Accelerating semiconductor equipment from breakthrough technology to fab-ready production

AIR enables startups, global semiconductor equipment OEMs, and semiconductor fabs to transform next-generation technologies to high-volume production systems on accelerated schedules. With deep expertise in inspection, metrology, wafer processing, and advanced handling systems, we deliver complex semiconductor engineering solutions built on more than four decades of innovation — including 25 years successfully serving semiconductor capital equipment customers in the heart of Silicon Valley.

Why AIR

Capabilities

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Case studies

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40-year track record.

Delivering innovation and scale for Silicon Valley since 1983.

600+ global team.

Our team combines decades of semiconductor expertise with firsthand experience designing production-ready equipment at leading semiconductor OEMs.

6 fully integrated facilities.

One team across multiple US and European facilities, with 400,000+ sq ft of production space.

Our collaboration with AIR has resulted in an industry-leading tool with excellent performance parameters and a low cost of ownership that make it extremely attractive to our customers.

CTO, semiconductor metrology equipment startup

Why AIR for semiconductor

Accelerate commercialization. Reduce risk.

Deep engineering expertise and collaborative partnership from prototype through production.

AIR accelerates next generation technologies for semiconductor equipment manufacturers while reducing development risk, shortening time to market, and scaling global production with confidence. Combining decades of semiconductor expertise with proven custom and modular platforms, we deliver reliable products ready for production, without sacrificing quality or speed.

Scale and agility

We bring together the resources of a global engineering and manufacturing organization with the responsiveness of a specialized semiconductor partner. With 600 professionals, six facilities, and 400,000 sq ft of capability across the US and Europe, we leverage proven platforms and deep commercialization experience to accelerate development, reduce risk, and bring innovative, complex semiconductor technologies to market faster.

Scale and agility

Deep lab-to-fab product and process expertise

We bring advanced expertise across inspection, metrology, wafer processing, wafer handling, robotics, vacuum automation, and precision motion systems. Our cross-functional engineering teams help semiconductor customers accelerate development, optimize processes, and transition next-generation technologies from prototype to high-volume manufacturing.

Expertise

Proven, phased project approach

Our proprietary phased delivery process minimizes project risk by leveraging experienced senior engineers to solve problems early, keeping projects on schedule and on budget. The result is faster decisions, fewer surprises, and a smoother path from concept to production.

Our phased approach

All-in commitment

Complex semiconductor commercialization demands more than technical capability. It demands deep partnership. AIR works as an extension of our customers’ teams, aligning around shared goals, open communication, rapid problem-solving, and clear accountability to keep critical projects moving forward, all to get our customers to market faster. We appreciate that meeting a market window can make or break a technology.

All-in commitment

Full lifecycle support with AIR360

When new systems go live, we don’t step back; we lean in. AIR360 provides ongoing support for both AIR and third-party systems through proactive maintenance, upgrades, training, remote support, and optimization services designed to maximize uptime, performance, and long-term operational value.

AIR360 support

Semiconductor capabilities

Semiconductor case studies

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Cleanroom technician holding a semiconductor wafer

Semiconductor capabilities

Semiconductor product and process experience

AIR brings deep expertise across semiconductor inspection, metrology, wafer processing, and advanced substrate handling for the largest fabs globally. We engineer the precision manufacturing systems and controlled micro-environments that enable fragile wafers and proprietary semiconductor technologies to perform reliably at scale. With decades of experience commercializing customer innovations, we design equipment that meets the industry’s most demanding standards for precision, cleanliness, reliability, serviceability, and high-volume manufacturing. Our team includes engineers from leading semiconductor OEMs with deep expertise in designing production-ready equipment.

Inspection & metrology

Automated inspection platforms, precision metrology systems, X-ray inspection, and optical inspection technologies.

Wafer processing

Wafer handling, transfer, alignment, processing, and vacuum-based automation systems. Robotic handling, precision motion control, substrate transport, and cleanroom automation.

Prototype-to-production

First-of-kind development, engineering validation, pilot systems, and scalable high-volume manufacturing solutions.

Custom semiconductor equipment

Complex custom automation systems engineered for next-generation semiconductor technologies and processes.

Controls, software and factory integration

Deep understanding of controls architecture, standards and tools, including SECS/GEM factory interface integration.

Substrate handling

Thick, thin, and bonded wafer pairs, backside, edge, and non-contact wafer handling.

Carrier handling

Film frames, dies and die trays, FOUPs, SMIF pods, cassettes, multiple generations of display glass, and flexible roll-to-roll web.

