Ivy, Khaki Mean Green for Myriad

Myriad Semiconductor in Rogers has added some heavyweights to its already impressive list of collegiate clients. A photolithography equipment manufacturing and service firm, Myriad makes mask aligner systems to photographically imprint electronic circuits down to one micron onto silicon wafers, which can be up to four inches in size.

The wafer later can be used as an integrated circuit chip for computers or in very special censor devices like those used to guide smart missiles from aircraft or in video games or cell phones.

The machines range in cost from $15,000-$55,000, compared with large new versions on the market that go for $1 million-$3 million and can handle 10-inch wafers down to the quarter micron.

Myriad owner Bob Hobbs said the new systems are great for huge companies, but they’re often more machine than a lot of his clients need. So his firm is focused on a niche market that includes such additional applications as making biomedical devices, micro machining products and solar cells.

“There are so many customers out there who need a simpler machine, and some of the new systems are not addressing that need,” Hobbs said. “That’s where we come in.”

Several prestigious universities and research centers recently gave Myriad some momentum:

• Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., just purchased a high-end Myriad mask aligner system that it plans to use for medical research projects.

• Princeton University entered into a full-time service agreement with Myriad, although the New Jersey institution had done business with the firm for 20 years.

• The U.S. Army Research Laboratory recently bought a very sophisticated Myriad mask alignment system that was tailored to its needs.

• Oklahoma State University featured Myriad’s equipment on the cover of its electronic engineering brochure, lending credibility to the quality of the firm’s products.

Other Myriad clients include IBM in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., research and development firms, high-tech startups and MicroSemiconductors Corp. in Santa Anna, Calif.