Founded in 1954, the Kurt J. Lesker Company® is a manufacturer of vacuum equipment and systems to research laboratories and high technology industries from our facilities around the world. KJLC® Manufacturing was established as the engineering, machining, welding, clean assembly and test division of Kurt J. Lesker Company.
The KJLC Manufacturing Division serves many markets and industries, including Vacuum Science, Photovoltaics, Defense, Semiconductor, Nuclear, Automotive, Aerospace, and R&D. KJLC's commitment to quality is shown through our ISO 9001:2015 certification and adherence to security and confidentiality through compliance with ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations).
Discover KJLC Manufacturing
Vacuum Chambers
Standard Chambers that suit multiple applications for a cost effective solution that can be delivered rapidly.
Chamber Builder™
Modify our standard chambers to create a custom product that fits your application.
Hydra~Cool™
Hydra~Cool is a technically superior and cost effective method of water cooling vacuum chambers.
Nipple Builder™
Need a custom length full nipple or adaptor? Click here to build your own configuration.
Our Manufacturing Capabilities
Assembly & Test
KJLC Manufacturing includes three large white room areas, two in the US and one in the UK. White room areas provide a positive pressure filtered environment for clean project and system assembly and test.
Specializing in assembly of vacuum components and systems, core competencies include clean, precision mechanical assemblies, electrical control and power distribution, and manual and automated functional testing.
In addition to customer visits to KJLC for observation and functional test, we provide on-site installation, system commissioning, and training.
Machining
KJLC's large machine shop is equipped with modern machinery serviced by 10-ton capacity overhead cranes. Our complement of CNC milling centers, boring mills, and lathes enables high-speed, repeatable component production, with maximum machine travel capability of 157" x 90". We specialize in tight tolerance machining using geometric dimensioning & tolerances to ASME Y14.5-2018.
Sulfur-free biodegradable coolant is used throughout KJLC Manufacturing's machine shop to ensure cleanliness for vacuum components. In addition to vacuum chamber and component manufacturing we machine prototype and production quantities to customer prints. Our specialty is working with 300 series stainless steels, most aluminum alloys, and some Inconel alloys.
All jobs that are produced in KJLC's Manufacturing areas have detailed production routers, require documented in-process inspection, and have real-time job status data collected from the shop floor.
We believe our people set us apart, and to that end we utilize several forms of training including NIMS-based apprenticeships, recurrent training programs, and continual education programs.
Welding & Fabrication
At KJLC Manufacturing, our team of highly skilled welders, qualified to AWS D1.6 & BS EN ISO 9606-1:2017, specializes in precision hand welding with tight tolerances. We handle a wide range of products, from small custom components to large chambers, ensuring high-quality results for both vacuum and non-vacuum applications.
- 300 Series Stainless Steels: Ideal for vacuum applications due to their low outgassing rates and excellent corrosion resistance
- Aluminum: Lightweight and versatile, suitable for various fabrication needs
- Hastelloy®, Inconel®, & MuMetal Alloys: High-performance materials known for their strength and resistance to extreme environments
- Titanium
- Copper
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (TIG): Achieving functional, leak-tight, and aesthetically pleasing welds
- Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG)
- Flux-Cored Arc Welding
- Orbital Welding
- Internal TIG Fusion: Used for vacuum welds to ensure clean welds and avoid trapped volumes
- External Full Penetration Welds: Performed with an Argon back purge to prevent metal crystallization
- TIG Fillet Welds: Applied on the non-vacuum side of the seal weld to enhance structural integrity
- Welding Procedures: Qualified to BS EN ISO 15614-1:2017 (UK Procedure)
- Welder Qualifications: Certified to BS EN ISO 9606-1:2017
- Vacuum Chambers: Fabrication of custom vacuum chambers for scientific research and industrial use
- Ultra High-Vacuum Components & XHV (Extreme) Manufacturing components that require low outgassing materials and precise welding techniques
- Cryogenic Systems: Building systems that operate at extremely low temperatures, ensuring material integrity and performance
Our Manufacturing Expertise
Engineering
KJLC's team of engineering professionals is skilled at addressing tough technical problems and finding the right answers. Engineering closely supports machine shop and assembly personnel by designing for manufacturability and integration with other equipment where needed. Many of our projects involve non-disclosure or ITAR compliance — all team members are fully conversant with procedures for handling controlled and sensitive information. Lean practices such as 6S, Cellular Manufacturing, Kanban material replenishment, and visual work instructions are part of our everyday workflow.
- Turning Your Vision into Reality (Design Assist)
- Industrial Design of Capital Equipment
- Conceptual Design through Prototype / Build
- Machine Design / Mechanisms Design
- Systems Integration (EE, Controls, Software)
- Process Gas Distribution
- Rough Vacuum through Ultra High Vacuum Applications
- Pneumatic Systems
- Electrical Power Distribution
- Rack and Panel Equipment
- Engineering Analysis
- Structural Analysis
- Thermal Analysis
- Detailed Design and Documentation
- Prototype Fabrication
- Assembly / Test / Debug
- Production Scale-up and Integration
- FEMA
- Industrial Products / Capital Equipment
- Semiconductor Capital Equipment
- Nanotechnology Capital Equipment
- Electronic Product Development
- Medical Product Development
- Nuclear & Fusion Energy
- Solar Energy
KJLC's engineering department is staffed with mechanical engineers, mechanical designers, and professional engineers who are thoroughly versed in all aspects of product design, manufacturing, assembly, and testing. In addition to full scale design projects, engineers are assigned to aid in design-for-manufacture and cost reduction efforts.
KJLC Manufacturing engineers work closely with our mechanical engineers, material procurement personnel, and shop supervisors to identify steps that will improve quality, reduce manufacturing time, and reduce project costs.
At KJLC Manufacturing, Lean is a way of life: continuous improvement; 6S; cellular manufacturing; kanban material replenishment; and visual work instructions are some of the ways our shop team and industrial engineers work together to make all products better, faster, and with fewer errors.
All KJLC Manufacturing projects benefit from dedicated project management to ensure proper handling from start to finish. Utilizing a production router, our project management team oversees the manufacturing process and timeline, actively identifying problem areas and coordinating efforts to develop solutions.
Quality
KJLC Manufacturing has been ISO 9001:2015 for over two decades. We understand that quality is driven by our dedication to excellence and adherence to robust processes.
KJLC Manufacturing welders are qualified to AWS D1.6 and BS EN ISO 9606-1:2017, assuring our commitment for delivering high quality weld processes.
In-process inspections are made at every step by the KJLC Manufacturing team member responsible for that step. At select stages and again on job completion the product is inspected by our experienced quality control technicians using the appropriate manual inspection tools or a coordinate measuring machine. Complex parts are dimensionally checked with a FARO or Hexagon Bridge Coordinate Measuring Machine.
KJLC has a full complement of calibrated inspection equipment including calipers, bore gauges, pin gauges, micrometers, thread gauges, optical comparators and profilometers. Every inspection tool used by KJLC Manufacturing carries an identification tag and is re-calibrated on its scheduled date. Calibration is done by outside third party.
KJLC Manufacturing tests all vacuum components and assemblies with state of the art helium leak detectors (ultimate sensitivity of 10-12 atm cc/sec He). Leak check certifications are provided for any product upon request and can be performed to ASTM E 498 or 499 standards as required.
Geometric dimensioning and tolerances to the ASME Y14.5-2018 standard.
KJLC Manufacturing has a full complement of inspection equipment including; calipers, bore gauges, pin gauges, micrometers, thread gauges, optical comparators, profilometers and CMM.