- 10 April 2006 -

New 'Look' of Vistec Semiconductor

At the Semicon Europe show, Vistec Semiconductor (previously Leica Microsystems, Semiconductor Equipment Division) launched their new corporate identity – including a new name and new design.

The name change is a result of the acquisition of the Leica Microsystems semiconductor equipment division by Golden Gate Capital (San Francisco, CA) in September 2005.

Vistec Semiconductor’s innovative product portfolio includes inspection and review systems for the process control of wafers, mask metrology systems, and electron beam lithography systems. These are used for production of microchips, in integrated optics and scientific and industrial research. The new Vistec Semiconductor logo symbolizes both core competencies: a wafer for inspection and the line under the name as the electron beam.

“The new name, a combination of ‘visionary’ and ‘technologies,’ underlines the company goals: development of new – and future-oriented – technologies,” explains Papken Der Torossian, Chairman of Vistec Semiconductor Systems.
With over 30 years of semiconductor industry experience, the company’s know-how is the foundation for constant innovation. State-of-the-art production facilities and constant product development enable success in emerging technologies and the dynamic chip technology market. Papken Der Torossian is confident; “We will continue our positive revenue growth under the new name and further strengthen our market positions in optical inspection and review, mask metrology and electron beam lithography systems.”

EDITORIAL COMMENT: A nice new name joins the business. It is reminiscent of other great names and accentuates the 'tech' in the pronounciation. Leica was a well-known name associated with high quality optics throughout many industries. Now they have to strongly push the new name and in due course it may become as well-known. In my opinion it is a better name than the one chosen by Infineon for its about-to-be-spun-off memory chip business, Qimonda. I am averse to the misuse of language, especially since at school you have it drilled into you about the letter 'u' always following a 'q'. To close, the question arises as to what Sanyo Electric Co., will come up with if it chooses a new name for its chip spin-off.