Air Liquide acquires Balazs Analytical Lab

09/01/2001

Mark A. DeSorbo

DALLAS--Air Liquide America's Electronics division has acquired Balazs Analytical Laboratory (Sunnyvale, CA), creating a business unit that combines the analytical laboratory services of both companies.

The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. But officials from both laboratories say the primary goal is to expand offerings to the semiconductor industry by combining Balazs' ultra-trace water testing and Air Liquide's ultra-trace chemical analysis capabilities at a new facility in Fremont, CA.

A newsletter distributed to employees at Balazs indicates that the new facility will have expanded ISO Class 4 (Class 10), ISO Class 5 (Class 100) and ISO Class 6 (Class 1000) cleanrooms.

"We will continue to utilize our "Class 0' minienvironments for sample protection and analysis, where appropriate," the newsletter indicates. "We are also implementing new, computerized cleanroom controls to ensure the efficiency and the best environment possible for sample analysis."

Acquisition made sense
Alexandre Tremblot, general manager of analytical labs for Air Liquide's electronics division, says the technical challenges the industry faces with 300 mm, copper and Low-k processes will call for more analytical expertise.

"This is really another piece of the puzzle for us," he adds. "We will be creating a new analytical services unit. Balazs will keep its name and still be marketed as such," he explains. "The manufacturer sometimes does not have enough money to build a new lab, so we are positioning ourselves to be a troubleshooting, micro-contamination consultant."

Air Liquide will continue to maintain existing laboratories here and in Austin, while employees of Balazs will receive an offer of employment with the new entity, which when combined will employ approximately 100 people.

Owner Marjorie Balazs, who founded Balazs labs in 1975, will continue to provide scientific consulting to the labs.

"Air Liquide has a unique network of onsite services that were the best match for our business model," she says. "It just makes perfect sense, and I am confident that our customers will recognize the value of this world-class combination of expertise."

Along with ultra-trace water analysis, Balazs provides data in chemicals, thin and thick films as well as micro-contamination solutions. Its 1985 pure water specifications were adopted by Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI; San Jose, CA), and are recognized as industry standards.