SAN JOSE -- Schlumberger Ltd. has taken the first step in plans to divest its semiconductor test business by selling the assets of a division that makes IC thermal conditioning systems, pick-and-place handlers and other automated systems to Cohu Inc. for $14.2 million in cash.
Cohu, which is based in the San Diego area, said its Delta Design subsidiary will take over the assets of the Automated Systems division of Schlumberger Semiconductor Solutions to expand its position in high-speed testing products that address the challenges of heat dissipation in fast ICs. The purchased division is located near Columbus, Ohio.
In February, Paris-based Schlumberger announced was attempting to sell its automatic test equipment (ATE) business in order to focus more attention on its core activities in oil field services, smart cards, and other sectors. After reportedly seeking about $500 million for the entire business, Schlumberger decided to sell off parts of the ATE subsidiary (see June 20 story).
In addition to the automated systems units, San Jose-based Schlumberger Semiconductor Solutions is made up of six other divisions: metrology, probe systems, telecommunications ATE, test systems, verification, and yield enhancement systems.
Schlumberger Semiconductor's Automated Systems unit "has significant technology and intellectual property associated with precise temperature control and heat dissipation of high-speed, high-power ICs, such as microprocessors, during test," said James A. Donahue, president and CEO of Cohu in Poway, Calif. Cohu's Summit test handler series addresses this segment, and "technology advances are creating demand for enhanced temperature control on a broader range of semiconductor devices," Donahue added.
"With the AS Automated Systems technology, we are in a position to greatly extend the capabilities of our products, and strengthen our leadership position in this market," said the CEO.
Cohu's business focus and product strategy matches up well with the Automated Systems division, said Ashok Belani, president of Schlumberger Semiconductor Solutions in San Jose. "We believe that our customers will significantly benefit from this transaction," he said. No information was released about the status of Schlumberger's other test units, which are still up for sale.
The Automated Systems division will now operate as a unit of Delta Design, under the name of Delta Design Columbus. Mark Malinoski, formerly general manager of the division, has been named vice president and general manager of Delta Design Columbus, reporting directly to Donahue.
"As ICs operate at higher speeds and performance levels, heat dissipation requirements are rising dramatically," noted Donahue. "Die self-heating causes inaccurate characterization, test results and yield losses. The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) projects that IC power density and total power generation will nearly double by 2005. As the SIA projection indicates, the requirement for thermal control and heat dissipation during IC test is increasing."
The Cohu CEO said the combination of Delta's existing product test handling systems and temperature control technology from Schlumberger will provide IC manufacturers with "an essential solution to the heat problem."
