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Cast Aluminum Solutions LLC

Batavia,  IL 
United States
http://www.castaluminumsolutions.com
  • Booth: 556

Precision-Engineered Thermal Components for Wafer Processing

Overview

Cast Aluminum Solutions (CAS) designs & manufactures precision-engineered thermal components for the global wafer processing industry, including

  • In-Chamber Thermal Components (pedestal heaters, platens, ring & rim heaters)
  • Liquid & Gas Heaters for Wet Stations
  • Customer-Proprietary Solutions for complex challenges

We welcome unique geometries, special heating profiles and demanding performance requirements.

Common Features Include:

  • Multi-Zone Heating
  • Embedded Cooling Tubes & Gas Channels
  • Precision Grooves
  • Lasered Dot Patterns
  • Hard-Coat Anodizes
  • Certified Cleaning Options

Our dedicated New Product Development Team and R&D Tech Center features:

  • Finite Element Analysis and CFD Thermal Modeling
  • Infra-Red Imaging w/ Data Logging
  • Advanced Life-Cycle Testing
  • In-Chamber Performance Evaluations
  • SensArray Testing
  • X-Ray Imaging
  • CMM Dimensional Testing

CAS also offers several standard product lines for heating high-purity semi-gases, solvents, and process fluids.
All inline heaters feature an isolated fluid path, to maintain purity and reduce contaminant pathways.

Visit CAS at Booth 556 !


  Press Releases

  • Cast Aluminum Solutions Expands CAST-X High Temp Heater Product Line

    Cast Aluminum Solutions (CAS), a leading supplier of precision-engineered thermal components for semiconductor wafer processing applications, is expanding its CAST-X High Temperature Heater line, with the addition of the “CAST-X High Temp 2500” Heater.

    CAST-X High Temp Heaters are capable of continuously operating at temperatures to 600°C (1110°F).  The new CAST-X High Temp 2500 has up to 14.4 kW total power. 

    Previously, the most powerful CAST-X HT model was 6 kW.  The new CAST-X High Temp 2500 will also feature 3 Type K Thermocouples, a certified water and explosion proof electrical terminal enclosure, and a 1/2" OD flow-tube.

    As with all CAST-X models the HT-2500 features the renowned “isolated fluid path”.  This means media to be heated (liquid or gas), is isolated in the heater’s spiral-coiled flow-tube as it flows through the heater.  Your heated media never contacts the heating elements, or any other portion of the heater.  This helps ensure a high level of purity, and reduces contaminant pathways.

    According to Jeffrey Awe, Product Manager for CAST-X Heaters at Cast Aluminum Solutions, “CAS’s new CAST-X High Temp 2500, with more than double our previous power limitation, makes the CAST-X High Temp Heater lineup compatible with larger-flow applications.  The trendline shows semi fabs, wafer processing applications, and gas heating stations are constantly increasing their flowrates and target temps, so CAS must continually design and produce more powerful heaters, and that’s what we’ve accomplished today with CAST-X HT 2500.”

    The isolated fluid path design of CAST-X Heaters makes the heater safe for heating flammable media such as low-flashpoint organic solvents, isopropyl alcohol (IPA), and other sensitive liquids & gases.  CAST-X High Temp 2500 Heaters are also capable of generating steam, and vaporizing cryogenic media.

    Many wet bench applications require heating of DI water, nitrogen, argon, or clean dry air – and the CAST-X Heater is well-suited for many of these gas warming and conditioning processes.

    Headquartered in Batavia, Illinois, Cast Aluminum Solutions designs and manufactures precision-engineered thermal products for the global semiconductor industry, serving OEMs and end-users worldwide. 

    For more information about Cast Aluminum Solutions, see our website:  www.CastAluminumSolutions.com

    Or visit the CAS Team at Semicon West 2025, Booth 556.

  • Cast Aluminum Solutions Launches Standard 200 and 300 mm Pedestal Heater product line.

    Cast Aluminum Solutions (CAS), a leading supplier of precision-engineered thermal components for semiconductor wafer processing applications, is pleased to announce the launch of its new “Standard 200 and 300 mm Pedestal Heater” product line.

    This new offering is a configurable pedestal heater, with a robust vacuum shaft, cast-in heating elements, integrated temperature sensors, options for hard-coat anodizing and
    high-purty cleaning, as well as multiple surface groove patterns.  CAS will hold stock of baseline units, facilitating rapid assembly and delivery.

