Welcome to the South Australian Node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility
Innovation the key to future-proofing Australia’s electronics industry
2024_09
In the fast-paced and highly competitive world of electronics manufacturing, precision and reliability the key to staying relevant in a rapidly evolving market.
Hendon Semiconductors, a leading microelectronic circuits manufacturer based in South Australia, was recently faced with a critical challenge requiring the inspection of an electronic circuitry housed in plastic. They required an innovative solution that wouldn’t damage the component with a rapid turn-around time.
“We had an issue with an electronic circuitry ported in plastic housing,” explained Angelynn Lim, Customer Account Manager, at Hendon Semiconductors. “The critical part was our need to check for air bubbles or voids in the circuitry and the only way to achieve this non-destructive testing was by x-ray so we could access various views of the circuitry.”
With its advanced imaging technology, the South Australian node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF-SA) at The University of South Australia’s Mawson Lakes campus offered the perfect solution for Hendon Semiconductor’s needs.
Angelynn says ANFF-SA helped them to overcome their challenges with their complex component by delivering precise imaging taken by the X-ray MicroXCT-Zeiss Xradia 400.
“The ANFF-SA team were responsive and flexible, and despite our short notice and tight-turnaround time, their experts provided us with essential insights which were critical to advancing the project and, ultimately, it’s success,” said Angelynn.
This partnership allowed Hendon Semiconductors, a company committed to innovation and quality, to efficiently identify the issue and adjust their manufacturing process to ensure product reliability.
For Brenton Judge, Executive General Manager at Hendon Semiconductors, the value of the partnership with ANFF-SA, and the ANFF network can’t be understated.
“We can’t justify the investment in equipment by ourselves, at this stage,” said Brenton. “Being able to utilise ANFF-SA’s state-of-the-art equipment and expertise and tap into the ANFF national network significantly helps industry with derisking.”
Brenton said looking for industry partners or other companies that might have this technology would have been problematic due to the sensitivity of the application.
“ANFF-SA assessed the criticality of the issue and offered the confidentiality, expertise and the urgent turn-around we required,” Brenton explained. “Having ANFF-SA nearby provides significant advantages in terms of time and cost, but their discretion is especially crucial, given the sensitivity of this product.”
ANFF-SA Director, Professor Craig Priest, said the collaboration between Hendon Semiconductors and
ANFF-SA exemplifies how partnerships between industry and research facilities can drive innovation and solve complex challenges.
“These synergies illustrate the power of combining industry insights with access to world-leading capabilities and expertise and how working together to tackle intricate problems effect groundbreaking results,” said Prof Priest.
As the exclusive manufacturer of thick film hybrids on ceramic substrates in the Southern Hemisphere, the collaboration was critical not only for this project but for future initiatives that will help solidify Hendon Semiconductors’ position at the forefront of technological advancements.
“Our partnership with ANFF-SA not only elevates Hendon Semiconductors’ capabilities but also demonstrates the extraordinary potential of collaboration within the Australian electronics industry,” said Brenton. “We’re inspired by the endless possibilities and excited for the ground-breaking innovations that lie ahead.”
ANFF-SA is a world-class micro and nanofabrication facility providing open access to cutting-edge equipment housed in state-of-the-art facilities with support from world-leading experts.
If you require support or assistance with your project or research, contact us on 08 8302 5226 or visit anff-sa.com.
