Brooks adds Intelligent Automation to growing stable
Chelmsford, MA-Brooks Automation Inc., a supplier of tool and factory hardware and software automation for semiconductor and related industries, has completed the acquisition of Intelligent Automation Systems, Inc. of Cambridge, MA, a custom automation company with technology and products for the semiconductor, photonics and life-sciences industries. “The acquisition of Intelligent Automation Systems allows Brooks Automation to gain strategic automation technology and strong engineering capabilities that complement our core business,” says Robert Therrien, president and CEO of Brooks. “The leveraging of Brooks' semiconductor robotic technology and strong software capabilities along with their excellence in manufacturing and global support will be very important factors in accelerating our growth into new markets for Brooks,” says Steven J. Gordon, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Intelligent Auto mation Systems. Intelligent Automation Systems designs, builds and implements high-end precision automation solutions for manufacturers of semiconductor devices, fiber-optic components, life sciences and other products.

DuPont upgrades Shanghai facility
U.S.-based DuPont Photomasks Inc. plans to upgrade the capability of DuPont Photomasks Company Ltd., its joint-venture photomask manufacturing facility in Shanghai. According to the company, through this initiative it will become the first merchant photomask producer in China to install an advanced manufacturing line capable of producing photomasks supporting semiconductor design rules of 180 nm. -LJB

Fabric crosses the Atlantic
Coventry, U.K.-based Farlane Johnson, a workwear specialist, has invested 100,000 pounds in equipment to take advantage of hi-tech fabric designs from North Carolina-based Burlington Industries Inc. Burlington has six apparel product groups, from fashion wear to military uniforms. Antistatic clothing for electronics and pharmaceutical companies, paint-spray suits for the motor industry and protective outfits for foundry workers are key markets for Farlane. -LJB

SteriPack expands by 50 percent
SteriPack Ltd. (Clara, Co. Offaly, Ireland), a contract manufacturer of medical packaging products, has announced growth of more than 50 percent. This year the company plans to add 25,000 square feet to its existing 45,000-square-foot facility. The firm currently supplies customers in more than 25 countries with both packaging and contract packaging service, produced in cleanrooms to the ISO 9002 and EN 46002 certified standards. -LJB

Donegal adds liquid-silicon molding process
Ireland's largest medical device company, Donegal HealthCare Ltd. (Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, Ireland), has added liquid-silicon molding facilities. The company will be working closely with Queen's University, Belfast, which has developed several new silicone materials for medical applications. Other recent company developments include ramped-up production of the IV multichamber bag, manufacturing facilities for a new major pharmaceutical product and the introduction of RF welding for new surgical devices. This year the company has added its first biotech customer. -LJB

BioSheild is part of $3-million restoration at Ground Zero
BioShield Technologies Inc. is part of a joint project with TRIDIM Filter Corp.; Pinnacle Environmental Corp.; Annabec Corp.; and Ondeo Nalco to eliminate the problems created in and around the buildings that were affected as a result of the September 11th terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center. “We were approached by companies that are doing the cleaning and restoration of buildings around the World Trade Center. The existence of bacteria, mold, mildew and pollution in the buildings can be prevented by cleaning and applying a protective antimicrobial, thus preventing cross contamination,” says Steve Meyers, president of Annabec, together with Dr. Marcelo D. Villahoz, BioSheild's vice president of global business development, and John C. Stanley, Jr., director of TRIDIM who inspected the improvements in C3 level of the buildings. Current efforts are focusing on upper levels and elevator shafts. -SF

Quantum Photonics buys gas purification system
Quantum Photonics Inc., a Jessup, MD-based developer and manufacturer of optoelectronic components for fiber-optic networks, has purchased an Infinity model GPS-300-I from Aeronex Inc. (San Diego, CA) to purify nitrogen used in the manufacturing process. According to the company, the system provides a continuous supply of purified gas for contaminant-sensitive processes. -LJB

