News Archive
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Presto Engineering Announces Opening of New Hub in Israel Through Its Acquisition of ITH's Assets
January 24, 2012
New Israeli operation to offer comprehensive testing, reliability and FA services San Jose, Calif. and Migdal HaEmek, Israel, January 24, 2011 - Presto "Israel continues to be a premier market for microelectronics, especially in the area Victor Orland, ITH founder and CEO commented: "ITH has been successfully serving the "Our goal is to offer full continuity of the existing services, by maintaining the
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TowerJazz and Presto Engineering Announce Strategic Collaboration for SiGe Foundry Customers
September 27, 2011
Presto's Hubs support integrated test and production services for SiGe designs targeting rapidly growing high speed communications market NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. and SAN JOSE, Calif., September 27, 2011 - TowerJazz, the global specialty foundry leader, and Presto Engineering, the leader in integrated test and product engineering services, today announced a strategic collaboration to deliver comprehensive services for companies developing high speed communications products utilizing SiGe technology from TowerJazz. The alliance between Presto and TowerJazz covers wafer-level and packaged part development activities, spanning the space from design characterization to volume production, probing and final test. Foundry customers of TowerJazz now have access to the full range of semiconductor services from the Presto Engineering Hubs located in Silicon Valley, Europe and Israel. “We have seen a significant growth in design starts for high-speed communications devices, driven in part by expansion of 100 Gigabit networks and the shift to E-band wireless infrastructure systems. Time-to-volume production is key in these fast-growing markets and having a proven SiGe test and product engineering solution will be vital for our common customers’ success. We look forward to working closely with the TowerJazz foundry team to make that a reality,” stated Dr. Michel Villemain, Presto Engineering founder and CEO. “Combining our leading position in SiGe process technology with collaborations such as the one announced today with Presto, provides our customers the ability to speed product development of new communication products,” said Dr. Marco Racanelli, Senior Vice President and General Manager, RF and High Performance Analog Business Group. “Presto’s Hub locations in the US and Israel are also well-suited to our global footprint that now includes 8-inch fabs in the US, Israel and Japan.” The demand for high-speed interconnects continues to exceed industry analyst expectations, according to Dell'Oro Group. As cited in their recent report, the adoption of 100 gigabit solutions is occurring faster than that of 40 gigabit, driving projected revenues to nearly $1 billion by 2013 and $2 billion by 2015. TowerJazz’s enhanced SiGe BiCMOS technology is aimed at replacing GaAs components in high growth markets such as high speed communications. SiGe provides significant integration and cost advantage over GaAs with demonstrated performance of up to 200GHz as well as noise and power performance that is competitive with GaAs while offering as much as 40% lower die cost. Also included are CMOS options to enable mixed-signal and digital functions on the same chip further reducing cost of the complete system. Presto offers TowerJazz customers comprehensive RF testing services in Ka-Band and E-Band, including both frequency and time-domain tests, noise, and power measurements, jitter, phase noise and bit-error-rate (BERT) measurements. The Presto Hubs complement their test services with test program generation, special probe technology development for RF applications, probecards and load board realization. Besides test, Presto Engineering offers comprehensive turn-key solutions including qualification (reliability testing for temperature, environmental and electrical stresses) both physical and electrical fault isolation and failure analysis, all the way to supply chain management. About TowerJazz’s latest High Speed SiGe process SBC18H3 is TowerJazz’s third generation 0.18um SiGe technology and offers transistors with 240GHz Ft and 260GHz Fmax in a cost-effective and analog-friendly 0.18um node. IP of high-speed components such as TIAs, Laser Drivers, SerDes, CDRs from H2 and HX can be readily ported to the new H3 process since they are all in the same 0.18um node, allowing them to benefit from improved performance as well as reduced power consumption and noise. Meet TowerJazz and Presto Engineering at Upcoming Industry Events Presto Engineering and TowerJazz will be exhibiting at upcoming industry conferences, inviting attendees to obtain further technical information about the SiGe foundry technology and Presto’s product engineering and production services: GSA Ecosystem - October 6, 2011, Santa Clara, CA European Microwave Week - October 11-13, 2011, Manchester, England TowerJazz Global Symposium - November 3, 2011, Newport Beach, CA About Presto Engineering Presto Engineering, an ISO 9001 company, delivers comprehensive test and product engineering solutions to IDM and fabless companies. Operating from hubs in Silicon Valley, Europe and Israel, our business is focused on helping to improve the speed and predictability of new product releases. Presto combines unique technical expertise, extensive industry experience and supply chain management, with leading edge ATE for SoC and RF, reliability, FIB, and FA/FI services to offer a complete product engineering solution designed to complement our customer’s internal resources. More information can be found at www.presto-eng.com About TowerJazz Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (NASDAQ: TSEM, TASE: TSEM), the global specialty foundry leader, its fully owned U.S. subsidiary Jazz Semiconductor, Inc. and its fully owned Japanese subsidiary TowerJazz Japan, LTD, operate collectively under the brand name TowerJazz, manufacturing integrated circuits with geometries ranging from 1.0 to 0.13-micron. TowerJazz provides industry leading design enablement tools to allow complex designs to be achieved quickly and more accurately and offers a broad range of customizable process technologies including SiGe, BiCMOS, Mixed-Signal and RFCMOS, CMOS Image Sensor, Power Management (BCD), and Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) as well as MEMS capabilities. To provide multi-fab sourcing, TowerJazz maintains two manufacturing facilities in Israel, one in the U.S., and one in Japan with additional capacity available in China through manufacturing partnerships. For more information, please visit www.towerjazz.com. Safe Harbor Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may
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Presto Names Moshe Zalcberg as VP/GM Israel
August 29, 2011
