0 items USD 0.00Semiconductor Wafer Transfer Robots Market Anticipates USD 1.87 Billion by 2029
The semiconductor industry is a cornerstone of modern technology, hinging on precision, accuracy, and efficiency. The growing integration of robots into industrial automation has sparked curiosity about their potential role in the global semiconductor sector. Given the intricate nature of semiconductor manufacturing, adaptable robots have been developed to navigate intricate processes that involve delicate components such as wafers and chips.
In this context, wafer-handling robots are pivotal contributors to upholding these exacting standards. Their primary function involves securely transporting fragile silicon wafers within controlled cleanroom environments. Their role is to prevent contamination or harm to these wafers, as any compromise could result in substantial delays and financial setbacks.
Robots handling microscopic parts is crucial for introducing micro and nanotechnology to semiconductor manufacturing. These robots are essential for maintaining precision while handling delicate components.
Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, robots are designed for specific tasks. Some robots focus on inspection and cleaning, while others are designed for front-end tasks like wafer fabrication.
Here are some key points about semiconductor wafer transfer robots:
Wafer Handling: Semiconductor wafers are thin, circular discs typically made of silicon. They undergo various processes like photolithography, etching, doping, and deposition to create integrated circuits. Wafer-handling robots are designed to pick up, transport, and place these wafers with precision and care to avoid contamination or damage.
Cleanroom Compatibility: Semiconductor manufacturing requires an ultra-clean environment to prevent contaminants from affecting the quality of the final products. Wafer transfer robots are designed to operate within cleanrooms, where factors like temperature, humidity, and air quality are tightly controlled.
Automation: These robots are a key component of the automation process in semiconductor manufacturing. They are programmed to follow specific paths and sequences, ensuring that wafers are moved efficiently between equipment, chambers, and processing stations.
Precision and Accuracy: Semiconductor fabrication processes demand high levels of precision and accuracy. Wafer transfer robots have advanced sensors, cameras, and algorithms to ensure that wafers are picked up and placed in the right positions.
Safety: Since semiconductor wafers are extremely delicate and valuable, safety features are integrated into these robots to prevent collisions, vibrations, and other movements that could harm the wafers.
Interfacing with Equipment: Wafer transfer robots are often integrated with other semiconductor manufacturing equipment, such as lithography machines, etching tools, and inspection systems. They facilitate the smooth transition of wafers between different processing tools.
Throughput Enhancement: The automation provided by these robots helps enhance manufacturing throughput, reduce human error, and increase the overall efficiency of semiconductor fabrication facilities.
Customization: Wafer transfer robots can be customized to fit the specific requirements of different semiconductor fabrication processes and facilities. This includes considerations for the wafers' size and weight, the cleanroom's layout, and the sequence of manufacturing steps.
Advanced Control: Modern wafer transfer robots often come equipped with advanced control systems, including real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and the ability to adapt to changes in production requirements.
1 . Wafer Transfer Robots Market Size
- The global semiconductor wafer transfer robots was US$ 1,397 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of US$ 1,868 million by 2029 with a CAGR of 4.91% during the forecast period 2023-2029.
- Japan semiconductor wafer transfer robots were US$ 143.7 million and US$ 173.6million, severally. The proportion of the US was 10.29% in 2022, while China and Japan are 21.6% and 12.4% respectively, and it is predicted that China proportion will reach 24.3% in 2028, trailing a CAGR of 8.36% through the analysis period.
- China Semiconductor Wafer Transfer Robots market size was US$ 302 million in 2022, while the US and In terms of production, Japan and North America are the top two producers of wafer transfer robots, dominating the global market, holds a share over 73% and 18%, respectively.
- The global key manufacturers of semiconductor wafer transfer robots include Kawasaki Robotics, RORZE, Brooks Automation, DAIHEN Corporation, Yaskawa, JEL Corporation and Hirata, etc. In 2022, the global top five players hold a share approximately 73% in terms of revenue. Kawasaki Robotics is the largest manufacturer of atmosphere wafer transfer robots, while Brooks Automation is dominating the vacuum wafer transfer robots.
Companies like Mitsubishi, KUKA, and Kawasaki offer advanced robots for maintaining clean semiconductor manufacturing. Kawasaki, for example, provides NTS and TTS series robots with various degrees of freedom to handle different tasks.
2 . Applications
Etching Equipment: Etching is a process used to selectively remove material from the surface of a semiconductor wafer to create patterns and structures. Wafer transfer robots are responsible for moving wafers into and out of etching chambers, ensuring that the wafers are correctly positioned and retrieved after the etching process without any damage.
Deposition (PVD & CVD): Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) are techniques used to deposit thin films of material onto semiconductor wafers. Wafer transfer robots are essential for transferring wafers into deposition chambers, where they are coated with the desired materials. Precision and cleanliness are crucial to avoid contamination, and the robots ensure that wafers are loaded and unloaded accurately.
Semiconductor Inspection Equipment: Inspection equipment assesses semiconductor wafers' quality, defects, and characteristics. Wafer transfer robots transport wafers to inspection stations, ensuring that wafers are properly aligned for accurate inspection and analysis.
Coater & Developer: Coating and developing processes are used in photolithography to create patterns on semiconductor wafers. Wafer transfer robots handle the movement of wafers to and from the coater and developer machines, ensuring that the correct alignment and orientation are maintained for consistent and accurate pattern formation.
Lithography Machine: Lithography is a central process in semiconductor manufacturing involving projecting patterns onto wafers to define circuit structures. Wafer transfer robots transport wafers to lithography machines, ensuring precise positioning and alignment for the exposure of patterns.
Cleaning Equipment: Semiconductor wafers must be cleaned at various stages of the manufacturing process to remove contaminants. Wafer transfer robots assist in moving wafers to cleaning stations, ensuring they are properly handled and cleaned without introducing additional particles.
Ion Implanter: Ion implantation introduces impurities into semiconductor wafers to alter their electrical properties. Wafer transfer robots are responsible for transferring wafers into and out of ion implantation chambers, ensuring accurate placement and retrieval of the wafers for this critical process.
CMP Equipment: Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP) is used to planarize and smooth the surface of wafers. Wafer transfer robots facilitate the movement of wafers to and from CMP machines, ensuring that the wafers are correctly positioned for effective polishing.
3 . Example: KAWASAKI NTJ20 Wafer Transfer Robot
NTJ Series: The NTJ series, which includes models like the KAWASAKI NTJ20 Wafer Transfer Robot, features an original drive mechanism that refers to the system of components and mechanisms responsible for generating motion and controlling the movement of the robot's various parts, such as its arm and end effector.
Max. Reach: 1067.2 mm The "Max. Reach" measurement specifies the maximum distance the robot arm can extend from its base to the tip of its reach. In this case, the KAWASAKI NTJ20 Wafer Transfer Robot has a maximum reach of 1067.2 millimeters. This measurement is essential as it defines the robot's ability to access and interact with different parts of a work area.
Mounting: Floor The "Mounting" specification refers to how the robot is installed or positioned in its working environment. In this case, the KAWASAKI NTJ20 Wafer Transfer Robot is designed to be mounted on the floor. This mounting type suggests that the robot is placed directly on the manufacturing floor or work surface, allowing it to maneuver and interact with nearby equipment and processes.
The F60 robot controller: The controller boasts a compact and lightweight design. This design characteristic is particularly advantageous in industrial settings where space may be limited or the controller needs to be easily integrated into existing work environments.
K-FAST S/W: Offline programming streamlines setup and helps users visualize your application, while other tools help with day-to-day programming and monitoring to keep robots running smoothly.
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