Brooks Instrument reported Apr. 18 that its parent company, Illinois Tool Works (ITW), has acquired Creative Machining Technology, which provides machining and manufacturing services, ranging from individual part production through end-item manufacturing, kitting and assembly.
CMT is a longtime supplier to Brooks Instrument, with core competencies in high-precision CNC machining. CMT has expertise manufacturing and polishing ultrahigh-purity components with extremely tight tolerances for demanding applications, including semiconductor manufacturing.
“By integrating Creative Machining Technology into Brooks Instrument, we’re enhancing our in-house expertise for critical machined components and machining capabilities, which adds to our supply chain assurance for producing ultrahigh-purity instruments,” says Brent Best, VP and GM at Brooks’ semiconductor division. “In addition, we’ve increased our capabilities for quick-turn customer R&D requests to create more innovative flow measurement and control solutions.”
CMT can manufacture at tolerances as tight as 0.0001 in. This proficiency and its facilities will let Brooks design and produce complex wetted flow path components more quickly and effectively for its mass flow controllers (MFCs). These are the most important element in the gas delivery systems used for semiconductor manufacturing. In addition, CMT has both Class 1,000 and Class 10,000 clean rooms for processing and handling extremely delicate electronic components that require a controlled environment.
“This acquisition is part of our strategic approach to grow our business and position us for long-term success in the semiconductor market as we ramp up to meet anticipated growth,” says Best. “We’re excited to have CMT join Brooks as we focus on continuous improvement, growing our technology offerings, and meeting our customers’ needs.”
The CMT acquisition is the latest in Brooks Instrument’s initiatives to serve the semiconductor industry. Earlier this year the company launched a new GF120xHT Series mass flow controller for high-temperature environments, while last year it opened a new manufacturing site in Malaysia to expand production and partnership opportunities with key customers in the Asia-Pacific region.
