Manufacturing and Foundry Services

We operate one of the UK's leading public-sector facilities for MEMS, microsystems, and thin-film sensor development and manufacturing.

In the first quarter of 2006 we completed the transition of our 100mm wafer capability to a world-class 150mm capability. We also expanded our fabrication capabilities with the installation and commissioning of new processing equipment (for example, a projection lithography tool, LPCVD for polysilicon and surface micromachining of MEMS).

Our full-time engineers and technicians are drawn from industry and with previous experience of technology and product development in companies such as BAE-Systems, Infineon, Bookham, GEC Marconi, JDS Uniphase, Agilent Technologies, and Intel.

We organise and execute our projects on a customised version of the PRINCE-2 project management methodology.

We operate an open-access model to assist and support academia and industry in the development and commercialisation of MEMS devices and products.

Please contact us if you would like to find our more about our services and capabilities.

Manufacturing & Foundry Services
  • 150mm wafer fabrication, packaging and integration
  • 1,000 m2 cleanrooms
  • Class 1,000 shell (class 100 under laminar flow hoods)
  • Temperature control: 21 ± 1°C
  • Humidity: 55% RH

Manufacturable processes

INEX with a commitment to excellence and commercialization employs a Design for Manufacture (DFM) philosophy for its processes. INEX designs the process flow with respect to transitioning the final product into a manufacturable process when taking on a research project enquiry.

INEX operates on a standard development methodology in delivering a fully certified product in line with ISO9000.

Level 0:            Feasibility, Scoping and Proposal
Level 1:            Design
Level 2:            Prototyping
Level 3:            Qualification (Process + Device)
Level 4:            Proof of Manufacturability
Level 5:            Transition to Operation

INEX Project Management Methodology has been developed based on PRINCE2 processes and components and the 6 sigma quality methods.

Fabrication facilities

The fabrication facilities are housed in a 464m² Class 10-1000 clean room, with a fully integrated Class II microbiology and cell culture laboratory. The facility is serviced to standards by experienced personnel who have been recruited from private sector MEMS and microelectronics facilities and who understand the expectations of the commercial environment.

Manufacturing

INEX manufacturing processes comply with ISO9001. With its state-of-art technology and years of experience in the industry, INEX is capable of producing high complexity products at low volume production.

Some of the manufacturing projects of INEX include:

  • FDA-approved microfluidic polymer device scale-up to manufacture
  • Manufacturing & development programme for 3-axis accelerometer
  • Polymer-based miniaturised electrodes for medical implants
  • High-volume biosensor and protein chip manufacturing

Manufacturing evaluation work

Manufacturing evaluation projects:

  • FDA-approved microfluidic polymer device scale-up to
    manufacture
  • Manufacturing & development programme for 3-axis
    accelerometer
  • Polymer-based miniaturised electrodes for medical implants
  • High-volume biosensor and protein chip manufacturing