CROSSING AUTOMATION FOUNDERS
The synergy of three men inspired Crossing Automation, Inc., the groundbreaking company for wafer automation equipment and services. Crossing Automation’s management is one of the most experienced and dynamic teams in the semiconductor industry. Together they have achieved over 30 patents and a combined 50 plus years experience in the capital equipment industry. It’s easy to see why this team has attracted world-class creative talent and technological capability for the development of their innovative concepts and products.
The three Crossing Automation cofounders, Jed Keller, Larry Dulmage and Dr. JB Price, have crossed paths in several companies during their respective careers. While working together or apart, these men have all initiated significant business achievements. Prior to co-founding Crossing Automation, all three of the management team worked at PRI Automation where they led the company through a >6X growth period while improving customer satisfaction and market share.
Jed Keller, President and CEO, has 30 years expertise in semiconductor R&D and semiconductor capital equipment. He has an interesting history of motivating companies to look outside the box. Jed's considerable abilities include account management, product management and customer satisfaction responsibilities at Applied Materials, Varian, SVG, PRI Automation, Motorola and Tegal.
He has filed four patents, and launched a new product and manufacturing operation in Israel.
Larry Dulmage, VP Sales and Marketing, has extensive experience in the semiconductor capital equipment industry. In a previous life, Larry also spent 13 years in ion physics R&D at Hughes Research. His patent for a dual discharge hollow cathode was granted and then used on an experimental satellite built by Hughes Aircraft. Prior to PRI Automation, Larry was involved with marketing and product line management for SVG, Varian Thin Films Systems, and founded Micro-Tec West of Northern California. All involved successfully launching next-generation family of products.
Dr. JB Price, VP Engineering and CTO, has significant expertise in memory chip process and semiconductor capital equipment development. Dr. Price has been granted 23 patents during his inventive profession. The most significant is LPCVD of Si3N4, the thin films commonly used in the production of all types of semiconductors. Dr. Price worked with Jed Keller while at Motorola New Enterprises and later at Applied Materials. Subsequently, he joined both Jed and Larry at PRI Automation.
