Silicon Sensors
in Europe and the Rest of the World
Aktiv-Electronic Berlin, Germany
This is a company I took a close look at after the communist break up. The
company was for sale at a very low price. When I found that Seimens had passed
on the opportunity to buy them, I who can't even speak German, decided they
were a hell of a lot better qualified to judge the business and I declined
as well. It looks to be a company that will only interfere with the market
in Europe until they exit the business.
Druck England
In the seventies the man most responsible for the pressure sensor work at Lucas
in Birmingham, Mike Bertioli, left Lucas to found Druck.
Fujikura Japan
Fujikura has been in the business for over ten years and continues serving
the pressure sensor market by buying sensors in die form and doing basic
packaging.
Iskra Hypot, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Some nice work is being done in a hybrid operation using silicon die from outside
companies. They started their original work prior to the break up of the communist
system for blood pressure sensors for PV Berg in Germany. I expect this company
will have tough times ahead as they are in a very price competitive market.
Lucas Birmingham, England
It is possible this facility has been closed as my last visit to it was in
the mid eighties. Even so, I am aware that several of the persons responsible
for their silicon based sensors from the mid seventies are still active with
Lucas. They have excellent engineering understanding of silicon based sensors.
Magnetti-Marelli Italy
Strictly an automotive sensor manufacturer that has converted from ceramic
sensor based MAP sensors to silicon based. I have only seen the ceramic based
operation and can not comment on their silicon capability.
Microsensors Xian, China
A company with a joint venture with Hans Keller. It was started by some people
who had represented IC Sensors, the main principal was Victor Li. They started
using die from the United States and doing packaging in China. They currently
have good packaging and compensation capability for stainless steel isolated
pressure sensors and are the major player in China.
Sensortechnics Germany
I have mentioned Sensortechnics Gmbh. This is the most recognized pressure
sensor company in Europe because of their success throughout all countries
in Europe. They have a very strong British presence through their office
in UK managed by Martin Green and Tony Harris. Sensortechnics was sold to
Augusta, GmbH in 1998. Augusta is a holding company located in Frankfort,
Germany. Sensortechnics is under the management of Josef Oettl. Most of the
key people still remain with the company. They on their way to becoming one
of the largest sensor companies in Europe.
Sensymtonics France
In France, Sensortechnics had an employee, John Claude Bord, who I had worked
with when he was a field applications engineer at National Semiconductor
in the seventies. JC Bord started Sensymtronic. While at Sensym I approved
the use of the name and we agreed they would work with Sensortechnics in
the same manner of mutual exclusivity for Sensym products as Sensortechnics.
Sensymtronic was acquired by Data Instruments in 1997. It has been closed
by Honeywell after the DI acquisition. The key employees has started a new
company, All Sensors France.
SensoNor Norway
A nice little silicon fab and micromachining operation about an hour drive
from Oslo. They seem to have the their best success in accelerometers for
automotive applications. I can't imagine how they can compete with the high
social costs inherent to Norway companies.
Siemens Nurnberg Germany
Even before the acquisition of the Bendix Sensor Research Group Siemens had
the largest, non government sensor research group in the world. They have
the capability to research any sensor concept that has been published and
have probably done so for most. Yet their only commercial effort, a pressure
sensor, was unsuccessful. While Siemens enjoys success in automotive and
medical markets this success has not translated to marketable sensor products.
Vaisala
Vaisala's accelerometer product line was purchased by Art Zias for Breed Automotive.
Vaisala has worked on silicon based variable capacitance sensors for about
twenty years. They use a pyrex clad silicon-silicon-pyrex sandwich that provide
variable capacitance transducer with characteristics as though they were
made entirely of silicon. They may be making the best low pressure sensors
in the world today. They are competitive with Dresser X-Fab, Erfurt, Germany.
A company with ties to a company in the Netherlands. This is another former
Eastern Block company. It has a crude silicon sensor capability.
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