WE ARE DEVELOPING THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE FUTURE

Are you curious about the technology behind the latest electronic products, such as smartphones and self-driving cars? Then you will want to learn more about the Wafer Handler. This module is the first step in the exposure process, an important part of chip production. It safely and accurately moves wafers, which are used to build chips. It consists of thousands of components. We develop, manufacture, assemble, test and qualify the most complex ones.

The Wafer Handler delivers precision, speed and reliability without compromising stability. It positions the wafer with accuracy twice as fine as a human hair. Meanwhile, the temperature at the end of the process varies by only a few thousandths of a degree. Advanced gripping systems transfer the wafer as cleanly as possible. They also keep contamination to a minimum. Did you know this system makes a new wafer available every 10 seconds? This technical achievement supports current and future technologies.

With an electron microscope, researchers can explore the invisible worlds of micrometres and nanometres. They can magnify objects up to 10 million times. From the tiniest organisms on our skin to processes inside our bodies, they discover how our immune system works. They also study how blood clots form and how diseased cells affect our health. But microbiology is not the only field in which we are active. In nanotechnology, electron microscopy also reveals the secrets of materials at the smallest scale.

At VDL ETG, we produce components with a high degree of precision. For example, consider a unique, miniature aluminium plate at the heart of an electron microscope. In our advanced cleanroom, we assemble and test these components with the utmost accuracy. They determine the quality and resolution of the images produced by the microscope. In short, we provide researchers with the tools they need to unravel the mysteries of the microscopic world.

Thanks to linear proton accelerators for Image Guided Hadron Therapy (LIGHT), cancer patients can be treated with unprecedented precision. Proton therapy is a specific form of radiotherapy that offers patients hopeful prospects of recovery or a longer life. The accelerator fires a beam of charged particles (protons) at the malignant cells at the speed of light. The proton beam’s energy is focused precisely on the right location, destroying the cancer cells from within while causing minimal damage to the surrounding healthy tissue.

The structure is 25 metres long and consists of 15 modules manufactured by VDL ETG with micron precision. Each module contains two tanks, holding 1,000 accelerator plates in total. Each plate has a unique design. For a stable and accurate proton beam, all plates must meet the same high standards for dimensional accuracy, parallelism and surface flatness. Profile deviations must remain below 15 micrometres. This makes the proton accelerator a technical masterpiece that enables the medical benefits of proton therapy.

Imagine a 10x10x10 cm box that communicates using laser beams. It may sound like science fiction, but this box, called CubeCAT, is one of the world’s most advanced laser terminals for small satellites. In April 2023, the first CubeCAT went into space aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. It faced a challenging mission: establishing an optical communication link with a ground station on Earth at a speed of 1 Gbps. That is faster than most home internet connections.

The CubeCAT is more than just a small device. It is an impressive piece of engineering that combines optics, mechatronics, systems integration and electronics. With CubeCAT, we are pushing the boundaries of optical communications for small satellites. This technology has significant future potential. It offers greater bandwidth, lower energy consumption, enhanced security and fewer licensing issues than traditional radio frequencies.