130m deal for semiconductor equipment network

PDF Solutions has announced the acquisition of SecureWise, a secure network that connects semiconductor manufacturing equipment worldwide, for $130 million. SecureWise offers secure remote access, monitoring, and control for manufacturing equipment at nearly 200 fabs globally. This global network allows equipment manufacturers to expedite the setup of new equipment, offer operational support, and optimize the value derived from customers’ investments in the equipment. Currently, over 100 equipment vendors utilize SecureWise to connect and manage their tools in more than 190 semiconductor fabs, facilitating the exchange of multiple petabytes of data annually.

The SecureWise network, previously owned by Telit IOT Solutions, a subsidiary of Telit Centerion, is a crucial component in the semiconductor industry. Telit Centerion's NeXT secure mobile core network, used for turnkey connectivity and device management service across the Internet of Things, ensures that customer machine data is shielded from internet-facing threats through a hub-and-spoke private network. PDF Solutions, a provider of analytics solutions for semiconductor companies, is the new owner of the SecureWise network, enhancing its capabilities in managing manufacturing data and providing valuable insights.

With the semiconductor industry becoming increasingly globalized and advanced devices incorporating multiple chiplets into a single package, collaboration and integration across the industry are more vital than ever. SecureWise customers have developed applications on the network to deliver equipment analytics, and PDF Solutions anticipates that the acquisition will enhance equipment makers' ability to leverage equipment data through its Exensio analytics software. This acquisition is expected to expand PDF Solutions' secure DEX OSAT network to equipment makers, fab operators, and fabless companies, fostering collaboration to optimize chip manufacturing and testing.

Dr. John Kibarian, President, CEO, and co-founder of PDF Solutions, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, “This acquisition extends PDF Solutions analytics for equipment makers and fabless to the factory manufacturing level, allowing them to generate value from AI. We provide the leading analytics platform for semiconductor manufacturing, and with SecureWise, the PDF Solutions platform will facilitate collaboration through a secure, direct connection, enabling control of the manufacturing process down to the production equipment.” Mike Dempsey, Vice President of SecureWise, also shared his optimism, highlighting the potential for enhanced security, collaboration, and analytics capabilities within the platform.

The acquisition of SecureWise by PDF Solutions is poised to bring significant benefits to the semiconductor industry, particularly in terms of security, collaboration, and data analytics. As data exchange and collaboration become increasingly crucial in the industry, this acquisition will position SecureWise to deliver long-term value to its customers. The deal is expected to be finalized within the next four weeks, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of semiconductor manufacturing networks.