Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc. recently announced the formal launch of ConnX-LEDPS(TM) automatic ball bonder--an extension of the company's ConnXPS(TM) bonding platform. With new features and enhancements specifically designed for LED applications, ConnX-LED will help K&S customers increase their efficiency and productivity, and meet the challenges of the fast-paced, high growth LED market.

ConnX-LED offers all of the features required for bonding LED packages, including accuracy to +/- 3.5 m, automatic recovery paths for common production stoppages, programmable back-up power and many others--providing customers with reduced cost of ownership in a highly competitive market space. ConnX-LED joins iStackPS(TM), ICONNPS(TM) ConnX, and ConnX-VLEDPS(TM) in Kulicke & Soffa's Power Series platform, the next generation of semiconductor assembly equipment for today's most challenging applications. Driven by the most powerful X-Y-Z motion control system available on the market, Power Series products deliver the highest levels of speed, accuracy and throughput for reduced cost of ownership for the segment that the respective model serves.

Commenting on the announcement, Scott Kulicke, Chairman and CEO of Kulicke & Soffa, said, "Recent industry research projects a 20% annual growth rate in total LED demand through 2012, as LED backlight displays and energy-saving lighting solutions continue to penetrate their market niches. The launch of ConnX-LED is just one of the steps we've taken recently to optimize our product portfolio and distribution approach to address this market, one we have not traditionally served. We believe that we are now well positioned with the right products and sales infrastructure to gain meaningful share in this important and growing segment."

ConnX-LED will debut at the 11th China International Optoelectronics Expo, held at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center in Shenzhen, PRC September 6-9, 2009.