Heidelberg Instruments presents MLA direct exposure in microfabrication

The MLA 300 from Heidelberg Instruments is a production system for structures in the micrometer range and is aimed at manufacturers who want to combine high precision with a fully automated process. The system enables production without masks, directly from digital data, and thus offers a level of flexibility that conventional exposure processes can hardly achieve. This is a significant advantage, especially with changing designs or varying substrates.

MLA 300 production solution from Heidelberg Instruments

The MLA 300 is designed for structure sizes up to 1.5 micrometers and combines automation with variable data processing. The system works like a microprinter, but uses a more complex process in which digital design data is transferred directly to the substrate. Complete digitization eliminates the need to produce expensive masks, which takes several days in the traditional process and quickly becomes impractical for variant production. The machine loads the required data directly from the central production control system and processes each substrate individually.

Automated cassette systems and integrated robot operation

Robot-assisted handling is at the heart of the system. Two ports for cassettes allow entire substrate batches to be loaded. An internal robot handles transport, recognizes the sequences, and retrieves the appropriate design data for each individual substrate. The system thus operates continuously and without manual intervention. This results in a stable, efficient process for production with many variants or changing quantities.

Flexible applications in electronics and micro-optics manufacturing

The MLA 300 is aimed at manufacturers of electronic components, micro-optical structures, and hybrid substrates who require a higher exposure quality than older systems can deliver. The system generates structures on numerous flat materials and remains stable even with slightly varying surfaces. Users whose current machinery is reaching its limits of precision can thus achieve quality improvements or realize new product variants.

Digital data adjustment and precise process correction

The central advantage comes from the digital database: the system delivers exactly the layout that is stored in the design. Adjustments are made entirely via the data, not via mechanical changes to the machine. While the MLA 300 precisely exposes the specified patterns, layouts can be analyzed on the customer side and corrected using AI if necessary. If process conditions fluctuate—for example, after maintenance or due to slight changes in other production steps—the design can be adjusted immediately. This keeps the process stable and flexible at the same time.

Quality through maskless exposure and variable structuring

The unique selling point lies in the combination of structure quality, digital flexibility, and maskless operation. The MLA 300 exposes almost all flat substrates, quickly adapts data, and reliably responds to imperfect surfaces. For many users, this creates a production environment that reliably achieves quality targets, shortens development times, and significantly accelerates iterations in microfabrication.