News Article
Start-Up Solar Semi Purchases CME Division of Edwards
The solar and semiconductor start-up company has purchased the automated wet etch process & cleaning equipment division of Edwards. This will be used in the production of photovoltaic wafers for solar panels and in the semiconductor sector.
Solar Semi Engineering (SSE), a solar and semiconductor start-up company, has purchased the business and assets of Edwards Chemical Management Europe Limited (“CME”) for an undisclosed sum. CME is part of Edwards, the leading global vacuum and abatement business.
CME, originally founded in 1967, is a leading manufacturer of automated wet etch process & cleaning equipment, as well as chemical dosing systems. These are primarily used in the production of photovoltaic wafers for solar panels and in the semiconductor sector. The business is based in Newhaven, Sussex and employs around 30 people.
SSE is a new company founded by Tim Dodkin to provide wet process equipment to the solar and semiconductor manufacturing industries. Dodkin has over three decades of experience in high technology market development and international start ups, with a large majority of that time spent on complex wet process systems.
“SSE will continue to market the former CME products with the addition of those new products required for high efficiency cells and semiconductor manufacturing,” said Dodkin.
Mathew Taylor, CEO of Edwards added, “I am pleased that the CME business now has additional depth of experience behind it, and I feel sure it will prosper in this format in the years ahead.”
Edwards is a leading supplier of integrated solutions for the manufacture of semiconductors, flat panel displays, and solar cells. It is also a world leader in vacuum technology for industrial, scientific, process and R&D applications. Edwards employs around 2,800 people globally in the design, manufacture and support of high technology vacuum and abatement equipment. Edwards invented the concept of the low-maintenance, cost-effective commercial oil-free ‘dry’ vacuum pump, and now supplements this with a wide range of other pumping technologies as well as related products and services.
