Fluid process solutions distributor Harrington Industrial Plastics of Chino, California, announced Aug. 24 that it has acquired Crist Group from its owner, Paul Crist, for an undisclosed amount. 

Based in Woodland, California, Crist is a specialty fabricator of critical fluid process components and assemblies with a focus on the semiconductor end market and applications in other markets, including medical. Crist’s highly-technical fabrication capabilities include infrared fusion welding, hot gas welding, ultrasonic welding, CNC machining, laser drilling and etching, precision flaring and clean room preparation and packaging. 

Paul Crist developed expertise in fluoropolymer materials while he was an executive at Harrington in the 1990s, and he founded the company in 2000, according to an announcement. Under Paul’s leadership, Crist has grown into a market leader in fluoropolymer fabrication producing custom assemblies that are specified into production-level semiconductor tool equipment. 

Harrington said the acquisition will enable the company to deepen its offering to customers in the semiconductor industry by providing fabrication services that complement its existing products.

“Paul Crist and his team have built a strong fabrication operation that is well-known for its unique technical competencies in fluoropolymer materials, particularly in the rapidly growing semiconductor segment,” said Dave Abercrombie, Harrington CEO. “We have had a longstanding relationship with Crist Group and Paul personally, and are very excited to welcome the Crist team into the Harrington organization. The acquisition is highly complementary to our business and will enhance our ability to provide differentiated, value-add products and services to our customers. We are very pleased to have closed Harrington’s third add-on and we will continue to evaluate other attractive opportunities.”

Paul Crist will join the Harrington team and continue to run the Crist division.

“We have had a strong relationship with Harrington as a trusted vendor and are now very excited to be joining the Harrington platform,” Paul Crist said. “Crist Group has succeeded in achieving substantial growth and developing strong customer relationships, and we believe that with Harrington’s resources and distribution network we can further support our customers and broaden our reach. I can say confidently based on our experience with Harrington as a vendor, my personal relationship with Dave Abercrombie and the Harrington team, as well as my former experience as an employee at Harrington, that our two companies share a similar culture of dedication to customer service and support for our employees. We look forward to a strong partnership.”

Owned by Nautic Partners, Harrington has been a distributor of industrial process solutions since 1959. Harrington nationally distributes and fabricates products that move fluids in corrosive and high-purity process applications. Products include thermoplastic pipes, valves, fittings, tanks, tubing and hose, pumps, filtration, and instrumentation.