MARKETS

Nova Gas Technologies is a company which manufactures and sells gas mixtures for excimer lasers, high purity rare gases and gas handling hardware. We are unique in our market as we are the only company who offer HCl mixes, e.g. a XeCl mix at 0.05% HCl, with NO SHELF LIFE ISSUES.

We sell directly to end users, through distributors and we “private label” for several major gas companies. Internationally, we have sales representatives and stocking distributors in several countries. Our primary markets are listed below.

SPECIALTY GAS

Our historical market is comprised of many researchers in both universities and industry who use relatively rare gases and gas mixtures. In addition we retain contracts with lamp manufacturers who produce energy efficient incandescent and fluorescent lamps. Our recent entry (June 2004) into the Chinese market has led to a dramatic increase in our sales to the lighting industry.

MEDICAL EXCIMER LASERS

Excimer lasers used in medical applications have accounted for significant growth for us in recent years. The principal uses are for vision correction surgery, which was approved for use by the FDA in December of 1995. Currently we have a major share of this market and are expanding in Asia during 2005.

SEMICONDUCTOR EXCIMERS

Excimer lasers are also used to process the newer generations of computer chips. All the 200mm and 300mm wafer fabs in the world use this technology. Sales to this market have grown from essentially zero in 1995 to more than forty percent share of the worldwide market.

SIZE AND STRUCTURE

Nova is a small focussed organisation. It operates in the field of rare gases and halogens supplying to the lighting, excimer laser and scientific communities. It employs 14 people at its main facility and there are three working for its UK branch. The manufacturing, blending, testing, etc. is performed at the central facility in Charleston, South Carolina and is distributed worldwide from there. The UK operation is a stocking (sales and distribution) facility.

CAPABILITIES AROUND THE UK

Most of the products required by the end-users are delivered ex-stock. Occasionally an order is treated as a non-stock item or special. It is our policy to deliver to our customers requirements on an ex-stock basis. It is also our policy to be flexible and easy to deal with. Our successes have come by listening to the customer, agreeing what is required and when it is needed and then to deliver accordingly.

In brief, our traditional method of operation is to deliver goods from our warehouse direct to the user’s delivery point. The end-user normally specifies where that point is.

The odd occasion that a special mix or non-standard product is required, it will be prepared at our plant in Charleston and shipped direct to the user. The shipping time is dependant on the user as there is a cost benefit ratio for freight by air or surface. It is not unusual to receive an urgent order today and for the customer to receive their cylinder of gas, via FedEx from the USA, within a matter of days.

Finally, the products are backed up by service from technically competent people both here in the UK and in the USA (where necessary) together with a no nonsense approach to our guarantees.