Specialty Lubricants for CPO (Co-Packaged Optics) Equipment | A Reliable Partner for 24/7 Operation
How to Select the Right Lubricant
In CPO (Co-Packaged Optics) equipment, lubrication challenges are significantly more demanding than in conventional industrial applications. This is because CPO combines high-precision semiconductor manufacturing with highly sensitive optical environments.
Equipment must maintain stable friction and motion performance during high-speed, continuous operation while minimizing any form of outgassing, residue, particle generation, or lubricant migration. Even trace contamination may affect optical coupling efficiency, signal transmission, and overall production yield.
As packaging density increases and available space becomes more limited, lubricants may also be more prone to migration or diffusion due to temperature and structural design. As a result, lubrication is no longer simply a mechanical consideration—it becomes an important factor affecting process stability, equipment reliability, and product performance.
Key Lubricant Selection Criteria
- Low Outgassing – Even high-performance lubricants may release trace amounts of volatile compounds over time or at elevated temperatures. These contaminants can deposit on optical surfaces and potentially cause signal attenuation or optical loss.
- Low Particle Generation – Lubricants used in precision motion systems should minimize particle generation and contamination to meet the cleanliness requirements of semiconductor and optical manufacturing environments.
- Low Migration – Low-viscosity lubricants may migrate along surfaces and enter optical paths or fiber coupling areas, potentially affecting coupling efficiency and system stability.
- Chemical Inertness / Material Compatibility – The lubricant should remain chemically stable and must not adversely affect surrounding plastics, elastomers, metals, coatings, adhesives, or optical materials.
- Long Service Life – Long-lasting lubrication helps reduce maintenance frequency, equipment downtime, and the risk of contamination associated with repeated servicing.
Select the Lubricant According to the Application Point
- High Load / Long Service Life → Grease, such as PFPE grease
- High Precision / Low Resistance → Low-viscosity lubricant, such as PFPE oil
- Near Optical Components or Optical Paths → Lubrication should be carefully evaluated and, in some cases, avoided altogether
The most important question is not simply which lubricant to choose, but:
Will the lubricant contaminate the optical system or affect the manufacturing process?
Our CPO Equipment Lubrication Solutions
With more than 20 years of experience in the electronics industry, we have worked closely with leading companies in the sector to develop and innovate specialty lubricants for increasingly demanding precision applications.
Together with Brugarolas of Spain, a long-established European lubricant and grease manufacturer, we continue to develop solutions for advanced semiconductor and CPO applications. In these highly demanding environments, the lubricant we provide is not simply a product—it is an integral part of the overall equipment solution.
1. Lubricant Substitution & Optimization
- Evaluate existing lubrication issues, including contamination, service life, and positioning accuracy
- Provide alternative solutions based on different lubricant technologies, including PFPE, PAO, and ester
- Support upgrades from conventional industrial lubrication to solutions designed for the higher cleanliness, service life, and precision requirements of semiconductor equipment
2. Testing & Validation
- Motion stability testing, including friction behavior and service life
- Material compatibility evaluation
- Support validation processes to reduce the risks associated with introducing new lubricants
3. Cleanroom-Compatible Lubrication Solutions
- Low-outgassing, low-odor, and low-contamination formulations
- Solutions suitable for demanding ISO cleanroom environments
- Designed to meet the requirements of semiconductor and optical equipment
4. Value-Driven Engineering & On-Site Support — Beyond Lubrication
Our approach goes beyond lubricant supply. We help customers optimize the entire lubrication strategy of their equipment, including:
- Integration of our proprietary Dr.Oil automatic lubrication system directly into customer equipment
- Improved equipment stability and operating reliability
- Reduced defect rates
- Extended equipment service life
- Support for advanced manufacturing applications, including CPO, AI hardware, and optical communications
- Lubrication strategies tailored to different equipment zones: oil / grease / lubrication-free
- Reduced risks associated with over-lubrication and contamination
- Assistance in establishing standardized lubrication procedures and SOPs
In CPO and advanced semiconductor manufacturing, lubricants are evolving from auxiliary materials into critical factors affecting production yield.
The right lubrication strategy not only ensures reliable equipment operation—it can also directly influence product performance, manufacturing consistency, and market competitiveness.
About Houcheng
Founded in 1971 and headquartered in Taoyuan, Taiwan, Hou Cheng has long been dedicated to promoting specialty lubrication solutions and introducing leading international lubricant brands to Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific region.
Our products are designed to meet a wide range of industrial requirements, with solutions compliant with RoHS requirements to help customers address restricted-substance concerns. By selecting the right lubricant for each application, we help extend equipment service life, improve reliability, and reduce overall operating and maintenance costs.
Our product portfolio serves a broad range of industries, including cement, pharmaceuticals, food processing, paper, textiles, aerospace, electronics, and semiconductor manufacturing.
If you require a specialty lubricant or an application that is not listed on our website, please contact our engineering team. We will be happy to help identify the most suitable lubrication solution for your equipment and operating conditions.
Once we receive your inquiry, our engineering team will review the information and contact you promptly to discuss the most suitable lubrication solution.
