Interview with Ross Martindale,Microtest
“Europe needs its own testing expertise – we deliver it”
The Microtest Group offers a fully integrated value chain – from ASIC design, ATE equipment to production test – making it one of Europe’s few true “one-stop-shop” providers. With the Roodmicrotec acquisition, it expands locally and strengthens customer proximity and capacity. An Interview.
Markt&Technik: Mr. Martindale, some readers may not be familiar with Microtest. Could you briefly introduce the company?
Ross Martindale, Director, Worldwide Sales and Service of Microtest: Absolutely. Microtest was founded about 25 years ago in Italy by three mixed signal application engineers. In the early years, we focused on test services, ASIC design, and PCB development. Then in 2009, we launched our first in-house ATE system for the MEMS market – and ATE has remained one of our key business areas ever since.
How do you assess the current demand for semiconductor test solutions in Europe – and what role does the German market play for Microtest?
Right now, demand in Europe has slowed somewhat – primarily due to the cooling of the EV and hybrid vehicle boom. That said, Germany remains a key market for us: its innovation power and technological depth, especially in the automotive and industrial sectors, are tremendous. Many of our customers are based in the region.
Microtest offers a broad portfolio of test systems – from ATE to burn-in. Which of these are currently in greatest demand, and why?
At the moment, our Hatina series is still in high demand. It’s an ATE platform specifically designed for testing complex analog and mixed-signal devices in production. The reason is clear: there’s a growing need for control ICs in electric drives and ADAS systems. We’re also seeing strong interest in our ovenless burn-in solutions – especially for industrial applications involving ARM Cortex-based microcontrollers, where test flexibility and automation are key.
Microtest doesn’t just build ATE systems – you also offer test services. Why are these becoming more important than ever?
There are very few companies in Europe offering test services at the scale commonly found in Asia. That’s exactly the gap we’re filling. Recent growth has been fueled by geopolitical uncertainty, it’s critical for many customers to keep testing local – closer to production, with better IP protection and direct engineering access.
You also offer ASIC design services. How important is this to your overall strategy – and how closely is it linked to testing?
ASIC design is actually one of the original services we offered when we started Microtest, and it’s still in our DNA. That expertise feeds directly into the technology of our test equipment which is unique to Microtest and gives us a competitive edge. Because we design similar chips to our customers, we understand every detail of what needs to be tested. This insight also enables us to develop customized software that tightly integrates test and design.
What technological trends do you currently see in semiconductor testing – particularly in terms of automation, parallelism, and energy efficiency?
Automation is a top priority for nearly all our customers, a key element to improve time-to-market. In the industrial and automotive world, ATE systems are complex – and we are constantly focused on automating the NPI process to enable our customers to deliver solutions faster than before. . Increased parallelism forces higher demands on contactors, thermal management, and test cell packaging. Energy efficiency is another key issue, especially in Europe. Companies that can deliver the same throughput with lower energy consumption enjoy a clear competitive and ecological advantage.
“Design for Testability” is key to achieving efficient testing. How do you support customers in implementing optimized test strategies – from early development to volume production?
DFT is particularly challenging for mixed-signal ICs. That’s where our Kronos software comes in. It builds on proven industry EDA technology and allows us to automate the test program development process. We import native files from the EDA into Kronos which builds the test program structure and test setups. This link to the EDA tools provides full traceability between the design environment and the measured data from our test systems, and also creates structured documentation and tracking for quality and audit teams.
The trend is clearly moving toward more parallelism and automation in testing. What solutions does Microtest offer in this area – and what impact do they have on throughput and test cost?
In the market segments we focus on, I believe we are leaders in providing highly parallel test solutions with the best capital cost. For example, in the industrial segment, our VIP Extended system is providing 2-3 times the parallel test at wafer sort and strip test. Our instrument channel density and cost, combined with air-cooled technology, saves both space and money. All our ATE platforms are Industry 4.0-ready, supporting full automation via SECS/GEM or MQTT protocols. This factory automation leads to higher utilization and lower test cost per unit.
Since its founding in 1999, Microtest has made several acquisitions – including Roodmicrotec in Germany. What role do acquisitions play in your overall strategy?
Acquisitions are a strategic tool for us – not only to expand our geographic reach but also to grow our technology portfolio. Through these acquisitions, we’ve gained access to key regions such as the USA, UK, Japan, and of course Germany. We’ve also strengthened our leadership team with international talent and added over 300 new customers – many from the DACH region. That significantly broadens our market base and creates new opportunities.
Do you see further potential for strategic alliances or acquisitions – for example, to expand test services locally in Germany or to integrate new technologies?
Definitely. We’re always evaluating new opportunities that could add value. Right now, though, our main focus is on successfully integrating the companies we’ve already acquired. We’re building leadership teams, rolling out strategies, and executing step by step. Moving forward, our business will be structured around two main areas: ATE systems and test services. ASIC design will remain a core part of our test services business.
What role do you envision for Microtest in the European semiconductor market – and which technologies will be most important going forward?
We aim to be a leading European provider of both ATE systems and test services – especially in automotive, industrial, and healthcare markets. Our strength lies in the combination of technical know-how and close customer relationships. Looking ahead, software will become even more central – especially tools that help customers accelerate development and bring products to market faster.
Where do you see Microtest in five years – and which technological or market trends do you want to help shape?
In five years, we aim to be the top European supplier of test solutions for the automotive, industrial, and power electronics sectors. We plan to deepen our existing customer relationships, expand into new regions – including Japan – and double our revenue, assuming the market stabilizes by 2026. Technologically, our goal is to lead the way in ATE software – so our customers can dramatically shorten their time-to-market.
The interview was conducted by Nicole Wörner.