    According to Tony Meadors, Vice President of Sales for the Semiconductor Market at Cast Aluminum Solutions, commented, “CAS’s new 200 and 300 mm configurable chucks provide an ‘off the shelf’ solution for applications that might not warrant the comprehensive design process of our more advanced custom-engineered pedestal heaters. This new product will be an in-stock component with an array of high-performance options, a great fit for lab work, equipment prototyping, or process testing. These design features have never been available in a standard pedestal heater, and there’s a real need in the marketplace.”

    These new 200/300 mm Standard Pedestals have a maximum recommended operating temp of 400°C (750°F), with surface temperature uniformity to ±0.5%. Surface flatness is excellent at < 0.0005 in. (0.013 mm).  The vacuum shaft has thru holes to accommodate power and thermocouple  wires. To maintain cleanliness, full Class 1000 Cleaning, Drying, and Vacuum Bagging is available.  The optional hard-coat anodizing complies with MIL-A-8525, Type III, Class 1 specifications for Anodic Coatings. Surface machining options include a Recessed Dish, Radial Grooves, and Concentric Rings.

    Headquartered in Batavia, Illinois, Cast Aluminum Solutions designs and manufactures precision-engineered thermal products for the global semiconductor industry, serving OEMs and end-users worldwide. 

    For more information about Cast Aluminum Solutions, see our website: www.CastAluminumSolutions.com

    Or visit the CAS Team at Semicon West 2025, Booth 556.

  • Cast Aluminum Solutions Launches High Purity Version of CAST-X 4000 Heater

    Cast Aluminum Solutions (CAS), a leading supplier of precision-engineered thermal components for semiconductor wafer processing applications, is pleased to announce the development of a High Purity version of its CAST-X 4000 Heater.

    This new variation of the renowned CAST-X Heater design features High-Purity wetted surfaces, ensuring critical liquids and gases for wafer processing are vaporized and/or heated in an isolated fluid path, without the risk of contamination seen in traditional circulation heaters.

    The High Purity CAST-X 4000 allows for temperatures up to 350°C (662°F).  Default pressure capacity is 3100 psi (213 bar), with higher pressure capacities available as a semi-custom option.  The CAST-X 4000 has power to 60 kW (compatible with high flowrates), with options for 10-20 kW to accommodate lower temperatures and flows.  This exciting new design can be installed as an inline heater, or utilized in a recirculating loop configuration.  The standard process tube connection size is 1” OD, with smaller diameter connections available upon request.  This new heater design features high purity, low-Ra, electropolished 316 seamless stainless steel flow-tubes.  Heated media travels through this flow-tube, which is integrated into the CAST-X 4000’s heater body. 

    Your media never contacts the heating elements or any other portion of the heater, so this heater is not just clean, it also allows for the safe heating of low-flashpoint solvents and flammable gases. 

    Jeffrey Awe, Product Manager for CAST-X Heaters at Cast Aluminum Solutions explained, “The CAST-X circulation heater design, with its isolated flow-path, is a well-respected product line within the semiconductor industry, but there has always been a need for a high-purity variation.  This new variation uses new manufacturing processes, developed by the outstanding Engineering Team at CAS, combined with special passivation processes, and certified HP tubing, to make the dream of high purity heating a reality.  And we will continue along this path for additional CAST-X Models.”

    CAST-X circulation heaters are appropriate for an array of liquid and gas heating applications within the various front-end wafer processing approaches.  Designed and manufactured by Cast Aluminum Solutions – a leading supplier of in-chamber and chamber-adjacent thermal components – CAST-X circulation heaters are widely used to warm DI water, organic solvents, NMP, and other aggressive chemistries.  Critical process gases and carrier gases can also be heated using the CAST-X 4000 High Purity circulation heater (nitrogen, argon, CDA, CO, amines), whether the requirement is simply reducing gas humidity levels, warming the gas temperature to optimize a catalytic reaction, vaporizing from cryogenic to liquid, or in supercritical situations.

    Headquartered in Batavia, Illinois, Cast Aluminum Solutions designs and manufactures precision-engineered thermal products for the global semiconductor industry, serving OEMs and end-users worldwide. 

    For more information about Cast Aluminum Solutions, see our website: www.CastAluminumSolutions.com

    Or visit the CAS Team at Semicon West 2025, Booth 556.


  Products

  • Configurable 200 - 300mm Standard Pedestal Heaters
    This new product from CAS is a configurable pedestal heater, available in 200 and 300 mm sizes. It’s a quick delivery, standard part, with multiple customization options, including anodizing, special surface grooves, and semi-compliant cleaning....

