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Onto Innovation Receives Best Partner Award from SK hynix for Hidden Defect Prevention in High Bandwidth Memory Production

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Onto Innovation Receives Best Partner Award from SK hynix for Hidden Defect Prevention in High Bandwidth Memory Production
Business

Business

Onto Innovation Receives Best Partner Award from SK hynix for Hidden Defect Prevention in High Bandwidth Memory Production

2026-10-13 04:05 Last Updated At:04:11

WILMINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 12, 2026--

Onto Innovation Inc. (NYSE: ONTO) announced today it received the Best Partner Award for technology achievement from SK hynix during the leading memory manufacturer’s 25 th Anniversary Partners Day on September 28, 2026. SK hynix bestowed the honor on Onto, the only company recognized for technology achievement, for developing a defect prevention system with breakthrough measurement technology for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) applications. The award highlights Onto’s contribution to SK hynix's HBM roadmap at a time when advanced memory is central to expanding AI infrastructure.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261012570961/en/

“We are proud to be recognized by SK hynix and grateful for the trust they have placed in Onto Innovation. This award is the result of close collaboration between SK hynix and our product and customer success teams to deliver innovations that help identify hidden yield impacting defects critical to reliable HBM manufacturing,” said Mike Plisinski, chief executive officer of Onto Innovation. “HBM presents rapidly evolving application challenges. The inherent flexibility of the Dragonfly ® system enables customers to consistently overcome those challenges—generation after generation.”

Currently, memory suppliers are focused on expanding HBM capacity in order to meet AI-driven demand which, according to TrendForce is expected to swell by greater than 50% by 2027, while rapidly introducing new generations of HBM technology. The move toward 12- and 16-high HBM stacks results in thinner dies and increasingly complex assembly flows, raising the risk of hidden cracks and sub-surface defects during thinning, bonding and assembly. As each HBM generation thins the die, adds more die per stack, and packs in more connections at smaller bump sizes, inspection intensity grows—and with more value concentrated in every device, the cost of finding defects late in production rises accordingly. Onto's Dragonfly G5 inspection system provides the process control insight needed to identify critical defects earlier, helping SK hynix reduce the risk of yield loss in high-value HBM devices.

Partners Day is an annual recognition ceremony of the SK hynix Co-Growth Council, honoring supplier contributions to the company’s technology and business goals. Ryan Hwang, regional general manager of Onto Innovation Korea, accepted the award from SK hynix CEO Noh-Jung Kwak.

To learn more about Onto Innovation’s HBM process control solutions, contact your local sales representative or visit ontoinnovation.com.

About Onto Innovation Inc.

Onto Innovation is a leader in process control, combining global scale with an expanded portfolio of leading-edge technologies that includes un-patterned wafer quality, 3D metrology spanning chip features from nanometer scale transistors to large die interconnects, macro defect inspection of wafers and packages, metal interconnect composition, factory analytics, and lithography for advanced semiconductor packaging.

Our breadth of offerings across the entire semiconductor value chain combined with our connected thinking approach results in a unique perspective to help solve our customers’ most difficult yield, device performance, quality, and reliability issues. Onto Innovation strives to optimize customers’ critical path of progress by making them smarter, faster and more efficient. Headquartered in Wilmington, Massachusetts, Onto Innovation supports customers with a worldwide sales and service organization.

Additional information can be found at www.ontoinnovation.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”), including Onto Innovation’s belief regarding expanding needs for process control technologies, as well as other matters that are not purely historical data. Onto Innovation wishes to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provided for by the Act and cautions that actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of various factors, including risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Onto Innovation’s control. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the Company’s ability to leverage its resources to improve its position in its core markets; its ability to weather difficult economic environments; its ability to open new market opportunities and target high-margin markets; the strength/weakness of the back-end and/or front-end semiconductor market segments; the Company’s ability to effectively manage its supply chain and adequately source components from suppliers to meet customer demand; its ability to adequately protect its intellectual property rights and maintain data security; its ability to effectively maneuver global trade issues and changes in trade and export license policies; the Company’s ability to maintain relationships with its customers and manage appropriate levels of inventory to meet customer demands; the Company’s ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed investment in and strategic partnership with Rigaku; the Company’s timing and ability to repay its debt; and the Company’s ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses and technologies. Additional information and considerations regarding the risks faced by Onto Innovation are available in Onto Innovation’s Form 10-K report for the year ended January 3, 2026, and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As the forward-looking statements are based on Onto Innovation’s current expectations, the Company cannot guarantee any related future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Onto Innovation does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release, except as required by law.

Source: Onto Innovation Inc.

ONTO-IC

Onto Innovation receives the Best Partner Award for technology achievement from SK hynix. Ryan Hwang, regional general manager of Onto Innovation Korea, accepts the award from SK hynix CEO Noh-Jung Kwak during the 25th Anniversary Partners Day on September 28, 2026.