Controlled environments

Pressure regimes from atmospheric to ultra-high vacuum (<10^-9 torr). Thermal, vibration, humidity, O2, N2, B-field, light-tight management. Contamination: ISO Class 1, ISO 2 with mechanisms.

Precision motion

Submicron wafer handling accuracy/precision. Precision alignment, staging, motion control, micron-level repeatability.

EFEM customization

Customizing and integrating equipment front-end modules (EFEMs) to manage wafer sorting, FOUP loading, and track positioning.

Ultra-clean compliance

Building systems that meet strict Class 1 cleanroom conditions and ESD (electrostatic discharge) safety standards.

Direct drop-shipping

Fully assembling, programming, and certifying custom machines under strict compliance guidelines so they can be drop-shipped directly to top-tier global foundries on behalf of the customer.

Automated laser wafer platforms

Through a close on-campus partnership with Turner Laser Systems (TLS), we specialize in high-precision automated laser material processing, building modular systems that blend laser beam delivery with automated wafer handlers.

Semiconductor manufacturing capabilities

Technical expertise

Markets

Semiconductor case studies

Let’s talk

Certified excellence

SECS/GEM factory interface integration
Standards compliance: SEMI S2, S8 and CE Mark
ISO class 7 cleanroom assembly and test
ATEX & high-temperature environments 200°C+
Sealed inert environments

AIR’s consistent focus on quality while meeting project schedules is greatly appreciated. Their reliability and customer-oriented approach continue to make a positive impact.

Senior director of engineering and operations, tier 1 semiconductor metrology equipment company

Sites

Rochester Hills, MI, USA

Wakefield, UK

Shannon, Ireland

AIR Silicon Valley facility exterior in Fremont

Silicon Valley, CA, USA

Mullingar, Ireland

Sligo, Ireland

Semiconductor case studies

Semiconductor

Reducing product development cycles for semiconductor metrology and inspection

Developing new metrology or inspection technologies for an advanced semiconductor fab is a very complex endeavor requiring specialized knowledge and significant capital expense. A European startup needed…

Engineer reaching into an electron-beam metrology tool

Semiconductor

Scaled electron-beam metrology tools into fab-ready semiconductor systems

Attolight, a European startup, needed to rapidly scale their electron-beam lab tool into a semiconductor fab-ready system to meet customer requirements. The project presented multiple challenges:

X-ray inspection tool with its service doors open

Semiconductor

Accelerated X-ray inspection tool from lab prototype to fab-ready production

Semiconductor startup Silicon Valley X-Ray (SVXR) had proven its X-ray inspection technology on a laboratory tool and needed to rapidly deliver a production-worthy system for installation in a customer…

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Insights

Innovating the future of semiconductor engineering

Engineer making a precise adjustment to equipment

Reduce risk before engineering begins

A Proven Approach for Semiconductor OEM Equipment Development

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Recent semiconductor projects

OLED display process module

Stacked UV LED curing modules engineered for particle-free, high-volume OLED manufacturing, enabling on-time startup of a $4B display fab and rapid commercialization of flexible OLED technology.

X-ray inspection tool

Transformed a laboratory X-ray prototype into a fab-ready production tool in just months, helping create a new high-speed semiconductor inspection category.

Micro-transfer printing tools

End-to-end design and manufacturing partnership that scaled specialized micro-transfer printing tools while allowing the customer to stay focused on R&D.

Wafer heating & cooling module

High-uniformity thermal management modules delivering rapid heating, cooling, ultra-low contamination, and production-proven reliability.

FOUP load port

Brand-agnostic 300 mm load port delivering interoperability, 40%+ cost reduction, and twice the MTBF target.

Accelerating semiconductor equipment from breakthrough technology to fab-ready production

Why AIR for semiconductor

Accelerate commercialization. Reduce risk.

Deep engineering expertise and collaborative partnership from prototype through production.

Semiconductor capabilities

Semiconductor product and process experience

Semiconductor manufacturing capabilities

Technical expertise

Markets

Certified excellence

Sites

Semiconductor case studies

Insights

Innovating the future of semiconductor engineering

Recent semiconductor projects

OLED display process module

X-ray inspection tool

Micro-transfer printing tools

Wafer heating & cooling module

FOUP load port

Contact us

Let’s talk

Talk to AIR’s team about your latest manufacturing challenge. We’re here to help you bring your latest innovations to market quickly and at scale. Ideating, designing, building, commissioning, and supporting your next wave of automated manufacturing.