INDUSTRY NEWS

EXPANSIONS AND ACQUISITIONS

Emcore triples capacity

Emcore of Somerset, NJ, has tripled manufacturing capacity at its Sandia Technology Park site in Albuquerque. The manufacturer of compound semiconductors added 36,000 sq ft to its existing 50,000-sq-ft cleanroom. The building houses manufacturing operations for Emcore's solar cell, optical components, and networking products. The company opened the original site in October 1998. It held a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the expansion in January.

Entegris wants Nisso

Entegris has signed a letter of intent to buy Nisso Engineering's line of fluid-handling products. Based in Chaska, MN, Entegris has worked with Nisso for several years. Nisso has its headquarters in Tokyo. The American company provides materials-handling products and services. Pending approval, the agreement will enable Entegris to purchase Nisso's line of pumps, valves, fittings, and related IP rights. The acquisition also will permit Entegris to distribute the Japanese supplier's level sensors. Nisso's fluid-handling product line is forecast to earn approximately $10 million for the fiscal year ending this March, Entegris says.

Advanced finishes acquisition

Advanced Energy of Fort Collins, CO, has paid approximately $30 million in cash to buy Engineering Measurements. Based in Longmont, CO, Engineering Measurements makes precision instruments for measuring and controlling the flow of liquids, steam, and gases. The acquisition is part of Advanced Energy's strategy to further integrate process components around fab tools, the company says. Advanced makes process- monitoring subsystems, ion-beam sources, temperature control products, and related components for vacuum process equipment.

MKS forms foundry alliance

A Texas foundry has selected MKS Instruments as the exclusive supplier of mass-flow controllers for process tools at its fab in Lubbock. X-Fab Texas will use the MKS Type 1179 MFC for noncorrosive processes and the Type 1479 controller for corrosive processes. The foundry is also using pressure-based MFCs for low vapor source materials and advanced material delivery. In addition, the Massachusetts-based supplier will install its line of in situ mass-flow verifiers. MKS will oversee the alliance from its regional office in Richardson, TX. X-Fab Texas is a subsidiary of X-Fab Semiconductor Foundries of Erfurt, Germany. The foundry specializes in manufacturing mixed-signal ICs. The MFCs operate in the range of 10 std cm³/min to 20 std L/min in gas delivery lines, MKS says. The components are designed to provide repeatable flow control rates from flows <1 std cm³/min.

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