Brewer Science Inc of Rolla, MO, USA, which provides thin-wafer-handling materials, processes and equipment, has sold its Cee semiconductor processing equipment business unit. While remaining in Rolla, former employee Russ Pagel has formed the new company Cost Effective Equipment LLC to take over ownership and operate the business.
The strategic decision to sell the equipment unit was made to allow Brewer Science to shift more focus to the development of materials and processes for the microelectronics and semiconductor industry. “Selling the equipment unit is part of the company’s long-term plan to concentrate its expertise in materials science and advanced manufacturing technologies,” says Kim Arnold, executive director, Advanced Packaging business unit. In addition to lithography products, protective coatings and wafer-level packaging materials, Brewer Science is developing sensors and flexible hybrid manufacturing.
The Cee equipment product line was founded in 1987 when Dr Terry Brewer recognized the need for high-performance laboratory-scale wafer processing tools. At the time, commercially available tools were inadequate to meet the needs of leading-edge materials and process development, says the firm.
Thousands of Cee tools are now used worldwide for research, testing and small-volume manufacturing of semiconductor devices.
As a Brewer Science employee for 35 years as well as a founding member and later director of the equipment business group, Pagel will take the majority of Cee business unit employees with him to the new firm, involving expertise in technology development, design, engineering, applications, sales, support, and operations. The new firm will offer all existing Cee products as well as the service and support.
Cost Effective Equipment LLC will also continue to honor product warranties and provide ongoing support to past and current Brewer Science equipment customers.
