06/02/2015 08:30:00 CEST
- With KLEO Halbleitertechnik GmbH, a ZEISS Group company, Manz is acquiring a specialist in laser direct imaging of printed circuit boards
- Expansion of the technology portfolio opens new perspectives for Manz in the rapidly growing market for high resolution printed circuit boards
- Ongoing diversification for further stabilization of the business model
Manz AG, one of the world's leading high-tech equipment manufacturers with a comprehensive technology portfolio for its three strategic fields, the "Electronics", "Solar" and "Energy Storage" business segments, has acquired KLEO Halbleitertechnik GmbH, a ZEISS Group company, as of June 1, 2015. As part of a share deal, Manz AG acquires patents and copyrights for the technology developed by KLEO for laser direct imaging of printed circuit boards (Laser Direct Imaging – LDI). In addition, all 20 employees at the Tettnang location in southern Germany will also be assumed. As a fully consolidated company of the Group, the subsidiary will already make a positive contribution to Manz AG's year-end result in the current 2015 fiscal year. The acquisition is being financed by funds from the capital increase, which was successfully carried out in April 2015. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
As an essential component in nearly every electronic device, printed circuit boards are a basic prerequisite for increasing digitization and networking, both in the industrial as well as the private sector. The continually rising demand for high resolution PCB’s (Printed Circuit Board) results in particular from the dynamic growth in the market for consumer electronics. The industry can meet the market's demands for ever-lighter, thinner and more powerful electronic devices with the use of innovative production equipment, to increase the efficiency of production capacities and the printed circuit boards it produces. With more than 25 years of experience in developing high-tech equipment for producing high-efficiency printed circuit boards, Manz AG has earned an outstanding reputation as a provider of wet chemical process equipment. This expansion of the technology portfolio with laser direct imaging of printed circuit boards and its integration into existing solutions for producing the finest conductor pathways will enable significant cost savings for the customer, in addition to an enormous increase in the efficiency and flexibility of the product and production process. Dieter Manz, CEO and founder of Manz AG, commented: "The expansion of our range of services through the technology KLEO Halbleitertechnik GmbH has been developing since it was founded in 2001 is an important milestone for us. Through the use of laser direct imaging based on an innovative multi-beam laser lithography using blue laser diodes, our customers can achieve cost savings of up to 75% in the imaging of printed circuit boards. At the same time, the increase of the level of integration in the production process will lead to a shortening of the overall production cycle by approximately half. With this acquisition, we are once again significantly improving our market position and thereby opening up additional potential for growth. Further diversification within our Electronics division furthermore ensures the sustainable stabilization of our business model."
In the medium term, Manz AG also sees great opportunities for applications of the LDI technology which extend beyond the production of high resolution printed circuit boards. In particular, the production of touch sensors and displays harbors significant potential, particularly in the case of flexible and bendable substrates.
