29 January 2015

ClassOne acquires Microprocess' Spin Rinse Dryer and Spray Solvent Tool product lines

ClassOne Technology of Kalispell, MT, USA, which manufactures wet-chemical processing equipment (especially for cost-conscious emerging markets and users of smaller substrates), has acquired two complete product lines from Microprocess Technologies (a division of Fabrication Concepts) of Palm, PA, USA, which makes processing systems and parts.

Included in the acquisition are the Microprocess Spin Rinse Dryer (SRD) and Spray Solvent Tool (SST) families, which have become ClassOne's Trident SRD and SST lines.

"This acquisition is a natural fit for us," says ClassOne's president Byron Exarcos. "ClassOne's fundamental mission is to provide higher-performance wet processing equipment at lower cost to the user, just as we've done with our Solstice electroplating tools — and that's exactly what the new Trident SRDs and SSTs deliver," he adds.

"ClassOne will continue development and enhancement of the products, and they also will be able to make the tools available to a broader worldwide market," comments Microprocess Technologies' president Charles Brown.

"This acquisition is the culmination of a relationship that's been in progress for some time with Microprocess Technologies," says ClassOne's chief financial officer Richard Dotson. "Months ago we began with an exclusive sales agreement for the SRD and SST products, and now ClassOne has secured full ownership of both lines. The manufacturing will be moving to our Kalispell facility, where ClassOne's wet processing experience and ongoing product engineering will make these outstanding products even more advanced in the future," he adds.

"ClassOne has been actively seeking opportunities to expand its offerings in high-growth segments of the industry," states Exarcos. "Some of the emerging technologies such as MEMS, LEDs, power devices and RF are estimated to be growing at double-digit annual rates." In many of those fabs the Spray Solvent Tool is becoming an essential process-of-record tool for metal lift-off, resist strip and more, he adds. "In those scenarios, Trident tools are being seen as attractive solutions, because they're able to handle a range of advanced processes at a cost substantially lower than competitive systems," he claims. 

Exarcos says that many of the Trident performance advantages are the result of design features such as wrap-around heating to enhance drying, a Deluge spray manifold to improve rinsing and reduce particles, and ClassOne's new Solaris system controller. 

See related items:

ClassOne opens wet-process applications lab

ClassOne launches electroplating tool for smaller-substrate users

ClassOne Equipment expands Wet Processing Division with new subsidiary

Tags: ClassOne

Visit: www.classone.com/products

Visit: www.microprocesstech.com