Newly established Israeli operation to address demand for leading-edge semiconductor services SAN JOSE, Calif. and HERZELIA, Israel - August 29, 2011 --- Presto Engineering, a leading semiconductor product engineering company, announced today the appointment of Moshe Zalcberg as VP/GM of the newly established Presto Engineering Ltd in Israel. Zalcberg will be responsible for managing the expansion of Presto's world-class operations with the establishment of a new hub in Israel to address the challenges faced by the local semiconductor design and development community. "Moshe comes to Presto with recognized leadership skills and great knowledge of the Israeli market," stated Dr. Michel Villemain, Presto Engineering founder and CEO. "The rapid expansion of companies targeting the high speed communications sector with leading-edge designs will require a new level of service and support expertise. I'm delighted to have Moshe on-board to address the Israeli market needs." Zalcberg has more than 20 years of experience in the semiconductor and design automation industries, having spent the past 12 years of his career at Cadence Design Systems, most recently as General Manager of Israeli operations. He is an electrical engineering graduate of the Technion Israel Institute of Technology and holds an MSc in Electronics and an MBA from Tel Aviv University. "The Israeli semiconductor industry is well known for its design innovation. I'm pleased to lead Presto's activities in Israel and contribute to the local community with rich experience in product engineering, that results in a timely introduction of high-quality products to the market,' said Zalcberg. About Presto Engineering Presto Engineering offers integrated test and product engineering solutions to IDM and fabless companies. Operating from hubs in Silicon Valley and Europe, our business is focused on helping to improve the speed and predictability of new product releases. Presto combines unique technical expertise, extensive industry experience and leading edge ATE for SoC and RF/mmWave, along with reliability, FIB, FA/FI services to offer a complete product engineering solution designed to complement our customer's internal resources. |
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Presto Becomes Member of LaMIPS
February 23, 2011
Focus on RF/Microwave, SoC and SiP Materials and Analysis Caen, France and San Jose, California - February 23, 2011 - Following the announcement in 2010 of the opening of its new technical services Hub in Caen, France, integrating the acquired assets from NXP Semiconductors, Presto Engineering today announced its entry as an active member in the Laboratory of MIcroelectronics and Physics of Semiconductors (LaMIPS). Created in 2007, the LaMIPS was originally a common research laboratory for NXP Semiconductors and the CRISMAT Laboratory (specialized in crystallography and materials science) - a University laboratory recognized internationally in the fields of the synthesis and characterization of materials. It was the successor to the LaMIPS, which was established in 2000 to address the new challenges induced by the miniaturization of electronic components. Today the LaMIPS works specifically on issues related to the adoption of new complex embedded systems, including the System-in-Package (SiP) and the Systems-on-Chip (SoC). Its research interests revolve around two themes: - Materials for Microelectronics: innovative methods in characterization and analysis of microelectronic systems - Characterization, modeling, design, Architecture and materials for RF and microwave. These themes, in particular semiconductor materials, are consistent with the research and development roadmaps of Presto Engineering, whose core mission is to be constantly at the forefront of technologies driving its semiconductor services for testing, reliability, isolation of defects and failure analysis, known as "ITPE": Integrated Test & Product Engineering. This type of partnership-linked through common laboratories allows Presto Engineering to deliver expertise on advanced components with high added value, particularly in the fields of RF and 3-D semiconductor technology. Presto Engineering entering the LaMIPS has been endorsed by partners of origin, including NXP Semiconductors, the ENSICAEN, CNRS and the University of Caen Basse-Normandie. Like Presto Engineering, the LaMIPS is a partner of the poles of competitiveness MOV'EO and TES, as well as a number of major academic and industrial organizations. Presto Engineering will be represented in the governance of the common laboratory by Jean-Noel Palazin, named Deputy Director, alongside Philippe Descamps from CRISMAT, Director, and Patrice Gamand, Deputy Director representing NXP. Mr. Palazin, who has 33 years of experience in various leadership positions at Philips and NXP, and who was responsible for the creation of LaMIPS in 2007, continues to work with Presto Engineering as Advisor to the Directorate, responsible for external relations and partnerships. About the CRISMAT The Laboratory of Crystallography and Materials Science [CRISMAT] is a mixed Research Unit (nr 6508) of CNRS / ENSICAEN / University of Caen Basse-Normandie. As a trans-disciplinary lab at the interface of the chemistry of solid science of materials and the physics of solid, the CRISMAT is attached to the National Institute of chemistry and physics of CNRS. Its vocation is to contribute to technological innovation in the fields of energy and information and communication technologies by combining basic research of very high-level and applicative research. The lab is internationally recognized for its ability to discover new oxides with remarkable properties such as superconductivity, colossal magneto resistance and thermal. These new materials design relies on approach the atom to the macroscopic multi-scale permitted by the use of electron transmission. The CRISMAT is a founding member of the Centre National de research technological materials of Basse-Normandie (Mixed Service unit CNRT / ENSICAEN/CNRS/Caen Basse Normandy University/ The Havre University) for aid to editing and partnering projects particularly in the fields of thermoelectric and composite materials. About NXP Semiconductors NXP Semiconductors N.V. (Nasdaq: NXPI) provides High Performance Mixed Signal and Standard Product solutions that leverage its leading RF, Analog, Power Management, Interface, Security and Digital Processing expertise. These innovations are used in a wide range of automotive, identification, wireless infrastructure, lighting, industrial, mobile, consumer and computing applications. Headquartered in Europe, the company has approximately 28,000 employees working in more than 25 countries and posted revenues of USD 3.8 billion in 2009. For more information, visit www.nxp.com About Presto Engineering Presto Engineering introduced the labless business model to the semiconductor industry in 2007 when it acquired Cypress Semiconductor's product-engineering lab and created a hub of analytical capabilities in Silicon Valley. In 2010, the first European Hub was opened when Presto acquired the NXP product-engineering lab infrastructure in Normandy, France. The company helps IDMs and fabless customers improve new device predictability and time to market by complementing their internal resources with comprehensive chip testing and analysis services. Supported by unique technical experience and extensive industry exposure, Presto's product-engineering services include RF and 3D semiconductor integration and state-of-the-art ATE, reliability testing, failure analysis and fault-isolation. Presto Engineering, an ISO 9001 company, is based in San Jose, California, and has multiple operations in Europe. Additional information is available on the company's website at www.presto-engineering.com. |
