Company improves on strong ’09 showing, confirming recent market gains
The results of the highly anticipated “10 BEST” customer survey from VLSI Research have ranked Oerlikon Systems as the best in the category “THE BEST Small Suppliers of Wafer Processing Equipment” for 2010.“Congratulations to Oerlikon Systems for a well-deserved award,” lauds G. Dan Hutcheson, Chairman and CEO of VLSIresearch.“Your company’s customers have voted and recognized Oerlikon as the number one ranked company in THE BEST SMALL WAFER PROCESSING EQUIPMENT category in 2010. This is Oerlikon’s tenth consecutive appearance in this category; they have worked very hard to achieve this top ranking.”
The annual survey of the “10 BEST” Customer Satisfaction awards for Wafer Processing Equipment is carried out by VLSI Research, Inc. This year’s survey ranked over 196 equipment suppliers. Widely recognized by the semiconductor industry as a valid measure of product quality and company performance, the “10 BEST” survey is based on customer satisfaction ratings in 13 rating categories covering equipment
performance and customer service.
Thanks to the customers
“The 2010 VLSI survey results for Oerlikon are even better than last year,” points out Andreas Dill, Head of Oerlikon Systems. “And our clients deserve a heartfelt ‘thank you’ for this honour — and for the trust they have shown us over the past years.”
The VLSI survey results cap a demanding year for Oerlikon. Building on its reputation for build quality and process durability, the company undertook great efforts to further improve all aspects of its product and service offer — with new products and numerous local support teams.
Consistently high performerOerlikon rated in the “10 BEST” of “THE BEST Small Suppliers of Wafer Processing Equipment” for the 11th year in a row — and after many years of continually improving their rankings (such as the strong 3rd place finish in 2009), and now winning the category outright for 2010. Oerlikon, a perennial stand-out in the annual VLSI survey, added to the category-winning results with a #7
overall spot in the highly competitive “Focused Suppliers of Chip Making Equipment” category; which covers all sectors of the semiconductor industry: wafer processing, assembly, packaging, test, etc.
All companies in this category were rated in the following 13 categories: uptime, build quality, usable throughput, quality of results, product performance, process support, field engineering support, support after sales, technical leadership, commitment, spares support, software and cost of ownership. The surveys rates both “Small Suppliers” and “Large Suppliers,” categorized by size according to
revenue.
“The new VLSI survey rankings prove that we are focusing on the right aspects of our business,” adds Andreas Dill. “Because if you don’t improve from year to year, you don’t make the “BEST 10”; it’s that simple.”
Oerlikon — Enabling High Technology
Oerlikon (SIX: OERL) is one of the world’s leading international high-tech industrial groups specializing in machine and plant engineering. The company is a leader in the field of industrial solutions and innovative technologies for textile manufacture, thin-film solar and thin-film coating, drive, precision, and vacuum systems. With roots in Switzerland and a long tradition stretching back 100 years, Oerlikon is a global player with a workforce of more than 16000 at 158 locations in 37 different countries. The company’s sales amounted to CHF 2.9 billion in 2009 and it ranks either first or second in the respective global markets.
About Oerlikon Systems
Oerlikon Systems offers cost-efficient and flexible thin film deposition systems and processes to three key markets: Semiconductors — with applications for advanced packaging, hard disk read/write heads, LEDs, Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS)
Optical data storage — with metallization of Blu-ray and DVD discs Advanced nanotechnology. The market launch of our SOLARIS system — offering low running costs and tremendous process flexibility — introduced a new system concept to enable the mass-production of nanotechnology applications. Targeting the “clean technology” markets with energy conversion, energy storage and increased energy efficiency applications, the initial system orders from the solar and thermo-electric industries confirm Oerlikon System’s strategic focus.
In 2009, VLSI Research presented Oerlikon Systems with a “Five Star Award” in recognition of extraordinary customer satisfaction. This award is given only to a select group of semiconductor system manufacturers and underlines our technology leadership and strict adherence to ISO standards for quality management and sustainable production processes.
Headquartered in Liechtenstein, Oerlikon Systems employs 200 around the world, with sales and service centers in the U.S.A., Europe, China, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore and Japan.