Critical Manufacturing has been selected by Black Semiconductor to supply the automation backbone and manufacturing execution system for a new 300mm pilot fabrication plant in Aachen, as Europe steps up efforts to expand its semiconductor capabilities.
The Porto-based manufacturing operations platform provider won a competitive tender to equip Black Semiconductor’s FabONE facility, a greenfield site designed as a fully automated frontend fab. The plant will scale production of the German company’s graphene-based chip interconnect technology, one of the region’s more ambitious attempts to foster alternatives to established semiconductor architectures.
Samivel Krishnamoorthy, Senior Director of Fab Automation & Integration at Black Semiconductor, said the choice of partner was driven by the need for rapid deployment and proven expertise. “FabONE represents a significant step for our technology enablement and for the European semiconductor ecosystem,” he said. He added that Critical Manufacturing’s platform-based approach to Manufacturing Operations Management would help the start-up demonstrate production maturity at pace.
The scope of the project covers the full suite of Critical Manufacturing’s MES modules, native equipment integration via the company’s Connect IoT tools, and links to Black Semiconductor’s chosen automated material handling and ERP systems. An AI-enabled data platform will support advanced analytics and near-autonomous operation. Once running, FabONE is expected to require minimal operator intervention as it validates process stability ahead of potential volume production.
For Critical Manufacturing, a subsidiary of ASMPT, the contract marks a significant European foothold in advanced 300mm semiconductor manufacturing. “Graphene-based chip interconnects represent a bold step for the industry,” said Tom Bednarz, Managing Director for Germany. “Turning that vision into a production-capable reality requires an MES that can keep pace with constant innovation.”
Founded in 2020, Black Semiconductor is developing networks of graphene-linked chips intended to improve efficiency and performance in data centres, high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, and robotics. The FabONE project is intended to demonstrate the manufacturability of the technology and to form the base for future scaling.
