Aehr Receives Wafer Level Burn-in System Order from New Major Supplier of Silicon Carbide Semiconductors

Rhea-AI Summary

Aehr Test Systems (NASDAQ: AEHR) has secured a purchase order from a new customer for a FOX-NP multi-wafer test and burn-in system, essential for qualifying silicon carbide devices aimed at electric vehicles. This customer, a significant player in the silicon carbide market, will utilize multiple WaferPak Contactors for enhanced functionality. The systems are scheduled for shipment this week, with acceptance criteria expected to be met within three to six months. The silicon carbide device market is projected to expand significantly, necessitating an increase in wafer production capacity to meet automotive and electrification demands.

Positive

• Secured a purchase order from a new customer, indicating strong demand.
• FOX-NP system is pivotal for silicon carbide device qualification, crucial for electric vehicle markets.
• Expected significant growth in silicon carbide market, with demand rising from fewer than 150,000 wafers in 2021 to over 4 million by 2030.

Negative

• None.

FREMONT, Calif., Sept. 13, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aehr Test Systems (NASDAQ: AEHR), a worldwide supplier of semiconductor production test and reliability qualification equipment, today announced it has received a purchase order from a new customer for a FOX-NP^TM multi-wafer test and burn-in system, multiple WaferPak^TM Contactors and a FOX WaferPak Aligner to be used for qualification of Aehr’s wafer level burn-in solution for silicon carbide devices for electric vehicles and other markets. This company is a major supplier of silicon carbide devices serving several significant markets including the electric vehicle industry. This order has acceptance criteria including demonstrating certain new enhancements and functionality criteria offered by Aehr and stipulated under a corresponding evaluation and acceptance agreement. Upon successful completion of the specified criteria, final acceptance of the purchase order is met, and title transfer and invoicing will be completed.

This FOX system is configured for stress testing and burning in 150mm and 200mm silicon carbide wafers using Aehr’s proprietary WaferPak full wafer Contactors. The FOX-NP system and FOX WaferPak Aligner are scheduled to ship this week to the customer’s facility.

Gayn Erickson, President and CEO of Aehr Test Systems, commented, “We are very excited that this new customer has chosen to move forward with us after we demonstrated the capability and configurability of the FOX platform full wafer test and burn-in solution using our systems and their silicon carbide wafers at our facility in Fremont, California. This company has indicated to us that no other provider has a product that is scalable to high volume production like Aehr’s FOX-XP multi-wafer system. The FOX-NP system is a two-wafer system that is fully compatible with the volume production FOX-XP, which can be configured with up to nine or eighteen wafers depending on the customer’s specific test requirements and power configuration. This allows our customers to choose between larger and smaller configuration systems that are 100% compatible with each other at their facilities around the world. The purchase order for the FOX-NP system includes specific performance and functionality evaluation criteria that we believe Aehr will achieve on their test floor during the next three to six months which triggers final acceptance of the solution. They have provided us with forecasts for our FOX-XP systems for volume production of their silicon carbide devices at multiple facilities around the world, with initial delivery for our FOX-XP systems requested during this fiscal year ending May 31, 2023.

“Forecasts from Canaccord Genuity estimate that the silicon carbide market for devices in electric vehicles, such as traction inverters and the on-board chargers, is expected to grow from fewer than 150,000 wafers in 2021 to more than four million 6-inch equivalent wafers in 2030 to meet the demand of the automotive electric vehicle market, representing a growth rate of over 25 times the current wafer capacity just for the in-vehicle devices. Canaccord also estimates that the silicon carbide market will require an additional four million silicon carbide wafers annually by 2030 to meet demand for electrification infrastructure, industrial and photovoltaic power devices.

“The FOX family of compatible systems including the FOX-NP and FOX-XP multi-wafer test and burn in systems and Aehr’s proprietary WaferPak full wafer contactors provide a uniquely cost-effective solution for burning in multiple wafers of devices at a single time to remove early life failures of silicon carbide devices which is critical to meeting the initial quality and long-term reliability the automotive, industrial, and electrification infrastructure industry needs.”

