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Physical Electronics Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Chanhassen, MN - Physical Electronics (PHI) is celebrating its 50th Anniversary as a leading supplier of ultra-high vacuum (UHV) surface analysis instrumentation. PHI began in 1969 when Dr. Roland Weber left the University of Minnesota to start a company to commercialize Auger Electron Spectroscopy.  He was soon joined by Dr. Paul Palmberg, who had developed the cylindrical mirror analyzer (CMA) about that same time. This enabled PHI to develop Auger into an important and powerful new surface analytical technique. 

As PHI grew it added XPS to its product line in 1974, Dynamic SIMS in 1986 and TOF-SIMS in 1989.  Today, Physical Electronics and ULVAC-PHI are the only company that offers the full range of Auger, XPS, and SIMS instruments to the scientific research market. A relationship was established with the ULVAC Corporation in 1971 to market and sell PHI products in Japan. The joint venture ULVAC-PHI was formed in 1982 in Chigasaki, Japan.  In 2003 ULVAC-PHI purchased Physical Electronics, bringing the worldwide surface analysis business under ULVAC ownership. 

“We are very proud of the historic role PHI has played in the surface analysis market over the past 50 years and we look forward to continued success by partnering with our academic and industrial customers to meet their materials characterization needs,” said Physical Electronic President, Scott Bryan.

About Physical Electronics:
Physical Electronics (PHI) is a subsidiary of ULVAC-PHI, the world's leading supplier of UHV surface analysis instrumentation used for research and development of advanced materials in several high technology fields, including nanotechnology, microelectronics, data storage, bio-medical, and basic materials such as metals, polymers, glass, and coatings. PHI’s innovative XPS, AES, and SIMS technologies provide our customers with unique tools to solve challenging materials problems and accelerate the development of new materials and products.

To follow along with our journey, connect with PHI on LinkedIn and YouTube.