FEI Company

FEI Company was an American scientific-instrument manufacturer whose business centered on electron microscopy, ion-beam technology, and software for acquiring, reconstructing, and analyzing microscopic images. The company originated in Oregon in 1971 as Field Electron and Ion Company, supplying electron and ion beam sources for field-emission research and microscopy. Its name was shortened to FEI Company in 1973. FEI developed a position at the intersection of advanced physics, materials analysis, semiconductor manufacturing, and life-science research. A major technical milestone came in 1981 with the introduction of a liquid metal ion source. This technology helped make ion-beam tools useful for semiconductor mask repair and defect analysis, expanding FEI beyond a narrowly research-oriented supplier. Its portfolio later included scanning electron microscopes, transmission electron microscopes, focused ion beam workstations, electron-optical columns, and software supporting image acquisition, three-dimensional reconstruction, and analysis. The modern company was shaped by consolidation and acquisitions. A 1997 merger with Philips Electron Optics connected FEI to a longer tradition of commercial electron microscopy associated with Philips instruments dating to the 1940s. FEI subsequently acquired Micrion in 1999, strengthening its ion-beam capabilities. Philips Business Electronics International gradually reduced its ownership and sold its remaining shares in 2006, leaving FEI as an independent publicly traded company. FEI was formerly listed on NASDAQ and operated internationally through research, development, sales, and service organizations. By the 2010s, FEI served a diversified customer base spanning semiconductor and electronics companies, universities, government laboratories, materials researchers, and pharmaceutical or biological research organizations. Its activities were supported by more than 2,800 employees and operations in more than 50 countries according to the company description summarized in the reference material. Research and development locations included Hillsboro, Eindhoven, Munich, Shanghai, Tokyo, Brno, Canberra, Trondheim, and Bordeaux. Thermo Fisher Scientific announced an agreement to acquire FEI on May 27, 2016, for approximately US$4.2 billion. The transaction commenced in early 2017. At the time, FEI had more than 2,700 employees in over 20 countries. Following the acquisition, FEI's activities were integrated into Thermo Fisher's Materials and Structural Analysis organization, and the standalone FEI trademark was phased out. FEI therefore no longer operates as an independent listed company, although its technologies, personnel, installed instruments, and product heritage continue within Thermo Fisher Scientific's microscopy and materials-analysis business.

FEI Company was established in 1971 in Oregon under the name Field Electron and Ion Company. Its initial business supplied electron and ion beam sources for field-emission research and electron microscopy. The founding group consisted of applied-physics specialist Lynwood W. Swanson, Noel A. Martin, and Lloyd Swenson. Swanson was associated with the Oregon Graduate Center. In 1973, the company adopted the shorter FEI Company name. J. H. Orloff, a specialist in electrostatic optics for field-emission ion and electron sources and Swanson's former doctoral student, joined as the company's fourth partner in 1978. FEI's technology moved from specialized research components toward complete instruments and industrial applications. In 1981, the company introduced a liquid metal ion source, an important development for focused ion beam systems. The technology enabled uses such as semiconductor mask repair and defect analysis, helping FEI address the growing needs of the electronics industry as well as academic and government research. The company entered a new phase through corporate combination. In 1997, FEI merged with Philips Electron Optics. This brought together FEI's field-emission and ion-beam expertise with Philips' commercial electron-microscopy heritage. That heritage extended back to commercial instruments produced by Philips Electron Optics in the 1940s. FEI expanded its ion-beam presence again through the 1999 acquisition of Micrion, an ion-beam technology company. FEI later operated as an international scientific-instrument business. Its portfolio included focused ion beam workstations, scanning electron microscopes, transmission electron microscopes, focusing columns, and software for image acquisition, reconstruction, and analysis. Its customers included semiconductor manufacturers, materials scientists, universities, research institutes, and other industrial and life-science users. The company established research and development centers in Hillsboro, Eindhoven, Munich, Shanghai, Tokyo, Brno, Canberra, Trondheim, and Bordeaux, while maintaining sales and service activity in more than 50 countries. Philips' ownership declined over time. On December 20, 2006, Philips Business Electronics International sold its remaining common shares in FEI, reducing its stake to zero. FEI continued as a publicly traded company and had previously been listed on NASDAQ. In May 2011, it reported a second consecutive quarter of record revenue and profits, attributing the performance in part to customer diversification. On May 27, 2016, Thermo Fisher Scientific announced that it would acquire FEI for approximately US$4.2 billion. The transaction commenced in early 2017. FEI had more than 2,700 employees in over 20 countries at the time of the transaction, while company materials described a broader global sales and service presence. After integration, FEI became part of Thermo Fisher Scientific's Materials and Structural Analysis organization. The FEI trademark was subsequently phased out in favor of Thermo Fisher branding. FEI is therefore a defunct independent company and brand, but its microscopy and ion-beam technologies remain part of Thermo Fisher's scientific-instrument portfolio.

