Picosun Group

Picosun Group is a Finnish technology company specializing in atomic layer deposition (ALD) equipment — the thin-film coating technology used to deposit ultra-thin, uniform layers on semiconductor wafers, sensors, medical devices, optics and other advanced substrates. The company was founded in Finland in the early 2000s by researchers with roots in the ALD development work done in Finland, and it grew into one of the better-known independent ALD tool makers, selling systems such as its PICOSUN™ R-series and batch/production platforms to customers in semiconductors, MEMS, LED, medical and industrial coatings markets. Picosun's business model combined sales of ALD reactors and cluster systems with process development services and coating services, and it built a global customer base across Europe, Asia and North America, with a strong presence in Asia particularly. Its tools are used both in R&D and in volume manufacturing, and the company positioned itself as a provider of production-ready ALD rather than only laboratory equipment. In 2022 the company was acquired by Applied Materials, the large US semiconductor equipment maker, and became part of Applied's deposition product line. Under Applied Materials ownership, Picosun's ALD technology and team were folded into Applied's broader thin-film deposition portfolio, and the Picosun brand continues to be associated with ALD equipment and process solutions. The company is headquartered in Espoo, Finland, and its technology remains relevant to advanced semiconductor and specialty coating applications.

Picosun Group was established in Finland in the early 2000s, building on the country's long research tradition in atomic layer deposition — a technology originally developed in Finland in the 1970s. The company was founded to commercialize ALD equipment and processes, and it developed a family of ALD reactors, most notably the PICOSUN R-series, aimed at both research and production use. Over the 2000s and 2010s Picosun expanded internationally, opening sales and service operations and building a customer base in semiconductors, MEMS, LEDs, medical devices, optics and industrial coatings. It also offered process development and coating services alongside tool sales, and it participated in joint development projects with research institutes and industrial partners. The company became one of the recognized independent ALD equipment suppliers, competing with larger deposition tool makers. In 2022, Applied Materials — a major US semiconductor equipment company — acquired Picosun Group, bringing its ALD technology and team into Applied's thin-film deposition business. The acquisition reflected consolidation in the semiconductor equipment industry and the growing importance of ALD in advanced chip manufacturing. Picosun's Finnish operations and ALD product line continued under Applied Materials, and the Picosun name remains associated with ALD equipment and process expertise.

• Picosun Group founded in Finland to commercialize atomic layer deposition equipment.

• Launch and expansion of the PICOSUN R-series ALD reactor family.

• International expansion with sales and service operations across Europe, Asia and North America.

• Acquired by Applied Materials and integrated into its deposition product line.

Specialist provider of production-ready atomic layer deposition equipment for semiconductor and advanced coating applications.

• PICOSUN R-series ALD systems

  Atomic layer deposition reactors for research and production thin-film coating.

• Batch and cluster ALD platforms

  Production-scale ALD equipment for volume manufacturing.

• ALD process development and coating services

  Process engineering and thin-film coating services for customers.

1. 1Picosun official websitepicosun.com
2. 2Applied Materials official websiteappliedmaterials.com
3. 3Picosun appoints Jussi Rautee as CEOsemiconductor-today.com