Integrating Futures 

Strategic mergers and acquisitions often serve as milestones that reshape corporate market trajectories and define future capabilities. A recent example of such strategic foresight is the acquisition of Phoenix-based CollabraTech Solutions by Exyte, a leading company in the design, engineering and delivery of high-tech facilities.

Founded in 2013, CollabraTech Solutions offers gas and chemical delivery systems for high-purity, inert and reactive materials. The company serves a niche market by providing a range of configurable products for process development and high-volume manufacturing along with contract design and manufacturing services. Its customers include major semiconductor device and equipment manufacturers and other technology-focused market leaders.

“By acquiring CollabraTech Solutions, we enhance our vertical integration, as their offerings seamlessly align with our Technology & Services business area,” says Exyte CEO Wolfgang Büchele, Ph.D.

On a mission dubbed the “Pathway to 10,” Exyte is aiming for ten billion euros in sales by 2027. The acquisition of CollabraTech Solutions allows Exyte to expand into the specialized gas and chemical delivery systems sector for semiconductor manufacturing — a niche but crucial component of the semiconductor supply chain. This integration into Exyte’s broader operations aims to fortify its market presence and enrich its service offerings, particularly in constructing semiconductor and pharmaceutical facilities. Steve Lemons, president and CEO of CollabraTech, explains that part of Extye’s strategy involves enhancing the equipment side of fab construction.

“Exyte started acquiring different companies that support the equipment used in fabs, and for CollabraTech, it means becoming a key part of that strategy,” Lemons says.

CollabraTech Solutions is the fourth acquisition to strengthen Exyte’s Technology & Services business area, following the acquisitions of U.S.-based Critical Process Systems Group and Airgard, Inc., and Germany-based Intega. With these acquisitions, Exyte expanded its portfolio to include delivery systems and exhaust gas management, targeting the semiconductor and life sciences industries.

Lemons explains that, after the past decade of challenges, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic, the company “weathered COVID but really hadn’t gotten to the size needed to grow at a better clip.” So, when the opportunity with Exyte arose, CollabraTech was excited to gain a team that would support and promote its long-term development.

This strategic integration benefits not only Exyte’s product offerings but also strengthens CollabraTech’s capability to compete with larger industry players and assert its presence in high-level fab bids. It provides both companies with the necessary resources and partnerships to scale operations and enhance their market position.

As for future plans, while nothing is set in stone, Lemons is optimistic about the integration phase and the potential expansion in Phoenix. “I fully believe that we will be a crucial manufacturing site as the overall entity grows,” Lemons asserts, indicating potential expansions in warehouse space and employee base to accommodate the increased production demands.

The merger also holds promising prospects for Phoenix. The region is poised to see substantial growth in its high-tech manufacturing capacity. “Exyte definitely sees the growth in Phoenix just like everybody else does,” Lemons states. “Having manufacturing capacity in Phoenix was part of the reason that drove them to us.”

As the integration unfolds, the impact of this acquisition will undoubtedly resonate across the semiconductor industry. For Phoenix, it presents the promise of more jobs, better infrastructure and a stronger position in the global semiconductor industry. This development reflects a step toward growth in Phoenix’s high-tech manufacturing sector.