ALTANA Acquires Imaginant, an Ultrasonic Measuring Equipment Specialist

ALTANA has acquired the business of Imaginant Inc., a U.S. company that develops and manufactures test and measurement instruments based on ultrasound. With this acquisition, the specialty chemicals group has strategically expanded its BYK division and entered the growth market of the semiconductor industry. Imaginant is based in New York State and will be integrated into BYK-Gardner.

The U.S. company’s test and measurement instruments are used for quality assurance in many industrial applications. For example, these instruments make it possible to determine the thickness of multilayer automotive and other coatings through nondestructive testing. In the semiconductor industry, Imaginant’s devices are used in scanning acoustic microscopes for the detection of delamination, cracks, and cavities inside electronic components.

Imaginant offers a unique measurement capability through its PELT coating thickness gauges. This product family makes it possible to detect and measure the thickness of each individual layer in a multilayer coating system.

In automotive coatings, for example, PELT gauges can be used to determine whether the film thickness of the e-coat, primer, basecoat, or clearcoat layers have each been applied within specifications. A special feature is that this ultrasound-based technology can be used on metallic as well as non-metallic materials such as carbon fiber, plastics, glass, wood, and composites.

The patented technology of the PELT system is available in handheld measuring devices and as a robotic-controlled system in an automated measurement cell. Both devices enable accurate process control of the coatings applied to production parts.

As part of the acquisition, BYK is also taking over the production facility located in Rochester, NY. With a total of 34 employees, the company, founded in 1986, supplies its products to customers on all continents.

“Imaginant’s technological expertise in the development and manufacturing of high-frequency ultrasonic measuring instruments complements BYK-Gardner’s strengths as a specialist in innovative high-tech instruments for testing color, gloss, and physical properties,” said Dr. Tammo Boinowitz, a member of the Management Board of ALTANA AG and the president of the BYK division. “By integrating these measurement technologies into our software and services, we intend to further simplify our customers’ production processes and drive the digitalization of the industry.”