Nanda Technologies, GmbH, a Munich, Germany-based developer of a high-throughput, high-sensitivity defect full wafer inspection technology for semiconductor manufacturing, has been acquired by Nanometrics Incorporated (Nasdaq: NANO), a supplier of solutions for advanced process control headquartered in Milpitas, California.
Nanometrics has paid approximately $23m in cash for Nanda. The purchase includes facilities, staff, intellectual property, and technology assets, and establishes the SPARK team as the center of excellence for inspection technology within Nanometrics.
Nanda’s proprietary SPARK technology captures full-wafer surface inspection images – at high-volume production speeds – allowing customers to achieve precise wafer inspection and 100% device sampling for the most advanced technology nodes. The platform supports a wide range of surface materials and topographies. This acquisition allows Nanometrics to add a cutting-edge macro defect inspection technology to its portfolio of metrology solutions.
With the closing of the same deal, Lars Markwort, CEO of Nanda Technologies, becomes general manager of Nanometrics’ Inspection business unit.
In 2006, year of its foundation, Nanda was backed by the High-Tech Gründerfonds. It currently employs 27 people in Munich.
FinSMEs
25/11/2011