Crossing Receives Order for 450mm Wafer Sorter
Crossing Automation Inc. (Fremont, Calif.) introduced its 450mm wafer sorter, the Spartan 450 and said it has an order for the new sorter from a semiconductor manufacturer. The platform is scheduled to ship in Q1 2012.
The Spartan 450 sorter incorporates features required to interface with a fab’s  manufacturing execution system (MES). Initially targeting the 22nm technology node, it is extendible to 7nm technology, the company said. The 450mm sorter is designed as a single, integrated unit to enable faster installation and tool hookup, easier tool moves for increased flexibility, and a faster ramp to production, said May Su, vice president of marketing for Crossing Automation.










Qualcomm, Micron and GlobalFoundries gained ground in the top 20 rankings in terms of sales in the first quarter of 2012, according to IC Insights. GlobalFoundries replaced Elpida in the top 20 rankings. The foundry vendor also jumped ahead of United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC).
The IC business climate continues to improve in 2012, prompting various firms to raise their respective capital spending forecasts. Total semiconductor capital spending is now projected to hit $56.5 billion in 2012, nearly flat from the previous year and almost $6 billion higher than the January outlook, according to a new forecast from VLSI Research Inc.