  • Product Features:
    200 mm Model Main OD:  228.6 mm (9.00”)
    300 mm Model Main OD: 350.0 mm (13.78.00”)
    200 mm Model Power: 2238 W @ 240 V, 1681 W @ 208 V (single ph)
    300 mm Model Power: 2724 W @ 240 V, 2047 W @ 208 V (single ph)
    Max Recommended Operating Temp:  400°C (752°F)
    Surface Temp Uniformity: ±0.5% of set point

    General Construction:
    Aluminum 356 heater body with single cast-in cable heater
    Surface Flatness: < 0.0005 in. (0.013 mm)
    Vacuum Shaft:  Fully Integrated 85 mm (3.36”) Dia. x 95 mm (3.75”) Long
    Shaft has thru-holes for power and TC wires
    Temp Sensor:  Dual Junction K-Type Thermocouple w/ Mini Plug

    Coating Options:
    Bare Aluminum or
    Hard Coat Anodize: Complies with MIL-A-8525, Type III, Class 1 specs for Anodic Coatings

    Cleaning Options:

    Basic IPA Wipe-Down or
    Full Class 1000 Cleaning with N2 Drying and Vacuum Bagging

    Surface Finish Options:
    Flat or Recessed Dish
    Radial Grooves
    Concentric Rings

    Power Lead Options:
    Flying Leads (Teflon)
    Mate-N-Lok (3 Pin)
    CPC Connector (4 Pin)

    Appropriate Applications for These Pedestal Heaters:
    As a Spare or Replacement Heater
    Equipment Engineering & Prototyping
    New Process Testing
    Situations where Quick Delivery is Critical

    For more information about Cast Aluminum Solutions, check www.CastAluminumSolutions.com

    Or visit Semicon West 2025, Booth 556.

  • Circulation Heaters for Semi Gases & Liquids
    CAST-X Circulation Heaters for warming & vaporizing semi gases and solvents, PUR-X inline heaters with PFA flow-tubes, PUR-Therm Gas Delivery Heaters for carrier gases (gasline heaters), Universal Solvent Heaters for DI water and solvents....

  • Cast Aluminum Solutions designs and manufactures the semiconductor industry’s most innovative inline heaters for gases, and circulation heaters for liquids. Heating solutions from CAS cover a wide range of critical semi wafer processing applications:

    • Heating DI Water and Solvents for Wafer Cleaning Applications
    • Heating Nitrogen Gas and CDA for Drying Processes
    • Warming of Carrier Gases and Process Gases which are destined for the vacuum chamber
    • Vaporization of Cryogenic Media, where phase change is appropriate
    • Heating of Gases for high-volume facility-wide gas delivery systems

    Below is a summary of our key inline heater offerings, with power and connection size notes.  For more about any of CAS’s high-performance circulation heaters, check the CAS website, or visit us at Booth 556 in October at Semicon West.

    All heater designs from Cast Aluminum Solutions feature an “isolated fluid path” design”. This means your heated media has zero contact with the heating elements, keeping your process liquid or gas contaminant-free. Heated media flows exclusively through the heater’s flow-tube, never contacting any other portion of the heater.

    The CAST-X Circulation Heater line has power from 1 to 60 kW, with tube connections ranging from 1/4” to 1”.  The CAST-X Circulation Heater line is very versatile, and is available with a wide range of purity options, terminal enclosure choices, and temperature sensor accessories.  Being a standard, configurable product, CAST-X Circulation Heaters have short delivery timelines and excellent availability.

    All the below CAST-X Circulation Heaters have a wetted surface of 316 seamless stainless steel.

    Custom alloys and high purity versions are available upon request.

    CAST-X 500 Circulation Heater:
    Max Power: 1500 W
    Connection:  1/4" OD (6.3 mm)

    Max Temp:  350°C (662°F)

    CAST-X 1000 Circulation Heater:
    Max Power: 3000 W
    Connection:  5/16" OD (7.9 mm)

    Max Temp:  350°C (662°F)

    CAST-X 2000 Circulation Heater:
    Max Power: 6000 W
    Connection:  1/2" OD (12.7 mm)

    Max Temp:  350°C (662°F)

    CAST-X 2500 Circulation Heater:
    Max Power: 15 kW
    Connection:  5/8" OD (15.9 mm)

    Max Temp:  350°C (662°F)

    CAST-X 3000 Circulation Heater:
    Max Power: 27 kW
    Connection:  3/4" OD (19.1 mm)

    Max Temp:  300°C (572°F)

    CAST-X 4000 Circulation Heater:
    Max Power: 60 kW
    Connection:  1" OD (25.4 mm)

    Max Temp:  350°C (662°F)

    The CAST-X High Temp Circulation Heater brands feature maximum recommended operating temps to 600°C (1110°F).  The CAST-X High Temp Circulation Heater is unique in its temperature capacity, making it the perfect choice for high temperature gas heating processes.