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Presto Becomes IBM Business Partner for SiGe Testing
February 8, 2011
Presto attains Ready for IBM Technology status for testing of IBM SiGe BiCMOS devices SAN JOSE, Calif., February 8, 2011 --- Presto Engineering, a leading semiconductor product engineering company, announced today that the company has become an IBM Business Partner and has been awarded Ready for IBM Technology validation for RF test services. Foundry customers can gain access to highly specialized RF testing services from the Presto Engineering Hub located in Silicon Valley. The Ready for IBM Technology program is a collaborative ecosystem of companies that enables IBM to complement its semiconductor capabilities and provide complete foundry solutions to clients. This ecosystem can help IBM’s foundry customers speed time to market, reduce development risk, lower development costs and improve return on investment by identifying IP, design and manufacturing solutions that have been tested and validated for compatibility with IBM Foundry technologies. IBM Business Partners in the Ready for IBM Technology program support a comprehensive set of solutions, including RF design services, digital design services, libraries, mixed signal IP cores, nonvolatile memory, reference flows, simulation tools, test and packaging services. The Ready for IBM Technology foundry program was launched in 2002, and since that time more than 30 companies have been awarded Ready for IBM Technology certification. “High frequency testing, characterization and debug are vital to the timely release of products, especially in the rapidly evolving communications segment of the semiconductor industry. Our team has demonstrated technical excellence in supporting customer projects incorporating IBM SiGe technology, for both wafer-level and packaged units, enabling our company to become an IBM business partner. We are pleased to be part of the IBM Microelectronics supply chain and welcome the opportunity to service our joint customer’s newest SiGe devices, spanning first silicon characterization through to production testing,” stated Dr. Michel Villemain, Presto Engineering founder and CEO. The Presto Hubs offer customers the ability to use high frequency test and measurement equipment, as well as leading edge RF-ATE; Roos Instruments Cassini platform, supporting DC to 100GHz source and measure, and the Verigy 93K Port Scale RF test system. Presto technical staff can also assist with test program development, probe card design utilizing GGB and Cascade Microtech high frequency probe systems, load board development and automatic handler support. Additional Hub services offered by Presto include stress testing required for engineering and product qualification, covering reliability testing for temperature, environmental and electrical stresses, as well as both physical and electrical fault isolation and failure analysis. About Presto Engineering Presto Engineering, an ISO 9001 company, delivers “ Design Success Analysis”, integrated test and product engineering solutions to IDM and fabless companies. Operating from hubs in Silicon Valley and Europe, our business is focused on helping to improve the speed and predictability of new product releases. Presto combines unique technical expertise, extensive industry experience and leading edge ATE for SoC and RF, along with reliability, FIB, FA/FI services to offer a complete product engineering solution designed to complement our customer’s internal resources. More information can be found at www.presto-eng.com |
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Presto Receives Funding to Fuel Growth to Service the Worldwide Semi Industry
January 21, 2011
New Investment Enables Further Expansion of Presto's Integrated Test and Product Engineering Solutions SAN JOSE, Calif. And GRENOBLE, France Jan. 21, 2011 Presto Engineering Inc., the pioneer of the labless business model for semiconductor companies, announced today that it has received US$6 million in funding to support its expansion and future growth in servicing the worldwide semiconductor industry. This round of funding was led by CM-CIC Capital Prive and included existing investor Masseran Gestion. Operating from Hubs in Silicon Valley, Grenoble and Normandy, Presto delivers product engineering services and hardware to IDMs and fabless vendors, from first-silicon characterization to product release and testing. Presto is currently engaged in a multi-year collaboration with CEA-Leti to develop test and analysis capabilities for 3-D/TSV devices. The new funding will enable the company to further strengthen its services for RF and 3-D semiconductor integration from the existing Hubs and for regional expansion of new Hubs. "We're extremely excited to help expand the business, as Presto has demonstrated an impressive track record of revenue growth, operational management and customer momentum. It is clear to us that the company is poised to be a major player in the semiconductor industry supply chain on a worldwide basis," stated Alexandre Azan, Director of Investments, CM-CIC Capital Prive. Like the fabless business model that has changed the nature of chipmaking, Presto's labless model enables chip companies to outsource critical functions that require high rates of capital investment, substantial facility space, and specialized personnel. This reduces costs and frees up corporate resources for their core business of designing advanced devices and bringing them to market. Presto maintains hubs with state-of-the-art lab capabilities, staffed by experienced engineers and scientists; their work on a wide range of leading-edge chip projects enables Presto to offer world-class testing capabilities and insightful advice during the critical late stages of product development, thus accelerating time to market. "We are very pleased to have CM-CIC join our group of investors, as well as receiving increased confidence from Masseran Gestion. We see this as a strong endorsement of our labless strategy and will assist us as we expand our services model to the major semiconductor regions around the globe," stated Michel Villemain, founder and CEO of Presto Engineering. "In a little more than a year, Presto has established a strong presence in the European semiconductor community. We look forward to working alongside CM-CIC and the Presto management team to chart a course for further penetration of the semiconductor industry," stated David Manjarres, deputy general manager of Masseran Gestion and a member of Presto's board of directors. About CM-CIC Capital Prive CM-CIC Capital Prive manages 400 million euros of mutualized venture capital funds invested mainly in technology companies all over France. Further information can be found at the company website, www.cmciccapitalprive.com About Masseran Gestion Masseran Gestion, a subsidiary of GCE Capital (Groupe BPCE), manages venture capital funds dedicated