Overview
BTU International is a tech company specializing in thermal processing equipment. Established in 1950, the company is now headquartered in North Billerica, Massachusetts. It is a subsidiary of Amtech Systems and trades on the NASDAQ under the symbol BTUI. With an executive leadership of Paul J. Van Der Wansem as CEO and Peter J. Tallian as COO, the company reported a revenue of $47.75 million as of September 2013.
What They Do
BTU International designs and produces equipment that plays a vital role in various sectors including alternative energy and electronics. Their products are used in semiconductor packaging, solar cell production, circuit board assembly, and even nuclear fuel processing. The company has two major facilities for assembly and testing, one in North Billerica, Massachusetts, and another in Shanghai, China.
Company History
Originally founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts, BTU initially manufactured small ovens for hospitals and labs. They diversified into the semiconductor sector by the late 1950s with alloying furnaces. In 1972, the company relocated to Billerica, Massachusetts, and by 1985, they expanded into the solar cell market.
In 1989, BTU went public on the NASDAQ. During the 1990s, the company broke new ground by producing solder reflow products, even releasing the industry’s first lead-free reflow furnace. By 1995, BTU extended its footprint to mainland China. They also hold a strong intellectual property portfolio with over 200 patents and applications.
In terms of acquisitions, BTU acquired Sagarus Robotics Corporation in 2003, AtmoPlas Technology from Data Corporation and assets from Radiant Technology Corporation in 2006, further enhancing their technical capabilities.
Products & Services
In the renewable energy sector, BTU offers a range of products from silicon and thin-film photovoltaics processing equipment to rapid thermal processing furnaces. They also provide unique technologies like the MERIDIAN In-line Diffusion system and walking beam and pusher systems for nuclear fuel sintering.
For the electronics industry, BTU’s technologies are used in the solder reflow and curing stages for connecting and sealing integrated circuits. Notable product lines include the PYRAMAX family of convection reflow systems and Flip-chip reflow.
Accolades
BTU has garnered numerous awards for its contributions to technology. In November 2013, their new DYNAMO product won the 2013 Global Technology Award in the Soldering Equipment category. This innovation also received the 2013 EM Asia Innovation Award. In June 2009, the company won the ‘Industry Choice’ International Solar Technology Award.
BTU International remains a pioneer in the thermal processing equipment field, consistently innovating and adapting to meet the ever-changing needs of various industries.