Onto Innovation receives the Best Partner Award for technology achievement from SK hynix. Ryan Hwang, regional general manager of Onto Innovation Korea, accepts the award from SK hynix CEO Noh-Jung Kwak during the 25th Anniversary Partners Day on September 28, 2026.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The youth movement on San Francisco's defense paid dividends when the 49ers needed it most in a tough game in Seattle.

With star Nick Bosa out with an injury and Dre Greenlaw ejected early in the game, some of the lesser-known and younger 49ers defenders stepped up at big moments in the 49ers' 32-29 win over the Seahawks on Sunday.

Renardo Green set up the first touchdown with an interception of Sam Darnold on Seattle's opening drive and added another pick on the first possession of the second half.

Rookie Gracen Halton made a momentum-shifting play when he stripped George Holani in the closing seconds of the first half and recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchdown, while adding a sack.

Malik Mustapha recovered another fumble to set up a short touchdown drive, while Sebastian Valdez and rookie Jaden Dugger both delivered their first career sacks.

“I saw them make a number of plays today,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “It’s really hard to win a game in that situation if those guys don’t step it up, and they’ve been stepping up huge.”

This marked the first time since at least 1991 that the 49ers got at least three sacks and four takeaways in a game from players who are 25 or younger.

“When you’re out there, it’s your time to play,” Green said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re an old guy or a young guy, we all are held to the same standard. That’s how the players hold accountability for each other, and that’s how our coaches also push us. So, it doesn’t surprise me that young guys are making plays. We do it all the time in practice. We were doing it in camp, and we were doing it in preseason.”

The performance of the defensive line was most gratifying as the Niners had been looking for players to pressure the quarterback since the start of last season. San Francisco ranked last in the NFL in 2025 with 20 sacks with Bosa missing most of the season.

His return was expected to provide a boost but he has missed the past three games with a calf injury. It didn't matter with Halton and Valdez leading the charge up front against Seattle.

“That line is not a lot of household names so to speak outside of Bosa, but the way they play, they play like their hair is on fire,” star left tackle Trent Williams said. "That’s a very special group.”

The Brock Purdy to Mike Evans connection. With several receivers hurt, Purdy has relied heavily on Evans, who joined the team as a free agent in March. Evans had seven catches for 113 yards, one touchdown and a 2-point conversion Sunday despite playing with broken ribs. Purdy is 24 for 34 for 406 yards, four TDs and a 149.9 passer rating when targeting Evans this season.

“That’s exactly why he’s here,” Shanahan said.

Special teams. It was a rough day in the kicking game with Jacob Cowing fumbling a punt to set up a short touchdown drive, Eddy Pineiro missing a 52-yard field goal and the kickoff coverage team allowing a 39-yard return to help set up the game-tying field goal in the fourth quarter. Pineiro has missed three field goals and two extra points this season to tie for the most total missed kicks in the league. He missed only five all of last season.

Green. After getting berated by Shanahan on the sideline during the playoff loss in Seattle last January, Green has played at a high level this season. Green's three INTs this season are the most for any Niners player since 2023.

Greenlaw. The linebacker was ejected in the second quarter after head-butting Ernest Jones IV on the Seahawks sideline after Greenlaw was called for a late hit on Darnold. Greenlaw was then suspended on Monday for one game. Greenlaw has been ejected three times and suspended twice in his career.

WR Deebo Samuel (hamstring) will miss time after injuring his hamstring Sunday. ... LB Garret Wallow also hurt his hamstring and could miss time. ... Bosa, FB Kyle Juszczyk (knee) and DT James Thompson Jr. (ankle) all have a chance to return this week. ... WR Christian Kirk, who has been out since hurting his calf early in training camp, is not expected back this week.

5. The 49ers won for just the fifth time under Shanahan when committing three turnovers and the second time with Purdy as starter. They overcame three interceptions by Purdy to beat Carolina 20-9 last season.

The 49ers host Washington on Monday in search of their fourth 6-0 start since joining the NFL.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Sebastian Valdez (55) sacks Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Sebastian Valdez (55) sacks Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Gracen Halton, second from left, reacts with Malik Mustapha (6), Khalid Kareem (47), Ogbo Okoronkwo (59) after recovering a fumble by Seattle Seahawks running back George Holani during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Gracen Halton, second from left, reacts with Malik Mustapha (6), Khalid Kareem (47), Ogbo Okoronkwo (59) after recovering a fumble by Seattle Seahawks running back George Holani during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Gracen Halton (93) strips the ball from Seattle Seahawks running back George Holani (36) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Gracen Halton (93) strips the ball from Seattle Seahawks running back George Holani (36) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

San Francisco 49ers safety Malik Mustapha (6) and cornerback Renardo Green (0) react after an interception against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

San Francisco 49ers safety Malik Mustapha (6) and cornerback Renardo Green (0) react after an interception against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Renardo Green (0) intercepts a pass intended for Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Renardo Green (0) intercepts a pass intended for Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

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