to technology companies, from start-up to mature, innovative SMEs or industrial spin-offs. Additional information is available on the company's website at www.masseran.com About Presto Engineering Presto Engineering introduced the labless business model to the semiconductor industry in 2007 when it acquired Cypress Semiconductor's product-engineering lab and created a hub of analytical capabilities in Silicon Valley. In 2010, the first European Hub was opened when Presto acquired the NXP product-engineering lab infrastructure in Normandy, France. The company helps IDMs and fabless customers improve new device predictability and time to market by complementing their internal resources with comprehensive chip testing and analysis services. Supported by unique technical experience and extensive industry exposure, Presto's product-engineering services include RF and 3D integration and state-of-the-art ATE, reliability testing, failure analysis and fault-isolation. Presto Engineering, an ISO 9001 company, is based in San Jose, California, and has multiple operations in Europe. Additional information is available on the company's website at www.presto-eng.com. |
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WIN Semiconductors and Presto Announce Strategic Collaboration for GaAs Testing Services
September 1, 2010
Presto’s Hubs in Silicon Valley and Europe to support characterization and production testing of GaAs MMIC and RF Devices TAIPEI, Taiwan and SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 1, 2010 --- WIN Semiconductors Corp., the world’s largest pure-play Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) foundry, and Presto Engineering, a leading semiconductor product engineering company, today announced a strategic collaboration to deliver characterization and testing services for companies developing products utilizing GaAs technology from WIN. The agreement covers wafer-level and packaged part development activities, including design characterization and production testing. Customers of WIN Semiconductors can now gain access to these highly specialized GaAs testing services from the Presto Engineering Hubs in Silicon Valley and in Grenoble, France. ”As WIN continues to see strong growth in its major market sectors it is committed to providing cost-effective solutions that meet customers’ needs. The collaboration between WIN and Presto Engineering is that type of innovative approach that provides our customers with a one-stop solution for fab, characterization and testing services” stated Brian Lee, WIN’s VP of Sales and Marketing. “We are seeing a significant increase in our RF services business, driven by the overwhelming demand on the semiconductor industry to deliver innovative devices to meet the needs for increased communication bandwidth and cost-effectiveness. Our staff is looking forward to working closely with the WIN team, as time-to-production will be critical for our mutual customer’s success,” stated Dr. Michel Villemain, Presto Engineering founder and CEO. The Presto Hubs offer customers the ability to use high frequency test and measurement equipment (e.g. network analyzer, pattern generator, BERT), as well as leading edge RF-ATE; Roos Instruments Cassini platform, supporting DC to 100GHz source and measure, and the Verigy 93K Port Scale RF test system. Presto technical staff can also assist with test program development, probe card design utilizing GGB and Cascade Microtech high frequency probe systems, load board development and automatic handler support. Additional Hub services offered by Presto include stress testing required for engineering and product qualification, covering reliability testing for temperature, environmental and electrical stresses, as well as both physical and electrical fault isolation and failure analysis. Meet WIN and Presto Engineering at Upcoming Industry Events Presto Engineering and WIN Semiconductors will be exhibiting at upcoming industry conferences, inviting attendees to obtain further technical information about GaAs foundry and testing services: Semicon Taiwan September 8-10, 2010, Taipei, Taiwan WIN booth #2733, Presto booth #1419
GSA Suppliers Expo September 16, 2010, Santa Clara, CA Presto booth #219
European Microwave Week September 28-30, 2010, Paris, France WIN booth #97, Presto booth #9 About Presto Engineering Presto Engineering, an ISO 9001 company, delivers “ Design Success Analysis”, integrated test and product engineering solutions to IDM and fabless companies. Operating from hubs in Silicon Valley and Europe, our business is focused on helping to improve the speed and predictability of new product releases. Presto combines unique technical expertise, extensive industry experience and leading edge ATE for SoC and RF, along with reliability, FIB, FA/FI services to offer a complete product engineering solution designed to complement our customer’s internal resources. More information can be found at www.presto-eng.com About WIN Semiconductors Corp: WIN Semiconductors Corp., founded in 1999, was the first pure-play 6-inch GaAs foundry in the world, has established an advanced GaAs wafer fab in recognition of the growing demand for low cost manufacturing of high speed and high quality GaAs MMIC’s (monolithic microwave ICs) and RFIC’s (radio frequency ICs). WIN provides dedicated foundry services to design houses as well as IDM partners. WIN supplies HBT and pHEMT MMIC fabrication services to worldwide IC manufacturers, using state-of-the-art GaAs process technology. For more details, go to www.winfoundry.com |
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Presto Engineering and CEA-Leti to Develop Test and Analysis Capability for 3D Semiconductor Devices
April 20, 2010
SAN JOSE, Calif., and GRENOBLE, France — Presto Engineering Inc., a pioneer of the labless business model for bringing semiconductor products into volume production, and CEA-Leti today announced that they have begun a three-year collaboration to develop test and analysis capability for 3D semiconductor devices. The project, a common lab that will include Presto's new R&D center at CEA-Leti, will focus on extending the company's test, reliability and failure analysis solutions to through-silicon vias (TSVs), the interconnects between levels on 3D devices. "IDMs and fabless companies are increasingly outsourcing critical test and analysis functions. The adoption of 3D technologies will fuel this trend and product engineering will require new skills, reliable processes and specialized equipment," said Michel Villemain, CEO of Presto Engineering. "CEA-Leti has industry-leading expertise in 3D integration, advanced interconnects and TSVs, and by working side by side with CEA-Leti's experts, Presto will build on our proven product engineering capabilities for the arrival of TSVs." Presto's R&D program with CEA-Leti is focused on:
