The partnership is also expected to reduce dependence on cross-border logistics and improve access to local technical support
ATS India (Automated Tooling Systems India) has partnered with Japan-based Hirata Corporation to bring semiconductor manufacturing and automation equipment to the Indian market. Under the partnership, ATS India will serve as Hirata’s exclusive distribution partner in India.
The partnership comes as India expands its semiconductor manufacturing and advanced packaging capabilities, creating demand for automation and backend manufacturing equipment.
Hirata and ATS India have worked together for more than a decade across sectors including automotive. The companies are now extending their relationship to semiconductor manufacturing, with an initial focus on Hirata’s standard equipment portfolio for the Indian market.
The portfolio includes Equipment Front End Modules (EFEMs), FOPLP load ports, PLP panel handling robots and high-performance wafer handling robots. These systems are designed for wafer and panel handling across semiconductor manufacturing and advanced packaging processes.
Kishen Kavikondala, CEO of ATS India, said the partnership will focus on developing the local commercial, technical and service ecosystem required by Indian semiconductor manufacturers as their production capacity grows.
The partnership is also expected to reduce dependence on cross-border logistics and improve access to local technical support, potentially helping manufacturers deploy equipment faster and reduce downtime.
John Derzy, Vice President, Hirata Corporation of America, said India is an important growth market for the company as global semiconductor and electronics manufacturing continues to diversify. He added that the partnership will focus on increasing automation across semiconductor manufacturing, particularly in OSAT operations.
The companies plan to initially focus on precision manufacturing solutions before expanding into customised and application-specific offerings as the Indian semiconductor ecosystem matures.
The partnership will also support the development of local skills and supply-chain capabilities in precision manufacturing. ATS India and Hirata expect the collaboration to support the adoption of advanced automation technologies across semiconductor manufacturing, OSAT and advanced packaging operations in India.
