Labtech opens MMIC assembly facility

Labtech opens MMIC assembly facility

Keywords: Labtech

Labtech, part of the Intelek Group and UK-based manufacturer of microwave printed circuit boards, announces the opening of a monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC) assembly facility at its prestige headquarters in Presteigne, Wales.

Labtech has invested £200,000 commissioning this facility and recruited and trained additional members of staff in the specialist assembly techniques required. The 500 square foot facility is equipped with semi-automatic wedge bonders and manual die bonders for attaching microwave die to Labtech's specialist metal-backed PTFE circuits. Test equipment includes a pull tester for checking bond strength and inspection microscopes furnished with a digital camera system for visual inspection at up to 460 times magnification. The facility is housed in an electro-static discharge (ESD) protected, temperature and humidity controlled Class 10,000 clean-room.

The facility will be used to assemble single chip and multi-chip modules for radio links used in cellular phone networks and local multipoint distribution services (LMDS) systems. The facility has successfully completed a comprehensive approvals process with a major telecommunications customer, reviewing processes and appraising the quality and performance of pilot batches. Following this approval, the facility is now being used for commercial production.