Posted to News on 23rd Sep 2007, 19:04
Alio hexapods now available through Micromech
Alio Industries, which is said to be one of the worlds leading manufacturers of hexapods and nano-precision motion systems for clean rooms, atmospheric and ultra-high-vacuum chambers, has appointed Micromech as its distributor in the UK. The products are suitable for photonic, medical semiconductor, defence, research and, in particular, beamline applications.
Micromech is already well known as a specialist supplier of motion control components and systems, working closely with many of the principal organisations in research, aerospace and defence; this appointment will expand greatly its capabilities in these areas.
Alio is Latin for 'a better way', and the company was founded to meet the nano- and micron-precision robotic demands of high-level OEM, manufacturing and research and development establishments. This initial concept has grown into an ever-expanding product line that includes hexapod robotic systems, air bearing systems, and mechanical bearing linear and rotary nano-precision systems for atmospheric, clean room and ultra-high-vacuum applications.
The company is an innovator in nano-technology motion systems; its designs are claimed to exceed current standards of precision product designs for automation technology. Two patents are held for the parallel six-axis hexapod and the parallel three-axis tripod. In addition, Alio has several patents pending for novel air bearing designs for XY planar systems.
Alio's linear and rotary stage lines are designed to be cost-effective, yet complement the market demand for high-resolution, nano-precision motion used in normal atmospheric environments, clean rooms, and vacuum chamber environments. The clever design of the rotary stages can also be utilised for standalone motion or stacked for various serial kinematic structures.
Air bearing stages
In addition, Alio has developed a series of standard and custom high-resolution air bearing stages for nano-precision applications. These extremely robust stages offer the same 5nm resolution capabilities as the standard products with high stiffness and speeds from 1um/s to over 1m/s, depending on the application requirements. The air-bearing stages are well suited to applications where smooth, precise motion is required for advanced FPD and semiconductor metrology.
Bill Hennessey, the CEO of Alio Industries, says: "We are delighted to have Micromech as our distributor for the UK, as their experience and support in motion and control is well respected. Their expertise in high-level positioning systems make them the perfect partner".
For Micromech, Director Trevor Dewilde, adds: "We have for some years built our skills set to address the latest innovative motion and control challenges, the Alio Industries' products - such as the hexapods and XY planar systems - solve these demands. Their high-quality, high-performance products fit neatly alongside other components in our portfolio, giving us the opportunity to fulfil an increasing number of customer needs".
For more information about these exciting products, contact Stirling Morley at Micromech.