The common lab will make the ATE and debug process as well as the product engineering platform available for third parties. "This partnership with Presto is a natural complement to CEA-Leti's many 3D integration projects and joint labs," said Laurent Malier, CEO of CEA-Leti. "We will identify the key challenges of 3D product engineering, so semiconductor manufacturers will have reliable, state-of-the-art test and analysis options when they are ready to go to market with 3D devices that feature TSVs." In addition to its broad goals, the joint lab will enable Presto to develop critical test and analysis techniques, such as probing specific areas of TSVs without affecting the device itself. "Testing 3D-IC prototypes will require detecting, recognizing and understanding the failure modes, and mechanisms through their electrical signature," said Cédric Mayor, R&D director for Presto Engineering Europe, a subsidiary of Presto Engineering Inc. "Faulty TSVs may have many root causes that have to be investigated and catalogued in such a way that our ultimate test program and diagnostic tool detect them efficiently." Presto, which recently opened a hub in Caen, France, offers enhanced RF and 3D-integration expertise and advanced test, reliability, fault-isolation and failure-analysis services. Its Design Success Analysis™ offering includes first-silicon validation, as well as characterization of new processes, new designs, and process transfers. About Presto Engineering Presto Engineering introduced the labless business model to the semiconductor industry in 2007 when it acquired Cypress Semiconductor's product-engineering lab. The company helps IDMs and fabless customers improve new device predictability and speed to market by complementing their internal resources with comprehensive chip test and analysis. Supported by unique technical skills and extensive industry experience, Presto's product-engineering services include RF and 3D integration and state-of-the-art ATE, reliability testing, failure analysis and fault isolation. The company recently expanded into Europe by acquiring lab infrastructure of NXP Semiconductor in Caen, France, and establishing a subsidiary Presto Engineering Europe. Presto Engineering, an ISO 9001 company, is based in San Jose, Calif. About CEA-Leti CEA is a French research and technology public organization, with activities in three main areas: energy, technologies for information and healthcare, and defence and security. Within CEA, the Laboratory for Electronics & Information Technology (CEA-Leti) works with companies in order to increase their competitiveness through technological innovation and transfers. CEA-Leti is focused on micro and nanotechnologies and their applications, from wireless devices and systems, to biology and healthcare or photonics. Nanoelectronics and microsystems (MEMS) are at the core of its activities. As a major player in MINATEC excellence centre, CEA-Leti operates 8,000-m² state-of-the-art clean rooms, on 24/7 mode, on 200mm and 300mm wafer standards. With 1,200 employees, CEA-Leti trains more than 150 Ph.D. students and hosts 200 assignees from partner companies. Strongly committed to the creation of value for the industry, CEA-Leti puts a strong emphasis on intellectual property and owns more than 1,400 patent families. In 2008, contractual income covered more than 75 percent of its budget worth 205 M€. For more information, visit www.leti.fr. |
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Presto Engineering Offering Semiconductor Test And Analysis Services in New European Hub
February 16, 2010
Company Brings Labless Business Model to Europe Via Acquisition of Equipment and Infrastructure from NXP.
SAN JOSE, Calif. ― Presto Engineering Inc., a pioneer of the labless business model for bringing semiconductor products into volume production, announced today the opening of its new services hub in Caen, France. The new hub, which includes equipment and infrastructure acquired from NXP Semiconductors' facility in Caen, offers comprehensive failure analysis and reliability testing for semiconductor companies in Europe and Israel. The hub will be operated by Presto Engineering Europe. The recently formed subsidiary has named Patrick Poirier director of operations at the new facility and Neji Sanaa director of sales. Presto's state-of-the-art capabilities include enhanced RF and 3D-integration expertise and advanced test, reliability, fault-isolation and failure-analysis services. By outsourcing these steps, chip companies are able to cut costs and free resources for their core business. Bringing an advanced chip design into silicon requires a variety of advanced test and analytical techniques. Presto's Design Success Analysis™ offering eases this process by providing first-silicon validation, as well as characterization of new processes, new designs, and process transfers. Capabilities include comprehensive custom ATE hardware interfaces (such as load modules, probe cards, DUT cards and thermal interfaces) and product-engineering services. More broadly, Presto can proactively and reactively address a variety of design-to-manufacturing challenges. Presto's product debug services include ATE-coupled in-silicon analytical capabilities, with extensive backside silicon analysis; additional release-acceleration offerings include reliability services. The company's hubs can also maximize the utility of expensive test chips and engineering, validating simulation results and characterizing timing, power, leakage, and other parameters. "This new facility is the springboard for Presto's expansion into Europe and our introduction of the labless model to that key market, which includes some of the world's top fabless design houses, fab lines, and other members of the semiconductor community," said Michel Villemain, CEO of Presto Engineering. "For the first time, European chip companies have access to a state-of-the-art lab with a staff of highly skilled engineers and technology specialists offering advanced outsourced test and analysis capabilities," said operations director Poirier. "We are open for business and we invite Europe's diverse chip companies to meet with us and see how we can help assure the success of their next product." Poirier has more than 20 years of experience in the electronics and microelectronics industries, including management positions with Philips/NXP. From 2005 to 2010, he oversaw the NXP Semiconductors reliability and failure analysis lab. At NXP, he and Jean-Noël Palazin led the lab externalization project that resulted in the acquisition by Presto. Palazin, with 33 years experience at various management positions with Philips and NXP, will continue to serve Presto Engineering Europe as a consultant in charge of External relations and Partnerships. Sanaa, director of sales for Presto Engineering Europe, has more than 21 years of management experience in ATE. In more than a dozen years at Schlumberger, he worked with all the company's ATE products. In 2000, Sanaa was named head of Schlumberger's services and DCG application business unit. In 2005, he headed the combined service business units of NPTest and Credence, which had annual revenue of $20 million from business in Europe, North America and Asia. Meet with Presto Engineering Europe at DATE2010 Conference in Germany About Presto Engineering |
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Presto Engineering Receives Venture Funding To Expand its Pioneering Labless Strategy into Europe
January 14, 2010
Investment Enables Presto to Open Product Analysis Hub in France; RF and 3D-integration Technologies Will Be Expanded.
