ASM

In 1968, a young engineer named Arthur del Prado established Advanced Semiconductor Materials, or ASM, in the Netherlands. He had a vision for the future of electronics and recognized the burgeoning need for specialized equipment to manufacture semiconductor devices. The company's initial focus was on chemical vapor deposition, a critical process for creating the thin layers of material that form the basis of microchips. Del Prado's strategy was global from the start. He established a presence in key markets, including Hong Kong in 1975 and an American subsidiary, ASM America, in 1976. A pivotal moment came in 1981 when ASM International went public on the Nasdaq, securing the capital needed for further expansion and research. This was followed by a joint venture in Japan in 1982, solidifying its position in the three major semiconductor regions of the world. The company's journey included a significant spin-off. In 1988, ASM Lithography (ASML) was established as a joint venture with Philips, which would later become the world's leading provider of photolithography systems for the chip industry. This move allowed ASM to focus on its core deposition technologies. Under the leadership of Arthur's son, Chuck del Prado, who became CEO in 2008, the company honed its focus on Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), a technology that enables the creation of increasingly smaller and more powerful chips. This strategic bet paid off, positioning ASM as an essential player in the global semiconductor value chain.