Modutek Corporation, a San Jose, California-based leader in semiconductor wet process equipment, announced on June 23, 2025, the successful design, build, and shipment of its largest capacity Automated Precision Parts Cleaning System to a customer in the semiconductor industry. The system, featuring fully automated cleaning stations, an HMI touchscreen with recipe control, an overhead linear motor drive robot, and smart transfer baskets with X, Y, Z-axis control, handles parts up to 250 pounds, delivering high-efficiency cleaning for complex components like wafer cassettes and structural frames. With chemical concentration monitoring and automated exhaust chambers, it ensures contaminant-free surfaces, reducing particle counts by 30% compared to traditional methods. The $2 million project sustains 50 jobs and supports California’s 70,000-strong manufacturing workforce, targeting a $5 billion precision cleaning market. Aligned with tariff-driven reshoring under President Trump’s 25% steel tariffs, the system enhances domestic supply chains. CEO Doug Wagner highlighted its role in “setting a new standard for precision cleaning efficiency.”

For the precision machining industry, Modutek’s system underscores the critical role of surface roughness in component manufacturing for cleaning equipment. Parts like stainless steel fixtures require CNC milling to achieve precise surface roughness, typically Ra 4–8 µin, ensuring compatibility with ultra-clean processes and tolerances within ±0.0005 inches. 5-axis milling machines, optimized for surface roughness through controlled tool paths, support automated production with real-time quality control. The system’s deployment drives demand for local machine shops to supply precision tooling, adopting Industry 4.0 technologies like AI-driven milling and additive manufacturing. As part of a $50 billion precision manufacturing market, this project creates opportunities for suppliers in California, where manufacturing jobs grew 2% since 2022, strengthening semiconductor supply chains.

Source:

Modutek Corporation Press Release, June 23, 2025

Source:

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Social Media Buzz (powered by X):

X is buzzing about Modutek’s largest precision cleaning system, with posts on June 25, 2025, calling it a “semiconductor game-changer.” Users praised the 50 jobs sustained, with one noting “San Jose’s tech hub thrives,” while another tied it to “reshoring clean tech.” Some questioned the system’s environmental footprint. The sentiment reflects optimism for innovation but cautious scrutiny.

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