Edwards (Vacuum)
Encyclopedia
Edwards is a vacuum
engineering company headquartered in Crawley
, in West Sussex in the United Kingdom. The company manufactures and supplies vacuum and abatement equipment used in advanced manufacturing processes.
in 1968. This move prompted international expansion for the business, particularly across Asia.
In the electronics world, the evolution of transistors in to semiconductors meant vacuum technology became critical in generating the clean environment required for semiconductor manufacture. To meet this demand, Edwards introduced the Drystar dry (oil free) vacuum pump in 1984, which reduced the risk of contamination.
In 1997 BOC Edwards was formed with the integration of Edwards vacuum business with BOC electronic gases unit before the BOC Group was itself acquired by Linde AG in 2006. Edwards subsequently became independent when it was acquired by CCMP Capital & Unitas Capital in 2007.
(UK).
Semiconductor – manufactures vacuum and abatement equipment designed to provide clean conditions for semiconductor manufacturing processes.
General Vacuum, which includes :
Scientific – supply vacuum pumps and controllers to provide a clean vacuum environment for the production of analytical instruments
Process – dry vacuum systems are used extensively in the chemical, pharmaceutical and biofuel
industries.
Industrial – manufactures vacuum systems utilised across a broad spectrum of industrial applications ranging from steel degassing and metallurgy, to coating and energy production plants.
Emerging Technologies (Solar, Flat Panel & LED) – manufactures a range of pumps and abatement technology in the crystalline and thin film PV solar industries as well as for the production of flat panel screens and all forms of LED lighting including display backlighting.
Vacuum
In everyday usage, vacuum is a volume of space that is essentially empty of matter, such that its gaseous pressure is much less than atmospheric pressure. The word comes from the Latin term for "empty". A perfect vacuum would be one with no particles in it at all, which is impossible to achieve in...
engineering company headquartered in Crawley
Crawley
Crawley is a town and local government district with Borough status in West Sussex, England. It is south of Charing Cross, north of Brighton and Hove, and northeast of the county town of Chichester, covers an area of and had a population of 99,744 at the time of the 2001 Census.The area has...
, in West Sussex in the United Kingdom. The company manufactures and supplies vacuum and abatement equipment used in advanced manufacturing processes.
History
Edwards equipment and services business was founded by physicist, F.D. Edwards in 1919 in south London. Initially the business imported vacuum equipment before commencing independent manufacturing in 1939. In 1953 the company relocated its factory and headquarters to Crawley and was later acquired by The BOC GroupThe BOC Group
The BOC Group plc was the official name of the multinational industrial gas and British based company more commonly known as BOC, and now a part of The Linde Group. In September 2004, BOC had over 30,000 employees on six continents, with sales of over £4.6 billion. BOC was a constituent of the...
in 1968. This move prompted international expansion for the business, particularly across Asia.
In the electronics world, the evolution of transistors in to semiconductors meant vacuum technology became critical in generating the clean environment required for semiconductor manufacture. To meet this demand, Edwards introduced the Drystar dry (oil free) vacuum pump in 1984, which reduced the risk of contamination.
In 1997 BOC Edwards was formed with the integration of Edwards vacuum business with BOC electronic gases unit before the BOC Group was itself acquired by Linde AG in 2006. Edwards subsequently became independent when it was acquired by CCMP Capital & Unitas Capital in 2007.
Operations
The company’s key manufacturing sites are in Choenan (Korea), Lutin (Czech Republic) and ClevedonClevedon
Clevedon is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset, England...
(UK).
Products
The company provides equipment and services across numerous industries:Semiconductor – manufactures vacuum and abatement equipment designed to provide clean conditions for semiconductor manufacturing processes.
General Vacuum, which includes :
Scientific – supply vacuum pumps and controllers to provide a clean vacuum environment for the production of analytical instruments
Process – dry vacuum systems are used extensively in the chemical, pharmaceutical and biofuel
Biofuel
Biofuel is a type of fuel whose energy is derived from biological carbon fixation. Biofuels include fuels derived from biomass conversion, as well as solid biomass, liquid fuels and various biogases...
industries.
Industrial – manufactures vacuum systems utilised across a broad spectrum of industrial applications ranging from steel degassing and metallurgy, to coating and energy production plants.
Emerging Technologies (Solar, Flat Panel & LED) – manufactures a range of pumps and abatement technology in the crystalline and thin film PV solar industries as well as for the production of flat panel screens and all forms of LED lighting including display backlighting.