Watlow acquires Semiconductor Tooling Services
Watlow, a designer and manufacturer of complete thermal systems, has acquired San Jose-based Semiconductor Tooling Services, Inc. (STS) as a wholly-owned subsidiary. The terms of the agreement will not be disclosed.
Watlow designs and manufactures industrial heaters, temperature sensors, controllers and supporting software as well as assemblies - all of the components of a thermal system. The company serves a number of industries including semiconductor processing and environmental chambers.
STS is an implementer of ion implant refurbishment, elastomer bonding and high-precision cleaning technologies. STS' primary offering is the development and application of precision bonds between critical components in a process tool assembly.
These bonds are responsible for adhesion, as well as to provide specific heat conducting properties. The acquisition will allow Watlow and STS to provide its shared customers a greater product offering and increased capabilities.
"We are pleased that STS is now a part of Watlow because it helps us provide even more value to our semiconductor customers," says Tom LaMantia, Watlow's president. "One of Watlow's goals is to improve our domain knowledge and elevate our technical expertise in our strategic markets."
"This acquisition brings new expertise into the company and enables the development of higher quality, higher performing and higher value wafer processing assemblies. The ability to provide more comprehensive temperature management solutions enables our customers to improve their confidence in the thermal performance of a subsystem while also reducing their supply chain complexity," adds LaMantia.
"We fully support this acquisition," says John Lilleland, owner of STS. "We have worked with Watlow for many years and have developed a mutual respect. Our complementary capabilities and mutual strengths will allow us to provide industry-leading solutions for our customers."
Since 1922, Watlow has grown in product capability, market experience and global reach. The company holds more than 200 patents and employs 2,000 employees working in nine manufacturing facilities and three technology centres in the United States, Mexico, Europe and Asia.
