January 6, 2011 - BusinessWire -- Materion Microelectronics & Services, a unit of Materion Corporation (NYSE:MTRN), expanded its Wheatfield, NY facility, adding 50% more space with a fully automated robotic twin wire arc spray, increased precious metal refining capacity, new cleaning processes, and a Class 10,000-certified cleanroom. The site provides precision parts cleaning and surface treatment of physical vapor deposition (PVD) shield kits.

The NY facility serves manufacturers of LEDs, wireless products and other semiconductors, photovoltaics, medical consumables, and other products.

The fully automated robotic twin wire arc spray applies an under-layer surface coating to parts after they have been cleaned and the precious metals recovered. The coating enhances surface roughness, increasing adhesion in the vacuum chamber, so that more material is deposited and fewer random particles end up on the product. This increases the process lifetime of shielding used in particulate-sensitive processes. Each part is individually programmed into the system for precise, consistent coating. After the part has been used and returned to Materion, the under-layer coating can be quickly and easily removed for cleaning. See a video of the process: http://materion.com/Businesses/MicroelectronicsandServices/Related-NSE/TwinWireArcSprayVideo.aspx

After cleaning, all parts pass through various inspections and testing for dimensional tolerances and complete cleanliness. Parts are returned to PVD users ready to be installed into thin film chambers for deposition.

Materion also has precision parts cleaning facilities in Ireland and the Czech Republic, and is always considering additional locations and services. Materion is a vertically integrated global provider of thin film deposition materials, precision parts cleaning services, and precious metal recovery and refining. Materion Corporation, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, supplies highly engineered advanced enabling materials to global markets. Products include precious and non-precious specialty metals, inorganic chemicals and powders, specialty coatings, specialty engineered beryllium alloys, beryllium and beryllium composites, and engineered clad and plated metal systems. Website: http://www.materion.com.