News

Strong growth continues, leading to record Q2 and H1 sales, EBITDA, EBITDA margin, net income and free cash flow. Positive full-year outlook confirmed. Urs Gantner, head of Semiconductor business unit, appointed to VAT’s Group Executive Committee. First VAT sustainability review published.

With the help of the SIAM Photon Source, Thailand provides a unique synchrotron infrastructure in the ASEAN region. VAT technology allows to extend the capabilities of the 1.2 GeV storage ring continuously.

The world's most powerful heavy-ion accelerator was inaugurated on May 2, 2022, at Michigan State University's Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Fast closing valves from VAT help secure the ultra-high vacuum environment of the FRIB.

With new approaches in particle management, VAT sets standards for ultra clean vacuum requirements. The goal is maximum avoidance of unwanted particles and outgassing.

The shareholders of VAT Group AG approved all motions proposed by the Board of Directors at today’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), including the payout of a 22% higher dividend of CHF 5.50 per share.

As the world’s most sensitive scale for the measurement of neutrino mass, the international Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) experiment has now reported a level of precision never achieved before. The suite of VAT valves developed for KATRIN continue to provide seamless performance despite the experiment’s radiation levels, extreme temperatures, and UHV environment.

“Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR” Continued Strong Order and Sales Development in Semiconductor Confirms Positive Outlook for Business Growth in 2022

Bonded valve plate seals offer a number of advantages over classic O-ring seals – including longer durability, improved sealing and damping properties.

A top priority of the European Strategy for Particle Physics to enable research to new frontiers of particle physics, CERN's the High-Luminosity LHC (“HiLumi”) project will multiply the power of CERN’s already mighty Large Hadron Collider. VAT all-metal valves are designed to withstand the demanding extreme UHV conditions.

At its upcoming annual general meeting on May 17, 2022, the VAT Board of Directors intends to nominate Maria Heriz to the Board, replacing Heinz Kundert, who has decided not to stand for re-election.

As semiconductor production becomes more complex in microprocessor architecture and in the type and size of layers and structures, the room for variation in production process conditions also becomes smaller. Process stability and controllability are key elements for success here.

As part of the "Auxiliary Parts Project", VAT is working with its customers on the reuse of product-accompanying elements, such as transport locks.

Latest synchrotron facilities employ novel getter pump techniques to establish UHV conditions. VAT provides high-tech valves to control the coating process.

- Record 2021 results and positive outlook; dividend increase of 22% to CHF 5.50 per share proposed - 2025 sales target increased from CHF 1.1bn to CHF 1.5bn - EBITDA range expected to be 32 – 37% over the cycle

Semiconductor chips now are abundantly used for an increasing variety of challenging applications. VAT evolves from a supplier of vacuum components towards a system integrator to support the development of increasingly complex semiconductor production lines.

With two new e-car charging stations for visitors and two more for employees, VAT supports emission-free driving.

Generating energy through controlled nuclear fusion has long been a dream of mankind. To get closer to this dream, an experimental fusion reactor is currently being built in southern France as part of the ITER project. As a certified supplier of all-metal and elastomer valves, VAT is closely involved in this ambitious research project. In the process, the valve professionals from Switzerland have achieved a truly great feat.

Sustainability in production and logistics is a core topic at VAT. As a further step towards more sustainable logistics solutions, VAT is also expanding its focus to delivery to the customer and is testing environmentally friendly goods transport with a hydrogen-powered truck via its logistics partner Gebrüder Weiss GmbH.

The development of specific sealing technologies is a decisive feature of VAT's competitiveness. Where standard solutions reach their limits, VAT vacuum valves offer process system operators more functional reliability. Especially in the field of classic elastomer seals, VAT sets standards.

Penang, 27 January 2022 – VAT today held a groundbreaking ceremony to initiate the extension of its production facility in Penang, Malaysia.

U.S. researcher Andrew McElrone investigates grape roots with particle accelerator at ALS research facility in Berkeley, California. The goal: sustainable water use strategy for grape growers.

