In June, the Semiconductor Technical Working Group of the EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG) met for the 25th time. The anniversary meeting, which took place at ETG member company Applied Materials in Santa Clara, California, was attended by over 70 people both in person and online. In addition to the regular work on profiles for the semiconductor industry, the group also took time to look back on the successes of the working group since it was founded in 2011.
And the results are impressive: Over 3,000 person-days have gone into participating in the 25 multi-day meetings to date. The result is over 75 profiles and draft profiles for the semiconductor industry. The task groups within the working group play a key role here, focusing on specific topics or profiles to efficiently drive forward development and implementation.
The Semi TWG, as the working group is known for short, is primarily made up of equipment suppliers and manufacturers of equipment (“tools”) for semiconductor production. However, more and more equipment end users are now also taking part in the meetings. This enriches the group’s work by providing valuable insights into practical applications, such as how chip manufacturers use data from certain actuators and sensors or what the exact system requirements are. In addition, feedback from end customers can be used to determine the success of the working group and to identify potential future requirements.
Florian Essler, who plays a leading role in the working group on behalf of the ETG, explains: “We founded the Semi TWG in 2011 to support all system and tool manufacturers and suppliers of semiconductor production components that use EtherCAT or offer products with EtherCAT. The focus of our work is on the development of semiconductor-specific device profiles, installation guidelines and device tests to meet the special requirements of the semiconductor industry. I attribute our continued success to the constructive atmosphere in the group: the efforts of each individual to use all their experience and expertise to draft specifications that benefit everyone involved.”
The meetings of the Semi TWG take place alternately online and in person, and participation is open to all ETG members. Detailed information about the working group itself and past meetings can be found on the EtherCAT Technology Group website.
