13 Probe Card Manufacturers in 2024
A probe card, alternately known as a DUT board, is an interface or a board that performs wafer-level inspection in the semiconductor manufacturing process. Thus, it is an interface between an electronic test system and a semiconductor wafer. A probe card is leveraged by attracting it to wafer inspection equipment.
The significance of the probe card is quite obvious. The manufacturing equipment determines the cost of semiconductors. However, the cost of the package and the packaging also massively impacts the manufacturing stage. Thus, reducing and optimizing costs is crucial for gauging whether a product is good or subpar at the wafer level after the semiconductor manufacturing is wrapped up. Thereafter, only the quality-checked products are forwarded to the subsequent processes.
A wafer consists of hundreds to thousands of chips. The wafer inspection mechanism sorts these chips by determining whether they are good or bad before dissecting them into individual pieces and proceeding with the packaging. But the looming question is—how does a probe card fit into this puzzle? Well, let us find out!
What are Probe Cards Used For?
An LSI tester compares output signal patterns to anticipated values after feeding test patterns into a chip to commence wafer inspection. A wafer prober indulges in chip-level positioning control to connect signals correctly to the electrode terminals of each chip.
Thereafter, a probe card performs positioning control to accurately hit hundreds of thousands of electrode terminals within a chip. Probe cards with an equal number of needles (probes) are used. Thus, probe cards devised for each chip design are essential to optimizing and balancing the overall manufacturing costs of semiconductors.
Top 13 Probe Card Manufacturers
Now that we have discussed the basics of probe cards, let’s examine the 13 probe card manufacturers in 2024.
- Technoprobe
Technoprobe is one of the most sought-after probe card manufacturers of 2024. It is a leading company in semiconductors and microelectronics. Technophobe is headquartered in Cernusco Lombardone, Italy, and has 15 functioning offices worldwide, in Europe, Asia, and the United States. The company is renowned for its commitment, trustworthiness, and strong partnerships. It specializes in the design, development, and manufacture of probe cards.
- Accuprobe
Established in 1967 in Salem, Massachusetts, Accuprobe is one of the best probe card companies in the world. It specializes in optimal probing and interface production for integrated and hybrid circuit testing. The company’s specializations include probe rings, Z adjustable probes, ceramic and metal blades, and more.
- Garter
The third probe manufacturer on our list is Garter. Established in 1957, it is currently headquartered in Ome-shi, Tokyo. Garter offers a wide range of products, including sorters, taping handlers, embossed carrier tapes, measuring instruments, and more. It serves various industries, including automotive, medical, and aerospace.
- FormFactor
FormFactor is one of the best wafer prober manufacturers of 2024. It is a pioneering provider of test and measurement technologies and excels in technical leadership and product performance. The company’s renowned probe cards, Kepler, Altius, and QiLin, have helped many enterprises lower the cost of the final product.
- Japan Electronic Material Electronic
Established in 1960 in Hyogo, Japan, Electronic Materials is one of the best probe card companies today. It specializes in cantilever-type probe cards, advanced probe cards (V type and M type), and more.
- Fujitsu
A world-famous name in the landscape of electronics and manufacturing services, Fujitsu occupies the sixth position on our list. It provides integrated solutions for OEMs and ODMs operating in the automotive, communications, computer, and medical sectors
- TOHO Electronics Inc.
TOHO Electronics is an amazing probe card semiconductor manufacturer established in 1963. It is currently headquartered in Kanagawa, Japan, and manufactures, designs, and supplies sensors, temperature controllers, and probe cards for semiconductor testing mechanisms.
- MPI Corporation
The eighth probe card manufacturer on our list is MPI Corporation. Established in 1995, it is headquartered in Taiwan. The company’s production portfolio includes light-emitting diodes (LEDs), semiconductor testing, photodetectors, and more.
- Jenoptik AG
Established in 1991, Jenoptik is one of the best probe card manufacturers. It is currently headquartered in Jena, Germany. Jenoptik manufactures optical technologies, and a large portion of its products and services cater to the phonetics market. The company’s product portfolio includes imaging solutions, LiDAR, lasers, and laser technology.
- FICT Limited
The tenth company on our list is FICT Limited. It was founded in 2002 in Japan and is currently based in Nagano-shi. The company deals in multilayer PCBs for ICT, large semiconductor packaging substrates, high-density HDI PCBs for edge devices, and more. FICT Limited’s products are used in diverse applications, such as mobile devices, supercomputers, broadcasting, etc.
- Wentworth Laboratories
It was founded in 1967 and is based in Sandy, Bedfordshire. Wentworth Labs manufactures performance-advanced cantilever probe cards and wafer probe statutes. The company also deals in metal and ceramic needle holder assemblies. large semiconductor packaging substrates, multilayer PCBs for ICT
- Seiken Co. Ltd.
The penultimate probe card manufacturer on our list is Seiken Co. Founded in 1984, the company is headquartered in Ota-ku, Tokyo, Japan. It primarily manufactures two contact probes: standard variants for testing printed circuit boards and double plunger contact probes for semiconductor testing.
- FEINMETALL GmbH
Last but not least, FEINMETALL GmbH is a state-of-the-art probe card manufacturer that was formed in 1964. It is currently headquartered in Herrenberg, Germany, and has 600 employees. The company manufactures and distributes contact probes, probe cards, and special contacts used in the semiconductor, automotive, and electrical sectors.
Wrapping It Up
So, there we have it, a crisp overview of the top 13 manufacturers of probe cards of 2024 and their specializations.
