BOC (NYSE: BOX) has acquired the key operating and intellectual property (IP) assets of Eco-Snow Systems, a world leader in the production and supply of carbon dioxide (CO2)-based snow cleaning equipment to the electronics industry.

Eco-Snow is a subsidiary of ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. (TSX: ATA). As part of the US$6.4 million transaction, BOC has also entered into a five-year, preferred equipment manufacturing agreement with ATS, under which ATS will continue to develop and manufacture Eco-Snow equipment for various high volume production applications.

Under the agreement finalized last week, BOC will own Eco-Snow’s IP assets and its cleanroom research facilities in Livermore, California. The Eco-Snow team will join BOC.

“The transition will be completely seamless for existing Eco-Snow customers - a key consideration for both ATS and BOC,” said Neil Greenfield, senior vice president, business development, for BOC’s Process Gas Solutions line of business.

“Eco-Snow’s cleaning technology fits well with BOC’s existing capabilities as a major supplier of high purity gases, equipment and technologies to the electronics and related industries. This agreement will allow us to provide customers in the high growth precision cleaning sectors with a highly integrated and effective solution: high purity CO2 combined with innovative technology and high quality equipment,” Greenfield said

Eco-Snow Systems specializes in automated systems and tools for dry precision cleaning of surfaces using carbon dioxide snow, generated by expanding high purity, liquid carbon dioxide into a jet of high velocity gas and solid particles. This provides unique cleaning methods particularly suited to removing sub-micron particles from surfaces of critical electronic components. Eco-Snow has over six years of experience, widely accepted precision cleaning tools, a portfolio of over 20 patents, and a committed and technically excellent team.