CPS Technologies Corporation provides advanced material solutions to the transportation,
automotive, energy, computing/internet, telecommunications, aerospace, defense
and oil and gas end markets.
Our primary material solution is metal matrix composites. We design, manufacture
and sell custom metal matrix composite components which improve the performance
and reliability of systems in these end markets.
The Company is an important participant in the growing movement towards alternative
energy and "green" lifestyles. For example, the Company’s products
are used in high-speed trains, mass transit, hybrid and electric cars, wind-turbines
for electricity generation as well as routers and switches for the internet
which enable telecommuting. These applications involve energy use or energy
generation; the Company’s products allow higher performance and improved
energy efficiency.
Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are a class of materials consisting of a combination
of metals and ceramics. Compared to conventional materials, MMCs provide superior
thermal conductivity, improved thermal expansion matching, greater stiffness
and lighter weight.
For 30 years CPS has been the leader in manufacturing MMC components. Products
we provide include baseplates for motor controllers used in high-speed electric
trains, subway cars, wind turbines, and hybrid and electric vehicles. We provide
baseplates and housings used in radar, satellite and avionics applications.
We provide lids and heatspreaders used with high performance integrated circuits
for use in internet switches and routers. We provide baseplates and housings
used in modules built with Wide Band Gap Semiconductors like SiC and GaN. CPS
also assembles housings and packages for hybrid circuits. These housings and
packages may include MMC components; they may also include components made of
more traditional materials such as aluminum, copper-tungsten, etc.
CPS is a fully qualified manufacturer for many of the world’s largest
electronics OEMs.
CPS is actively working with customers in end markets other than electronics.
An example is CPS’s HybridTech Armor® for use in armoring military
and commercial vehicles. In 2008 the Company entered into a cooperative agreement
with the Army Research Laboratory to further develop large MMC HybridTech Armor®
module panels. Although this program ended in 2015, the Company continues to
receive funded orders from the U.S. Army, primarily for ballistic armor associated
with the development for future combat vehicles and enhancements to present
vehicles. CPS’s HybridTech Armor® offers lighter weight, improved
multi-hit capability, and easier attachment to the vehicle compared to alternatives.
CPS management believes our business model of providing advanced material solutions
to a portfolio of high growth end markets in various stages of the technology
adoption lifecycle provides CPS with the opportunity for sustained growth and
a diversified customer base. We believe we have validated this model as we are
now supplying customers at all stages of the technology adoption lifecycle.
Our products are manufactured by proprietary processes we have developed including
the QuicksetTM Injection Molding Process (‘Quickset Process’) and
the QuickCastTM Pressure Infiltration Process (‘QuickCast Process’).
CPS was incorporated in Massachusetts in 1984 as Ceramics Process Systems Corporation
and reincorporated in Delaware in April 1987 through a merger into a wholly-owned
Delaware subsidiary organized for purposes of the reincorporation. In July 1987,
CPS completed our initial public offering of 1.5 million shares of our Common
Stock. In March 2007, the Company changed its name from Ceramics Process Systems
Corporation to CPS Technologies Corporation.
Structural applications perform primarily a mechanical rather than electrical
function. In any mechanical assembly with moving parts the stiffness and weight
of moving parts can have a significant impact on the performance and energy
efficiency of the assembly. In particular, in equipment with reciprocating components
increasing the stiffness and reducing the weight of reciprocating components
improves the performance and energy efficiency of the equipment.
Today many mechanical components are made of steel because steel has the stiffness
required for the particular application. AlSiC has approximately the same stiffness
as steel, but is only one-third the weight of steel. AlSiC is, however, higher
cost than steel. However, we believe there are many mechanical applications
where the customer will pay the higher cost for AlSiC because of significant
improvements in performance resulting from the superior stiffness-to-weight
ratio of AlSiC.
Examples of structural applications for which we have developed and supplied
components include robotic arms for semiconductor manufacturing equipment and
components. The Company continues to identify opportunities for using advanced
materials in such diverse areas as fracking in oil and gas, non-skid coatings,
fire/heat barriers, consumer electronics and working with nuclear waste.