12 years ago, VAT has implemented a global initiative to minimize the environmental impact of its own operations – as well as those of our customers and suppliers. The company maintains and promotes a broad range of recycling programs at manufacturing facilities in Switzerland and Malaysia.

VAT posts Record Full-Year Results for Sales, EBITDA, EBITDA Margin and Free Cash Flow as strong Growth continues

VAT “Fixed Price Refurbishment Programs” help system operators – in particular, semiconductor, display, solar and lightning companies – improve system uptime and also optimize service costs.

In the electromobility sector, technical innovation is becoming more important, particularly where battery production is concerned. Since vacuum and plasma technology plays a central role in numerous electromobility manufacturing processes, valve development is a vital part of this.

VAT to invest CHF 160 Million to build new innovation center in Switzerland and to increase capacity in Malaysia and Switzerland - creating 600 new jobs globally until 2024.

Mini-LEDs instead of LEDs in flat panel displays have set a profound change in motion, and the next innovation is waiting in the wings: Micro-LEDs, a new challenge for VAT vacuum valves.

With the new 06.3 Large Transfer Valve / Insert with TWINVAT, VAT offers an optimized version of its successful 06.1 series, especially for OLED, PVD and load-lock applications.

With a 60% production increase this year, VAT Malaysia is considering to extend its capacity, to meet future demand. The driving force is increasing global demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment and with it the demand for VAT high performance vacuum valves.

VAT is being consistent in the implementation of its sustainability offensive and is once again sending a strong signal for renewable energies by switching to hydropower at its Haag site.

VAT has been present in Japan for over three decades and now the move to Tokyo-Haneda is imminent. This important step will consolidate previously dispersed functions at one location, expand service capacities for the Japanese market and significantly improve services for our customers.

To effectively combat the SARS-CoV-2 virus, like other viruses, it is necessary to first elicit structural information from the virus, particle accelerators with VAT technology help to do this.

VAT vacuum valves are part of the upgrade to the LCLS, an X-ray laser at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in California (USA) that is so fast and precise, it can observe atoms in motion.

Leading plant manufacturer of large production machines for TV displays awards VAT the contract to supply the new 29. 2 HV Angle Valve with Soft-Pump Function.

Record Q3 order intake and net sales driven by market growth and excellence in operational excution; Q4 sales guidance indicates full-year 2021 record net sales of between CHF 885-895 million

Where to put the highly radioactive nuclear waste? An innovative technology called transmutation is preparing to defuse the brisance of nuclear waste. VAT technology plays a key role in this.

Thanks to quantum technology, computing capacities and speeds are advancing into previously unknown dimensions and enabling a completely new approach to tasks. This offers new opportunities for research and industry. VAT technology is an important element in this.

In the production of vacuum valves, high-purity cleaning processes are an essential part of VAT's vacuum valve product quality. Modern semiconductor production requires a vacuum environment of the highest purity. This applies to all system components - including the vacuum valves used.

At the world-famous research facility, CERN, thoughts are turning to the future of particle research. There is no question about it: the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has produced sensational results worthy of a Nobel Prize. However, these results immediately raised further questions, the answers to which in turn require new developments in accelerators. Technology from VAT should also be part of this in the future because that technology is already delivering outstanding service in the LHC.

In complex vacuum systems, there is a lot to close, open, meter and control. Wherever many valves are used, the number of connection points, connectors and seals also increases. This requires installation time, space, and increases the vacuum volume to be controlled as well as the number of potential leakage points.

Have a look! VAT helps with the choice of profession.

VAT Logistics recently announced a new ‘Packaging Concept’ that signaled a company-wide effort to successively reduce the volume of foam and increase the amount of sustainable packaging materials used in shipping. Recent successes and new innovations continue to help reduce the company’s overall carbon footprint.

