GT Advanced Technologies acquires Thermal Technology LLC
May 21, 2013
GT Advanced Technologies, headquartered in Nashua, New Hampshire, USA, has announced that it has acquired California based Thermal Technology LLC.
Founded some 60 years ago, Thermal Technology develops and sells a wide range of high temperature thermal and vacuum products used in the fabrication of advanced materials.
This spark plasma sintering furnace was
manufactured by Thermal Technology
GT has acquired several key products and technologies that will allow GT to address new markets with a range of production equipment options. This includes annealing technology that the company believes will be important in the manufacturing of sapphire cover screens; crystal growth technology based on the Kyropoulous growth method and edge defined film growth (EFG) technology for large surface area sapphire. The company has also acquired Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) technology, which allows dense ceramics to be obtained under uniform heating at relatively low temperatures and in short processing times. The SPS technology is expected to have a wide range of applications including with medical applications, sputtering targets, space applications and thermoelectric convertors for hybrid electric cars.
“The acquisition of the Thermal Technology business adds a number of innovative and important products and technologies to our rapidly diversifying portfolio that will, we believe, allow us to accelerate our entrance into new markets,” stated Tom Gutierrez, GT’s president and CEO. “The acquisition expands our served markets and complements several of our current product lines. ”
“This is an exciting moment for the company, our employees and our customers,” stated Matt Mede, President and CEO of Thermal Technology. “The acquisition will open new opportunities for growth for our products and technology as we integrate them into GT’s business operations. Leveraging GT’s leadership in engineering and product development and their strengths in low-cost global supply chain management will accelerate the time-to-market of our technology to drive market adoption in several promising markets as we go forward. Customers will also benefit through GT’s global service and support capabilities.”
