Accu-Tech Laser Processing, Inc. opened for business in January 1977 in Beaverton, Oregon. Originally named Spec Industries, Inc., the company's original charter was to utilize carbon dioxide (CO2) laser technology to produce microcircuit substrates for the hybrid circuit industry. In the mid 1970's, laser technology was almost solely a scientific endeavor with very limited industrial applications. However, the ability to drill, machine and scribe very hard ceramic plates was an application that we saw as a natural one for the embryonic laser technology. Our initial goal was to make quality holes in high purity alumina ceramic for $.05 per hole ("a nickel a hole" was our initial advertising slogan) which we accomplished in early 1978. Since then, productivity improvements using multi-beam lasers coupled with advanced laser circuitry modifications has enabled hole drilling prices to tumble up to 1/100th of our initial goal in many production programs.
