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Press Release

Azores Releases "Green" Grid Technology

April 16, 2009 - WILMINGTON, MA - Azores Corp, a leading manufacturer of advanced photolithography steppers for mobile display and x-ray sensor applications, has incorporated a new "Green” Grid Stage technology into its advanced photolithography systems. The “Green” Grid Stage slashes power requirements by more than 99%, allowing manufacturers to reduce their operational energy consumption and increase process speeds and accuracy.

Azores’ “Green” Grid Stage employs four grid motors that use a mere 27 watts of total power and do not require separate cooling, further reducing energy usage. The new stage also features an integrated stage body that is more than 70% lighter than previous generation stages. With less mass to move and a lowered center of gravity, the grid motors boost stage motion by saving more than 20% of move time (for a 250 mm step move), improve settle performance, and increase stage stability.

In addition to the lower power consumption and enhanced speed and accuracy, the “Green” Grid Stage has been engineered with a low surface area pin chuck to minimize harmful Electrostatic Discharge (ESD). The stage also utilizes frictionless air bearing technology that minimizes wear and virtually eliminates the need for periodic maintenance.

“At Azores, we continually strive to design efficiencies into our technology that allow a manufacturer to improve their production processes while reducing costs,” said Elvino da Silveira, President and CEO. “This “Green” Grid Stage technology enables the level of precision and performance required to produce next generation flat panel displays with the high resolution, color, clarity, and brightness that consumers demand.”

The “Green” Grid Stage is available on all Azores’ step-and-repeat photolithography printers, for Generation 3.5 up to Generation 4.5 applications flat panel displays for PDAs, cellular phones, and digital cameras. The systems feature high performance projection lenses that enable high-resolution imaging down to 1.5 µm and depth of focus of more than 9 µm. Azores lenses produce up to a 200 mm large field, allowing as many as nine displays with integrated drivers to be shot in under .20 seconds, dramatically enhancing throughput. The printers also feature small footprints and low-cost reticles for an affordable manufacturing process.

Downloadable File

Azores Green Grid Stage PR 041609.pdf