Promising partnership for collaboration, innovation between leading equipment manufacturer and MTL community
In February 2014, Edwards officially joined the Microsystems Industrial Group of MTL. Edwards is a leading developer and manufacturer of sophisticated vacuum products, abatement systems and related services. The main corporate offices for Edwards are in the U.K. with development, manufacturing, applications and service facilities around the world. Edwards products are integral to manufacturing processes for semiconductors, flat panel displays, LEDs and solar cells; are used within an increasingly diverse range of industrial processes including power, glass and other coating applications, steel and other metallurgy, pharmaceutical and chemical; and for both scientific instruments and a wide range of R&D applications. Edwards has over 3,200 full-time employees and 500 temporary workers operating in approximately 20 countries worldwide.
Neil Condon, Senior Manager Applications Strategy, based in Burgess Hill, UK is the Edwards representative on MTL's Industrial Advisory Board. In a first significant interaction of Edwards with MTL, Anthony Taylor, Applications Technologist based in Boston, will join the group of Luis Fernando Velasquez‐Garcia. As a visiting scientist, Anthony will be engaged in research on projects of mutual interest
Sia Abbaszadeh, Chief Technology Officer at Edwards commented, "We are extremely proud to join the Microsystems Industrial Group. This membership will serve as a platform for collaboration and partnerships not only with MTL researchers, but with other Microsystems Industrial Group members and the larger MIT community."
From left to right: Jesus del Alamo (MTL), Luis Velasquez-Garcia (MTL), Anthony Taylor (Edwards), Fred Underwood (Edwards), Vicky Diadiuk (MTL), Bill Holber (MTL),and Nigel Schofield (Edwards) at Edwards anechoic chamber in Burgess Hill, UK, where the sound characteristics of Edwards products are studied.Jesus del Alamo, Director of MTL stated, "We are pleased to have Edwards as a member of the Microsystems Industrial Group. They are a leading manufacturer of sophisticated vacuum products and abatement systems, and we believe there will be many opportunities for the MTL community to work with them in productive research and other areas of collaboration."
MTL Visit to Edwards in the U.K.
On August 4-6, 2014, four MTL staff members visited two Edwards sites in the U.K. Jesus del Alamo, MTL Director and Professor of Electrical Engineering; Luis Velasquez-Garcia, MTL Research Scientist, Vicky Diadiuk, MTL Associate Director of Fab Operations; and Bill Holber, MTL Associate Director of Industrial Relations participated in the visit. On Tuesday, the MTL group toured the Edwards product development facility for gas abatement in Clevedon. On Wednesday the group moved to the Edwards product development facility for dry pumps, in Burgess Hill. At both sites, presentations were made by both MTL and Edwards staff.