News | September 11, 2006

3M Acquires Credence Technologies Inc.

St. Paul, MN - 3M announced recently that it has acquired Credence Technologies Inc., a Soquel, CA-based provider of instruments and high-end monitoring equipment for electrostatic discharge control and electromagnetic compliance. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Static control is believed to represent a key growth opportunity for 3M's electronics platform. Credence Technologies' products help manufacturers manage electrostatic discharge and electromagnetic emission issues in the design and production of components such as semiconductors, hard disc drives and flat panel displays. This acquisition allows 3M to expand its presence in the semiconductor, hard disc drive, and flat panel display industries and further build its business in Asia and Europe, believed to be two of the fastest growing areas for static control.

The addition of Credence Technologies builds on 3M's previously announced acquisition of SCC Products Inc. and JJ Converting LLC, producers of flexible static control packaging and workstation products for electronic devices. 3M's Electronic Solutions Division provides products and solutions to meet the electronic industry's challenges of protecting electronic devices from electrostatic discharge throughout production, assembly, installation and transportation processes.

SOURCE: 3M