In 2019, the National Science Foundation (NSF) held a workshop for “Large Ultrahigh Vacuum Systems for Frontier Scientific Research Instrumentation” to help identify cost effective technologies to design, build and operate a new generation gravitational wave observatory based on the original LIGO concept.* This new design will be an order of magnitude more sensitive than the current generation systems in the USA (LIGO), EU (Virgo) and Japan (KAGRA) – and also MUCH larger.

Record Q2 and H1 2021 results driven by continued high market growth and stron business execution; second half 2021 results expected to be above first six months

In order to penetrate the innermost structures of matter and gain new insights, particle accelerators must become steadily more powerful and larger. This increases construction and operating costs. Researchers are trying to take an alternative path with plasma wave-driven accelerators and are thus defining new challenges for vacuum valves as well.

As part of the company’s global sustainability initiative to reduce energy consumption, VAT has been successively installing cutting-edge industrial LED lighting systems in the company’s production facilities. Once the switch is completed, LED lighting will cut energy consumption in half.

The Hyperloop transportation concept – based on high-speed travel in a low-pressure tube – promises to revolutionize ground transportation. As a research partner to the EuroTube Foundation, VAT is developing large valve solutions that will help maintain the enormous vacuum volumes needed for the Hyperloop systems.

Half-Year 2021 Net Sales, EBITDA, EBITDA Margin and Free Cash Flow Reach Record Levels

Solar cell technology is widely seen as crucial renewable energy source to help fight climate change. These expectations have been fueled to even greater levels by recent breakthroughs in solar cell efficiency. With a new generation of large transfer valves for solar cell production lines, VAT offers manufacturers the technological improvements needed to produce these high-performance solar cells.

Converting the cooling systems at the VAT production facilities in Switzerland from electricity to a groundwater-based loop has yielded a number of environmental benefits – including much lower energy costs and a healthier workplace.

As the number of satellites in orbit increases, so does global demand for pre-launch testing under simulated space conditions. VAT recently delivered yet another large valve to a European satellite test center. Oversized VAT vacuum valves play a key role in helping simulate the extreme temperatures and pressures of outer space – to ensure that satellites are ready for lift-off.

Haag, June 2021, VAT has launched “Quick Spec Bellows”, a new online configuration and order service for welded metal bellows. The online service provides convenient configuration, quick price information and a guaranteed three-week delivery time ex works VAT Switzerland.

Demand for valve technology that can increase the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of solar cell production continues unabated. This is confirmed by the numerous visitors at this year's VAT booth.

The installation of solar cells for energy generation on the roof of VAT's manufacturing plant in Penang, MY, was completed in June 2020 and is now an important building block in VAT's strategy to reduce its overall carbon footprint by switching to renewable energy sources.

The second fair of the year is over. A big thank you to all visitors at our booth at IVE 2021. If you did not have time to visit us at the fair, contact us directly.

VAT has received the Fair ON Pay+ certificate from SGS Société Générale de Surveillance for being compliant with the equal pay provisions of the Swiss Federal Act on Gender Equality.

Semiconductor production equipment must pay for itself quickly - the very next innovation cycle increases the cost pressure. Aging equipment makes this a challenge. VAT therefore offers upgrades & retrofits as a cost-effective solution for optimizing existing production equipment.

With the increasing demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment in Asia, the demand for VAT high performance vacuum valves is growing. VAT is therefore ramping up the factory output at its plant in Penang, Malaysia.

VAT Korea has received the “2020 Best Quality Supplier of the Year” award from the Samsung Mechatronics R&D Center. With this award, VAT has been recognized for its longstanding and successful collaboration with Samsung in the area of pressure control.

As the IC1 controller components used in VAT vacuum valves reach their technological ‘end of life,’ the advanced 32-bit IC2 components are being integrated into new and existing applications. VAT specialists are working with customers to ensure a rapid and problem-free transition.

VAT has a long-term collaboration with CERN, the largest particle physics laboratory in the world. Sector valves developed by a dedicated VAT team help keep the ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions within CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) intact.

What a great show! Thanks a lot to everyone who stopped by at our booth at SEMICON China 2021. If you did not have the time to visit us at the show, contact us directly.