Molecular Imprints With Nanopatterning Solution

Molecular Imprints, Inc. introduced the NuTera HD7000, its next-generation Jet and Flash Imprint Lithography (J-FIL) platform for the hard disk drive (HDD) industry. Representing the industry’s first nanopatterning system specifically designed for patterned media pilot- and volume-manufacturing, the NuTera HD7000 enables sub-20nm lithography at production speeds and provides the low cost of ownership (CoO) that HDD manufacturers require in order to economically extend their areal density roadmaps to well beyond one terabit per square inch. Higher areal densities enable more storage capacity in smaller form factors, bringing consumers more productive and useful mobile devices such as notebook and tablet computers.

Molecular Imprints has already received an order for the NuTera HD7000 from one of the world’s leading HDD manufacturers. This order brings the total systems sold to the HDD industry by Molecular Imprints to 13, as manufacturers focus on transitioning into the terabit era.

"Patterned media is essential to HDD manufacturers in realizing sustainable gains in areal density beyond the one terabit threshold," stated Mark Melliar-Smith, CEO of Molecular Imprints. "HDD manufacturers are currently leveraging the high-resolution patterning performance of our J-FIL technology in their patterned media development programs. As the first nanopatterning solution capable of pilot- and volume-production applications, the NuTera HD7000 serves as a critical vehicle to the ultimate goal of achieving patterned media volume production."

"Hard disk drive technology is vitally important for the storage of commercial and personal content as it offers the unique combination of very high density, small form factor and the world’s lowest cost per bit. Companies implementing patterned media early can take strategic advantage of its enormous areal density potential," according to storage analyst Tom Coughlin of Coughlin Associates. "With the introduction of the NuTera high-volume-manufacturing platform, Molecular Imprints is bringing the commercial introduction of patterned media closer to reality."

The NuTera HD7000 represents the most advanced nanopatterning system available to the HDD industry. With the first shipment scheduled for this month, the NuTera HD7000 is set to play a critical role in enabling patterned media production and the realization of unparalleled areal density levels. In addition, the system offers a throughput of more than 300 double-sided disks per hour. Featuring the company’s enhanced IntelliJet drop pattern technology, the NuTera HD7000 dispenses picoliter-sized resist droplets, which enable improved residual layer thickness (RLT) uniformity for exceptional pattern fidelity, resulting in higher disk yields. The NuTera HD7000 also integrates smoothly into a fab’s existing robotic material handling system to enable full-factory automation – maximizing production efficiency while avoiding yield loss associated with manual operation. The NuTera HD7000 precise inkjet dispense system eliminates the need for resist waste disposal and requires about half the fab footprint space when compared to the previous Imprio HD2200 platform.

"The HDD industry continues to invest in the patterned media infrastructure, as evident by the growing adoption of our J-FIL systems," added Melliar-Smith. "The NuTera HD7000 is an integral component in that infrastructure, along with our Perfecta TR1100 template replication system. With a total of 13 orders to date from HDD customers for our J-FIL nanopatterning solutions, our technology has become the standard for the patterned media technology transition. Along with delivering the leading-edge nanopatterning systems that HDD manufacturers require, Molecular Imprints is also partnering with our customers to accelerate the process integration and yield-learning associated with taking this advanced technology from development to mass production."