Demand boosts cable production

WL Gore & Associates (Gore) has doubled its manufacturing capacity for flat cables to keep pace with demand for cables capable of reducing particles and outgassing in semiconductor manufacturing steps such as lithography, ion implantation and inspection.

The additional capacity includes the ability to make flat cables up to 300 mm wide so multiple cables can be replaced with a single, self-supporting cable for stroke lengths of 500 mm or less.

The company designs high flex cables that survive the extreme conditions found in clean rooms. These cables can be used in ISO14644-1 Class 3 (FS 209E Class 1) environments.

The key to Gore’s high flex and low particulation performance is its ePTFE composite jacket. This material has a low coefficient of friction and good tear resistance. It is also very flexible and enables flat cables to be stacked on top of each other and slide smoothly without generating particles.