SAN JOSE, Calif. ― Presto Engineering Inc., the pioneer of the labless business model for semiconductor companies, announced today that it has received $2 million in funding to support its expansion and future growth in Europe. The investment from Masseran Gestion, a French equity investor in technology companies and innovative startups, will support Presto's expansion in Europe and its ongoing investment in new RF and 3D-integration technologies. These actions will enable the company to further strengthen its product engineering services to the semiconductor industry, as it provides an alternative to companies' internal analysis labs. Like the fabless business model that has changed the nature of chipmaking, Presto's labless model enables chip companies to outsource critical functions that require high rates of capital investment, substantial facility space and specialized personnel. This reduces costs and frees up corporate resources for their core business of designing advanced devices and bringing them to market. Presto maintains hubs with state-of-the-art lab capabilities and cadres of experienced engineers and scientists; their work on a wide range of leading-edge chip projects enables Presto to offer both world-class measurement capabilities and insightful advice during the critical late stages of product development, thus accelerating time to market. In addition to enhanced RF and 3D-integration expertise, Presto provides leading-edge test, reliability, fault-isolation and failure-analysis services. Presto's first European hub will be in Caen, France, where it will acquire lab infrastructure from NXP Semiconductor. "Masseran Gestion's investment validates Presto's labless business strategy with the financial endorsement of a venture fund," said Michel Villemain, CEO of Presto. "It also gives our company the means to expand our strategy and services to Europe, establish economies of scale in our hubs and accelerate our growth in a vital semiconductor market." "This is a logical, strategic move by Presto for many reasons, including the strong lab culture in Europe, where semiconductor companies are accustomed to partnering with labs," said David Manjarres, deputy general manager of Masseran Gestion and a new member of Presto's board of directors. "Moreover, by working with multiple customers on a variety of challenges and situations, Presto's team will build a knowledge base that is virtually unmatched in the semiconductor industry." Through its French-based subsidiary, Presto Engineering EUROPE, the company will aggressively pursue commercialization opportunities on the Continent and build a corporate infrastructure that will make it the ideal externalization partner for Europe's semiconductor companies. About Masseran Gestion About Presto Engineering |
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NXP and Presto Engineering establish new technical services activities in Caen
December 17, 2009
CAEN, FRANCE ― Following its re-industrialization efforts that had started in 2008, NXP announced today a new entity on its site of Caen Côte de Nacre which will provide technical services aimed at improving the quality of semiconductors.
Following the analysis of several options and propositions, NXP selected the solution that combines a project from two company executives and the purchase of assets by Presto Engineering, a California-based company specialized in semiconductors services. This new entity, which could start as early as February 2010, strengthens and speeds the deployment of Presto in France through its Presto Engineering Europe subsidiary. "Thanks to expertise coming from NXP and the partnership agreements in place with the different research labs, this deal is a great opportunity to continue further our "Labless" model while showcasing a unique know-how," said Michel Villemain, CEO of Presto Engineering. Jean-Yves Muller, CEO of NXP France commented: "The know-how of our specialists will enable Presto Engineering to become a worldwide center of excellence in Caen for physical analysis of RF products. This is a great solution to maintain highly-qualified jobs in Caen." The new entity received support from the Basse Normandie region and from the county of Caen-la-Mer and plans to hire 20 people at the start. Activities will include a lab for test and analysis, an engineering team, marketing, sales and support activities. About NXP Semiconductors About Presto Engineering |
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Presto Engineering and Roos Instruments Announce Collaboration for RF Product Engineering Services
September 16, 2009
Extensive Technical Services for Microwave and Millimeter Wave Product Engineering and RF Testing Available from Lab in Silicon Valley
SAN JOSE, CALIF ― Presto Engineering, Inc., a provider of product engineering services to the semiconductor industry, and Roos Instruments, Inc., a leading manufacturer of high performance microwave and mmWave automated test equipment for RF semiconductor and module manufacturers, announce the establishment of a technical services collaboration. The joint effort allows Presto Engineering to offer the Roos Instruments' Cassini RF automated test solution from its Silicon Valley hub. The combined technical services of Presto Engineering and Roos Instruments will address the needs of RF product development teams by delivering services in the area of test program development, ATE load board and probe card design and lab-based testing and characterization for their new devices and modules. "Applications of mmWave ICs for automotive radar, wireless HD TV, and high bandwidth point to point LAN/PAN are emerging segments which require the most advanced RFIC test capabilities. Roos Instruments has continued to lead in providing RF test technology for both characterization and high volume manufacturing. We look forward to providing this new service to the market," stated Dr. Michel Villemain, Presto Engineering founder and CEO. "Most of the industry is at a point where they need to evaluate early product versions and make sample production runs. This is a great fit for the services Presto offers, enabling the market to have direct hands-on access to the industry's most advanced RF ATE capabilities during the critical stages of new product development," stated Mark Roos, CEO, Roos Instruments. About Cassini Meet with Roos and Presto at Upcoming Industry Events
About Roos Instruments About Presto Engineering |
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Presto Engineering Awarded ISO 9001 Certification
January 6, 2009
Labless Semiconductor Services Compliant with International Quality Management System Standard SAN JOSE, CALIF ― Presto Engineering, Inc., a provider of product engineering services to the semiconductor industry, announced that it has recently achieved ISO 9001 certification. The scope of the certification covers Presto's semiconductor product engineering services. The ISO 9001 standard specifies processes and procedures an organization must follow to maintain consistently high levels of quality. The certification is recognized in well over 100 countries and has a proven track record of leading companies to enhanced operations and improved performance and quality. "Presto was founded with the mission of delivering unique product engineering services and superior technical support to IDM and fabless IC vendors worldwide. Utilizing our ‘labless engineering' business model, we've been able to assist semiconductor vendors achieve significant cost savings in their product development cycles," stated Dr. Michel Villemain, Presto's founder and CEO. "Attaining ISO 9001 certification is an important corporate milestone, reflecting our commitment to continuous improvement and our dedication to delivering outstanding customer experiences." |
