Brooks Automation beefs up corporate profile

10/01/2001

Mark A. DeSorbo

Chelmsford, MA—In a move that aims to strengthen its foothold in the chip and microelectronics industries, Brooks Automation Inc. has agreed to purchase two companies, a neighboring precisions exhaust controller manufacturer and the e-diagnostics arm of a San Jose-based yield management and process control firm.

According to Robert Therrein, president and chief executive office of Brooks, a supplier of OEM tool automation and factory management software, the addition of the e-diagnostic arm of KLA-Tencor Inc. will address the needs and of end-users and OEM customers.

"Brooks will be adding e-diagnostics to our software and hardware solutions as an integrated part of our service and applications offerings," he says. "We will work closely with our OEM customers to assist them in providing e-diagnostic capable products that meet the evolving standards, and we are committed to working with International Sematech and Selete in evolving standards for e-diagnostics."

The acquisition of neighboring Progressive Technologies Inc. (PTI), in nearby Tewksbury, MA, is an aggressive step toward the interface market segment, says Therrien, adding that PTI precision exhaust controllers offer stability and efficiency.

He added that the company anticipates a "beach head" gain in high volume and atmospheric process segments to expanding the scope of supply to include tool controls, load ports and robotics.