Without ALD, many industries would be unable to function, including those that deal with our essential electronics. Picosun Group offers ALD Solutions.
Let’s learn more about Picosun Group in this conversation with the company’s CEO, Jussi Rautee.
Describe the Picosun Group for us.
For the semiconductor, medical, and other industries, Picosun Group is the top supplier of AGILE ALD® (Atomic Layer Deposition) thin-film coating technology. Some of the most well-known manufacturers of microelectronics and photonics in the world are among our clients, and we also offer state-of-the-art R&D ALD solutions to the top universities and research organizations everywhere.
Without ALD, it is possible to argue that we would not have computers, cell phones, wireless communications, or industrial automation. However, ALD is still a relatively unexplored technology in the medical community.
Typically, macroscopic coatings consisting of polymers, metals, or ceramics are used on medical devices and implants. ALD is a cutting-edge, sophisticated vacuum coating technique that creates films that are only a few nanometers thick, has the highest uniformity and conformality, and are inherently pinhole- and crack-free due to the sequential surface interactions it creates between co-reacting gases.
The film-growth process is digitally repeatable, and sub-nanometer-level control over the film’s composition and thickness is possible. ALD is perfect for medical devices and implants because it uses materials that are frequent temperature- or chemically sensitive as well as microelectronic components.
Several ALD materials are bio-compatible and/or bioactive, and the coatings can be applied at mild temperatures.
At Picosun Group, we adhere to the “AGILE ALD” tenet, which states that our ultimate objective is to “take ALD where it has never gone before.”
The PicoMEDICALTM ALD solutions from Picosun Group are already in use in industries including the manufacture of medical implants and the functionalization of drug surfaces.
ALD coating on the surface of the drug particle allows for control of the drug release timing, and in dental implants, bioactive ALD coating speeds up the osseointegration process to help the implant adhere to the bone more quickly.
Protective coatings for various implantable sensors, neuroprosthetics, and other devices for remote, digital, and bio-electronic healthcare are other possible medical ALD applications.
Body fluids are corrosive, therefore implanted devices must be shielded from them. In turn, the human body must be shielded from any rejection reactions brought on by the implant and/or potential metal ion leaks from it.
In contrast to “conventional” coatings, the implanted device can be hermetically sealed off and separated from the environment of the human body using ultra-thin, highly conformal, impermeable, and pinhole-free ALD coatings. This increases the lifespan, dependability, safety, and comfort of the device from the patient’s perspective (perhaps requiring fewer “maintenance” or replacement surgeries).
The history and current status of Picosun Group in the ALD industry are exceptional. Dr. Tuomo Suntola, a member of the Picosun Group Board, developed and patented ALD in 1974 for use in industry; as a result, Picosun Group today represents over four decades of ground-breaking, pioneering expertise in the sector. Since ALD is what we do best, unlike many other coating technology businesses, we just focus on it.
Our core team is made up of Doctors in ALD research with years of combined experience in the subject, coming from both academia and different companies.
We have also contributed to a large number of ALD patents. Our products are already the fifteenth generation of cutting-edge ALD coating machinery created and produced in Finland.
As the technology’s creators and forerunners, we want to advance ALD constantly by collaborating closely with our clients. One of our most recent key strategic markets is the medical sector.
ALD technology has enormous potential to address some of the most pressing issues facing medical device manufacturers, and we are eager to partner with new businesses in this sector to offer our ALD solutions and help them develop better, safer, more durable, and more user-friendly products for emerging healthcare markets.
The headquarters of the Picosun Group are in Finland, and we also have offices and subsidiaries there as well as in Germany, the USA, Singapore, Taiwan, China, Korea, Japan, India, and France. We have a global network of distributors and representatives in addition to our sites to guarantee an accurate and thorough response to our consumers’ questions.
1. What difficulties did you initially encounter?
the normal difficulties a young, rapidly expanding company experiences. The demand for our ALD solutions from numerous industries has increased so quickly that it puts some pressure on the employment process; it might be difficult at times to locate the ideal professionals to complete our staff portfolio.
