Digit-Concept

What Digit-Concept does

Digit-Concept SAS is a privately held French specialty equipment manufacturer founded in April 1992 by Michael OBEIN, headquartered in Rots, Calvados (Normandy), France. The company designs and manufactures integrated circuit (IC) decapsulation systems used by electronic component failure analysis laboratories to expose silicon dies from their epoxy molding compounds without introducing artifacts or damaging wire bonds. Digit-Concept is the only company worldwide offering proprietary equipment across all four decapsulation methods — LASER, ACID, MECHANICAL, and PLASMA — with product lines including the iMIP atmospheric plasma decapsulation system, iSA/Sesame Acids automated acid systems, SLP/Sesame LASER Plasma systems (based on a joint patent with CNES Toulouse, WO 2008/090281), SM mechanical decapsulation systems, and iSP plasma cleaners, all unified under the proprietary iPanel user interface. The company operates a wholly-owned subsidiary, DC Engineering (established 2013), which handles product design and manufacturing after the company transitioned from a fabless distribution model in 2002.

The company monetizes through one-time equipment sales (CE-certified systems with 2-year warranties), recurring maintenance services backed by a parts stock in France, and custom engineering projects for specialized customer requirements. Its go-to-market combines direct sales from France with a global network of 42 distributors and 3 SESAME laboratories supporting installed equipment across Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific (China, Malaysia, Singapore, USA). Marketing relies heavily on industry conference presence at ISTFA, ESREF, IPFA, CAM Workshop, SEMICON China, and EPTC, complemented by a LinkedIn presence and content-driven website. The customer base is concentrated in failure analysis laboratories serving semiconductor manufacturers, IDMs, and outsourced assembly/test providers for applications including EOS investigation, migration analysis, corrosion analysis, contamination detection, and counterfeit verification.

Name

Digit-Concept

Legal name

Digit-Concept SAS

Website

https://digit-concept.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Digit-Concept SAS is a French specialty manufacturer of integrated circuit decapsulation equipment, serving semiconductor failure analysis laboratories globally with the only full proprietary portfolio covering LASER, ACID, MECHANICAL, and PLASMA methods.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Normandy

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. IC Decapsulation Equipment Sales: Sale of proprietary decapsulation equipment including iMIP plasma systems, iSA acid systems, SLP laser-plasma systems, and SM mechanical systems. Equipment comes with CE certification and 2-year warranties.
2. Maintenance Services: Preventive and corrective maintenance services for all machines sold. Stock of parts maintained in France for prompt shipping and repair. Includes warranty-covered repairs and on-site restoration services.
3. Custom Project Services: R&D department offers customization of machines to meet specific requirements. Expertise in mechanical engineering, sensor control, gas flow, wired communication, and BLE. Includes automation of machines via custom control rack and iPad app.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Digit-Concept designs, manufactures, and sells integrated circuit (IC) decapsulation equipment for failure analysis laboratories. The company offers the only worldwide portfolio covering all four IC decapsulation methods — LASER, ACID, MECHANICAL, and PLASMA — enabling removal of encapsulating materials (epoxy molding compounds) from packaged ICs without damaging the silicon die or wire bonds. Products include the iMIP atmospheric plasma system, iSA acid systems, SLP laser-plasma system, SM mechanical system, and iSP plasma cleaner, all featuring the proprietary iPanel user interface.

Product overview

Digit-Concept is a specialist manufacturer of integrated circuit decapsulation equipment, offering the only portfolio worldwide covering all four methods: LASER, ACID, MECHANICAL, and PLASMA. The product line centers on the iMIP atmospheric plasma decapsulation systems, iSA/Sesame Acids automated acid decapsulation (iSA707/iSA777), SLP/Sesame LASER Plasma (SLP500DC) combining laser ablation with plasma, SM/Sesame Mechanical decapsulation (SM441DC), and iSP/Sesame Plasma Cleaner for surface treatment. All equipment features the proprietary iPanel™ user interface. The company also provides custom project engineering services and maintenance support. Equipment is CE certified and supported through 3 SESAME laboratories and 42 distributors worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• iMIP: Atmospheric microwave plasma decapsulation system for ICs
• iSA
• SLP
• SM441DC
• iSP
• SesameLASERPlasma
• iPanel
• SesameMICROMACHINING

