KLIC

Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc.

A maker of machines that assemble semiconductors—wire bonding and advanced packaging systems used to connect microchips inside everything from phones to cars. Founded in 1951 by engineers Fred Kulicke and Albert Soffa, who started by building machines together on the side, the company created the world's first wire bonder in 1956. Its name comes simply from its two founders' surnames.