiconductor supply chain.

MUNICH, GERMANY – Wurth Electronics Midcom Inc., German Branch, with EU headquarters in Munich, has opened a laboratory for the production of transformer prototypes at the Hightech Innovation Center in Munich-Freiham. The company, which specializes in transformers for switch-mode power supplies and customized inductive components, is part of the Würth Elektronik eiSos Group. In Munich, they produce custom magnetics prototypes using first-class equipment and high-quality materials. On November 11, 2024, the new facility was presented to customers and partners including a tour of the test fields, EMC chambers and the office and meeting areas designed according to modern New Work aspects.

The main purpose of the new capacities is to promote intensive and transparent collaboration with customers. In-house prototype development and production enables the design engineers to also accompany their process in its implementation. All products are tested individually using advanced equipment and methods. The facility's technical equipment offers new opportunities for R&D projects and patent development. Students and young talents also benefit from the site's extensive equipment for research and final theses. In the future, prototypes of high-performance products and wireless power coils will also be produced here at the Hightech Innovation Center in Munich.

KELSTERBACH, GERMANY – More than ever, the EMS industry needs flexible, scalable technologies to efficiently manufacture electronics and respond quickly to new market requirements. To ensure high levels of agility and performance, the Asteelflash Group relies on solutions from FUJI EUROPE CORPORATION GmbH. The EMS service provider has expanded the SMT assembly capacity at the Bedford plant with eight modules of the NXT III assembly platform, the NEXIM software and a smart set-up station. Asteelflash was thus able to significantly reduce changeover times and increase flexibility in high-mix production.

Asteelflash is a globally active company in the field of electronics manufacturing. It offers design, development and manufacturing services for electronic products and specializes in producing complex electronic systems for various industries. Like many other companies in the electronics industry, Asteelflash is currently caught up in a variety of changes in the industry. The pressure to innovate and compete is great.

Asteelflash has therefore decided to modernize its SMT production. The modular NXT III assembly solution from FUJI is used for this purpose. The NXT III offers ideal conditions for the assembly of multifunctional and high-performance electronics. For example, it enables a high assembly density of tiny components. Complemented by the NEXIM software and the Smart Set-up Station, the solution helps Asteelflash to automate production processes while achieving the highest precision.

Replacing outdated equipment gives you a competitive advantage

In January 2023, Asteelflash started the gradual installation of the FUJI solution at the Bedford plant. The last modules were integrated in September 2024. Thanks to the modular and scalable architecture of the NXT III, production could be resumed immediately after the first installation phase was completed. The new platform replaces an outdated system whose limited flexibility and long changeover times significantly impaired the production process.

"A key requirement was to reduce changeover times in high-mix production in order to simply become faster. Thanks to the FUJI solution, we were able to significantly increase speed, expand SMT assembly capacity and increase our ability to respond to constantly changing market requirements. This has given us a level of flexibility that is essential for today's EMS industry requirements," explains John Cardi, Engineering Manager at Asteelflash Group.

HUTTO, TX – ViTrox Americas Inc. is pleased to announce ASC International as its new Sales Channel Partner and Manufacturers’ Representative for Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. This partnership strengthens ViTrox’s presence in the Midwest region, with ASC International not only representing ViTrox’s state-of-the-art inspection systems but also serving as a vital component for potential service and support expansion across the broader Midwest area.

“ViTrox’s technologies set the standard for 3D SPI, AOI, and AXI systems,” said Steve Arneson, Sales Manager at ASC International. “By joining forces, we can deliver significant value to manufacturers in our region, helping them stay ahead of the curve in quality assurance and process optimization. We’re excited to work together to shape the future of inspection technology in the Midwest.”

ASC International will champion ViTrox’s cutting-edge 3D inspection technologies, including:

• V310i 3D SPI System: A high-precision solder paste inspection solution delivering superior accuracy and reliability for quality control in electronics assembly.
• V510i AOI Series: Advanced automated optical inspection systems for SMT and advanced packaging, ensuring unmatched defect detection and process improvement.
• V810i S2 EX 3D AXI System: Industry-leading 3D X-ray inspection technology designed for in- depth analysis of hidden solder joints and critical components.

“ASC International’s strong presence and deep understanding of the Midwest manufacturing landscape will be instrumental in helping us better serve our customers and grow our footprint in this critical market,” said Sy Creed, Business Development Director at ViTrox Americas. “Their extensive expertise in quality and yield improvement solutions, combined with a customer-centric approach, makes them an ideal partner to represent ViTrox’s inspection technologies. Together, we aim to empower manufacturers in the Midwest region with the tools they need to achieve greater efficiency, reliability, and success.”

For more than three decades, ASC International has been a trusted partner for electronics manufacturers seeking to improve production yields and profitability. ASC offers a comprehensive portfolio of inspection and metrology solutions, including 3D solder paste inspection systems, 2D automated optical inspection systems, digital video inspection tools, and 3D metrology systems. Working closely with customers, ASC tailors yield improvement strategies to meet unique manufacturing needs.

For more information, contact Steve Arneson at sarneson@ascinternational.com or visit www.ascinternational.com 

For more information about ViTrox, visit www.vitrox.com