Ametek buys Sunpower, Crystal Engineering

Ametek Inc., a global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices has recently announced that it has acquired Sunpower Inc., a developer of stirling cycle cryocoolers and externally heated stirling engine technology and Crystal Engineering, a manufacturer of high-end, portable pressure calibrators and digital test gauges.

Frank S. Hermance, Ametek's CEO, stated that these acquisitions will provide his company with the opportunity to bring key technologies in-house. These technologies will allow the company to develop the next-generation of advanced radiation detection and pressure calibration instruments.

Sunpower designs and develops high reliability cryocoolers and externally heated Stirling cycle engines. Its cryocoolers are used to lower temperatures below -150degrees C without the use of expensive liquid nitrogen, while its heat engines are used in micro co-generation (heat and power) devices.

Sunpower becomes part of Ametek Advanced Measurement Technology, a division of Ametek's Electronic Instruments Group responsible for advanced monitoring, testing, calibrating and display instruments with annualized sales of $1.9 billion.

Crystal Engineering has high-end pressure measurement technology and manufactures high-end portable digital pressure calibrators and digital test gauges that fit well with Ametek's JOFRA temperature and pressure calibrators.

"We share common products and markets with Crystal Engineering. It strengthens our technology and product offering in the calibration instruments market. Crystal's products broaden our line of high-end temperature and pressure calibration instruments, while its product line benefits from the global reach and resources of our Electronic Instruments Group," concludes Mr. Hermance.

Crystal Engineering joins Ametek Measurement & Calibration Technologies, also a division of the Electronic Instruments Group.