Oxford
Instruments plc, the high technology tools and systems company, and RIBER
SA, the leading Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) company announced today that the
MBE business currently owned by Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology Ltd (OIPT),
has been sold to RIBER in Bezons, France.
OIPT has an aggressive product development plan to enhance existing product
lines and expand into new markets, as well as a growing portfolio of new products
in development. In the last 12 months, OIPT has seen significant growth in a
number of markets and the transfer of the MBE business will allow it to focus
more sharply on these areas. This is consistent with the company’s strategy
to double the size of the business and increase Return on Sales by ten percentage
points . OIPT is confident that RIBER will continue to offer the level of support
required by its MBE customers. The transfer takes place in advance of OIPT’s
relocation to a new facility .
RIBER is a world leader in providing MBE equipment and components to public
and private major research centres and industrial foundry companies. In line
with its strategy to develop sales of service and accessories for MBE equipment,
this acquisition will strongly reinforce RIBER’s share of the MBE market
in Europe, North America and Asia. RIBER will henceforth be able to service
approximately 75% of the worldwide installed base, with the number of MBE systems
having increased from about 500 to 800. Over recent years, the average turnover
of this purchased activity was above 1.2 million Euros. This will strengthen
RIBER’s after-sale business which has increased by about 35% in 2008 vs
2007 as a result of internal growth and the recent merger with ADDON. RIBER
extensive support structure will ensure that OIPT’s MBE customers will
continue to receive world class service and support.