Veeco to Create Deposition Tool

WOODBURY, N.Y., July 2 -- Veeco Instruments Inc. announced it has launched a program to develop a next-generation data storage thin-film head sensor deposition tool to facilitate the transition to perpendicular recording.

Veeco has hired Piero Sferlazzo as vice president and general manager for its advanced technologies deposition platform. Sferlazzo founded a number of companies, including Fluens, Opnetics (now part of Unaxis), Klee (now part of Astex Corp.) and Krytek (now part of Core Systems), and is experienced in the development and management of process equipment for the semiconductor, data storage and telecommunications industries.

Veeco said its goal is to create a new tool to integrate physical vapor deposition, atomic layer deposition and molecular beam deposition to allow deposition of new materials.

According to Don Kania, PhD, president of Veeco, "Veeco recognizes that our data storage customers are looking for next-generation deposition solutions that will enable their move to current-perpendicular plane head technology. It is Veeco's intention to develop tools that incorporate various types of deposition in order to meet this market requirement."

Veeco provides metrology and process equipment systems for the semiconductor, data storage, telecommunications and scientific research markets.

For more information, visit: www.veeco.com