Business briefs

29 Nov 2002

Including news from Alcatel Optronics, Bookham Technology, Jenoptik, International Sematech and more.

•  US-based Agility Communications, Alcatel Optronics of France and Bookham Technology, UK, have jointly agreed to set industry standards for tunable lasers used in dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) systems. The agreement specifies a small-form-factor plug-in subsystem, including a tunable continuous-wave laser with embedded electronics for automatic wavelength setting and locking. The three companies will develop fully-compatible tunable sources.

•  Jenoptik of Germany is anticipating a drop in annual sales and net income compared with last year. Having initially predicted flat results, the company now says that project delays in its clean systems business will see sales fall to EURO 1.6 billion in 2002, EURO 0.4 billion less than expected. As a result, net income is estimated to be between EURO 40 million and EURO 50 million. Jenoptik expects sales to rise in 2003.

•  Olympus Integrated Technologies, US, has teamed up with International Sematech (ISMT) to develop deep-UV imaging technology for inspecting semiconductor wafers. "Our goal is to resolve defects and features that we previously could only see with a SEM-based tool," said Dale Sheu, ISMT's project manager.

•  US-based ESI has received a USD 3.1 million order to supply Samsung Electro-Mechanics with an undisclosed number of its UV-laser microvia drilling systems. The units will be shipped to Samsung's Korean facility this month and used to make of multi-layered circuit boards, ball-grid arrays and flip-chip components.

•  CEDIP Infrared Systems, the French maker of thermal imaging equipment, has named US-based Electrophysics as its exclusive North American distributor. "Electrophysics is very strong in the infrared marketplace. This partnership will enable us to significantly strengthen our position in the US and help us achieve penetration of our products and technologies," said CEDIP's president, Pierre Potet.