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Presto Engineering Strengthens Corporate Infrastructure with Expanded Board
December 18, 2008
Seasoned Executives from the Service Industry join the Board of Directors to help expand Presto’s unique labless model for semiconductor companies SAN JOSE, CALIF ― Presto Engineering, Inc., a provider of product engineering services to the semiconductor industry, announced today that Hervé Goguely and Xavier Wartelle have both joined Peter Courture and Michel Villemain to the company’s Board of Directors. Hervé Goguely has been elected non-executive Chairman, bringing to the Presto Engineering board a wealth of experience spanning over 30 years in engineering, technology and high growth businesses. “With the recent turmoil in the industry, our vision of a labless model has been accelerated, as more and more companies appreciate the importance of protecting cash, and find new ways of preserving their technical edge without investing into expensive equipment” said Michel Villemain, Presto’s founder and CEO. “I am very pleased that Presto and I will now benefit from Hervé’s and Xavier’s business vision, executive expertise and considerable network.” “The semiconductor industry is reaching a point where structural transitions will be required in order to remain competitive and profitable” added Hervé Goguely. “I have seen and participated in such drive to vertical disintegration in other industries, and I like Presto’s first-mover position in that regards. I am delighted to join Michel and Presto’s Board and I look forward to helping them accelerate the development of the company.” Hervé Goguely most recently served as a Venture Partner with Vision Capital in Silicon Valley while also serving as Chairman and President of Atempo, Inc. a data protection software provider. Prior to this, he was Chairman and CEO of Netcentrex, a leading provider of network platforms for Voice over IP networks. In 1995, Hervé created, led and grew the Worldwide Services Sales organization at Cisco Systems into a $1.5 billion business within 4 years. Before his time at Cisco, he was the head of technical operations for Wellfleet Communications in Europe, Middle-East and Africa, which at the time in 1993 was the fastest growing US Company. Hervé started his career with Hewlett Packard in Grenoble, France and worked in various engineering and technical-marketing positions before he was transferred to HP Network Marketing Center in Cupertino, CA. After his tenure at HP, he joined Bridge Communications, at the time, a leading company in the new field of Internetworking as the head of development for X.25, the SNA router and several other internetworking gateway products. Hervé holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and an MBA from Grenoble University. Xavier Wartelle is a serial entrepreneur who has started three successful high tech companies. Xavier’s career spans more than 23 years of executive leadership in startups and mature companies in networking, telecommunication, VoIP, enterprise software and internet businesses. Xavier helps start-ups to define their global strategy, jump-start their business, and implement operations in the US. Xavier was an advisor and US representative of Ipanto that has been recently acquired by Infoblox. Previously, Xavier was co-founder, CEO and EVP Sales of Brixlogic a provider of SOA solutions for the financial industry. Brixlogic was acquired by Diebold (NYSE: DBD). Xavier was COO, and SVP Business Development of NetCentrex a leading supplier of VoIP service platform for enterprises and carriers. NetCentrex was acquired by Comverse (NASDAQ: CMVT). Earlier in his career, Xavier had served as CEO of Thomson-CSF Enterprise Networks and in various international positions within Thomson-CSF. Xavier holds an engineering degree from Ecole Nationale des Arts et Métiers, Paris. |
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Presto Engineering and SEMICAPS Announce Strategic OEM Relationship
November 3, 2008
Presto’s innovative Allegheny diamond window heat-spreader to be sold by SEMICAPS for use with their family of scanning optical microscopes SAN JOSE, CALIF and SINGAPORE ― Presto Engineering, Inc., a provider of product engineering services to the semiconductor industry, announced today the establishment of an OEM relationship with SEMICAPS, a leading supplier of semiconductor failure analysis systems. The two companies have established a broad technical and commercial relationship covering the newly released Presto Allegheny thermal control system for in-silicon circuit analysis for high-power devices. SEMICAPS is now authorized as a re-seller of the Allegheny system for use with their SOM series of scanning optical microscope systems. "I am very happy to expand our collaboration with a global leader like SEMICAPS," stated Dr. Michel Villemain, Presto Engineering CEO. "While we've successfully used the SOM 4000 on our floor with an increasing number of our customers, we have developed a growing synergy between a service and a system model; this is now significantly enhanced by our work integrating a novel concept like Allegheny with the SEMICAPS SOM." Presto has recently achieved Platinum Level status in the SEMICAPS Certification Program for Performance Based Analysis Labs (PBAL). The Certification Program was established by SEMICAPS to assist end-customers in determining which service companies have equipment that relates to their requirements. "Presto, by achieving Platinum Level of performance and combining it with new products like Allegheny, shows the next-generation capabilities available at their lab," said Dr. Jacob Phang, SEMICAPS President. "It is our intention to continue as the exclusive Supplier-of-Choice for all PBALs. Presto's Allegheny allows SEMICAPS to provide cooling for high-power devices in one system, covering photon emission, laser stimulation (TIVA/OBIRCH), and backside timing. Not only is Allegheny compatible with both our down-looking and inverted systems, it will allow super-low temperature environmental testing of parts to below -45C." The Allegheny thermal control system is based on an innovative design that combines a diamond-based heat-spreader with a novel method to clamp the device-under-test (DUT). The patent-pending system can be installed in most state-of-the art backside in-silicon analysis systems and enables imaging with air-gap and immersion lenses. In addition it does not require liquid to be in contact with the DUT, enabling higher power devices to be analyzed in-silicon while being tested—the most advanced method for modern semiconductor bring-up and failure analysis. Allegheny accommodates most packages and is easily adaptable to customer sockets. The system allows all optical analysis techniques to be performed through its diamond window, while maintaining the device temperature across the full commercial temperature range, for precise silicon analysis. With its unique thermal conduction efficiency, device temperature can be held within a predictable range, even at power levels beyond 300 watts. ABOUT SEMICAPS SEMICAPS, located in Singapore, is a comprehensive provider of equipment and services to semiconductor failure analysis customers world-wide through excellence in innovation and quality in service. SEMICAPS's main products include the Scanning Optical Microscope System (SOM) for the active localization of integrated circuit defects using power alteration and tester-based techniques, and the Photon Emission Microscope (PEM) for the passive localization of integrated circuit defects using panchromatic imaging and spectroscopy. Additional information is available on the company's website at www.semicaps.com |
