| AVS 60th International Symposium and Exhibition | |
| Vacuum Technology | Tuesday Sessions |
| Session VT-TuM |
| Session: | History of Vacuum Technology |
| Presenter: | K.J. Lesker III, Kurt J. Lesker Company |
| Authors: | K.J. Lesker III, Kurt J. Lesker Company K.J. Lesker IV, Kurt J. Lesker Company |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
Having grown up working for my Dad (beginning wage $0.25 per hour) in our business which started in 1954, I have met a lot of people who started companies, where instrumental in vacuum companies, created new technologies, and competed or collaborated with many companies and people in the vacuum industry. Our industry starts to move forward in the late 1800s, but it is not till WWII and afterwards that it really get moving forward and Vacuum gets used to make many products and used in research to advance technology and the quality of life. I want to go back to before vacuum existed (or was thought not to exist) briefly and explain why there was no such thing as vacuum. How vacuum gets discovered, how it starts to flourish and then grows. There are interesting scientists, vacuum figures and industrialists that drive things ahead. Then I want to bring in the companies of today which form and thrive or merge and get acquired. Hopefully, there will be a few or several moments of "I didn't know that?" or "So, that is the guy or reason these things or companies happened?!" I hope it will be interesting and fun!