Howorth acquisition strengthens pharma division
New York-based Howorth USA announced that its parent Howorth Pharma in the UK has acquired Advanced Containment Limited (ACL). ACL is a new company specializing in the design and supply of high-quality powder handling and process containment equipment. In addition to applications in pharma, advanced containment systems are suitable for use in fine chemicals and food processing applications. “The systems are generally used for filling and emptying IBCs and other bulk containers where a high integrity seal is paramount in providing optimum levels of operator and product protection,” explains Darren Garvey, ACL founder and Howorth business development manager within the Advanced Containment Systems unit. -LJB

Ibis and MEMC pursue SOI wafer technology
Ibis Technology Corp. (Danvers, MA) and MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. (St. Peters, MO) have signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement aimed at developing advanced separation-by-implementation-of-oxygen (SIMOX) silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers for semiconductor manufacturers worldwide. The priorities of the alliance include boosting device performance and fab yield through defect density improvement in the device layer using optimized wafers such as MEMC's OPTIA product and accelerating the industry's adoption of Ibis' SIMOX-SOI products. -LJB

Whelan's Int'l appoints HVAC director
Daniel Desmond has been appointed director of the HVAC service division of Whelan's International (Ronkonkoma, NY). The full-service contract company provides a variety of services, including maintenance, emergency services, daily porter and janitorial services and floor maintenance for all facility sizes. It employs more than 3,000 people. -LJB

Motorola campus for sale
After 35 years and millions of computer chips, Motorola is putting its Mesa campus up for sale. The campus covers 75 acres and has 1.2 million square feet of manufacturing and office space. The property boasts its own water treatment plant, electrical substation and several wells. Railroad and fiber-optic lines run along the site's north side. Motorola has declined to disclose it asking price for the property. -LJB

ANSAmed extends contract manufacturing capability
ANSAmed Ltd. (Boyle, Co. Roscommon, Ireland), a contract manufacturer of extruded and molded plastic medical devices and assemblies, has unveiled an array of product-manufacturing capabilities. The company manufactures stent-delivery devices, drug-delivery devices, central venous pressure catheters, angiography catheters, retrieval catheters, cardiovascular monitoring, enteral feeding tubes, autologous blood collection system, percutaneous catheter introducers, ultrasonic ablation and peristaltic pump tubing kits. -LJB

DuPont aligns business by markets, technologies
DuPont (Wilmington, DE) has aligned its businesses in five market- and technology-focused growth platforms and has created a Textiles and Interiors subsidiary. The growth platforms are DuPont Electronic & Communication Technologies, DuPont Performance Materials, DuPont Coatings & Color Technologies, DuPont Safety & Protection and DuPont Agriculture & Nutrition. The new, wholly owned subsidiary will include the nylon fibers, polyester fibers and Lycra brand fiber businesses, plus their intermediates and joint ventures. According to the company, DuPont Textiles & Interiors will be the world's largest integrated fibers company with annual segment sales estimated at $6.5 billion. -LJB

MSS Clean Technology, Inc., LSI Cleanrooms new facility
MSS Clean Technology, Inc. and LSI Cleanrooms have completed a 25,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing facility in Buford, GA. James E. Kavanagh, chief executive officer of MSS Clean Technology says that the expansion is a result of the continued growth in providing turnkey cleanroom installations and composite cleanroom panel systems. Further, the move to expand both companies in to one building will bolster their ability to provide new products.

Polyclad renovations complete
Polyclad Laminates (Franklin, NH) opened its newly constructed cleanroom space for assembling copper and prepreg sheets for printed circuit boards. The construction phase was less than 16 weeks from demolition to certification of the cleanrooms. Hodess Building Company teamed with H.L. Turner Group (architect) and R.D. Kimball (engineer) on the facility. Work on the project involved demolishing 5,000 square feet of existing space to create a cleanroom area consisting of an ISO Class 8 gowning room and four ISO Class 7 cleanrooms. An ISO Class 5 build-up room with raised access flooring is the centerpiece of the project. -LJB