Choosing a Spin Coater? | PI-KEM's Expert Guide
Selecting the Best Spin Coater for Your Needs
Selecting the right spin coater for your laboratory is a critical decision that impacts research quality, operational efficiency, and long-term laboratory success. This task requires balancing technical requirements and intended applications, with practical considerations such as budget constraints and approval processes.
Whether you're establishing a new research programme or upgrading existing equipment, understanding the distinctions between different manufacturers and models can help you make an informed investment.
PI-KEM offers comprehensive spin coating solutions across three leading manufacturers – MTI Corporation, Navson, and SCS – providing complete coverage from entry-level academic systems to premium facility-grade equipment. Together, these manufacturers provide comprehensive support for a breadth of spin coating requirements, from educational settings to commercial production facilities.
This guide helps you navigate the selection process to find the solution that best matches your specific needs, budget, and research objectives.
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Your Equipment Options
MTI Corporation: Cost-Effective Academic Solutions
MTI Corporation's compact VTC range excels in teaching environments and smaller academic laboratories where ease of use and cost-effectiveness are priorities.
- Operation: User-friendly LCD displays and keyboard interfaces, with programmable segments for up to 9 steps.
- Capacity: Spin speeds up to 12,500 RPM, and substrates from 3” to 12” wafers – depending on the specific model.
- Valuable features: Polypropylene bowl construction for corrosion resistance. Optional features, including heating modules, UV curing attachments, and automated dispensing systems.
Navson Technologies: Programmable and Versatile Systems
For multi-user laboratories, and advanced R&D environments, Navson spin coaters bridge the mid-range with three available ranges: NT10000, NT12000, NTCR.
- Operation: Highly programmable interfaces, with large touchscreens and responsive keypads, controls allow researchers to create complex multi-step programmes.
- Capacity: Spin speeds ranging up to 12,000 RPM, and bowl sizes 6” – 12” (model dependent). Up to 10 steps per cycle, storing virtually unlimited recipes in internal memory.
- Valuable features: Vacuum/vacuum-less hybrid capability makes them particularly versatile for substrates where traditional vacuum mounting would be unsuitable. Cleanroom-compatible models (the NTCR range) engineered for ISO Class 5 clean rooms feature 100% Natural Polypropylene working chambers and chassis, for zero metal contamination and ultra-low particle generation.
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The recently introduced NT10000 is a compact system offering excellent chemical resistance and precise spin parameter control; its whisper-quiet operation below 55 dB maintains a comfortable laboratory environment.
To learn more, visit here to watch our Head of Business Development explore the unique features of the NT10000 in detail.
SCS: Industry-Leading Precision
For facilities requiring industry-standard reliability and the ability to accommodate larger substrates, SCS equipment represents the benchmark. SCS offers two distinct ranges serving different laboratory needs, both engineered for exceptional coating quality and precise control.
The 6800 Series enables R&D and university laboratories to efficiently develop and refine coating applications, while the new G4 Series builds upon decades of coating expertise, introducing significant upgrades designed to improve both operator experience and system performance.
- Operation: The 6800 models feature proprietary programming and user-friendly operation, with a display panel and keypad. The G4 series boasts a removable touchscreen interface, ideal for use inside fume hoods and glove boxes.
- Capacity: Spin speeds up to 9999RPM, each range available in 8” and 12” models. The 6800 stores three recipes with eight steps each, and the G4 stores up to 30 programs with 20 steps each.
- Valuable features: Bowl is coated with PTFE for anti-corrosion properties, and the PVC cover includes a dispensing slot and safety interlock. Optional Bluetooth communication provides the G4 with streamlined wireless monitoring of system diagnostics, coating profile management, and spin settings adjustment.
Overall, the SCS spin coaters deliver accuracy and repeatability necessary for advanced R&D, commercial low-volume production and rigorous quality assurance protocols.
To see the G4's advanced features in action and understand how it can enhance your coating processes, watch our latest ‘Tips for Success’ video, exploring this next-generation system and featuring our expert tips for optimising your spin coating results.
Understanding Your Budget Framework
One of the key considerations when selecting a spin coater is how it fits within your organisation's procurement structure and budget.
Equipment with capital expenditure budgets require formal departmental approval and longer lead times.
- These are substantial investments designed for high-precision facility use, long-term research programmes, and applications where exceptional repeatability is non-negotiable.
Solutions that sit below capital expenditure thresholds allow for faster procurement through group-level or lab consumable budgets.
- This can significantly reduce approval timelines, enabling research teams to acquire equipment with minimal internal barriers – an important consideration when project deadlines are pressing.
Making the Right Decision with PI-KEM’s Expert Guidance
The optimal spin coater for your laboratory depends on a careful assessment of your current technical requirements, available budget, approval framework and research evolution.
When evaluating your available options, consider:
- Vacuum requirement
- Substrate & coating material compatibility
- Chuck selection
- The intended usage environment
- The potential for research evolution, and how this may translate to equipment upscaling.
The right combination of equipment and accessories will minimise waste, increase yield, and ultimately improve the efficiency of your research workflow.
Want to know more?
PI-KEM’s specialists understand thin-film deposition nuances across diverse applications, from academic research to industrial quality assurance. We can help you to carefully balance cost and performance, ensuring your investment aligns with current needs, budget constraints, and future research direction. With our comprehensive MTI, Navson, and SCS portfolio, you can select a spin coating solution that ticks every box.
Contact PI-KEM today to consult with our specialists and discover how our wide range of spin coaters can enhance your operational efficiency and drive superior results in thin-film deposition.
