Sealed success SCHOTT

SEaLED SuCCESS

SCHOTT Electronic Packaging, a member of the global SCHOTT Group, is a leading developer and manufacturer of hermetically-sealed housings and other components for the reliable, long-term protection of sensitive electronics. Romana Moares spoke to Mr Michael Tratzky, the sales director, about the components developed for the defence and aerospace sectors and the reasons why the German company is a preferred supplier for key global players.

SCHOTT is a recognised leader in several sectors, with over 130 years of experience in offering a broad portfolio of high-quality products and intelligent solutions. The group maintains a global presence with production sites and sales offices in 34 countries and over 15,000 employees. The parent company, SCHOTT AG, has its headquarters in Mainz (Germany) and is solely owned by the Carl Zeiss Foundation. Its business unit Electronic Packaging, located near Munich, specialises in the development and production of hermetic housings, supplied to the aerospace and defence sectors. Core technologies include glass-to-metal and ceramic-to-metal sealing, thermal sensing components and a variety of cutting-edge speciality glass competencies.

What are microelectronic packages and why they need to be hermetically sealed? Mr Tratzky explains: “Hermetic microelectronic packages, our core business, are used to ‘package’ and thereby protect sensitive electronic components and complete electrical assemblies from harsh environmental conditions, including high temperature, moisture, shock and vibration. At the same time, the vacuum-tight housings and substrates must enable power and signal transmission (electrical and optical) into and out of the package. This is facilitated by the so-called connectors or feedthroughs hermetically sealed into that package. As electronics are critical in the defence and aerospace sectors, the quality and reliability of the microelectronic package is of extreme importance. As the type of electronics they encapsulate are often safety-dependent, their failure is not an option, to paraphrase the NASA statement.” Customised solutions

Mr Tratzky further points out that as the maintenance or repair of these sophisticated electronics is often impossible, the most critical aspect of a microelectronic package is hermetic reliability over a long period of time (i.e. exceeding the specific product life). This is also the key market requirement for this type of product, together with robustness against harsh environmental influences. “To meet these requirements, a profound expertise and knowledge of the suitable material selection as well as processing is essential,” says Mr Tratzky. “SCHOTT is one of the most experienced hermetic packaging suppliers worldwide. We draw on more than 75 years of experience in technology and can deliver products for a broad range of applications, including other safety-relevant applications such as hermetic packages used in nuclear submarines, nuclear power stations, medical devices and also other sectors such as automotive. The core focus, however, remains the defence and aerospace sector.”

The solutions SCHOTT provides for its key sector are customised and reflect each individual customer’s needs. “In addition to excellent quality standards we also provide our customers with operational excellence, which is extremely important, as all our clients in this arena have their own specific, individual ideas and requirements,” says Mr Tratzky, adding that the company promotes true partnerships starting at the concept and continuing to after-sales support and consultations. With its range of available technologies, including Glass-to-Metal, Ceramic-to-Metal (CerTMS®) and Multilayer HighTemperature Co-Fired Ceramic (HTCC), SCHOTT provides its cus-

tomers with a significant advantage and enables them to get exactly what they need. With its century-long tradition in glass development & production and its extensive in-house glass development capability, SCHOTT has outstanding material expertise.

In addition to a technical partnership, SCHOTT can offer its customers another highly sought-after advantage – stability. “Due to the nature of their projects, our customers are reliant on long-term partnerships with well-established, financially stable suppliers. SCHOTT’s 130-year history includes its ownership by the Carl Zeiss foundation – an arrangement that signifies a focus on sustainable growth and innovation-minded customer relationships,” says Michael Tratzky.

While he admits that all recent projects are subject to confidentiality, he gives a recent example demonstrating SCHOTT’s capabilities – its innovative hermetically-sealed packaging concept was the basis of a new semiconductor amplification technology in the Satellite ‘Proba-V’, the newest member of a family of smaller satellite missions by the European Space Agency (ESA), launched into orbit in May 2013. As a result of an innovative design, the high-frequency waves are able to pass through the wall of the housing with very low attenuation. In addition, the reflection losses of the high-frequency waves along the housing wall are also minimised.

Investing in the future

SCHOTT regularly showcases its capabilities and product offerings at European Microwave Week in Nuremberg, Germany. This year, as explained by Mr Tratzky, the focus was on thermal management and miniaturisation. SCHOTT has significant in-house capabilities in HTCC technology. Multilayer design enables the production of miniature 3D interconnect solutions, paving the way for high-density input/output capability in small-form packages for both feedthroughs and circuit board substrates.

“Superior thermal conductivity of the material and temperature resistance beyond 300 degrees Celsius makes the HTCC technology a perfect fit for high-power aerospace applications,” says Michael Tratzky. “All microelectronic housings and substrates are developed and manufactured by a specialised and dedicated team at SCHOTT’s site in Landshut, near Munich. This designates SCHOTT microelectronic components as 100 per cent Made in Germany, an important aspect for European defence and aerospace industries.”

In response to increasing demand, the company has invested significantly in the extension of its R&D and production capacity, with a view to further strengthening the group’s position in the international market. This strategy was reflected in the recent acquisition in Japan, where SCHOTT acquired the remaining shares in the joint venture NEC SCHOTT Components Corp., Minakuchi, which has become a fully-owned SCHOTT subsidiary. Through this it has shown a clear commitment to the Asian markets. In Europe, SCHOTT is ready to participate in new aerospace projects. “Throughout our history we have proven that we are a valued partner to our customers and we intend to remain so in the future,” concludes Mr Tratzky.