EFUN selects Applied Materials' SmartWeb system for production of touch screen films

TAINAN CITY, TAIWAN: EFUN Technology Co. Ltd, a manufacturer of critical components for touch screens, LCD monitors and backlight modules in Taiwan, has begun production of flexible substrates coated with indium tin oxide (ITO) films for advanced touch panel screens.

The ITO films were deposited using a SmartWeb system from Applied Materials Inc. Applied's SmartWeb system is a roll-to-roll vacuum coater that uses physical vapor deposition technology to deposit the critical ITO-based multi-layer film stack required for fabricating the most advanced touch panels used in tablet PCs and other mobile devices.

This is the second SmartWeb system EFUN has purchased from Applied Materials for manufacturing its ITO touch panel components. The first system has been in production at EFUN since 2009 and has provided superior manufacturing performance.

"Based on the performance of our first Applied SmartWeb system, we purchased an upgraded SmartWeb system for manufacturing ITO substrates for our customers' most advanced, capacitive touch screen panels," said Dr. Kuang-Rong Lee, vice general manager, Optoelectronics Business Unit Leader, at EFUN Technology.

"The latest generation of tablet PCs features 7-inch and larger projective capacitive touch screens - sizes that demand the highest quality and performance from the ITO substrate. Applied Materials was able to meet our technical specifications and aggressive timeline, providing the technology to meet our customers' requirements for high-end touch panels at a price that enables them to successfully compete in a demanding consumer market."

The emergence of tablet PCs and other mobile devices has driven the growth of touch panel technology, particularly for the more advanced capacitive panels with multi-touch capability. Market researcher DisplaySearch expects the touch panel market to double from 2010 to 2015, reaching $12.4 billion.

"Until recently, capacitive touch panels were seen only in high-end products," said Dr. Liang Chen, vice president and general manager of Advanced Energy Products at Applied Materials. "Today, the technology has become viable for integration into mainstream consumer electronics, not only as a means to improve aesthetic design or glass display robustness, but also to help decrease costs."

The Applied SmartWeb system's unique versatility and high productivity have revolutionized the production of flexible touch panel elements. The system's modular design allows up to 12 different thin film layers to be deposited simultaneously on flexible material - enabling complex touch panel structures to be created in a single pass. To minimize particle generation, the SmartWeb system features sputter-up geometry and easily-replaceable shielding. Customers also have a choice of cathodes optimized for conductive and insulating layers that assure high productivity and stable processing.