When the business settings we operate in change and expand quickly, scaling up and simplifying our operations is also a difficult undertaking. However, things are going well for us right now. For instance, we are expanding our production facilities and hiring more people.
Picosun Group offers turn-key, production-tested ALD thin film coating solutions to international businesses and R&D.
2. What was the turning event that led to Picosun Group’s expansion?
It may be claimed that the industrial environment has recently experienced an explosion in interest in ALD technology, which has not abated. The superiority of ALD coatings over coatings created using “traditional methods” enables a variety of completely new, advanced products,
adds value and novel features to ones that already exist, and possibly saves materials, manufacturing costs, and the environment when the same effect can be achieved (with ALD) with much thinner coatings than what can be provided by “traditional methods.”
At Picosun Group, we adhere to the “AGILE ALD” tenet, which states that our ultimate objective is to “take ALD where it has never gone before.” This is made possible by our broad networking and engagement with businesses and academic institutions, as well as by the diversified backgrounds, high levels of competence, and experience of our staff members, who also possess a spirit of creativity and innovation.
3. What accounts for the sustained success of your business?
“AGILE ALD” once more. Naturally, we have well-established goods and solutions for our core sectors, but we are also continuously exploring new opportunities and uses for ALD that might make it the disrupting technology, as well as creating new ALD solutions for a variety of markets.
We have what it takes to service clients with a wide range of needs and backgrounds while responding quickly to changing business situations.
Every aspect of our business is centered around the needs of the customer, and we have a solid reputation as a partner you can trust to deliver on your commitments.
When cutting-edge coating solutions are required, even the most illustrious industries in the world turn to Picosun Group, demonstrating our client’s trust in us as seen by the steadily rising percentage of repeat purchases.
The Goods and Services
4. What goods and services does Picosun Group concentrate on? How do your services differ from those offered by competitors?
Picosun Group offers turn-key, production-tested ALD thin film coating solutions to international businesses and R&D. Along with providing the actual coating equipment, we also form a strategic alliance with the client after providing initial application consulting, analysis, and conversations about the client’s requirements and how our technology solutions may support the client’s company expansion.
After that, the real hardware will be delivered, installed, and put to use with ALD procedures that have been tailored for the customer’s application.
We also provide a range of modular, highly adaptable training programs that may be specifically suited to the requirements of various ALD equipment users, from operators to developers and technical/maintenance staff.
Naturally, complete life-cycle management services and after-sales support are essential components of our all-encompassing ALD solution.
With a focus on cost-effective, turnkey manufacturing solutions for up to 200 mm wafer markets and non-wafer-based applications such as medical devices and implants, coins, watch parts and jewelry, and mechanical parts, such as automotive and aerospace, our PICOSUN®ALD equipment portfolio includes fully automated, large scale industrial batch and cluster ALD systems for up to 300 mm wafer size.
Our ALD solutions combine the best process quality, the most agile, compact, and creative equipment design, and the broadest strategic relationship to support customers throughout their ALD journey, from applications consulting through equipment delivery, staff training, and full lifecycle management.
Our unique history and position as the creators and forerunners of ALD, coupled with our exclusive dedication to technology, are what distinguish us from our rivals in the market. These aspects work together to form a holistic, strategic collaboration with our customers.
5. How do you make the decision to expand the company’s offering of goods and services?
By keeping a steady eye on what’s happening in the ALD community and our main markets. We actively take part in conferences, expos, and other events, collaborate and network with the international ALD, semiconductor, and medical communities, take part in a number of research initiatives and projects that are coordinated by the EU and research the most recent market reports from the most important ALD application areas.
This directs the path of our R&D, process, and product development so that we may continue to lead the market and consistently provide the best and most innovative ALD products to support the growth of our client’s businesses.
6. Are there any new items or services on the list? Do you have anything exciting to share?
Picosun Group is bringing something exciting to the 300 mm wafer markets, but it is still a “secret” and won’t be made public until later this year.