Products and services

• iMIP Atmospheric Plasma Decapsulation System Atmospheric plasma decapsulation system for removing epoxy molding compounds from integrated circuits without vacuum chambers. Uses reactive oxygen radicals and ions to chemically break down organic materials. Available in Standard and XL versions supporting PCB sizes up to 300x300mm. Achieves etch rates exceeding 1 mil per hour for many compounds. Designed for failure analysis laboratories working on modern IC packages.
• iSA / Sesame Acids Automated Acid Decapsulation System Automated acid decapsulation system using positive pressure principle with iPanel touchscreen interface. Supports nitric acid, sulfuric acid, mixed acid, and KI+I2 chemistries with operating temperatures from 10°C to 250°C. Features DC pump with 5-year warranty and improved chamber pressure sensor system. For failure analysis laboratories performing acid-based IC decapsulation.
• SLP500DC SesameLASERPlasma System Laser ablation decapsulation system combining high-performance IR Fiber LASER with Atmospheric Plasma Assisted technology. 3-in-1 platform for IC decapsulation, PCB cutting, and sample cross-section. Compatible with Au, Al, Cu, Cu/Pd, Ag wire materials. Based on joint patent with CNES Toulouse (WO 2008/090281). Designed for failure analysis laboratories needing artifact-free decapsulation with reduced chemical usage.
• SM441DC Sesame Mechanical Decapsulation System Mechanical decapsulation system for TO204 and TO3 packages. Simple, safe, and economic solution with no damage to internal wires. Compact footprint of 200 x 80 x 125 mm and weight of 2 kg. Designed for failure analysis laboratories performing low-cost, low-complexity IC decapsulation.
• iSP Sesame Plasma Cleaner Plasma cleaning system with four plasma modes (Down Stream, Direct, Directional, and Special). Supports cleaning, surface activation, photoresist stripping, hybrid cleaning, PCB desmearing, etching, and R&D/production applications. Features iPanel user interface with IP67 protective box, compatible with all RF generators, 2-year warranty.
• Maintenance and Custom Engineering Services Preventive and corrective maintenance services for all Digit-Concept equipment with parts stock maintained in France for prompt shipping and repair, including warranty-covered repairs and on-site restoration. The R&D department also offers customization of machines to meet specific requirements, with expertise in mechanical engineering, sensor control, gas flow, wired communication, BLE, and automation via custom control rack and iPad app.
• Consumables and Replacement Parts Replacement parts, gaskets, and consumables for all Digit-Concept decapsulation equipment including acid systems, plasma systems, and mechanical tools.

Quantifiable outcome

• Etch rates for many compounds exceeding 1 mil per hour with iMIP plasma system
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• EllipsizcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2017Asian distribution partner. Digit Concept exhibited with Ellipsiz at IPFA 2017 in Singapore at Booth #23
• CNES ToulousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint patent collaboration (WO 2008/090281) for combined LASER and Plasma IC decapsulation technology. The SLP500DC system is based on this joint patent.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Keysight Technologies: Keysight provides electronic test and measurement equipment widely used in semiconductor characterization and failure analysis, addressing the same lab customer base with a broader test-equipment portfolio.
• Bruker: Bruker manufactures analytical and failure-analysis instruments (X-ray, electron microscopy, AFM) used in semiconductor FA labs, with a much broader portfolio than Digit-Concept's decapsulation specialization.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher supplies analytical instruments and laboratory equipment broadly across semiconductor, materials, and life sciences applications, competing for lab equipment budgets at FA labs alongside Digit-Concept.
• TESCAN: TESCAN manufactures electron microscopes and related analytical tools widely used in semiconductor failure analysis labs, often complementing or substituting for Digit-Concept's decapsulation solutions.
• Plasma-Therm: Plasma-Therm is an established semiconductor plasma processing equipment vendor serving etch and deposition applications, with broader portfolio reach than Digit-Concept's specialized decapsulation focus.
• SÜSS MicroTec: SÜSS MicroTec manufactures semiconductor equipment including lithography and wafer processing tools, serving similar semiconductor lab customers with a broader equipment portfolio than Digit-Concept.

Direct peers

• Ultra Tec Manufacturing: Ultra Tec is a long-standing US-based manufacturer of IC decapsulation equipment (acid etch, plasma, and mechanical systems), directly competing with Digit-Concept's four-method decapsulation portfolio for FA laboratories.
• B&G International: B&G International provides acid decapsulation systems and related semiconductor failure analysis equipment, overlapping with Digit-Concept's iSA acid-based product line.
• Nisene Technology Group: Nisene manufactures IC decapsulation equipment (acid, plasma, laser, and mechanical systems) for the failure analysis market, directly competing with Digit-Concept's iMIP, iSA, SLP, and SM product lines.

Emerging players

• Sonoscan: Sonoscan specializes in acoustic microscopy for non-destructive failure analysis of IC packages, intersecting with Digit-Concept's destructive decapsulation workflow in the same FA lab environments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/digit-concept

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Digit-Concept