Particles

09/01/2008

compiled by Carrie Meadows

Entegris to acquire Poco Graphite

Purification and chemical transport equipment supplier Entegris has signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately held Poco Graphite, a manufacturer and marketer of specialty graphite, silicon carbide, and other advanced materials, in an all-cash transaction valued at $158 million. Based in Decatur, TX, Poco provides process-critical graphite-based consumables and finished products used in semiconductor, electrical discharge machining (EDM), medical, optoelectronic, aerospace, and specialty industrial markets. According to Entegris, the transaction is expected to enhance the company’s semiconductor market position as a provider of process-critical consumables and related products and services, and will enable its growth in other high-performance industries.

Mallinckrodt Baker doubles solar-cell cleaner production capacity

Mallinckrodt Baker, which manufactures high-purity chemicals and related products and services, plans to double manufacturing capacity for its BakerClean PV-160 solar cell surface cleaners to meet growing demand from solar cell manufacturers. As part of the capacity expansion, Mallinckrodt Baker will begin manufacturing the equipment in its high-volume facility in Paris, KY, while increasing existing manufacturing capacity at its facility in Deventer, the Netherlands. In addition to expanding overall production capacity, the company says the decision to produce the surface-cleaning tool in both the U.S. and Europe reduces the supply chain risk for its customers, since many manufacturers require backup sources of supply. Mallinckrodt Baker believes its two geographically distinct manufacturing facilities meet the dual-source requirements common in the PV industry.