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Presto Engineering Introduces New Thermal Solution for Analysis of High Power Devices
October 27, 2008
Presto’s innovative Allegheny heat-spreader supports in-silicon analysis of devices dissipating in excess of 300W, as an add-on to the most advanced optical systems SAN JOSE, CALIF ― Presto Engineering, Inc., a provider of product engineering services to the semiconductor industry, announced today the release of its new Allegheny thermal control system for high-power device in-silicon analysis. The innovative design combines a diamond-based heat-spreader with a novel method to clamp the device-under-test (DUT). The patent-pending system can be installed in most state-of-the art backside in-silicon analysis systems and enables imaging with air-gap and immersion lenses. In addition it does not require liquid to be in contact with the DUT, thereby enabling high-power devices to be analyzed in-silicon while being tested—the most advanced method for modern semiconductor bring-up and failure analysis. “Our team has comprehensive experience with high-power analysis requirements. We’ve spent a lot of time listening to our customers and understanding their requirements” said Frank Sauk, Presto’s Vice President of Engineering and co-founder. “I am very pleased we have been able to deliver this very unique design that provides flexibility and reliability in analyzing the most advanced designs.” Allegheny accommodates most packages and is easily adaptable to customer sockets. The system allows all optical analysis techniques to be performed through its diamond window, while maintaining the device temperature across the full commercial temperature range, for precise silicon analysis. With its unique thermal conduction efficiency, device temperature can be held within a predictable range, even at power levels beyond 300 watts. Allegheny is also designed for use on mechanical probing stations, enabling high-power DC and one-shot timing in-circuit measurements. Allegheny is now in production. Detailed product packaging and pricing information is available by contacting Presto. Delivery is within 8 weeks after receipt of order. |
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Presto Engineering and Micromanipulator Announce Business Development Alliance
September 4, 2008
Presto’s in-silicon analysis services now available on the 300mm probe station from Micromanipulator SAN JOSE, CALIF ― Presto Engineering, Inc., a provider of product engineering services to the semiconductor industry, announced today that it has established a collaborative business development alliance with the Micromanipulator Company, which will enhance access to its wafer-level advanced in-silicon analysis services for customers needing 300 millimeter wafer probing support. Micromanipulator, Carson City, Nev., is a leading supplier of analytic probing solutions for semiconductor wafer testing. Through this alliance, Micromanipulator and Presto can offer probing support services to integrated device manufacturers (IDMs) and fabless semiconductor manufacturers, which are broadly represented in Silicon Valley. Under this agreement, the Presto facilities in San Jose, Calif., will also serve as a product demonstration site for Micromanipulator. “One of the critical needs of our customers is for advanced probing solutions for 300mm wafers, especially for fabless companies looking to conduct thorough wafer-level characterization prior to packaging,” said Michel Villemain, Presto’s CEO. “Within days of installation of the P300J from Micromanipulator, we successfully commenced 12-inch wafer probing on a customer’s new 65nm design, utilizing the advanced control and thermal features of the station. We are very pleased to offer this additional capability here at our lab.” Frank Gazzano, president of Micromanipulator, commented, “As we continue to expand the worldwide adoption of our P300A and P300J 300mm systems, we are pleased to partner with a firm like Presto Engineering, which shares our focus on applications development to meet the reliability, product integration and failure analysis requirements among our IDM and fabless semiconductor customer base.” The alliance emphasizes the importance of Presto Engineering’s in-silicon analysis capabilities as part of the company’s Design Success Analysis™ offering for process technologies down to the 45nm node. In-silicon analysis includes: emission- and laser-based power, leakage and interconnect characterization; internal timing measurement; and focused ion-beam (FIB) circuit edit. With the increase in the number of interconnect layers, this analysis is facilitated by access to the transistor level from the backside (silicon-side) of the wafer. About MICROMANIPULATOR The Micromanipulator Company is a leading manufacturer of analytical probing solutions for use in semiconductor test, failure analysis and reliability. By collaborating with its customers and strategic partners, the company aggressively delivers continuing improvements in quality and cost of engineering tests. Micromanipulator is based in Carson City, Nevada. For more information on Micromanipulator, please visit www.micromanipulator.com |
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Presto Engineering Collaborates with Israeli Test House to Provide Advanced Product Engineering Services in Israel
July 16, 2008
Presto’s sophisticated in-silicon analysis services will support flourishing community of fabless design centers and VLSI foundries SAN JOSE, CALIF ―Presto Engineering, Inc., a provider of product engineering services to the semiconductor industry, announced today that it has entered a joint services agreement with ITH - Israeli Test House Ltd. that will enhance access to its advanced in-silicon analys services for customers in Israel. ITH, located in Migdal, Ha’emek, is Israel’s leading supplier of advanced test, reliability and failure analysis services, a market that is estimated to include more than one hundred fabless design centers and VLSI foundries. |
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Presto Engineering Partners With Nanolab Technologies
August 27, 2007
Presto Engineering's test and design success analysis services, combined with NanoLab's analytical capabilities, provide a turn-key solution to customers SAN JOSE, CALIF ―Presto Engineering, Inc., a provider of product engineering services to the semiconductor industry, today announced a partnership with NanoLab Technologies, Inc., located in Sunnyvale, Calif. The mutual contracting agreement enables the companies to offer turn-key engineering, test and analytical services to customers, helping them to improve the speed and efficiency and minimize the cost of bringing new products to market. |