• 2017

  Integration into Thermo Fisher begins

  [1]FEI Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The acquisition commenced and FEI's business was incorporated into Thermo Fisher Scientific's Materials and Structural Analysis operations.

• 2016

  Thermo Fisher acquisition announced

  [1]FEI Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Thermo Fisher Scientific announced the planned acquisition of FEI for approximately US$4.2 billion.

• 2006

  Philips ownership ends

  [1]FEI Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Philips Business Electronics International sold its remaining FEI shares.

• 1999

  Micrion acquired

  [1]FEI Companyen.wikipedia.org

  FEI acquired ion-beam company Micrion.

• 1997

  Merger with Philips Electron Optics

  [1]FEI Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The merger formed the modern FEI organization and connected it to Philips' commercial electron-microscopy business.

• 1981

  Liquid metal ion source introduced

  [1]FEI Companyen.wikipedia.org

  FEI introduced liquid metal ion source technology, supporting later semiconductor mask-repair and defect-analysis applications.

• 1978

  J. H. Orloff joins the company

  [1]FEI Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Research specialist J. H. Orloff became the company's fourth partner.

• 1973

  Name shortened to FEI Company

  [1]FEI Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The company adopted the shorter FEI Company name.

• 1971

  Field Electron and Ion Company founded

  [1]FEI Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Lynwood W. Swanson, Noel A. Martin, and Lloyd Swenson founded the company in Oregon to supply electron and ion beam sources for field-emission research and electron microscopy.

High-end scientific instrumentation for nanoscale imaging, materials characterization, semiconductor process support, and biological research.

• Electron microscopy

  Transmission electron microscopes

  FEI's transmission electron microscopes were designed to pass an electron beam through thin specimens for high-resolution structural and compositional analysis. They served research and industrial users studying materials, nanostructures, biological specimens, and other samples requiring information below the resolution of conventional optical microscopy.

• Electron microscopy

  Scanning electron microscopes

  FEI scanning electron microscopes formed part of its surface-imaging and materials-characterization portfolio. These instruments raster an electron beam across a specimen and detect emitted signals to reveal surface morphology and composition. They were relevant to semiconductor, industrial, academic, and research-laboratory workflows.

• Ion-beam instrumentation

  Focused ion beam workstations

  Focused ion beam workstations used concentrated ion beams for nanoscale milling, material removal, deposition, cross-section preparation, circuit modification, and failure analysis. FEI's ion-beam expertise supported semiconductor mask repair and defect-analysis applications and was strengthened by the company's acquisition of Micrion.

• Scientific software

  Microscopy software

  FEI supplied computer software used with microscopy systems for image acquisition, reconstruction, visualization, and analysis. These tools supported the conversion of microscope output into interpretable two-dimensional and three-dimensional information for research and industrial investigation.

• 2016

  Accept Thermo Fisher Scientific acquisitionM&A

  Background

  FEI was an international microscopy and materials-analysis company with a substantial installed technology and service base.

  Action taken

  Thermo Fisher Scientific announced an agreement to acquire FEI for approximately US$4.2 billion; the transaction commenced in early 2017.

  Aftermath

  FEI ceased to operate as an independent listed company and its operations moved into Thermo Fisher's Materials and Structural Analysis division. The FEI trademark was phased out.

  Acquisition value. US$4.2 billion (Announced May 27, 2016)

  Source

• 1999

  Acquire MicrionM&A

  Background

  FEI was strengthening its position in ion-beam technology and semiconductor-related analysis.

  Action taken

  FEI acquired Micrion.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition expanded FEI's ion-beam capabilities.

  Source

• 1997

  Merge with Philips Electron OpticsM&A

  Background

  FEI sought to combine its field-emission and ion-beam expertise with an established commercial electron-microscopy platform.

  Action taken

  FEI merged with Philips Electron Optics.

  Aftermath

  The combination shaped the modern FEI Company and broadened its microscopy heritage and product capabilities.

  Source

• 1981

  Commercialize liquid metal ion source technologyProduct launch

  Background

  FEI was expanding from electron and ion beam sources into practical industrial instrumentation.

  Action taken

  The company introduced a liquid metal ion source that enabled ion-beam applications including semiconductor mask repair and defect analysis.

  Aftermath

  The technology helped establish FEI's role in focused ion beam and semiconductor analysis equipment.

  Source

1. 1FEI Companyen.wikipedia.org