Powering a new dimension with Essemtecs Fox

High scale integration, self-reliance, security of data, ease of manufacturing, simple recycling and low manufacturing costs are the main drivers of the electronic industry. To meet all these requirements, it is now a requisite to have energy micro-storage solutions available in a very compact form factor, easy to assemble and capable of delivering high power on demand while being reliable on an extended operating temperature range.

ITEN’s charter is precisely to develop, manufacture and sell fast-rechargeable solid-state micro-batteries in the form of Surface Mounted Devices (SMD) to be assembled and handled like any other SMD component by using pick-&-place and solder reflow techniques.

ITEN’s micro-batteries are delivering outstanding performances in terms of energy density, power density (ability to deliver high peak currents), operating temperature range and footprint.

Image: ITEN micro-batteries

ITEN strives to provide the best products to its customers and are continuously looking for the best-in-class manufacturing processes and equipment. Part of this philosophy is to qualify state-of-the-art technologies to meet the current and future market challenges.

In early 2020, ITEN began a project to evaluate the best technologies and equipment for glue dispense and component placement for its first manufacturing line. Several technology providers were engaged, including a thorough evaluation of the Essemtec solutions.

Image: Fox Pick-and-Place with integrated dispenser

ITEN evaluated the FOX “All-in-One” solution from Essemtec, including:       

• Initial proof of concept trails by the Essemtec process team
• Trials carried out with the ITEN micro-battery products in the development lab at Essemtec premises in Switzerland
• Dispensing Process optimization by our Essemtec process experts

Following this evaluation, the FOX system by Essemtec AG was selected as the best “All-in-One” solution to address the ITEN glue dispensing challenges, while providing the best placement capability. Accuracy/repeatability and integrated dispensing have been key decision factors for ITEN. The compactness of the Essemtec platform, which provides a combined dispensing and placement process has been one of the other unique features valued by ITEN.

The positive collaboration spirit has been instrumental to deploying the Essemtec FOX system within the ITEN manufacturing line located in Lyon, France. Since few months, ITEN has been using the FOX “All-in-One” solution to manufacture micro-batteries in volume production.

Testimonial:
“We, at ITEN, are always looking for the best products for our customers. We ensure to deploy equipment that meet our process requirements, and which are production worthy. We are very satisfied with the Essemtec FOX system. After a learning curve where the Essemtec and ITEN teams get to know each other, we ended up building a strong collaboration and constructive mindset with Essemtec to fulfill our requirements. We have now a qualified and efficient equipment in place to produce our micro-batteries, and we are confident Essemtec will remain our partner to support our market expansion and success.”

Ian Cayrefourcq, CTO at ITEN.

________________________________________________________
About ITEN:
More than 8 years of Research and Development, a revolutionary SMD micro-battery technology many times awarded, more than 150 patents granted throughout the world have made ITEN the reference in micro-energy storage solutions.

ITEN’s products are the ideal energy storage solution for all electronic devices that require the backup of time and data in the event of a power loss, a power-assist element to deliver high peak currents (such as in the event of a RF transmission), or as the main energy source to power a network of wireless autonomous sensors, implantable or invasive medical devices, wristwatches, smartcards and identification tokens, smart shelf-labels.