ATS Acquires Technology License for Innovative Robotics

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In a recent press release, ATS Automation Tooling Systems, Inc., announced that it has acquired a perpetual technology license from, and a small equity stake in, Innovative Robotics Systems Inc., (IRSI)–a privately held, California-based specialty robot supplier, primarily to the semiconductor industry. The license provides ATS with the right to manufacture, modify, and integrate IRSI’s IR800 series robotics technology within ATS automated solutions.

The IR800 robot was originally developed by IRSI for use in ultra-clean environments such as semiconductor wafer handling. It is ideally suited for use in Equipment Front End Modules (EFEMs), a growing semiconductor market segment in which manufacturers are embracing larger, 300-mm wafer sizes, are incorporating new thin-film processes, and must meet complex wafer-handling challenges.

In addition to pursuing opportunities in the EFEM market, ATS intends to further enhance and use the IR800 robot series technology to develop new automation applications for other industry sectors such as health care, biomedical, and pharmaceutical. These are emerging markets for industrial automation which require specialty robots capable of operating in sterile and other barriered environments. In conjunction with the license, ATS has also acquired a 3 percent equity stake in Innovative Robotics Systems, Inc., and has been granted the exclusive manufacturing and supply contract for IRSI’s IR800 robot family.

"We’ve worked with Innovative Robotics for a number of months now, both building their robots and developing prototype EFEM products, and we are impressed with their capabilities," says Klaus Woerner, ATS president and chief executive officer. "They are a leader in their market segment and on the cutting edge of clean semiconductor robot technology. This transaction solidifies our relationship and gives ATS another capability that we can maximize for additional value in semiconductor and health-care markets. In fact, we’re already well along in developing unique technology that it is totally suitable to medical applications such as aseptic environments, a market that we believe offers excellent long-term growth potential for automated solutions."

"We are very pleased to have completed the strategic agreements and are excited with the opportunity to work with ATS on new projects and market applications," says Jeff Winters, IRSI president and CEO. "This agreement also enables us to leverage ATS global manufacturing resources to enable IRSI to meet the potentially high volume requirements of major semiconductor equipment OEMs worldwide."

Innovative Robotics Systems, Inc., is a San Jose, California-based specialty robot developer and supplier, primarily for use in handling semiconductor wafers. The company’s IR820 series SCARA robots combine innovative mechanical design with user-friendly, proprietary blended motion-control software, resulting in the newest generation of low-cost material handling robots. The blended motion control allows for a 20 to 30 percent improvement in through-put on any given application.

ATS is the industry’s leading designer and producer of turn-key automated manufacturing and test systems, which are used primarily by multinational corporations operating in a variety of industries, including automotive, computer/electronics, health care, and consumer products. The company also makes precision components and sub-assemblies using its own custom-built manufacturing systems, process knowledge, and automation technology. ATS is also an emerging leader in the rapidly growing market for solar energy cells and modules. It employs approximately 3,500 people at 25 facilities in Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

For more information contact Ron Jutras at (519) 653-6500.