How CAE Systems technology distributed by Aesse Misure is revolutionizing predictive maintenance at TSMC Taiwan
TSMC Taiwan, a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing, adopted over 60 SoundCam Ultra 3 units in 2025 for rapid detection of leaks and acoustic anomalies. The result: a dramatic reduction in troubleshooting time and protection of production efficiency in an industry where every second counts.
The context: when seconds are worth millions
In advanced semiconductor manufacturing, every plant shutdown results in significant economic losses. Even microscopic gas leaks can quickly turn into safety risks, contamination of production processes, and devastating financial impacts. TSMC Taiwan addressed this challenge by adopting CAE Systems' SoundCam Ultra 3 platform—distributed in Italy by Aesse Misure —as a quick and practical solution for detecting acoustic and ultrasonic anomalies.
Two events that made a difference
1. Rapid response to the earthquake
Following a major earthquake in Taiwan, the Equipment Department discovered a critical gas leak in a production machine. Using SoundCam Ultra 3, engineers immediately located the leak, made the repair, and prevented unplanned downtime during a critical post-earthquake recovery phase.
2. Preventing a loss of nearly 1,000 wafers
At TSMC's Taichung site, a gas leak caused nitrogen contamination, leading to the scrapping of nearly 1,000 wafers. After implementing SoundCam Ultra 3, engineers were able to quickly identify and isolate the source of subsequent leaks, preventing further damage and reinforcing the system's value in terms of yield protection and safety.
These incidents clearly demonstrated that immediate localization directly translates into maintaining production levels and reducing risk.
Over 60 devices installed
What began as an urgent response to troubleshooting situations has evolved into ongoing distribution across different departments:
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Equipment Department
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Facilities Department
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Industrial Safety Department
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Automation Integration Department
The technical features that won over TSMC
The deciding factor was not the price, but the capability and credibility of the technology. Key features of SoundCam Ultra 3:
| Feature | Advantage |
| 176 Microphones | High sensitivity for detecting even microscopic leaks |
| Range 2-100 kHz | Complete sound and ultrasound coverage |
| Time-frequency spectrogram | Accurate identification of abnormal frequencies and distinction from background noise |
| Local Sound Focus | Sound focusing to isolate specific sources |
| Integrated thermal imaging camera | Correlation between acoustic and thermal anomalies |
Measurable impact: from hours to minutes
The comparison with traditional methods is impressive:
|
Helium test (traditional method) |
SoundCam Ultra 3 |
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3-6 hours to locate a leak |
A few minutes immediate localization |
A 90-95% reduction in troubleshooting time, with a direct impact on production continuity.
Why SoundCam Ultra 3 has conquered the market
What made the difference was not only the technical specifications, but three critical factors:
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Field demonstration: Practical tests have shown superior capabilities in real-world situations, not just in the laboratory.
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Excellent after-sales support: Availability of technical experts and deep understanding of customer needs
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Internal advocacy: Word of mouth among colleagues and departments, the most powerful sales driver
Key applications in power plants and industrial facilities
SoundCam Ultra 3 technology is also perfectly suited to the Italian energy and industrial maintenance markets, which are Aesse Misure's core sectors:
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Gas leak detection in thermoelectric power plants and industrial facilities
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Identification of compressed air leaks with quantification of energy costs
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Troubleshooting rotating machines ( turbines, compressors, pumps)
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Detection of partial discharges in electrical panels and transformers
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Rapid identification of anomalies during extraordinary events (post-maintenance, after seismic events)
The future of predictive maintenance
TSMC's continued adoption of SoundCam Ultra 3 demonstrates how speed, clarity, and expert analysis can directly protect efficiency and reduce risk in highly critical industries. As companies move toward predictive maintenance, the ability to detect even the smallest acoustic anomalies will define the next generation of condition monitoring solutions.
Want to find out how SoundCam Ultra 3 can optimize the maintenance of your systems?
Aesse Misure is the sole distributor in Italy for CAE Systems and can offer you:
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Free field demonstrations at your facility
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Specialized technical support in Italian
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Comprehensive training and after-sales support
Contact us: info@aesse-misure.it | +39 02 45867186