MAXIMISING POTENTIAL
PROJECT MANAGED BY: HAYDEN TURNER
If you rearrange the letters of Trymax, replacing the ‘Y’ with an ‘I’, you will be left with the word ‘matrix’. It is here, concealed in an anagram, that the company’s story begins.
In the late 1990s, Leo Meijer gained his first experience in the semiconductor industry with Phillips Semiconductors, before moving to Matrix Integrated Systems – a US-based chip machine manufacturer. Axcelis Technologies acquired Matrix in the early 2000s, quickly opting to discontinue support for European customers. The move left a significant gap in the market for the servicing and maintenance of Matrix machines. With multiple years of industry experience behind him, it was an opportunity that Leo could not pass up.
ENTERING THE MATRIX
Joined by Matrix colleague Ludo Vandenberk, Leo launched Trymax in 2003 with a clear mission: to provide service and support for European customers who depended on Matrix machines. However, by 2009, aging Matrix machines were no longer efficient or serviceable. In line with the innovative spirit of its work, Trymax was called upon to evolve, transforming from a service provider to a highly advanced manufacturer.
“Leo and Ludo said, ‘we need to come up with something new’,” Trymax CCO Peter Dijkstra remarks. “Their familiarity with Matrix machines meant they knew the areas that could be improved and modified.”
Leaning on their experience, Leo and Ludo were able to develop and build their first line of Trymax machines. Named after the main character from 1999 movie The Matrix, the NEO range addresses a variety of applications throughout the semiconductor manufacturing process. Since transforming the industry landscape with NEO, the company has also added updated versions of similar discontinued legacy machines from manufacturers like GaSonics.
Trymax quickly picked up speed in its early days, and after selling a number of machines each year, Leo and Ludo – technicians at heart, looked for external support to help the company grow. After consultation with business consultancy Kruger, the pair decided to install and assemble a highly experienced team of industry professionals to lead the company into its next era.
Peter Dijkstra, CCO, Trymax Semiconductor Equipment B.V.
Microwave Plasma Sources
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eeplasma produces microwave plasma sources for Trymax for the photoresist strip and isotropic etching processes for semiconductor production.
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“It was at this point that I joined Trymax, alongside several other highly experienced professionals,” Peter says. “We now have a team with vast expertise across sales, service, marketing, Finance, Operations and R&D.”
GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES
In February 2025, Trymax took the latest step in its rapid rise to prominence when it became part of the Accuron Technologies Group. A Singapore-based global precision engineering and technology collective, Accuron will ensure that Trymax is able to capitalise on growth opportunities as it journeys towards reaching its full potential.
“There was a lot of interest in Trymax, especially from large companies, but we have always believed that culture and philosophy are just as important as capability and size,” Peter reports. “Accuron treats us like the family business we are . We share a lot of the same values.”
With Accuron’s backing, Trymax will soon take its cuttingedge plasma-based technology to a far wider audience. At present, the organisation enjoys capabilities at least equal to that of major industry OEM’s, but with machinery that is often more reliable and cheaper to run.
“We can work up to a certain technology node – 32 nanometres – with no load lock and with up-times of over 95%,”
Peter explains. “This is exactly what clients are looking for.’’ “For instance, we were recently approached by a Tier 1 memory manufacturer, our reputation is growing. More and more companies are hearing about Trymax and we are willing to collaborate with them to co-create new machines, new technologies, and new processes.”
As Peter suggests, building strong relationships with clients has been another cornerstone of the company’s success. While experience, a proven track record, and industry connections have all helped Trymax gain respect from a wide range of clients, Peter says the secret to good relationships is much simpler.
“THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN OUR DEALINGS WITH CUSTOMERS IS HONESTY.”
“The most important thing in our dealings with customers is honesty,” he states. “We regularly have inquiries from customers where we have to apologise and admit we cannot help.’’
“Of course,” he continues, “we are very interested in collaborating with clients to develop solutions, but it all depends on timelines and priorities. Generally, we know what we are good at and customers respect that we are honest about it. It makes for better results for both us and the customer.”
MORE EFFECTIVE TOGETHER
Trymax’s honest and open approach has benefitted the organisation throughout its
history, but never more so than during the Covid-19 pandemic. With supply chains disrupted, the company turned directly to its customers with the understanding that working together is more effective than working alone.’’
“At one point during the pandemic, we had twelve machines in our manufacturing plant waiting only for one module, but we couldn’t get hold of it,” Peter recalls. “Finally, I made a call to a large automotive supplier in Germany
because two of the machines were waiting for them. I explained the situation and they said, ‘no problem’, and put us in touch with a dedicated supplier.
“We have a good relationship with all our customers, and their size meant we could get hold of the materials the very next day. It was proof that if you are open and honest with your customers it works better for everyone.”
“THE FUTURE WILL BE SINGLE WAFER. WE ARE ALREADY SEEING IT IN THE AUTOMOTIVE AND BIOMEDICAL SECTORS, SO WE WILL BE WORKING MORE CLOSELY WITH NEXGEN TO COMBINE OUR CAPABILITIES.”
Collaboration will certainly be part of Trymax’s future as it moves forward as an Accuron company. Already, Trymax is working closely with another Accuron business, NexGen –an expert in single wafer wet etching equipment.
“The future will be single wafer,” says Peter. “We are already seeing it in the automotive and biomedical sectors, so we will be working more closely with NexGen to combine our capabilities.
“We have ideas to integrate wet and dry equipment into one machine. Customers are concerned about airborne molecular contamination, and integration could help eliminate that.’’
“Finally,” Peter adds, “in terms of the market at large, more competitors with a Chinese model are facing restrictions on the US and European markets, which gives companies like us a much greater advantage in these areas. It’s one of many opportunities for us right now.”
