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Print Edition StoriesFriday, April 10, 2009
Hungary's Semilab sweeps up a pair of local metrology firms
By Efrain Viscarolasaga
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A Hungarian metrology company seems to find New England an attractive place from which to do business, buying two local companies and establishing its North American headquarters in Massachusetts.
Semilab Co. Ltd. of Budapest recently announced the acquisition of Massachusetts-based metrology technology developers Advanced Metrology Systems LLC of Natick and QC Solutions Inc. of Billerica in two all-cash deals. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Metrology, in general, is the science of measurement, and is an integral part of the semiconductor manufacturing process, where increasingly smaller and more pure materials necessitate the need for more precise manufacturing specifications.
The deal pairs the reach of Semilab, one of the largest metrology companies in Europe, with more than 3,000 systems installed, with the talent of MIT spinout Advanced Metrology Systems (AMS). According to Chris Moore, the former CEO of AMS and now president of Semilab AMS. Semilab is a popular choice for many of the smaller semiconductor manufacturers around the world, whereas AMS has built its foundation on larger manufacturers. In addition, AMS has made those inroads using a relatively small sales team.
“Semilab was interested in two things — the technologies and the people,” said Moore. “We have been very successful at selling metrology equipment online to big fabs, and that is something Semilab didn’t have.”
The acquisition of QC Solutions will bring additional technology to the Semilab portfolio, focused on the measurement of electrical properties of silicon wafers.
Semilab AMS, which will be based in Natick and employ about 22 people, Moore said, will specialize in measuring and characterizing 3-D etched structures, high aspect ratio features, metal film thickness and other properties of silicon wafers and chips.
While the state of the economy may cause some industries to shy away from acquisitions, the semiconductor industry is known for its aggressive reactions to downturns.
“When you’re in a downturn, that’s the time you have to get all your development and strategy done, because when the turnaround comes, it is going to come fast,” said Moore.
Semilab has been aggressive in its acquisition strategy, acquiring two other companies — France-based Sopra SA and Pittsburgh-based SSM Inc. — last year.
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