    All the below CAST-X High Temp Circulation Heaters have a wetted surface of Inconel 600.

    CAST-X High Temp 500 Circulation Heater:
    Max Power: 1500 W
    Connection:  1/4" OD (6.3 mm)

    Max Temp:  600°C (1110°F)

    CAST-X High Temp 2000 Circulation Heater:
    Max Power: 6000 W
    Connection:  1/2" OD (12.7 mm)

    Max Temp:  600°C (1110°F)

    CAST-X High Temp 2500 Circulation Heater:
    Max Power: 14.4 kW
    Connection:  1/2" OD (12.7 mm)

    Max Temp:  600°C (1110°F)

    The PUR-X Inline Heater from Cast Aluminum Solutions is unique in its design, known for being one of the most innovative PFA/PTFE tube heaters on the market. PUR-X features a removeable and replaceable Teflon tube that fits into a precision-milled groove within the heater body. The heater also features an explosion proof terminal enclosure, and Teflon coated heater body, making the design suitable for heating low-flashpoint solvents and high-purity gases.

    All the below PUR-X Inline Heaters have a wetted surface of PFA (Teflon).

    PUR-X 1000 Inline Heater:
    Max Power: 4500 W
    Connection:  3/8" OD (9.52 mm)

    Max Temp:  235°C (455°F)

    PUR-X 2000 Inline Heater:
    Max Power: 7900 W
    Connection:  3/8" OD (9.52 mm)

    Max Temp:  235°C (455°F)

    The Universal Solvent Heater from Cast Aluminum Solutions is loaded with an array of performance-enhancing features, designed specifically to warm organic solvents, IPA, NMP, Acetone, and the like.  The heater body is Teflon coated, to protect from caustic splashing. The terminal enclosure is certified explosion proof, and there are 3 integrated temperature sensors.

    The main process tube is 3/4" OD 316 seamless stainless steel, electropolished and passivated, with options for welded fittings.  Universal Solvent Heater also features an integrated cooling tube to provide instantaneous temperature reduction, a feature unique to USH.
     

    Universal Solvent Heater:
    Max Power: 8000 W
    Connection:  3/4" OD (19.1 mm)

    Max Temp:  200°C (392°F)

    The PUR-Therm Gas Delivery Heater is a very compact, high-purity heater, designed to warm carrier gases and process gases destined for the wafer chamber.  In many cases, the PUR-Them Heater can effectively replace traditional gasline heaters.

    PUR-Therm has a wetted surface of high-purity 316 seamless stainless steel, low-Ra electropolished and passivated, with a proprietary inert gas purge process implemented in manufacturing. The tube entry and exit have orbitally-welded VCR fittings, so its easy integrate into almost any 1/4" gas delivery system.

    PUR-Therm Gas Heater:
    Max Power: 1500 W
    Connection:  1/4" OD (6.3 mm)

    Max Temp:  300°C (572°F)

    In addition to these standard heater designs, Cast Aluminum Solutions designs and manufactures custom-engineered heated components.  CAS is a leading manufacturer of pedestal heaters, chamber ring heaters, and customer-proprietary thermal components for the semiconductor wafer processing market.

    For more information about Cast Aluminum Solutions, check www.CastAluminumSolutions.com

    Or visit Semicon West 2025, Booth 556

  • High Temperature, High Uniformity Pedestal Heaters
    Cast Aluminum Solutions is a leader in pedestal heaters for the global wafer processing market. CAS designs & manufactures advanced semi chucks, offering high temperatures, high uniformity, multiple zones, gas channels, and contoured surface finishes....

  • Cast Aluminum Solutions is a leader in developing, testing and manufacturing highly-engineered devices for wafer processing applications. CAS provides critical in-chamber heating and cooling components, innovative fluid and gas heaters, and unique front-end processing solutions.  We are renowned for our advanced-function pedestal heaters, which play a pivotal role in some of the industry’s most advanced wafer processing applications.

