Merck in Germany is boosting its electronics business with the acquisition of Unity-SC in Grenoble for €155m and renaming its displays business Unity-SC makes metrology and inspection instrumentation and expands portfolio in key technologies for AI applications and will become part of the Electronics business while the Display Solutions business unit will operate under the name “Optronics” from 2025 as its converges with the semiconductor business AI prompts Merck to buy chip inspection firm UnitySC Both are part of the Electronics business which in the United States and Canada operates as EMD Electronics Having developed expertise in optical physics and materials through the work with LCD and OLED displays the Electronics business is now driving the convergence of optics and semiconductors to meet the demands of next-generation AI “As the industry moves towards more complex and integrated systems the need for comprehensive solutions and precise metrology and inspection tools has become increasingly important With our Optronics business and the acquisition of Unity-SC we have significantly expanded our portfolio to include metrology solutions for semiconductor and opto-electronic manufacturing This convergence signals an extension of our relevance in the electronics ecosystem; where materials science more efficient and more reliable production of next-generation chips and devices,” said Kai Beckmann Member of the Executive Board of Merck and CEO Electronics Further developments of advanced Liquid Crystal (LC) and OLED materials remain an important part of the portfolio for Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality/Mixed Reality (AR/VR/MR) combining  optronics and semiconductor knowledge with metrology systems Unity-SC is based in Montbonnot-Saint-Martin near Grenoble of whom 70 work in research & development They will join the approximately 8,000 employees of Merck’s Electronics business UnitySC specializes in equipment for optical inspection and metrology in the semiconductor industry and supplies a leading wafer & chip maker in France It is a key supplier of metrology tools for controlling TSV (Through Silicon Via) a critical step in the manufacturing of HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) stacks and is also a key supplier in the compound semiconductor industry It is starting construction of a new factory in Saint-Ismier which will become the cornerstone of its industrial production when production starts in 2026 and it will eventually increase the company’s annual metrology and inspection machine output by four times www.emdgroup.com; www.unity-sc.com Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Some are necessary and we can’t switch them off Others help us to provide you with the best possible service We use cookies to personalise content and ads to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic We also share anonymous information about your use of our site with our social media By accepting cookies you will be helping us to continue to provide you with the best possible service French manufacturer of industrial remote controls Jay Electronique has been acquired by Conductix-Wampfler Electrical power and data transmission specialist Conductix-Wampfler is part of the Delachaux Group from France Jay Electronique has 60 employees and is headquartered at Saint-Ismier near Grenoble It will gain access to Conductix-Wampfler’s sales network in international markets Conductix-Wampfler chief executive officer “With the solutions and know-how of Jay Electronique we can expand the Conductix-Wampfler portfolio and further serve our customers in a forward-looking way Jay Electronique has a strong expertise in electronics software and safety - fields into which Conductix-Wampfler intends to expand further.” this acquisition is part of a long-term growth strategy “We support our development through constant investments in innovation and targeted acquisitions to consolidate our technological and geographical leadership.” “…the acquisition of Jay Electronique in 2019 opens new development perspectives for the Energy and Data Management System business which accounted for one third of our total revenues in 2018” Jay Electronique manufactures radio remote controls for cranes and other machines A popular former pub is set to be adorned with a kaleidoscope of street art will be the scene of the Stroud Paint Festival Bailey Paints is co-sponsoring the festival alongside Stroud Town Council The Brimscombe-based business have kindly provided 85 aerosol spray cans and 50 litres of masonry paint The Market Tavern owners have provided temporary boards for artists to paint on said: “We’re thrilled to fund these temporary boards as a legal site for street art in our town “We strongly believe in the placemaking power of street art and its ability to enhance the vibrancy and character of Stroud By providing a canvas for artistic expression we hope to contribute to the town’s creative spirit.” Artists confirmed to be taking part are organiser Lee Kirby (Art of 3rd Eye) Deputy CEO/Town Clerk Kate Montgomery expressed her excitement “We hope that the London Road boards and the Saint Ismier corner will be used by street artists to create a welcoming display that reflects the vibrant arts scene of our town This is a great opportunity to use the gateway to signal how much is happening in and around Stroud These boards are temporary and funded by the owners of The Market Tavern but other locations we have helped The Paint Festival to secure will be opportunities for permanent murals.” The site where the boards have been erected was previously used as a location for teenagers to enjoy diversionary activities and workshops the artist Zed in the Clouds has produced a mural at the Legal Graffiti Wall as part of the SVA Site Festival where the artist was given a ‘Bursary Open Studio.’ The Paint Festival organisers are looking for additional organisations and companies who would like to add their sponsorship to the event, presenting a great opportunity to have strong associations with the youthful and expressive side of Stroud life. Those interested can email council@stroudtown.gov.uk Venues to be decorated with permanent murals include: These locations were chosen to highlight the town’s commitment to fostering a creative and inclusive environment To find out more, head to visitstroud.uk and search for Paint Festival in the listings To contact the Stroud Times team, please visit our contact page to find the appropriate email address or send us your story via email on news@stroudtimes.com Website built and managed by Hewlett Photography & Design