PAR Systems, Inc. Acquires SDI Laser Technology
July 1, 2011
Saint Paul/Minneapolis, Minnesota (1 July, 2011) – PaR Systems, Inc. announces the acquisition of SDI Lasers (Pty) Limited, furthering PAR’s 50 ‐year commitment to provide their clients with innovative and advanced engineered solutions. SDI Lasers is the premier designer and manufacturer of high repetition rate TE CO2 lasers for a wide variety of applications, including paint stripping, annealing, wire stripping, LIDAR (atmospheric research and meteorology), Extreme UltraViolet (EUV) generation, Isotope separation, high energy physics, THz imaging, and non ‐destructive inspection systems such as PAR’s LaserUT® NDI system. SDI lasers are used in critical applications by Fortune 500 companies and national laboratories, including Airbus, Raytheon, Brookhaven National Labs, GE Hitachi, Lockheed Martin, NASA, BAE Systems, and the U.S. Air Force. Combining SDI Lasers advanced laser technology with PAR’s expertise in motion control and custom-engineered systems, PAR can provide their clients with a complete solution for non ‐destructive inspection, paint stripping, isotope separation, and other end-market applications.
SDI Lasers will become PAR Systems Laser Center of Excellence (COE) in Pretoria, South Africa. PAR’s new Laser COE engineers have over three decades of experience developing advanced CO2 lasers and laser technology, with specialized skills in the areas of high-power and high-pressure CO2 laser systems, laser modeling and design, high voltage switching networks, and optics. The Laser COE will have continued access to expert technical services provided by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research National Laser Centre (NLC), the Laser Research Institute (LRI) at the University of Stellenbosch, and the Board of Technical Advisors for laser technology advancements. PAR’s Laser COE will continue its leading-edge research on developing laser paint stripping that will provide new and improved benefits over conventional paint stripping techniques for both the commercial and military aerospace markets.
SDI Lasers is formerly a subsidiary of South Africa-based Klydon Pty, which develops isotope and gas separation technologies. Klydon is controlled by TSC Capital, an international investment firm focused on the minerals, mining and energy sectors.
About PAR Systems
PAR Systems, a portfolio company of MML Capital Partners (www.mmlcapital.com), is a world leader in providing advanced engineered equipment, systems, and services for critical material handling and automation applications to improve customer quality, safety, and productivity. Since 1961, PAR has created custom-engineered, and oftentimes, first‐of‐a‐kind manufacturing solutions for a broad range of industries including aerospace, defense/marine, hazardous material/nuclear, heavy material handling, industrial manufacturing, and life sciences. PAR Systems is headquartered in Minnesota, with global engineering and manufacturing centers of excellence. For more information on PAR Systems, visit www.par.com.
