The Thompson Group of Companies has acquired Applied Instrument Technologies (AIT) from Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, although financial terms of the purchase were not disclosed. AIT will be organized as a standalone company within The Thompson Group.
AIT manufactures and markets process analytical instruments including Analect FTIR, PIONIR Near-Infrared, MGA Mass Spectrometers, FXi Gas Chromatographs and RPM Raman analyzers, used by refining, petrochemical, chemical, pharmaceutical and steel industries to optimize their production processes.
AIT will continue to be co-located within Hamilton Sundstrand's Pomona, California facility through the remainder of this year as it transitions to a nearby new facility which is expected to be completed in early 2011.
"The opportunity to organize AIT as a standalone company will allow us to accelerate our leadership in the development, manufacturing and aftermarket support of process analytical instruments," said Joe LaConte, AIT's President. "With a diverse array of engineering, scientific, manufacturing and test capabilities, AIT looks forward to expanding its ability to provide unique applications and products to our customers."
AIT has ten sales and service offices throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia with an installed base on six continents. "AIT has continued to grow its customer base with the world's leading process industries," said Bob Hegger, AIT's vice president of sales and marketing. "With over thirty international channel partners, we are well positioned to provide our customers with strong local support of our systems."
The Thompson Group, located in Kalispell, Montana, was founded by Raymon F. Thompson, an entrepreneur in the semiconductor industry who founded Semitool in 1979. Semitool was acquired by Applied Materials in December 2009.
