June 16, 2008 &#151 Asymtek, a Nordson company, provider of dispense, coating, and jetting technologies, celebrated the company’s 25th anniversary on June 6, 2008 at its all-employee meeting. Established in 1983, Asymtek’s systems are known for innovative technology in dispensing, closed-loop process controls, and patented processes in jetting and coating. SMT Magazine talked to founder, Alec Babiarz talked to founder, Alec Babiarz about the company’s history.

Asymtek was founded in 1983 by Robert Ciardella, Alec Babiarz, and Philip Maiorca, who worked together at Hewlett-Packard in research and development of computer peripheral products, including ink jet printers. They identified what is now called “benchtop automation” and aimed their efforts at the electronic assembly and semiconductor packaging markets. Their first benchtop motion system was sold in 1984. A year later a dispense head was added and the first automated dispenser was created. A major breakthrough came in 1992 when Asymtek released its patented jetting technology. Jetting has now become the standard in dispensing and has enabled many of the microelectronics and emerging technologies we have today.

Nordson Corporation acquired Asymtek in 1996, after it had been Asymtek’s customer for over nine years. “The partnership effectively brought together the two companies’ dispensing process knowledge and technology to offer a wider range of production solutions,” explained John Byers, Asymtek’s president.