ASiMI opens new $200,000 technology development lab in Butte

Advanced Silicon Materials Inc., has launched a new $200,000 technology development lab to further innovation in the silicon industry.

By Leslie McCartney of The Montana Standard

The lab, which is staffed by six scientists, engineers and support personnel, is an investment by ASiMI to keep ahead in the highly competitive silicon market.

"This is something we felt we needed to focus on," said Scott Brown, manager of the ASiMI plant. "This is really about investing in ASiMI’s future."

The silicon manufacturer is one of Butte-Silver Bow’s largest private employers with about 250 people on the payroll. It’s located southwest of town.

Brown explained that new discoveries and technologies in the high-tech field come fast and furious, and keeping the brightest minds engaged in solving problems, finding better ways to do things or even discovering new uses for silicon is a tremendous asset for ASiMI.

"The ideas come out of these guys’ heads," he said, referring to technology lab personnel.

The research center is housed in an unused wing at ASiMI. It allows its staff to conduct experiments using nearly $200,000 worth of equipment, which duplicate the processes going on 24 hours a day at ASiMI. The lab will be used by technology and manufacturing groups to test ideas before the expensive step of implementation.

And it is especially exciting to those who deal with silicon on a daily basis.

"We’ve had two previous attempts (at establishing a lab). But the costs are so high," said Lyle Winterton, a staff engineer.

Evaluating new ideas to support ASiMI’s core knowledge of the silicon industry is crucial in the competitive, fast-paced market, added James Cox, a silane scientist. He said that such

products as silicon chips — which help power computers — have evolved over the years, and he expects new discoveries and products to further revolutionize the industry.

"Chips have evolved — they shrink about every 18 months," Cox said.

The rush to create and implement new products also makes the industry highly competitive with customers clamoring for new products to meet demand. Developing, researching and testing ideas to progress to the market is one of the key reasons for the lab. The lab also is charged with finding perhaps better, more efficient or less costly ways of producing ASiMI’s products from polysilicon to silane gas.

It is also important for scientists and engineers to test their creativity, brain power and skill in trying new ideas.

"It’s never boring," Cox said.

He said that rapid developments will result in significant changes in the home and workplace. He pointed to appliances that come with computer brains — like a refrigerator that will monitor temperature and a shopping list. They fully expect that plasma, or flat-panel televisions — which use silicon — will become the new standard in American homes, and work computer systems will continue to evolve.

"It will be almost impossible making it through a day without some sort of interaction with a computer chip," Cox said.

The lab has the added benefit with colleagues who share space, interests and ideas as they collaborate.

"There are really good people here … that’s one of the reasons I decided to come," Winterton said. He relocated to Butte from ASiMI’s former headquarters in Moses Lake, Wash., about a year ago.

The facility’s design also makes it possible for the company to conduct joint development work with others involved in silane-based product development.

"It’s very interesting … there are so many possibilities," Cox said.

Reporter Leslie McCartney may be reached via e-mail at [email protected].

http://www.mtstandard.com/articles/2003/11/16/featuresbusiness/hjjgiiidjajcid.txt