Tronics Microsystems extends capabilities and capacity to meet growing demand for MEMS
CROLLES, France - May 23, 2006 - Tronics Microsystems, a leading contract manufacturer of custom MEMS components for demanding applications, today announced that it is extending its capabilities for design, frontend/backend manufacturing and electronic interfacing of MEMS components supported by a 1.7M€ financial round with its institutional investors.
The French manufacturer, which recently completed the upgrade of its facility from four-inch to six-inch wafer technology, is now installing new dedicated characterization and test equipment. It also has integrated new competencies in electronic interfacing of MEMS transducers and is broadening its backend offer with high vacuum wafer-level packaging solutions for high performance products like inertial sensors. Those increased capabilities will enable Tronics to serve customer demand in growing global markets with more advanced product solutions and complete development and manufacturing services, including packaging and testing.
"Tronics has experienced strong revenue growth and tripled production output since opening the Crolles facility in October 2003," said Peter Pfluger, CEO of Tronics Microsystems. "The company has confirmed its leadership in transforming complex custom-MEMS concepts into completely industrialized high-performance products. Tronics will build on its momentum with these extended custom MEMS-manufacturing capabilities and broaden the services offered to its partners, while serving new categories of customers."
Tronics enhanced capabilities will meet steadily increasing requirements on sensors for both medical and industrial uses. Moreover, this upgrade also addresses the needs of a growing number of customer projects in microfluidics and life-science applications, which will benefit from the enhanced toolbox and production capacities.
The 1.7M€ in fourth-round venture backing, which was concluded on May 12, will partially fund the capacity and capability expansions. All previous investors participated in the recent round: CDC Entreprises Innovation, Sercel, Crédit Agricole Private Equity, Schneider Electric Ventures, CEA Valorisation and IXCore.
"Tronics Microsystems' management has strengthened the company's leading-edge position, gathering interest from top-tier customers in Europe, the U.S. and Asia, and has positioned the company for continued growth in the MEMS industry,” said Michel de Lempdes, investment manager at Crédit Agricole Private Equity. Tronics has received 15M€ in total investment to support its continuous growth and consolidate its business development since its founding in 1997.
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About Tronics Microsystems SA
Tronics Microsystems is a flexible manufacturer of custom MEMS components for demanding applications. The company has gained industry recognition for its experience and expertise in customizing, industrializing and producing high performance, high value-add custom MEMS products. Tronics is the industry leader for the production of custom MEMS components on SOI.
Additional information is available on the Internet at www.tronics-mst.com.
