PHOENIX—As part of its strategic commitment to strengthening domestic semiconductor manufacturing, Spirit Electronics recently acquired microelectronic assembly supplier SMART Microsystems, located at Lorain County Community College (LCCC) in Ohio.
Spirit Electronics’ expansion into Northeast Ohio is said to mark a significant step in fostering academic and industry collaboration to accelerate innovation and workforce development in the U.S. semiconductor sector.
“This acquisition supports our mission to expand U.S. semiconductor capacity with secure, high-reliability solutions,” said Marti McCurdy, CEO of Spirit Electronics, in a company release. “Partnering with LCCC allows us to invest directly in the future talent pipeline and emerging technologies that are critical to national security and domestic innovation.”
SMART Microsystems will serve as a hub for advanced research and education in materials, MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems), and advanced packaging technologies, including 2.5D and 3D integration, the release stated.
“We are proud to collaborate with Spirit Electronics to bring new opportunities to Northeast Ohio,” said Marcia Ballinger, Ph.D., and president of Lorain County Community College, in a statement. “This partnership enhances our ability to prepare students for high-tech careers while contributing to the growth of a robust semiconductor ecosystem in our region and beyond.”
Together, Spirit Electronics and LCCC are said to be “laying the foundation for a resilient, innovation-driven semiconductor future.”
Spirit Electronics is an end-to-end supply chain services company headquartered in Phoenix. The company offers MIL-STD-883 testing, circuit card assembly, device analysis, ASIC programs, foundry services, and franchised distribution of high-reliability electronic components.
“Spirit’s supply chain solutions have changed the definition of distribution by providing full-turnkey OSAT (outsourced semiconductor assembly and test) services to deliver products to aerospace and defense customers, fully qualified and ready for use,” the release stated. Spirit is a veteran-owned, woman-owned small business (VOWOSB) founded in 1979.
SMART Microsystems is an ISO 9001:2015 certified supplier that works with design engineers who need high-quality, low volume microelectronic sub-assemblies for their innovative new products. As a North American full-service microelectronic assembly supplier, the company said it “takes complete responsibility for custom process development for [a customer’s] new design, taking it from prototyping through launch in less overall time and cost than other package assembly suppliers.”
SMART’s facilities are reported to offer “5,000 square feet of world-class ISO 6 (class 1000) and ISO 5 (class 100) cleanrooms.”