Exxelia Ohmcraft Custom Resistors Enable Rapid COVID-19 Testing

ROCHESTER, N.Y., May 26, 2020 — Exxelia Ohmcraft plays a crucial role enabling rapid testing amid the global novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, as experts have said that widespread testing is critical to containing the spread of the virus and reopening cities.


Diagnostic medical device companies have been working tirelessly to develop testing solutions, particularly those that can provide rapid and reliable results. To make these test kits possible, manufacturers turned to Exxelia Ohmcraft—a leader in thick-film, high-voltage, high-precision resistor design and manufacturing

The new all-inclusive rapid testing solutions involve processing patient samples using a thermocycler, an instrument that is used to amplify DNA and RNA to identify COVID-19. The thermocyclers utilize high-ohmic-value, low-noise surface mount resistors from Exxelia Ohmcraft to function. The resistors were required to meet tight specifications, including a small form factor to enable the testing devices to be portable.

“Due to the current crisis, the customer was moving extremely quickly to get these test kits developed, produced, and into the hands of as many healthcare systems as possible. As a U.S. manufacturer with industry-leading lead times, Exxelia Ohmcraft was able to provide custom resistors essential to their mission,” said Eric Van Wormer, Vice President of Exxelia Ohmcraft. “We are proud to partner with companies committed to helping fight COVID-19.”

Exxelia Ohmcraft’s technology utilizes the proprietary Micropen electronic printing system to “print” precise, narrow, serpentine lines with resistive ink on a ceramic substrate, producing higher performance resistors over a wider range of values on a smaller surface area than is possible with conventional film resistor technology.

Published on 28 May 2020 by Stephane PERES

EXXELIA ACQUIRES MICROPEN TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

EXXELIA ACQUIRES MICROPEN TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION AND ADDS RESISTORS TO ITS HIGH-RELIABILITY PASSIVE COMPONENTS PORTFOLIO   Micropen, Technology Leader in the Deisgn, Development and Manufacture of High Precision Resistors and Special Sensors Joins Exxelia  Exxelia Completes its High-Rel Passive Component Portfolio by Adding Resistors to the Existing Capacitors & Magnetic Product Lines and Expands its Offer to Critical Sensors for the Medical & Security markets  Exxelia Strengthens its Footprint in the USA with a Fourth Manufacturing Facility  Micropen Scales its Business Outside the USEA Through Exxelia's Local Presence, Especially in Europe and Asia    PARIS, France and HONEOYE FALLS, NY, USA, January 6th, 2020 – Exxelia, a leading designer and manufacturer of High-Rel passive components and sub-systems dedicated to severe environments, announced that it has completed, on Dec 23rd, 2019, the acquisition of Micropen Technologies Corporation. Micropen is a well-established designer and manufacturer of high technology resistors, known under the Ohmcraft® brand, serving the medical, defense, space and industrial markets. Micropen also manufactures with the same technology unique special sensors dedicated to the medical and security markets. Established in 1982 in Honeoye Falls, NY, Micropen Technologies has developed a unique process to print critical functional materials, such as conductive electrodes, precious metals, on various planar or 3D substrates, such as ceramic, plastic and others. This patented system is the core technology for the design and manufacture of Ohmcraft® complete line of resistors as well as some of the world’s most innovative monitoring & stimulating medical sensors. “We are very excited to welcome Micropen’s talented, engaged and committed team, and very proud to add Micropen’s unique technology under our already extensive portfolio of highly-engineered passive components and sensors. Thanks to this unrivaled process, Exxelia gains a foothold in the high-rel resistors world and enhances its ability to serve as a key product solution provider to customers with mission-critical applications”, said Paul Maisonnier, Chief Executive Officer of Exxelia. According to Ed Petrazzolo, President & Chief Executive Officer of Micropen Technologies, “Micropen is delighted to now be a part of Exxelia's growth and expanded product offerings. The commonalities between our two companies in culture, engineering, technology and manufacturing excellence are outstanding and we are excited by the global reach that Exxelia offers to our Ohmcraft resistors and Micropen printing capabilities”. ### About Micropen Technologies: Micropen Technologies Corporation designs, develops, manufactures and sells a line of custom, high-voltage, high performance thick film resistors and precision electronic components utilizing its proprietary electronic printing system. Micropen’s precision resistor line is marketed under the brand name, Ohmcraft, a recognized leader in custom, high performance resistors for the medical, defense, space, detection and test & measurement markets. The Micropen division is an outsourced product development and manufacturer for the medical device and detection markets. For more Information, visit ohmcraft.com and/or micropen.com About Exxelia: EXXELIA is a leading global designer and manufacturer of high performance passive components and subsystems. Exxelia’s wide products portfolio includes film, tantalum, ceramic and electrolytic capacitors, inductors, transformers, microwave components, position sensors, slip rings and high-precision mechanical parts. Recognized worldwide for its advanced design and technical expertise, EXXELIA develops both “catalog” and “custom” products exclusively serving high-reliability markets such as aerospace, defense, medical, transportation, telecommunication infrastructure and advanced industrial applications. Additional information can be found at https://exxelia.com