MUNICH -- ASM Pacific Technology today announced the completion its purchase of DEK

from Dover Corp. Per previous stock filings, ASM paid about $170 million, less working capital, and a contingency payment of up to $3 million based on certain closing conditions.

DEK's 700-plus employees worldwide will be integrated into ASM's SMT business and its brand name retained. 

 ASM chief executive Lee Wai Kwong said the deal was done to expand ASM's portfolio and improve its competitiveness in electronics manufacturing. 

“Our plan is to combine DEK’s products with the Group’s back-end and SMT equipment businesses to offer customers in the SMT market an integrated closed loop system consisting of screen printing, solder paste inspection and placement," Lee said. The DEK Business will present the Group with significant opportunities to generate cost synergies through increased efficiencies in the areas of logistics, research and development, production, sales, service and procurement, and the consolidation of common infrastructure and overheads. 

The DEK deal is ASMPT’s second significant acquisition of a major electronics assembly equipment supplier in the past three years. ASM purchased Siemens' placement machine business in January 2011.

Michael Brianda, former president of DEK, will has been named to head the Printing Solutions Division. Günter Schindler of Siplace will lead the Placement Solutions Division and both divisions will fall within ASMPT’s SMT Solutions Segment, headed by CEO Günter Lauber.

Technology developers from both divisions will contribute their expertise in joint innovation projects. “The goal is to bring forth a new generation of SMT line solutions that deliver more efficiency and process reliability through more effective integration of the printing, inspection and placement processes,” Lauber said.