    The below features represent advancements in pedestal heater technology CAS provides, with the goals of increasing throughput, generating highly-consistent process results, and maintaining compatibility with next-generation wafer processing approaches.

    • Multiple Heating Zones: To enhance temperature uniformity or create custom thermal profiles, CAS offers in-chamber wafer heaters with multiple thermal zones.  This approach allows for multiple heating elements, with varying levels of watt density (outer rim vs center zone, for example). CAS can provide multi-zone designs on cast-in as well as non-cast pedestals.

    • Integrated Cooling Functions:  To shorten cycle times, cooling functions can be integrated into many pedestal designs. The approach is compatible with single zone and multi-zone pedestals. Thermal modeling software is used to determine optimal cooling tube dimensions and inclusion patterns, relevant to either a gas and liquid-induced cooling action.

    • Gas Channel Features: CAS has substantial experience designing and manufacturing pedestal heaters containing internal flow channels: these channels deliver gas to the working surface via small vent holes. CAS Team has the expertise in this specialized field to create effective designs with minimal iterations.

    • Not Just Aluminum, Not Just Castings:   Cast Aluminum Solutions, as our name implies, designs and manufactures custom-engineered aluminum castings, often with integrated components. With a cast semi chuck, the temperature uniformity can be excellent, the heater lifespan very long, with a failure rate very low. For higher temps, 304 or 316 stainless, 600 or 625 Inconel, or even Nickel or Hastelloy may be desirable, depending on max temp and uniformity requirements, chamber gas chemistry, desired cool-down time, etc. CAS can indeed offer a multitude of alloys for most of products. Non-aluminum parts will often utilize our proprietary Interference Fit Construction. The IFC process allows for operating temperatures up to 650°C (1200°F), without substantial sacrifice of heater lifespan or temperature uniformity. Features such as cooling tubes, gas channels, and special vacuum shafts can also be included.

    The CAS Engineering Team leverages a wealth of state-of-the-industry techniques and platforms to design, prototype, test, manufacture, and deliver on the promise of ‘the industry’s highest-performing pedestal heaters’. Through our dedicated New Product Development Team, and a newly-constructed R&D Technical Center, these are some of the tools we employ:

    • Finite Element Analysis:  This Ansys application allows CAS Engineers to model heat transfer across a tool’s surface, providing predictive wafer temperature and uniformity data, as well as heat-to-cool cycle time information. FEA, used in conjunction with linked applications, works to optimize designs on shorter timeframes vs making iterative prototypes.

    • Computational Fluid Dynamics: CFD models play key roles in designing molds for cast parts and finely tuning casting variables. A mold’s dimensional variables can be modified, pour rates and fill temps modified, with the resulting CFD models then show reliable virtual results. The benefit is a reduction of physical mold modifications and a shorter path from prototype to perfected design.

    • SolidWorks 3-D CAD Design:  This industry-standard 3-D CAD software package is more than a powerful design tool: it facilitates the transfer of dimensions, designs and application details across multiple platforms. CAS Engineers can easily cross-test designs in FEA, CFD, Mazatrol or PartMaker.

    • Vacuum Chamber Testing:  The CAS R&D Tech Center features a large vacuum chamber, capable of testing semi pedestals ‘as our customers use them.’  Infrared Imaging and probe based temperature monitoring can be integrated with vacuum tests.

    • Performance & Failure Analysis:  Our R&D Tech Center features Variac voltage transformers. We can simulate power surges and dips, testing component performance and survivability in real-world situations. Data logging (which can include details on duty cycle, heater set point, surface temperature, amp draw, and more) can be dovetailed, creating a full performance picture.

    • X-Ray Imaging:  Our in-house X-ray technology helps us understand what’s truly happening inside cast parts. X-ray imaging can confirm or reject assumptions regarding the position of integrated (cast-in) components.

    • ISO Class 6 Cleanroom:  Chamber parts and other high-purity components can be assembled and packaged at CAS’s in-house ISO Class 6 Cleanroom. As part of our R&D Tech Center, the integrated cleanroom ensures components comply with required standards for purity.

    Headquartered in Batavia, IL, Cast Aluminum Solutions designs and manufactures precision-engineered thermal products for the global semiconductor industry, serving OEMs and end-users worldwide. 

    For more information about Cast Aluminum Solutions, see our website:  

    www.CastAluminumSolutions.com

    Or visit CAS at Semicon West 2025, Booth 556

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