The FOX-XP and FOX-NP systems, available with multiple WaferPak Contactors (full wafer test) or multiple DiePak^TM Carriers (singulated die/module test) configurations, are capable of functional test and burn-in/cycling of devices such as silicon carbide and gallium nitride power semiconductors, silicon photonics as well as other optical devices, 2D and 3D sensors, flash memories, magnetic sensors, microcontrollers, and other leading-edge ICs in either wafer form factor, before they are assembled into single or multi-die stacked packages, or in singulated die or module form factor.

About Aehr Test Systems
Headquartered in Fremont, California, Aehr Test Systems is a worldwide provider of test systems for burning-in semiconductor devices in wafer level, singulated die, and package part form, and has installed over 2,500 systems worldwide. Increased quality and reliability needs of the Automotive and Mobility integrated circuit markets are driving additional test requirements, incremental capacity needs, and new opportunities for Aehr Test products in package, wafer level, and singulated die/module level test. Aehr Test has developed and introduced several innovative products, including the ABTS^TM and FOX-P^TM families of test and burn-in systems and FOX WaferPak^TM Aligner, FOX WaferPak Contactor, FOX DiePak^® Carrier and FOX DiePak Loader. The ABTS system is used in production and qualification testing of packaged parts for both lower power and higher power logic devices as well as all common types of memory devices. The FOX-XP and FOX-NP systems are full wafer contact and singulated die/module test and burn-in systems used for burn-in and functional test of complex devices, such as leading-edge silicon carbide-based power semiconductors, memories, digital signal processors, microprocessors, microcontrollers, systems-on-a-chip, and integrated optical devices. The FOX-CP system is a new low-cost single-wafer compact test and reliability verification solution for logic, memory and photonic devices and the newest addition to the FOX-P product family. The WaferPak Contactor contains a unique full wafer probe card capable of testing wafers up to 300mm that enables IC manufacturers to perform test and burn-in of full wafers on Aehr Test FOX systems. The DiePak Carrier is a reusable, temporary package that enables IC manufacturers to perform cost-effective final test and burn-in of both bare die and modules. For more information, please visit Aehr Test Systems’ website at www.aehr.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or Aehr’s future financial or operating performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates,” “going to,” "could," "intends," "target," "projects," "contemplates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," or "continue," or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern Aehr’s expectations, strategy, priorities, plans, or intentions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, future requirements and orders of Aehr’s new and existing customers; bookings forecasted for proprietary WaferPak^TM and DiePak consumables; and expectations related to long-term demand for Aehr’s productions and the attractiveness of key markets. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in Aehr’s recent Form 10-K, 10-Q and other reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Aehr disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.

Contacts:
Aehr Test Systems	MKR Investor Relations Inc.
Vernon Rogers	Todd Kehrli or Jim Byers
EVP of Sales & Marketing	Analyst/Investor Contact
(510) 623-9400 x215	(213) 277-5550
vrogers@aehr.com	aehr@mkr-group.com

FAQ

What is the recent purchase order by Aehr Test Systems regarding?

Aehr Test Systems received a purchase order for a FOX-NP multi-wafer test and burn-in system from a new customer for silicon carbide device qualification.

How does the silicon carbide market forecast influence Aehr Test Systems?

Forecasts predict the silicon carbide market will require over 4 million wafers by 2030, highlighting potential growth and increased demand for Aehr's products.

What is the significance of the FOX-NP system for electric vehicles?

The FOX-NP system is crucial for the qualification of silicon carbide devices, which are important for the electric vehicle industry's performance and reliability.

When is the FOX-NP system expected to be shipped?

The FOX-NP system is scheduled to ship within the week following the press release.

What are the expected acceptance criteria for the new order by Aehr Test Systems?

The acceptance criteria include demonstrating enhancements and functionality specified in the evaluation and acceptance agreement, expected to be completed in three to six months.