Access Laser Joins Photonics Giant TRUMPF
October 4th 2017 -Access Laser Company (ALC) and TRUMPF GmbH announced today that they have entered into an agreement where TRUMPF will acquire an 85% share of ALC. TRUMPF is a global technology leader in lasers, with a reputation for delivering world class manufacturing solutions. By acquiring a majority stake in ALC, TRUMPF has secured a key player in Extreme UltraViolet (EUV) photolithography. Founder of ALC, Dr. Yong Zhang, will retain a minority stake in the company while remaining as CEO.
“Access Laser is a core partner in our EUV business and a highly innovative laser company,” said Peter Leibinger, Managing Partner and CTO of TRUMPF. “Together, we will be working even closer to further improve EUV performance, as well as serving more applications and customers looking for innovative, low-power CO2lasers.”
Dr. Zhang commented. “Joining TRUMPF enables us to expand our reach as a truly global organization, without compromising our core values of scientific curiosity and cultural diversity. This partnership is made even more attractive due to the synergy between our market focuses; TRUMPF’s strength in industrial markets complements our strength in the scientific arena.”
Founded in 1999, ALC grew from a handful of laser scientists and optical engineers to more than 60 employees in the U.S. and China. Originally focused on lasers for scientific research, ALC built a strong core of expertise in custom lasers. In 2012, ALC drew upon this strength in developing highly specialized lasers to become a key supplier for the EUV market. This innovative product line is joined by recent ventures into the Autonomous Vehicle (AV), medical, and dental markets.
When asked for a proud memory, Dr. Zhang replied “Our decade-long collaboration with LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory), and VIRGO, its European counterpart, designing lasers to remove optical distortion from their systems. These measurements confirmed the existence of gravity waves, validating key aspects of Einstein’s theory of general relativity.”
TRUMPF and Access Laser Company have agreed to not disclose the purchase price.
For more information about Access Laser Company go to www.accesslaser.com